Before we begin with the tips, I just want to mention that this guide is perfect for beginners. If you’re starting out with eCommerce, then this guide is for you.
You don’t usually need to design an eCommerce website from scratch. There are multiple eCommerce platforms that have drag and drop functionality. Some of the best eCommerce platforms which are suitable for complete beginners are Shopify and Volusion. You can compare both of these platforms at this website.
When you think of web design for eCommerce websites, the first thing that comes to mind would be making it as flashy as possible—basically, something that’s eye-catching and would make people want to click.
However, there are cases wherein the design of a website actually gets in the way of a business’ success. Ideally, a good eCommerce website design should make viewing pages, as well as making purchases, quick and stress-free. Remember, it doesn’t matter how good your products are of how well your marketing is doing—if your website is not optimized for sales, you will lose customers and money.
When you are stuck in a rut and don’t quite know what to do with your website, give these tips a read and keep them in mind the next time you’re brainstorming for a eCommerce Web Design.
5 Major Tips for Effective eCommerce Web Design
Keep Your Customers In Mind
Think of things this way: Every detail of your website, from your product’s images to the text that accompanies it can contribute to a visitor’s decision to make a purchase. This is why you should place emphasis on creating the best possible online user experience. In doing so, you could turn one-time visitors into repeat customers.
What you need to focus on are Usability, visual appeal, navigational ease, device accessibility, and overall satisfaction.
Tip: Ask a friend or a relative to visit your website while you watch behind their shoulder. Your friend or a relative should pretend that they are interested in one of the products that you sell. Don’t tell them what to click to what to do; keep watching. There’s a high chance that they won’t follow the same path to finding the product that you would. This leads to a lot of interesting insights. For example, they might be clicking on your navigation menu, instead of typing the product’s name into the search box. See how long will it take for your friend / relative to find the product and think about ways to reduce this time. For example, you could add your best selling products directly to your homepage. Remember that the more clicks your customers have to make, the more chance there is that they will leave your website.
Keeping Things Simple
When it comes to the overall design, minimalist websites are consistently seen as more visually appealing and trustworthy when compared to the more complex designs. As such, follow this way of thinking and optimize your own eCommerce website to focus more on conversions. To do this, take away what’s unnecessary—starting with your images. One too many photos can be distracting and overwhelming. Choose only the best ones and spread them across your pages evenly.
Another thing to be mindful of is overly wordy pages. Break apart any walls of text and make sure everything bit of info is concise and can be absorbed within a minute. Remember that an average user’s attention span is rather short, so you have to deliver your message quickly yet effectively.
Tip: Always make use of white space. This is easier on the eyes.
Make Use of A View Cart Button
If you’ve done some online shopping yourself, then you would have noticed that little shopping cart icon that most eCommerce websites have. This allows users to view what has already been added to their cart—and is also one of the best web design strategies you can use!
Did you know that by simply having this icon visible at all times, you can effectively increase conversion rates? You just have to make sure that the icon you use is something that’s easily recognizable, such as a shopping bag or cart.
Tip: To make it stand out even more, you can change the color for the icon into something noticeable depending on the palette you’re using for your website.
Honest Pricing and Clear Text
This one’s pretty straightforward. In adding information to your design, always be upfront and honest about the pricing for your products. Avoid hiding information or making it difficult for your visitors to find. These websites are supposed to boost your trustworthiness as a seller, not tarnish it. Make sure you use fonts that are easy to read and cannot be misunderstood in any way. Also, do use colors to your advantage. Dark fonts on light backgrounds are always better. Limit your color use to four and choose ones that complement each other well.
Tip: Don’t forget about the shipping costs. If you’re offering free shipping, don’t forget to mention it on your product page – it will increase the chances of someone buying your products.
Post Quality Photos
Much like being honest about pricing and having clear descriptions for your products, your photos should be properly done as well. Confirm the images are of high quality and not pixelated. Offer different angles for the products so that potential buyers would be able to check each item properly. If need be and if it would help your clients assess the product better, you can even opt to post videos of the item itself.
Think of these photos as another representation of your brand—therefore, they must be well done and highlights the best things about your product. Make use of a zoom feature to enable people to focus on certain details on the item as well. You can even make use of models, especially for clothing, in order to make the shots more enticing for potential buyers.
Needless to say, creativity and restraint are the keys to designing an effective eCommerce website. You have to do your research as well, find out what would attract your target market and use what you’ve learned when creating the best website for your business.
I’m a tech enthusiast, entrepreneur, digital marketer and professional blogger equipped with skills in Digital Marketing, SEO, SEM, SMM, and lead generation. My objective is to simplify technology for you through detailed guides and reviews. I discovered WordPress while setting up my first business site and instantly became enamored. When not crafting websites, making content, or helping clients enhance their online ventures, I usually take care of my health and spend time with family, and explore the world. Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin or read my complete biography.