3 Reasons Why You Should Attend the Next MMNY
Whether you are an online merchant or involved in technology, eCommerce conferences are one of the best ways to learn what is new in the industry and connect with industry thought leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators. One such conference was Meet Magento NY 2019, which took place on September 5-6 at the Edison Ballroom in New York.
Before jumping into my quick list of revelations, is important to provide some context around my first Meet Magento event. I have worked in the world of eCommerce for 6 years – first as a merchant, then in digital marketing automation, and now I am helping merchants navigate the changing waters of eCommerce with hard to solve questions like: Which platform makes the most sense? What solutions and strategies will drive a strong ROI? And how do I set myself up for the future?
My goal for Meet Magento was to make new friends, learn as much as possible about the Magento platform and its future, and maybe do a little sightseeing. I am happy to report that all three objectives were met. Hence, I figured I would share a little bit about what I learned about the event and what you missed if you didn’t attend.
1. eCommerce is a people business – especially in the Magento community.
In all of my years of attending trade shows and events, I have never met a more welcoming group of people. Developers, merchants and everyone in between were excited to make new connections and share their knowledge about the world of eCommerce.
With the landscape of digital commerce changing on a daily basis, keeping a pulse on what will impact your business can seem like a daunting task. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be. No matter what role you have in eCommerce, I encourage you to reach out to strangers and strike up a conversation. You never know what they might be able to teach you.
2. Everything is changing, as usual.
Nothing in the world of technology stands still, but not many things change as fast as eCommerce. I think the most important takeaway from this realization is how important it is to stay present and focused on what will impact your business, but do your best to stay educated on broad topics like data protection and regulations, the marketplace of eCommerce platforms, and major technology changes on the horizon.
Adobe’s acquisition of Magento, is no doubt, a sign of more change to come. Personally, I am excited to familiarize myself with the rest of Adobe’s offerings and get involved in much bigger conversations about what technologies make the most sense for the merchants I work with.
Progressive Web Apps will, one day, be the new standard in eCommerce. There is already a cottage industry of developers and tools focusing all of their efforts on this next evolution; developers, technology partners and merchants alike need to be educating themselves on new efficiencies and strategies that a PWA could solve for. The technology is still young, but it’s time to start planning for another big change.
Magento – Amazon Integration. I am tempted to write 10 pages of content on Amazon’s impact on the world, but I will force myself to keep it short. A new integration between Amazon and Magento will allow Magento stores to leverage all of the advantages of Amazon, while building and maintaining their own brand, and having the flexibility to support their B2B customers with tiered pricing options.
“From the ease and familiarity of the Magento Admin, you’ll have continuously synchronized product catalog, inventory, and order information.”
Magento.com
This is something everyone should be excited about – pureplay Amazon merchants get to build a whole new sales channel, merchants on both channels have the chance to optimize how they operate, and Magento merchants have a whole new reason to open up their business to Amazon. 100% great news.
3. Small Changes can make a Big Impact
Something that has always captivated me about eCommerce is the importance of tiny details. One line of code is wrong, and nothing works. Segment your email list, and nearly double your open rate. Change the picture of a Shopping Cart on the checkout button to a Padlock and see a 7% increase in revenue per visitor?!
I wish I could condense this insight into a singular piece of advice, but I think it may just be good to remember as a general concept. No matter the scale of your business, the importance of details represents a major liability, but also a major opportunity. Staying active in the Magento community will give you the best chance of seeing new trends and tweaks you can take advantage of, but don’t be afraid to experiment on your own!
In conclusion – if you are involved in eCommerce, Meet Magento NY is an event that you should not miss. Even if you don’t know anyone, just show up. The Magento community is one of the most devoted communities in the eCommerce industry. Whether you are a merchant, a technology provider or an integrator, you’ll meet like-minded people who will inspire you to achieve success in selling online.
-Patrick von Holt
Sales and Partnerships
