Remember when you were a kid and you watched “The Jetsons” in awe. George and Jane had all of the ultimate futuristic conveniences…and a robot housekeeper named Rosie! When that show premiered more than 50 years ago, no one could have imagined that in 2016 we would have some of these new-age devices.
Not only are we way passed push-button meals (microwave ovens, anyone), we are on the verge of so much more. And now, with the advent and proliferation of home-based delivery devices, we seem to be right on the space age cusp. We all know that flying cars are not far off, right?!
Command Central
What comes to mind when you think of a home-based marketing device? Are you perplexed? Don’t worry, they are not as foreign as they sound. One of the most popular devices out there is the Amazon Echo, referred to as Alexa. Alexa is part personal assistant, part e-commerce genius hidden in a cool speaker. Controlled through an app on your phone or tablet, she is like the 2016 version of Rosie. You can ask her almost anything, give her commands, and of course, she can help you buy whatever you need.
Hidden Genius
What makes these devices brilliant is that they are multi-functional. You can use it to turn the lights in your house off remotely, but you can also order a year’s supply of paper towels with just the sound of your voice. What makes this so smart is the convenience factor. When you use an automated device to order products and services you are one more step removed from the monetary exchange process. The further removed shoppers are from the actual transaction, the more likely they are to spend more money. When you call out to your home-based device to order something you are not even looking at the cost of the item you are purchasing, you are simply reveling in the convenience of not having to pull out your phone or wallet anymore.
The Future Is Now
A little more than 10 years ago people were still hesitant to shop online. Now we have become such a web-based society we constantly expect fast online ordering and free two-day shipping. All of this means more money in the pockets of smart business who give customers what they want. The easier you make it for your clients to get what they need (or what they think they need….or what you made them think they need) the more they will buy. With Amazon, in particular, they benefit two-fold. First, you have to purchase the device, and then once you set it up, you can order anything you want from Amazon’s vast, varying inventory. This means you continue to order from them whenever you want. And convenient automatic reminders and order capabilities keep the sales flowing. Of course, you can just use it as a speaker or as a source of info for the daily headlines, but Amazon is betting that you will give in to the “order this” temptation.
Even if you don’t have a home-based device in the works, there are infinite ways to increase your e-commerce sales with inbound marketing.
If you want to learn how to market to the new generation, download this free eBook today!
