Few marketplaces in history have been as open and accessible to the entrepreneur as the internet. Today, the ecommerce sector is a booming space—although that wasn’t always a foregone conclusion. The dot-com bubble raised many questions and doubts, but today, all those have been replaced by a vibrant digital market where individuals and major corporations compete for attention.
With surging demand for ecommerce options in many categories, now is an excellent time to dive in — but what does it take to be successful? A good marketing plan and effective advertising are essential for getting people to your site but converting hits into sales demands good design.
The way you build your ecommerce site impacts its effectiveness as a storefront. To give yourself the best chance of standing out, keep these five tips for ecommerce website design in mind.
1. Build a Sleek, Fast Page With Low Load Times
A responsive page is very important. Not only do search engines factor loading time into rankings, but online shoppers aren’t always patient. A page that takes too long to load can send them searching for another option. Focus your design on ensuring swift load times to hold a shopper’s attention.
2. Harmonise User Experiences Across Platforms
We don’t all use desktop computers to browse the web anymore—in fact, many users interact with the web exclusively on mobile devices. Ensure that your site looks and behaves the same no matter whether a user arrives on a smartphone, a tablet, or a computer.
3. Let Customers See Items Up Close
Like real shopping, buyers want to get a good look at items before they purchase. Don’t just use stock images of your items — invest in high-quality, multi-angle photos. Sometimes, even video content is a good idea, particularly for products that require consumer education.
4. Streamline Checkout and Eliminate Unnecessary Steps
Yes, the checkout process is a chance to capture customer information — but don’t put up too many barriers. The more steps there are to buy a shopping cart full of items, the more likely you’ll see your abandonment rate rise. Options such as guest checkout provide buyers with a fast and easy way to complete their purchase. Whenever possible, avoid requiring an account sign-up process mid-purchase.
5. Invest in the Power of Social Proof
A unique aspect of ecommerce is the opportunity to reinforce a buyer’s decision in the moment. Showcasing social proof on a product page, such as user reviews and photos, reveals to the buyer that others have made the decision and enjoyed their experience. Building this into your design lets users shop, compare, contrast, and buy confidently.
Gives Users What They Want and Grow Your Business Online
Ultimately, all these design choices are about a shopping experience that is as easy and stress-free as a physical location. Building your site around a positive user experience is the key to driving sales. At Digital Lion, a proven ecommerce developer, we have a clear understanding of the best practices for effective shopping site design today.
Connect with us and discover what’s possible on the road to a successful online store.
Calgary-headquartered Digital Lion, with secondary locations in Edmonton and Ottawa, is a digital marketing and design agency built with a purpose and passion to partner with its clients and provide first-class Web Development, Graphic Design, Logo Design and Online Marketing services. We work with clients across Canada, as well as worldwide, and are focused on being environmentally friendly and giving back to charities that we are passionate about. Our mission is to “Design a Better World®.” Browse our website, follow our social media channels, and contact us anytime for more information on how we can customize a package that meets your needs and suits your style.
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