AI Makeover Transforms Google Shopping 🤖

AI makeovers? Yes, please 🙂‍ ! It’s official—AI is our present-day Midas ⚱️.

Welcome back to The Ecom Press, where we dig into the latest ecommerce buzz 🗞️!

This week, Google Shopping gets a major upgrade with AI tools that promise to make your shopping experience smarter and smoother 🛍️. Meanwhile, the FTC’s new "Click-to-Cancel" rule is set to rescue us all from those never-ending subscription traps 📨. 

And Croctober fans, get ready! Your four-legged pals are stepping out in style with their very own matching Crocs 🦮. 

Ready for some hooman-pet twinning vibes 😎?

Let’s dive in!

In a rush? Here's the juice🤭:

🤖 AI makeover transforms Google Shopping.

🐶 Crocs goes big for Croctober with pet clogs.

🚨 FTC announces new “Click-to-Cancel” rule to make canceling subscriptions easier.

📚Case Study: How Envelopes.com Increased Conversions by 40% with Targeted Follow-Up Emails 📩.

⚡️Worthy Mentions

🤖 AI makeover transforms Google Shopping.

Google Shopping is getting an AI makeover with its new AI features that are designed to reshape how we shop online. With over 45 billion product listings, Google is set to personalize shopping with the new integrations of AI tools like generative AI and AR, including virtual try-ons and personalized product recommendations.

Launched on October 15, the revamped Google Shopping is set to be in full operation all over the U.S. in the coming weeks. With AI-driven insights, users can now shop smarter and faster, even during the holiday rush. 

What are the key features 🚀? 

💻 AI-Generated Search Summaries: Google uses AI to summarize key product details at the top of search results to streamline the decision-making process. For instance, a search like “men’s winter jacket for Seattle” will highlight relevant factors to consider, helping shoppers make faster choices.

🧥 Virtual Try-On: AI and AR tools allow shoppers to virtually try on clothing, increasing confidence in online purchases by letting them visualize how items will fit without leaving their homes.

🔍 Dynamic Filters: This feature lets you refine your search by size, availability, and location, ensuring personalized results that match your specific needs quickly.

👌 Personalized Home Feed: Google’s Shopping home page is now tailored with products and videos based on past searches and trends, offering a more personalized browsing experience for your preferences.

📄 Dedicated Deals Page: The new deals page helps users find the best prices through personalized offers, price tracking, and comparisons based on their shopping habits.

Certainly, this update will deepen user trust and loyalty while increasing engagement and sales for businesses. It’s a win-win!

🐶 Crocs goes big for Croctober with pet clogs.

Croctober is here, and Crocs is going all out to celebrate its fan community. This year, the brand is taking things up a notch with the launch of a long-requested product: Pet Crocs. 

In partnership with BARK, Crocs is bringing matching footwear in this fun, fan-driven campaign for dogs and their human companions.

Here are the product details 📝. 

• Material: Pet Crocs are made from comfy, breathable EVA foam booties.

• Color Options: Available in two glow-in-the-dark colorways — Green Slime and Pink Dragon Fruit.

• Sizes: Small, medium, and large sizes to fit dogs weighing up to 80 pounds.

• Matching Human Version: Classic Lined Clogs for humans are available in the same colors.

• Customization: Personalize with dog-themed Jibbitz™ charms for extra flair.

• Pricing: Pet Crocs are priced at $50, while the human version costs $65.

The global release is TODAY, Croc Day, October 23, 2024 📣! Fans can purchase the Pet Crocs and matching clogs on Crocs.com or in select stores for a limited time ⏰.

Beyond the product launch, the Croctober festivities include surprise product drops and giveaways, so are fans encouraged to share their Croctober moments using the hashtag #Croctober. There’s even a life-sized Crocs costume for those wanting to fully immerse themselves in the spirit of the season.

So hurry, hooman, and get yourself some matching Crocs with your dog 🚶‍♂️🐕‍🦺!

🚨 FTC announces new “Click-to-Cancel” rule to make canceling subscriptions easier.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced a new “click-to-cancel” rule, which aims to simplify the process for consumers to cancel recurring subscriptions and memberships. Under the new rule, which goes into effect 180 days after publication in the Federal Register, businesses must make it as easy for consumers to cancel a service as it was to sign up. 

The rule applies to almost all subscription-based services, ensuring that consumers aren’t trapped in hard-to-exit plans.

The new Click-to-Cancel prohibits sellers from ⚠️:

• Misrepresenting any material fact made while marketing goods or services with a negative option feature.

• Failing to clearly and conspicuously disclose material terms prior to obtaining a consumer’s billing information in connection with a negative option feature.

• Failing to obtain a consumer’s express informed consent to the negative option feature before charging the consumer.

• Failing to provide a simple mechanism to cancel the negative option feature and immediately halt charges.

This announcement follows increasing complaints about subscription services, with the FTC reporting an average of 70 consumer complaints per day in 2024 📝. The rule, part of the FTC’s ongoing review of its 1973 Negative Option Rule, aims to combat tricky subscription practices and improve transparency.

Well, it’s safe to say that businesses that rely on difficult-to-cancel subscriptions as part of their revenue streams may see a reduction in customer retention. For users, it’s more control, transparency, and user-friendly experience 😁.

🛎️ The Ecom Press Insider

Ecom Fact: The average cart abandonment rate is around 70% (Source: Baymard Institute). Shoppers often leave items behind due to unexpected costs, required sign-ups, or overly complicated checkout processes.

That's nearly three out of four potential sales lost 😩!

The fix? Keep it simple and transparent—small changes help retain customers and boost conversion rates.

Speaking of boosting conversions, let’s dive into how Envelopes.com tackled this challenge and achieved a 40% increase in conversions 💸.

📚Case Study: How Envelopes.com Increased Conversions by 40% with Targeted Follow-Up Emails 📩.

Envelopes.com, an online trader specializing in stationery and envelopes, was grappling with a familiar ecommerce headache: cart abandonment 🛒! Like many online stores, they faced visitors adding products to their carts only to exit without completing the purchase. 

Realizing the lost sales potential, the team decided to act by targeting these would-be customers who had shown intent but hadn't gone through with their orders.

How did they solve this 🫣? 

Envelopes.com applied a targeted follow-up email strategy and focused on timing 🕚. They believed sending reminder emails would likely lead to sales but weren’t sure when exactly to send them. So they created two test groups:

🔥 Group 1 received an email the very next morning at 11 a.m.

🔥 Group 2 received their follow-up email after 48 hours. 

The results? Well, timing turned out to be everything 🤭!

Next-morning emails (11 a.m.) delivered some solid results, with a 38.63% open rate and a 19.54% click-through rate. Pretty impressive, right? This group saw a 27.66% conversion rate—meaning about one in four people completed their purchases after receiving the email 😮‍💨.

The 48-hour follow-up had a slightly lower open rate of 38.01%, but the click-through rate jumped to 24.71%, and most importantly, the conversion rate soared to 40% 💸. That’s a significant difference! Waiting those extra hours allowed Envelopes.com to convert nearly half of their hesitant customers into paying buyers 🛍️.

What are the key takeaways 🤷‍♂️?

☄️ Send Targeted Follow-up Emails: Don’t leave potential sales hanging. If someone abandons their cart, sending a follow-up email can serve as a gentle reminder and rekindle their interest. Ensure your emails are focused on those who have shown real purchasing intent—this boosts your chances of sealing the deal.

⏳ Timing is Everything: When it comes to cart recovery emails, timing can make or break the sale. With 48 hours yielding better conversions, a safe recommendation would be anything between 2-5 business days. This brings us to the next point…

🔍 Test, Test, Test: Studies indicate that Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are the best days to send follow-up emails, all between the hours of 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. For Envelopes.com, 48 hours was all they needed. However, what works for one audience might not work for another. 

A/B testing different email times and even subject lines is crucial to finding the best strategy for your business. Continually optimizing based on results can maximize conversions.

 ​​🎯 Personalization Drives Engagement: Tailor follow-up emails with relevant product recommendations or incentives based on previous customer interactions. This makes the message feel more like a personalized nudge than a generic reminder while also creating chances to cross-sell or upsell items they may find valuable.

In the end, conversions aren’t just about perfect timing—they're about connecting the right message with the right audience. Nail personalization and strategy, and the conversions will follow 🤑!

⚡️Worthy Mentions

• Tom Holland launches non-alcoholic beer BERO in support of sobriety.

• Google Ads’ new policy will remove data older than 11 years.

• Reddit rolls out new AI-powered keyword targeting features.

• Starbucks introduces ‘Wicked’-themed drinks and mugs ahead of movie release.

• OpenAI announces SearchGPT to integrate with ChatGPT by end of 2024.

That’s a wrap for this week 💯!

From AI taking Google Shopping to new heights, to Croctober’s epic footwear for dogs, and smoother subscription cancellations—there’s plenty to get excited about 🥳.

Until next time, stay ahead of the curve and keep your carts full (but not abandoned) 😜. 

PS: Hit that subscribe button if you haven’t already⛷️!