Despite the economic uncertainty, eCommerce continues to thrive all over the world. In fact, Statista predicts the eCommerce industry to account for 22% of all retail sales by the year 2023. At the same time, it is expected that 95% of all purchases will be conducted via online platforms by 2040.
This means that if you are selling anything under the sun, you need to set up an eCommerce website. With the help of your site, you will be able to attract more customers, reach new leads, and grow your sales effectively.
However, eCommerce sites can be tricky to design. This is because the success of your website does not only depend on its ‘good looks.’ To ensure that it reaches your revenue goals, the site’s design needs to drive visitors to take action…and, of course, buy your product/services.
But, how exactly can you achieve your goals? How can you design an eCommerce website that will have customers lining up in a virtual queue?
Top 7 eCommerce design tips for retailers
Here, let’s take a look at the top 7 eCommerce design tips that will help your business reach more customers.
1. Keep it simple
One of the foremost rules of website designing is to keep the layout simple. The more features (pop-ups, banners, ads, colors) you have on the page, the more distraction it will create for your visitors. And in turn, it will upset the primary goal of your eCommerce platform – closing the sales.
Browse through your favorite eCommerce site or competitor’s shop. See how they organize their website and follow a similar pattern in your store to keep up with the industry norms.
You should also think about how you can streamline the menu options and product pages to make things simpler for the audience. For example, a drop-down menu is really helpful and keeps the website clear of clutters.
2. Make it mobile-friendly
It is no hidden fact that shoppers prefer to make searches and purchases via their mobile phones instead of PCs. Global mobile eCommerce sales are also predicted to reach $3.56 trillion by the end of 2021. With this being the case, you must make your website mobile-responsive to facilitate all visitors.
A mobile-responsive eCommerce website will ensure that your content fills all sizes of screens without running off the sides. The layout should also be straightforward, allowing the shoppers to quickly complete all steps of online shopping through their preferred device.
3. Use scannable content
You may spend days curating long descriptions of your products. But we have got news for you – no one is going to read it!
Nowadays, the average human being has a very short attention span. Instead of reading lengthy paragraphs of texts, they prefer to scan the content for key information. So, in order to get your message across, you have to make your content scannable. Something that allows them to get in, browse, purchase, and leave swiftly.
When creating content for your eCommerce website, aim for short sentences and paragraphs. Use bold format and bulleted list to capture attention. The easier it is to scan your site’s content, the more plausible it will be for your visitor to get the message. And ultimately, make a purchase.
4. Include great images
eCommerce websites are all about images. With the help of these pictures, your potential customers can exactly see what they are buying. And if you end up adding a pixelated, small, dark, or stretched image – you can expect your website’s credibility to drop significantly.
To highlight the features of your product, take several shots of each and create a slideshow for the listing. Consumers also like to see the products in action, so make sure you add a few pictures of the item being used.
Take your own photographs if hiring a professional is not an option for you. However, make sure to invest in a quality camera as smartphone clicks might not make the cut with the audience. You can also choose affordable stock photos from reputable sites and add them to your blogs and other promotional material.
5. Go for Testimonials
Reading testimonials and reviews has become a natural part of the buyer’s journey. And 95% of shoppers agree that these reviews – whether positive or negative impact their purchase decision.
When you are in the process of designing your eCommerce website, make sure to add a rating section where your loyal customers can rate your product/services. Include testimonials in the form of write-ups or even videos to boost the trust factor.
Remember, the more positive reviews you have, the more legitimate your brand will appear. And as a result, the more your conversions will go up.
6. Make browsing easy
Nothing kills a sale faster than a website with an overwhelming number of categories. If your visitor has to click around multiple categories to find their desired product, they will not hesitate to abandon your store. It is also possible that they will head on over to the competitors.
If you have a lot of products, make the layout simple for your visitors to navigate. Include filters for size, color, design, and prices to enable them to search for products more conveniently. You can also break down your product list into subcategories to make them search-friendly.
7. Create a smooth checkout process
The average cart abandonment rate is around 70%. And while there are many reasons for this, most shoppers leave in the midst of checkout due to a lengthy or complicated process.
Make the design of your checkout page simple, clean, and easy to navigate. Avoid forcing the customers to create an account to process the purchase. Instead, give them the option to sign in as a guest to speed up the checkout lane.
Keep the checkout form limited as well. Eliminate unnecessary fields and ask for only vital information. It is also a good idea not to time the visitors and make them start all over again as the majority of shoppers hate retyping their credit card details.
Wrapping it up
Most marketers are overwhelmed with the idea of designing their eCommerce site. But now that you know the top website design tips, you have everything you need to build an attractive site that can elevate your business.
So, what are you waiting for? Use these tips in your web design and increase your sales. Good Luck!
Author Bio
Ivanna Attie is a content manager, researcher, and author in various visual media-oriented publications. She is a passionate communicator with a love for visual imagery, ecommerce, digital marketing and an inexhaustible thirst for knowledge.
Holly brings a wealth of experience in both print and digital publishing. As Modern Retail’s Content Editor, Holly is passionate about helping independent retailers to thrive in today’s ever-changing market.
