“We don’t just sell websites; we create websites that SELL.”

― Dr. Christopher Dayagdag

Here are seven proven best practices for website design that we at QualDev swear by and that you should know about –

1. Keep it simple

They say, “If you think math is hard, try web design!”

An important rule to remember while designing your eCommerce website is to stick to simplicity and aim to create to appeal to a broader audience. A minimalistic approach helps the website and favors the products. Everything on the website should have a purpose, with nothing distracting the user from focusing on content.

If the design is complicated, there is a good chance that the visitor will not understand or appreciate it. Websites that have fewer colors per page, pure hues and simple and readable fonts are the ones that sell. This ensures the buyer sees the woods behind the trees, and the most helpful information does not get lost behind flashy design.

2. Easy navigation

If it were not for convenience, people would have never shifted to online shopping. The process of buying from website should be rational and free-flowing from one point to another so that the process feels natural – akin to muscle memory. If a visitor to your website needs to click ten diverse menus to get what they are looking for, they will most likely flee within the first few seconds.

User experience can be simplified by keeping the following in mind –

• The brand logo should bring the visitor back to the homepage
• Hamburger menu bar allow visitors to choose the correct category
• Filters help narrow down search results
• An easy to locate search bar shortens the buying journey

3. Use quality visuals

The better the quality of graphics and visuals on your website, the more the users will favor your online store. This could include the following (with easy zoom-in zoom-out capabilities) –

• High-resolution photos (preferably creative photography)
• 360-degree views of your products
• 3D models or renders to show minute details
• Short and engaging videos

A huge reason visitors abandoning category and product pages, is because the owners of the website have failed to create visually appealing landing pages.

4. Make it look professional

Imagine giving your sensitive information, like your credit card number, to a website that does not look professional. This is how a customer would feel as well. Building trust is crucial if you want your ecommerce website to succeed and thus instill a professionalism and credibility. This means it is essential that your site content has –

• No typos or misspellings
• Consistent font, color palette, and footer design from page to page
• Fully functional product links and CTA buttons

If you want your shoppers to take you seriously, you need to show them that you are serious about your business. The only way to do that is with a professionally designed website and app.

5. Make it responsive

A recent report states that mobile has surpassed desktop devices as the most favored method to surf the internet. 79% of smartphone users buy products online using their mobile devices. So, if an ecommerce website is not engineered with a mobile-first approach, it is going to fail miserably. If you wish to grab new buyers who enjoy shopping on their phones or tablets, ensuring that your website design is fully responsive is important.

6. Provide multiple ways to get in touch

Your patrons are likely to hit the “Order” button faster if they know how to get in touch with you when they face any issues during their shopping journey. Having the following items on your contact page would undoubtedly help –

• E-mail, phone number, chatbot for instant contact
• Store location
• Social media profile links
• FAQs page for any contemplated queries

7. A breezy checkout

Remember how we said nothing kills a sale faster than complicated product pages. Well, a clunky checkout is the second reason. You are bound to lose customers if your checkout process is long and complex. If you want people to buy from your website, you must make buying as concise and hassle-free as possible. Make sure the steps on the checkout from your website are –

• Clean, simple, and easy to navigate
• Give the option to check out as a guest user or register an account
• The navigation and check out process should be crystal clear and easy to understand
• Offer different shipping options
• Provide a list of things to do in case of any problems
• Offer return or refund options

Once the purchase is completed, direct your consumers to a confirmation page so they know everything went through successfully.

The proverb “never judge a book by its cover” does not apply to ecommerce websites because there is a high chance that if your design fails to make a tremendous first impression, visitors are more likely to bounce. Enforce the tips outlined above and create a high-converting ecommerce website design that brings in more conversions!

Designing an ecommerce website can be a thorny task, but QualDev has you covered. QualDev is a web development company in New York known for building clean, customized eCommerce website designs that create lasting impressions both visually and interactively. So, what are you waiting for? Get in touch with us today!

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Today, we are at a stage where eCommerce and mobile commerce has become the norm. Given the amount of time people spend online, the digital shopping ecosphere has become a highly competitive space. However, there is a long list of things that eCommerce businesses can do to sustain themselves and thrive.

Since your website is the single point of contact for your online shoppers, it is important that you ensure it delivers an exceptional user experience. Having worked extensively on eCommerce projects, we have put together this definitive checklist of best practices for your eCommerce website.

10 best practices for eCommerce website that you must follow

1. Design for mobiles

The mobile-first approach has been doing the rounds for over half a decade now and for good reason. Unsurprisingly, mobile commerce is expected to account for approximately 73% of eCommerce sales by 2021. It is essential that you prioritize the mobile user experience by designing your eCommerce website for mobile.

• Design important interactions in the thumb-friendly zone
• Create tap-friendly call-to-action (CTA) buttons
• Provide a hamburger menu for easy access to navigation elements

2. Don’t make your site too heavy

Waning patience levels and short attention spans are the new normal. Any delays in terms of page load time can have a direct and detrimental effect on your conversions. This can also have a long-term impact because it leaves customers with a bad taste and impression of your brand. Here are a few things you can do to optimize your eCommerce site so that pages on it load quickly:

• Monitor the site speed and server performance regularly
• Keep a tab on the image size
• Avoid including heavy videos
• Keep an eye out for unfriendly plugins

3. Keep your navigation clean

An overcrowded the navigation bar and homepage is a strict no-no. When you have a prospect on your website; you do not want them to be confused about where to go next. Ensure that your navigation is well structured and easy to follow. Ideally, only the most important links to resources on your eCommerce website should be a part of your navigation.

• Use standard, legible and recognizable fonts
• Ensure that the search bar is easily accessible to visitors
• Keep the design and layout as simple as possible

4. Don’t let your CTAs merge with the other content on a page

The last thing you want is for a qualified lead to abandon your website because they did not know what the next action to take is! It is important that your CTA buttons stand out in every section and on every page of your site. Here are some tips to make your CTAs loud and unambiguous:

• Place CTA buttons in such a way that they are easy to spot
• Use large, bold fonts for the text on your CTA button
• Make use of contrasting colors for your CTA buttons

5. Personalize the user experience

Ever noticed how successful supermarkets stock and arrange products and sections? Think of your eCommerce website as a superstore and drive your customers around based on their interests. The idea is to make life easier for the user by showing them what they are most likely to purchase.

• Use data and analytics to understand user behavior
• Upsell and cross-sell related products

6. Offer deals and discounts upfront

Allot a dedicated space on your homepage, and other key pages, to showcase promotions and special offers. After all, no one can resist the temptation to check out a super-saver deal, right?

• Display your sale and promotions loudly and clearly
• Feature a separate banner below your navigation

7. Don’t talk like a machine

The best eCommerce websites are those that speak to you as a human would. Imagine a friend, who knows a thing or two about a certain product, telling you about why it is so great. Now apply the same concept to your product pages.

• Focus on utility and benefits over technical specifications
• Provide multiple appealing images and demo videos of the product
• Make sure your product page is well structured
• Include customer reviews and ratings

8. “You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave!”

Let these iconic lyrics written by the Eagles’ be the mantra for your website. Make the checkout process on your website as quick and simple as you can. A majority of eCommerce website visitors abandon ongoing transactions because the process is either too lengthy or complex. Avoid cart abandonment by making sure that you:

• Offer guest checkout option, without the need to register for an account
• Provide multiple payment options and secure payment gateways
• Ensure that the checkout process has minimal steps

9. Offer free shipping

Admit it – nobody likes to pay extra for shipping. Imagine completing the entire buying process only to realize right at the end that there are additional charges for shipping! Unexpected cost additions contribute to cart abandonment. Your customers are already expected to pay taxes on top of the basic price for a product. Save them the agony of having to pay for shipping.

10. Don’t ignore website SEO

Almost half of the online shopping populace begins their journey via a search engine. If your eCommerce store is not visible for relevant search phrases or keywords in the top results, you are doomed. There is every chance that your potential customers will buy the same product from a competitor. Proper website SEO, and local SEO, is integral to your eCommerce strategy and should be a priority.

So, there you have it. This comprehensive list of dos and don’ts should hold you in good stead when you create your own eCommerce website. At QualDev, we offer a bouquet of eCommerce web development services that are customized to meet your needs.

Learn how you can take your eCommerce business to the next level with us. Drop us an email or call us at any time!

The post Do’s and Don’ts – 10 Best Practices for Your eCommerce Website appeared first on QualDev.

ecommerce covers commercial transactions, including the transfer of data via the internet. This transfer takes place through different mediums – it could consist of a branded website, a marketplace like eBay or Amazon, mobile applications or even over a social media platform such as the Facebook Marketplace, Pinterest Buyable Pins, and the Shoppable Ads on Instagram. Although there are innumerable ways of selling product to consumers online, the benefit of selling online is the convenience of being able to sell products or services to any consumer at any time, irrespective of their location. 

Let us take a look at the key benefits of having an ecommerce store

1. Sell Quickly

In contrast to the conventional methods of retail, a basic ecommerce store can be set up in a few clicks. There are a lot of ecommerce platforms such as Shopify, Squarespace from where you can use some pre-made templates to design your own store. The platform looks after the hosting, maintenance, PCI compliance, etc. Other marketplaces such as Amazon or eBay need that you set up an account with them before you can begin to sell. A number of SaaS-based ecommerce platforms exist and have made the selling process quite realistic as well as simple for businesses.

2. Low Cost

Setting up an ecommerce business costs less than setting us a brick and mortar store. Most online marketplaces and ecommerce sites have a free sign-up. They normally take a small fee, charged as a percentage of the sale, for allowing you to sell products on their platform. You can make use of drop shipping to obtain inventory without investing a huge sum. Social media, Google AdWords or organic search provide cost-effective ways of marketing your online business. You can manage the business on your own thereby avoiding payroll expenses. You can build your business as and when your sales grow.

3. Shoppers begin the hunt Online

Prospective customers use digital channels a lot these days to locate products and services they need. Compared to 71% in the previous year, this year about 87% of shoppers started their search for a product online. Irrespective of whether they buy the product offline in a physical store, their search began online on a website like Amazon or eBay. Shoppers compare prices, brands, look into reviews, etc. when they search online for a product. Thus, it is important for a brand to have an online presence so as to reach their target customers.

4. Insight on Customer Data

Another benefit of selling online is that it is quite simple and easy to collect data, measure it and act on it. Selling online enables you to get your hands on first-hand data by way of tracking how customers interaction with your website. The data provides you with insights on how to improve customer experience and boost sales on your website. The availability to track customer interaction enables you to identify and perfect feedback loops of any actionable insights that will help you enhance your customer experience. All you need to do is ensure that you collect and act on this data in ethical ways and ensure that you protect it.

5. Reach Out To New Customers

As mentioned earlier, ecommerce selling has different formats. Every single channel has its own unique audience with whom sellers interact. An online site can assist a business to reach international shoppers as well. Social sites can help a business reach totally new demographics. Marketplaces such as Amazon give you a wider audience, and also help a business to identify niche markets. Marketplaces such as Etsy, Poshmark, Newegg, etc., catering to particular people who are on the lookout for specific products. The best part is that a business can use different online touchpoints to ensure that they interact with and engage many different audiences.

6. Strategy for Content Marketing

Having a presence online enables your business to offer a lot of data about the products and services you offer your customers. A branded website offers the sellers a place to provide their customers with key content. Key product content consists of some detailed product descriptions, comparisons of products, availability of inventory in-store, and pricing. This information assists customers in their purchase decisions both while they shop online or whether they choose to buy in-store. an ecommerce website can be used to provide customers with a lot of data regarding the business or how to make use of the products they sell. Blog posts, as well as videos, can be posted on a website to offer a lot of helpful content regarding the usage of products or services.

7. Serving the Niche Markets

ecommerce helps businesses to cater to the needs of niche markets in an easier way. For instance, a rare coin collector will find it quite tough to get a seller. However, the internet has made this quite simple and easy. In case you cater to a niche market, it might be easier to sell your products online.

8. Meet Customers at their location

Shoppers do not only turn to the internet to research about products they also make purchases online. ecommerce has made it quite easy for shoppers to purchase products anywhere and at any time. they can purchase products via Instagram Ads, or even mobile apps. ecommerce also provided a way for sellers to get rid of friction points and has made it easy for buyers to buy products they desire from any source, from anywhere.

Conclusion

In short, getting an ecommerce shop up and running is simpler, involves low-costs and low-risks, than setting up a physical store. As long as you have a perfect business plan and have products that cater to the needs of your customers, the internet is here to offer a passive income as well as a high ROI in the long run. If you are looking for professional help in your e-commerce store development, we are one of the leading ecommerce website development companies in USA and are here to help you walk the path to success.

The post The 8 Benefits of Having An E-commerce Website in Today’s Business Scenario appeared first on QualDev.