Shopping Online – How Is the Internet Affecting Shopping Habits? [Infographic]

The internet has been the premier shopping destination for a long time now (more than 85% of internet users worldwide consider themselves online shoppers), but that doesn’t mean the experience has stopped evolving or growing. In fact, global e-commerce revenues are expected to grow to nearly $1 trillion in 2013.

Over the years, a lot of trends have emerged in the way people shop on line and the things that influence their behavior. Right now, people can buy almost anything online and have it shipped right to their door, and yet it’s still books and apparel that have the highest percentage (53% each) of shoppers. Electronics, computers, and games are another popular category, as well as a third of the shoppers purchasing health and beauty supplies.

The ability to speak your mind and leave a review about a product or service has also had a big impact on the way people shop online. 62% of shoppers will take the time to read online reviews before they make a purchase, and nearly half of them will always check a competitor’s price to make sure they’re getting the best deal. 21% of people will decide not to make their purchase, though, if there are just two or more negative reviews.

One of the more recent developments is how mobile devices are affecting shopping habits. Most purchases (81%) on a smartphone are usually done spontaneously. If the product in question requires a lot of comparison shopping or research into the quality and value, then those shoppers are more likely to just take care of it on a regular computer. However, 67% have used multiple devices sequentially to shop online—for instance, finding a deal on a Windows 8 tablet and then switching to a PC to find more information or to complete the final purchase.

Online shopping has changed a lot over the years, and as the number of people with internet access continues to grow, we will likely continue to see new developments and expanding opportunities in different industries.