E-commerce websites have been on the rise in recent years, so much so that they have replaced brick-and-mortar stores in retail business. E-commerce is integrating the technology, retail experience, aesthetics, and lightweight design of online stores in an innovative way that users fully enjoy.
With the advent of user-friendly websites, secure online payments, smartphones and tablets, eCommerce website development is skyrocketing. Whether it is a fashion retail store or a furniture store, online presence has become a ‘must have’ for all entrepreneurial businesses because the audience of each of them can be found and addressed online.
Building an eCommerce website can be as simple — or complicated — as you’d like, however, making sure it takes off requires you to work on certain fundamentals. This article summarizes the most important below:
1. Simple and functional navigation
A complicated site with conversions. Click-throughs, pop-ups, and incessant categorization make your eCommerce website annoying and have a high chance of losing customers.
Your eCommerce website design should be comfortable for all types of customers and something familiar to what they are accused of using. And make sure at all costs that your website navigation is functional. Don’t kill the enthusiasm of an engaged customer with the sight of an ugly 404 error page.
2. Lightweight Website Design
A website that takes more than 5 seconds to load is hurting conversions. Desktop users are very likely to leave the page without even viewing the products if the web page takes more than 5 seconds to load. Mobile users are more patient, but only slightly.
Consumers are an impatient people. Work with an efficient hosting company if you want to make the most of your visitors and not miss out on any potential sales. Also, use lightweight web design in your e-commerce website development to use minimal, simpler and faster components that speed up your website load duration.
3. Strong ‘on-site’ search functionality
The most profitable customers are those who visit your website with some sense of what they want. Losing them to look for a malfunction is akin to turning down easy money. Therefore, it is crucial for eCommerce website developers to install high-quality metadata while building the website.
Your website must be able to reflect users’ search queries and understand what they are looking for. If your site’s search tools don’t effortlessly lead users to desired products in the blink of an eye, your eCommerce website needs a complete overhaul.
4. Visibly clear location of key information
The key information that customers are looking for should be placed in good contrast with other background information. This key information includes Call to Action buttons like Buy Now, Add to Cart, and descriptions like Price, Features, Support Options, and Customer Feedback.
Such information provokes an action by users and its visibility increases the credibility of the website, so pay attention to those details on your website.
5. Minimal distractions
Give your customers a seamless web experience and don’t overwhelm them with unnecessary information. Up-sell and cross-sell at the right times, and never before. If you are doing both of these wrong, you are discouraging the customer from making the purchase.
Web developers need to realize that less is more, giving their clients white space and a minimal, flat design instead of drowning them in information clutter.
6. Good copy and catchy images
These two are going to play the most direct role in convincing customers to make the purchase. Use clear, bright, high-quality images that are easy on the eyes. Optimize them for Google and compress them before uploading or else they may become a threat.
Good writing makes your text speak. Use an active voice that reaches customers and compels them to go all the way through their buying process.
No two eCommerce websites are the same as each one has a unique set of target audience and market requirements. But what is common to all is a fundamental foundation that requires a great investment of time, care and attention to detail such as those mentioned above.
