E-commerce sites account for a substantial portion of shopping. Consumers are opting to use mobile media as well as the standardized websites to obtain goods which in the past required visiting a retail store to obtain. According to an article by Forbes, “consumers are buying online more than ever and growth rates in the e-commerce sector remain very healthy”. Because of the growth, competitiveness in product presentation and in e-commerce product development has grown as well. It is therefore critical that the businessman or woman work alongside their web developer in implementing strategies which are effective and encourage user interaction on the site. One such way in which an e-commerce site can boost their product sales is with interactive 3D components.
Get the full perspective
When people go online to view a product, the person wants to have a clear picture of the product that he or she is purchasing. And while you can take an ample amount of static shots with a camera and then present these to the potential buyer, such does not guarantee that the product will be fully and best represented. Yet, if a product is modeled in 3D and then that render is coded so that it can be viewed from various angles, the customer is given no reason to believe that the product has not been fully represented.
In the above webpage, the customer is able to see the JVC camera from any angle they desire. Furthermore, the information dot provides various sales points of the product. Similar methods can be used for your products to encourage the viewer to interact with your product as well as to see the “real” product.
It is a matter of choice
E-commerce sites, especially those which are focused upon clothing or design, generally have a target audience with diverse taste. That being the case, it is a bit restrictive for a site to present one static image to represent the offered product. If on the other hand, the product is able to change its features and options to show the possibilities of color and texture, then the likelihood that a potential client will see and purchase an option that he or she likes is increased. Take for example the site below:
The customer is engaged on the site through the design process. Notice that the features include the style, the materials and colors as well as the sizing of the show. Also, note that the 3D model rotates. Carefully designed, a page which offers a product and options increases the likelihood of a sale by:
- Increasing the time that the person spends on the site
- Empowering the customer to create the product
- Giving the customer more than just text and images to engage in
- Allowing for the customer to share their design and thus have others visit and try their designs of the product.
Be cautious that you do not add too many features, or you could sacrifice the pleasure of a 3D experience for a site that Is too difficult to navigate or one that takes too long to load (both of which will decrease and not increase sales).
3D adds depth to the site
Take a moment to explore some e-commerce sites on google. When you do so, you will note that the majority of the sites are flat. There may be some stunning photography to break up the space, or some customized font to help add dynamics, but for the most part the site has no depth. Sites which incorporate 3D elements into the design give a third dimension to the screen (the z axis). When this new dimension is added, the viewer does not see the site as being 2D (such as a newspaper article or magazine ad) but rather as being a physical store with depth and weight. And as our eyes are more prone to a 3D world, because we live in a 3D world, the visitor is more likely to stay and then to make a purchase.
Don’t underestimate the small details
When making your 3D objects for your e-commerce site, do not neglect to take into consideration the small details that make the product believable. Should you not have the software to make your own 3D models and wish to purchase a stock model and customize it, ensure that the model you choose is high enough poly that it does not distort and that the textures are not pixelated. Remember, it is the first impression of the product that the customer will see and a representation of your business’s standards. Ensure that you design and present the objects well and you are sure to see an increase in your customer engagement and product sales.