With thousands of e-commerce sites on the web, it can be difficult to distinguish yourself from the rest. So how should one develop a distinguishable and sustainable e-commerce strategy? Here are just six aspects of excellent e-commerce design that you can use to stay in the game.
1: Crisp Photographs
Never post any pixelated images on your site. Make sure that they’re clear and sharp even when you zoom in or examine the product from another angle. You might also want to apply filters to ensure that the lighting is bright enough or that any red-eyes or motion blurs have been eliminated.
2: Good Product Descriptions
There’s an art to well-crafted product descriptions, and not every ecommerce site can manage it. For starters, it shouldn’t be too long or too short; aim for 75-100 words total. Bullet points or other emphasized features are also important so the user can learn more. You don’t want to make them slog through a large block of uninterrupted text.
3: Simple Site Navigation
How are users expected to get around your site? Do you have a drop-down menu, sidebar buttons or a mixture of both? You’ll want your catalogues easily perused and your product categories efficiently identified and browsed. This is what encourages visitors to stick around and shop.
4: Convenient Shopping Cart
Shopping cart technology can make or break a website. For example, if you require your users to jump through a dozen hoops before they can confirm their purchase, they’re just as likely to call the whole thing off rather than be inconvenienced or annoyed. Keep your online shopping cart stress-free and easy to fill.
5: Suggestive Search Engines
It isn’t enough to embed search engines into your website. You’ll also want them to make suggestions of their own to increase interest, clicks and sales. What have other customers bought when shopping for similar items? What accessories or adds-on can the product offer?
6: Accessible Information
First-time customers will have a lot of questions about shipping prices and return policies. If they can’t access that information quickly and conveniently, they might be tempted to take their business elsewhere. Create an FAQ and link it heavily throughout your site. You might also consider a sidebar or bottom listing filled with things like links, hours and contact information.
It’s easier than you think to create an engaging and well-crafted ecommerce site. If you’re serious about breaking into the virtual market and making a splash in the retail industry, use these six tips for success.