How do I sell more? That’s the question everyone has been asking since the beginning of time. And it’s no surprise that this issue has been transferred to the Internet as well. This year alone 80% of people shopped online (Source: Selz). We’re sure you won’t be shocked if we told you the competition out there is tough. Any website owner knows that. But as an online store owner, the challenge is twofold: as if getting noticed wasn’t hard enough, you also need to be chosen.
If your product is unique, you may be safe from disappearing into the sea of competition. If you have some competitors, which is no doubt the case for most businesses, then this article is aimed just for you. Strap in, since we’re about to reveal the secret to creating a profitable ecommerce website. Many elements can contribute to this such as the user experience, your promotional offers and the product or service itself. But studies showed that there’s one key element that makes all the difference: everything comes down to the design of your ecommerce site.
From the home page to the shopping cart, we have grouped the best ecommerce website design practices you should implement for a profitable online store:
Showcase your categories at the top of the page
We shouldn’t have to remind you that Internet users hate to search for obvious information. Any and all-important content should be placed front and center so it’s unmissable. Cut to the chase by placing clearly defined categories of your products on the homepage of your site.
Let’s say you’re a clothing designer, you could categorize your products according to specific items such as tops, bottoms, shoes, and accessories. In order for your customers to fully understand what you have to offer, you could create an engaging slideshow that clients could scroll through to see your best sellers or your latest additions. This element also gives your site a subtle touch of animation.
Create a detailed menu
Think of your menu as a way to guide visitors through your site. It should appear on every page so that customers can access any category from wherever they may find themselves on your site. In order to reduce the amount of scrolling required, opt for a frozen menu that doesn’t move as customers scroll further and further.
Considering all of this, make sure you leave no page behind and make sure to organize your pages in your menu in a logical order.
Add customer testimonials
It’s no secret that many savvy consumers search for customer reviews before making any kind of purchasing decision. According to Influence Central, 90% of consumers say that an online review is more important than input from a sales professional. With this in mind, make this process easy for your future clients by including customer reviews directly on your product page.
By doing this, you’re able to reassure your visitors that you are a transparent and reliable company.
Show your opening hours and your address
As a website visitor, there’s nothing more frustrating than having to search for contact information. It’s enough to make any site visitor throw in the towel and leave the site altogether. Avoid that and make sure all of your contact details are instantly visible by placing them in the header or the footer of every page of your site. Of course, this shouldn’t prevent you from having a dedicated “About” page, where this information (and more) will be repeated and developed.
If you have a physical store an appreciated and nifty bonus is to add the address alongside a free and customizable Google Maps widget so that customers know anytime where and when to find you in town.
Highlight your competitive advantages
Now, now, don’t be shy. If you have impeccable service, there’s no reason to hide it. On the contrary – highlight the things about your business that give you a that competitive edge. A free delivery option or a no questions asked refund policy can lift any sense of doubt to a possible client who’s hesitating to take that final step.
A good practice is to highlight your strengths by prominently displaying them on your page. There’s no need for this to take up too much space, an icon with a couple of words will do the trick.
The idea here is that your client will instantly understand why it’s better for them to buy from your site and not a competitor’s.
Prove that your site is secure
Security while shopping online should be a top priority for all online store owners. Your visitors are also weary of this issue, so in order for them to feel ‘safe’ enough to take out their credit card, they should know that your site is 100% safe. You can achieve this by including an icon on your shopping cart page. This will immediately put shoppers doubts at ease.
If you use Builderfly, the “SSL secure” icon is automatically present on the checkout page of your Builderfly Store. So there’s nothing you have to do on your end but watch your sales come in.
Show your policies (cancellation, delivery, refund)
Be upfront and honest about what all of your policies are in order to avoid unhappy shoppers. This also shows clients that you are honest and trustworthy as a company. Whether it’s your cancellation, refund, return or delivery policy makes sure it’s available. The best way to display this is through a well thought through the FAQ page. If hidden, customers may get the feeling you’re trying to deceive them. As you can guess, they probably won’t go through with their transaction if this necessary information is not available.
Designing an online business site can be tough. However, since you’re well-acquainted with key tips to create stunning ecommerce website design now, you can build a webpage that looks stunning.
