If you are starting an eCommerce business and need a website designed, it is important to appreciate that the design elements which make an eCommerce website great will differ from other websites. Much of this stems from the fact that eCommerce websites tend to be larger as they have a page for every product. ECommerce websites will also include order pages, legal pages, customer service pages and a shopping cart function.
As such, when it comes to designing an eCommerce website, attention must be paid to the website’s functionality and the user experience, as this can often be the difference between someone buying something and them clicking away and buying it elsewhere. To help you, here are 7 ways to enhance the design of your eCommerce website.
#1: Make It Easy To Browse Through Your Online Store
If you walked into a store looking for specific items but nothing was signposted you would soon try elsewhere. The same applies to online stores which means your website’s design must include clear and simple navigation to allow visitors to go through your eCommerce site with ease. The easier you make it for them to browse, the more chance there is of them buying.
#2: Make The Purchasing Process Simple
Nothing will lose you more customers on the brink of buying one of your products than the means of purchasing is not being clear and obvious. Specific design features such as a clear call to action on the buy button, and an obvious means of adding an item to their basket will stop the customer from becoming confused which is the last thing you want on an eCommerce website.
#3 Use Great Images To Showcase Your Products
Whilst your potential customers may not be able to feel or touch your products you can give the opportunity to see them in as much detail and clarity as possible with the use of high-quality product images. Do not use stock images but invest in having the best possible photographs of your product on your eCommerce website. this also applies to product videos too.
#4: Ensure All Pricing Is Clear And Unambiguous
Whilst you may know all elements of your pricing structure including any delivery fees, sales taxes and so on, but your potential customers do not. This is why, when you are designing your eCommerce website, that you must ensure that all prices and additional fees are crystal clear. This means that when customers get to the point of checking out, that they know exactly what is going to be charged to their credit card.
#5: Always Offer Additional Related Products With Each Purchase
This is where far too many eCommerce businesses leave money on the table, and where you can take a lesson from McDonald’s. Regardless of what food you are buying in McDonald’s, you are always asked if you want fries. Why? Because it generates additional revenue for them. Set up your website so that with each and every product added to their shopping cart, customers are offered additional related products.
#6: Ensure Your Website Is Optimised For Mobile
Many of your customers will only access the internet via their mobile devices rather than from a desktop computer so it is essential that your eCommerce website is designed to be responsive. This way, product pages and the checkout page, will appear properly on mobile and tablet screens.
#7: Point Visitors Towards Your Positive Reviews And Social Proof
Positive reviews and social proof are almost akin to a currency when it comes to eCommerce websites, such is their value. This is why your eCommerce website’s design should encourage customers to submit them. More than that, the positive reviews and testimonials you receive should be clearly signposted within your website’s navigation system so that they can be easily found and read.