It takes only seconds for someone to decide whether they like a website or not. That makes no difference how much fantastic information or appealing merchandise your online business conceals; if everything a website should offer is hidden or nonexistent on its front page, you’re probably losing potential buyers.
Your e-commerce website can be made or broken in a couple of seconds. So capturing your target audience’s attention from the minute they land on your website is essential to succeed.
But how can you be confident that your site contains all of the most recent marketing techniques and essential website elements that customers would expect to see the moment they visit your website?
Luckily, we’ve compiled this list to assure that your small business website design has all it needs. Here is a list of 15 must-have features for online sellers.
- User-friendly
Simplicity should be a goal in sound design, and you don’t have to sacrifice elegance to achieve it. Studies show that 76% of consumers say an essential characteristic of a website is the ease of use.
The goal is to help customers get to what they want quickly without experiencing extra complications that might obstruct the order processing. Online vendors have minutes, if not seconds, to make a deal. Focus on the user experience by including shopping categories, filters, and measurement procedures.
Consider the following to make your eCommerce site more user-friendly:
- Improve search functionality by including an autocomplete feature, such as Under Armour:
- Create successful visual navigation in the same way
- Pre-populate forms such as Target
An eCommerce website should be a source of competitive advantage rather than a source of irritation.
- Mobile-Friendly
eCommerce customers are becoming more and more mobile-dependent in today’s industry. In 2021, 56% of online purchases will be made using mobile devices, according to SaleCycle.
In other words, since most customers prefer to shop online via mobile devices, it is essential to hire a professional web design company singapore for a mobile-friendly eCommerce website.
To enhance your conversion rate and keep customer satisfaction high, ensure your web design is automatically changed for phones’ screen size and form.
- Customer Reviews
Provide a section on your eCommerce site where buyers can read genuine product reviews.
Reviews are essential for any successful online business, with 79% of customers trusting them as much as recommendations from their friends.
Since your clients will not see a product in person, they will frequently rely on what previous buyers have said about it.
You probably believe that having negative reviews is a deal-breaker. The precise exact opposite is true.
Having negative comments can frequently be beneficial. It has been shown that items with no negative reviews are seen as restricted, and as a result, customers feel the positive ratings are fake.
Based on the web site’s functionality, eCommerce businesses can use plugins from prominent review platforms such as Yelp, Foursquare, and Facebook.
- Special offers
Most eCommerce businesses use special offers as part of their usual marketing strategies, such as email, social media, text messages, and so more.
Next-level eCommerce sites use the valuable real estate in the header area to promote special offers.
When customers recognize they’re receiving a good deal, it motivates consumers to buy more and spend more time browsing the site. If you want to develop and upgrade your real estate businesses’ website but don’t know where to start, you may consider hiring Real Estate Website Developers for professional help.
If eCommerce businesses use continuous promotions, creating a dedicated homepage highlighting the deals would increase sales and enhance SEO.
Consider the shopper seeking [ZIP code + Toyota special deals] and the worth of that organic search result.
- 24/7 Customer Service
Providing helpful and accessible customer service is an essential characteristic of a successful customer experience. According to Microsoft, 90 % of Americans value customer service when determining whether or not to buy from a company.
Include 24/7 customer service chatbots as a feature on your eCommerce websites to solve customer needs at any time. For a minimal fee, plugins such as Zendesk or LivePerson simplify adding this feature to your website.
- Multiple Payment Options
Cart abandonment is a common problem for online businesses.
Make the purchase stage as straightforward as possible for your customers to increase your chances of completing the transaction in the final checkout process on your website.
Try adding alternatives for payment providers such as PayPal or Stripe in addition to debit and credit card options. You may also include plugins that allow customers to buy now and pay later to encourage them to press the “Buy” button. Visit sites like https://www.paystand.com/blog/benefits-automated-payment-solutions to know more about payment methods.
- FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
When purchasing products online than in person, complex purchases need trust in the supplier and detailed information.
Fine Watch Bank (a client) sells finely produced high-end watches.
To feel confident in making a purchase, the company’s purchasers want confirmation of watch authenticity and extensive product information.
An additional information part answers commonly asked questions, providing credibility and improving buyer confidence.
FAQ sections also include a self-help section to address frequent consumer issues. Buyers often inquire about product assistance, refunds, forgotten account passwords, and so on.
- Security Features
Online transactions have become an essential part of our daily life. For instance, eCommerce websites may be an attractive target for hackers. Online sellers must protect client information and take measures to ensure privacy.
Everything begins with a safe eCommerce platform.
With their comprehensive security features, it’s no surprise that Magento and WordPress partnered with WooCommerce are the top two platforms for online retailers.
Other essential e-commerce security elements to consider include:
- SSL certificate: Provides a secure connection between a user and a website. Before trusting your information to an online retailer, look for HTTPS and a green lock in the URL bar. Choose an SSL certificate seller with a well-known brand. Business eCommerce powerhouses nearly usually use Symantec.
- Two-factor authentication: Increases security by requiring a username/password and a system-generated code provided through email or SMS.
- Use a firewall for business security: It acts as a gateway or a firewall between two networks, enabling authorized communication while blocking malicious data.
- Privacy policy link in footer: Addresses the website’s privacy rules and ensures customers that their data will not be shared with other parties.
- Images and Descriptions
People looking for a product to buy want to know all of the specifics about it before making a purchase.
Shopping online might have downsides because you can’t physically feel or touch the products you’re interested in. As a result, it’s essential to have professional-quality photos of your items, as well as images from numerous perspectives, viewpoints, and even contexts.
It is also essential to provide a detailed description of the objects. Cover all features, such as size, texture, usage, advantages, available colors, and so on. You want your potential consumer to feel confident enough in your goods to buy them instead of going elsewhere.
- Shopping Cart and Checkout
Adding products to the shopping cart should be easy. Color schemes and design preferences should be easy to see and pick. Customers prefer to see what they have in their cart while continuing to buy, so make sure you have a design and functionality that allows them to do so.
Users should not be confused during the checkout process. Establish simplicity and appreciation for your customers’ time. The customer should feel comfortable shopping on your website.
Final Thoughts
An e-commerce site should not only be visually appealing but should also provide a stress-free purchasing experience. You will keep your consumers and build your business by creating an easy-to-navigate online store with a seamless checkout process on any device. If you need expert website development services, you might want to consult a professional custom web development company for help.
With these seven essential features on your eCommerce website, you’ll be able to impress even the most discriminating new customers.