An Online Seller's Checklist for Making 2025 Your Best Year Yet Key strategies and trends to increase revenue, strengthen customer loyalty, and enhance your presence in the marketplace for a successful 2025.

As 2024 draws to a close, online sellers are setting their sights on making 2025 their best year yet. The most successful online sellers want to know what worked well in the past year, what didn't, and what changes they can enact to boost revenue and profits.

The idea is to embrace progress while learning from setbacks and improving your strategy. Sometimes that is easier said than done, of course. That's why we spoke with Austin Comer, General Manager of Small Business at e-commerce powerhouse BigCommerce, to uncover valuable insights and strategies to help sellers navigate these changes and set themselves up for success in the coming year.

Look back to plan for what comes next

Reflecting on 2024, Comer says several key e-commerce trends emerged that impacted online sellers. Despite ongoing economic recovery, consumer confidence remained low due to inflation and rising interest rates. This pressure made consumers prioritize value, creating a more competitive environment for small businesses. "Consumer spending stayed fairly strong despite the pressures, making value a major factor in buying decisions," he says.

A notable shift was the increased reliance on marketplaces (Amazon, eBay, Walmart, etc.) and social-selling platforms. Consumers seek better value and easier access, often turning to marketplaces as one-stop shops.

"Marketplaces have become popular across many product categories," Comer notes, adding that social selling, including live selling, has rapidly expanded with influencers driving consumer trust and product recommendations. "Small businesses that can build a following and loyalty around their brand can create sustainable demand."

Related: How Online Merchants Get the Buyer Experience Right and Create Loyal, Repeat Customers

The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) has also altered the online selling landscape. Search engines are adjusting algorithms to prioritize the trust factor of websites, affecting SEO strategies. "More consumers are finding answers from AI-generated tools," Comer explains. Integrating AI into business operations, from content creation to decision-making, has seen mixed adoption among small businesses, he says. However, those embracing it report gains in efficiency.

Leverage emerging tools to create engaging shopping experiences

Looking ahead to 2025, Comer says online sellers should leverage these emerging tools and trends to their advantage. "AI is being used for many business purposes," Comer says, highlighting its applications in customer support, hyper-personalizing website experiences, and more.

To effectively reach your target audience, identify the marketplaces they frequent and experiment with your products on different platforms. While Amazon is a big name, niche products can thrive elsewhere.

"For example, eBay is a great option for electronics and auto parts, while Etsy is the go-to for handmade, vintage, and unique items," Comer explains.

Email and SMS marketing are also incredibly effective at driving sales. Consider creating welcome email journeys that include discounts, personalized product suggestions, and reminders for abandoned carts.

Although SMS marketing isn't as widely used, it typically leads to higher customer engagement. If you're using BigCommerce, setting up abandoned cart emails is straightforward, and it works well with popular email and SMS services like Klaviyo, Attentive, and MailChimp.

Related: E-Commerce Growth Strategies: 5 Small Changes for Big Impact

Small businesses should also invest in enhancing customer experience and rewards programs, Comer suggests. "Look into how these can drive repeat purchases and earn customer loyalty," he says. "Getting to three purchases drastically increases the likelihood of a customer returning. BigCommerce's platform helps create engaging shopping experiences and effective loyalty programs."

Comer says BigCommerce is enhancing its offerings to support small businesses in their growth by making its best technology available to entry-level customers. Coming next year, tools such as Makeswift, a frontend design tool, will allow business users to visually edit their sites without needing developers.

Additionally, BigCommerce aims to bring a self-serve version of their ad and marketplace data optimization product, Feedonomics, to smaller customers, helping them efficiently sell products through various channels.

Set specific goals, remain agile, and prepare for growth

Unlike larger companies, one of the best things about being a small online seller is the ability to implement change quickly. This agility allows sellers to adapt to changing consumer behaviors. " Track where you consumers shop, what is driving their purchase choices, and use data or AI to make more informed decisions," Comer says.

When it comes to setting goals for the New Year, Comer advises that online sellers should spend less time chasing perfection. He recommends accepting "good enough" where possible and pushing for "great" where it matters most. "All businesses need goals to pursue and create focus," he says. Comer recommends setting key goals that can be measured and reflected in business outcomes, breaking each down into tangible milestones and measurable impacts.

Related: Growth Mode: An Entrepreneur's Handbook to Creating an E-Commerce Powerhouse

This helps lay the groundwork for growth. With that in mind, online sellers should also ensure that their systems and processes are scalable. "What works for a business selling $100,000 online is not likely to work when you reach $1 million or $2 million," Comer warns.

That's why BigCommerce excels in scalability, accommodating businesses at various stages of growth, with tools like Feedonomics to ensure efficient ad and marketplace management, and Makeswift for seamless website updates.

"Your best strategy will be setting clear, tactical goals," Comer says. "Focus on taking action towards a specific goal, like growing 10% year-over-year. Regularly reassess your progress and make adjustments as needed."

Click here to learn more about how BigCommerce can help you increase e-commerce revenue and profit next year and beyond.