This knowledge comes from gathering user interaction data from each touchpoint across all your channels. The most well-known sources for this data are:
Point of entry
The starting point on your site says a lot about the intentions of a visitor. Was it through a search or a paid social ad? Distinguish new visitors from returning customers that enter your site via your newsletter, for instance.
Anonymous data
Visitors bring a wealth of information with them, giving you insights on how, when and why they visited your site. Compare that data to time of year or season to get a handle on when specific items are in higher demand.
Visitor behavior
Get a sense of your visitors’ real-time intent based on visited pages, entered searches and read content, and the point at which browsing led to a conversion. This is all valuable data to help understand your customers’ needs.
External data
Valuable data does not come from just your website. Your CRM, ERP, customer service, and third-party solutions all offer loads of information. Combine this information with the first three items for a comprehensive view of your customer’s behavior.
For more in-depth insight on applying personalization to your e-commerce, download Sitecore's
free whitepaper: 'How to personalize your e-commerce to boost performance'.
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