Nowadays, it is possible to buy or sell almost anything online. Due to the increasing popularity of online shopping, many ecommerce stores are being launched on a daily basis. Therefore, to succeed in this competitive industry, you need to ensure that your ecommerce site stands out from the competition. The design of your store will play a key role in enhancing your visibility and attracting visitors. Here are some of the things you need to keep in mind when designing your ecommerce store.
Guidelines for Designing an Ecommerce Store
1. Proper layout
An ecommerce site with a well designed and contemporary layout will make it easy for you to reach the desired target audience. You could choose to hire an expert to create a custom design according to your requirements. The other option would be to build your site using one of the many premium and free ecommerce templates available online. You can find great, user-friendly templates in online stores such as Website templates by MotoCMS.
2. User-friendliness
Besides having an attractive design, your ecommerce site should also be user-friendly. Visitors should have an easy time moving around your site and finding what they are looking for. In addition, they need to feel safe when purchasing products. Therefore, make sure your site is fast, functional and easy to navigate. Check if all the links are working properly. Display your text in a scannable fashion which makes it easy to read. Take time to update your information on a regular basis. Make sure the buying process is secure and fast. If visitors have a pleasant user-experience, they are likely to make return visits and even recommend your site to others.
3. Professional product images
When it comes to ecommerce, images are very important. Displaying professional photographs of products can play a key role in enhancing sales. To give visitors a closer view of the product, it would be advisable to install the zoom functionality. In addition, you could consider having several photos of the product taken from different angles. This gives visitors a better idea of what they are buying. Other features which could increase your sales are the color changing option and 3D view.
4. Fast and secure checkout process
Buyers are usually very impatient and would want to get through the checkout process as fast as possible. If you ask users to submit too much information, they are likely to get frustrated and abandon the e-commerce shopping cart. In addition, if the transaction fails at the last stage, buyers might not be willing to fill in their details again. To ensure that your checkout process is easy and safe, you need to choose ecommerce platforms which are well known and reliable.
5. Keyword search
Using the right keyword on your ecommerce site can enhance incoming traffic significantly. Take time to carry out a proper search to find relevant and popular keywords. Having such keywords on your site is likely to enhance your rank in search engines. This in turn increases the chances of web users finding your products or site when they search using the same keywords.
6. Mobile compatibility
More and more people are now accessing the internet via their tablets and smart phones. Therefore, when designing your e-Commerce site, you need to take this into consideration. Make sure your site is responsive and can be viewed comfortably on any screen size. This will enable you to market your products effectively to the many people who are using mobile devices.
Charles Mburugu is a professional blogger who likes sharing tips for internet marketers and bloggers. You can follow him on Twitter @techblogke.
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