As any online business owner will tell you, the look and usability of an eCommerce website is critical to its success. There are innumerable components that contribute to the overall design and functionality of a web store—images, menus, customer experience tools, CMSs—and it can be overwhelming to know where to begin in designing a successful platform for shoppers. However, from our experience as digital marketers creating top-tier eCommerce websites for clients over many years, there are certain design elements that need to be present for every project in order for it to have maximum impact. Together with a top , we’ll discuss 7 specific points essential for effective eCommerce website design that can provide your customers with an enjoyable buying experience while helping you maximize sales opportunities.
Image source: pexels.com
1. Easy Navigation
It’s essential for eCommerce website design to feature a navigation menu that is intuitive and easy to use. A good rule of thumb here is to keep your navigation menu options limited, as too many choices can be confusing. The navigation should also reflect the user journey: start with an overview page (Home Page) then break down by category/product type and make sure each click takes customers closer to their desired product/information. When getting eCommerce Web Development Services, you want to ensure that each page has a clear call-to-action button or link that stands out which leads users through the sales process quickly and efficiently.
2. Clear Product Images
At least one high quality photo of the product should be displayed on every product page. This image should be large and clearly visible, as it serves to entice the customer to purchase. It’s also important to have multiple images available for each product so that customers can get an accurate idea of what they are buying from different angles. Product videos or 360-degree views are even better options if you can provide them!
3. Unique Branding & Color Scheme
Featuring a custom logo, brand colors and fonts helps to create a unique look and feel for your website while reinforcing your company’s identity in visitors’ minds. A consistent color scheme across pages adds a layer of cohesiveness which helps guide shoppers through the purchasing process more easily. Incorporating animations, transitions and other interactive elements can also help your website stand out from the competition.
4. Compatible Mobile Design
Given that more than half of all web traffic these days is coming from mobile devices, it’s essential to ensure that your eCommerce website design is optimized for mobile screens. This means responsive designs, as well as ensuring that buttons and elements are large enough to be easily tapped by customers’ fingertips. Additionally, you’ll want to remove any content or features that could slow down the loading speed on smartphones and other smaller devices.
5. Optimized Search Bar and Filters
Having a solid search bar with relevant filters is key for an enjoyable customer experience on an eCommerce site—it should be easy to find what you’re looking for without too much effort. A company shares that the filters should be tailored to the site and its customers—for example if you sell furniture, having size, material and color filters is going to be more useful than offering a choice between “male” and “female” products.
6. Convenient Payment Options
Your eCommerce website design should incorporate different payment options to give customers maximum flexibility when checking out. Popular payment methods include credit/debit cards, digital wallets such as PayPal, Amazon Payments or Apple Pay, and even cash on delivery (in certain regions). Having multiple secure payment gateways ensures customers have peace of mind about their transactions being processed safely and quickly.
7. User Reviews
User reviews are a great way to add credibility and trustworthiness to your website, as well as providing potential customers with helpful information about the product before they make their purchase. Incorporating customer reviews also adds an element of authenticity, highlighting that there are real people out there who have interacted with your products or services in the past.
Conclusion
In conclusion, these 7 elements—easy navigation, clear product images, unique branding & color scheme, compatible mobile design, optimized search bar & filters, convenient payment options and user reviews—are essential for effective eCommerce website design. By focusing on each element individually and incorporating them into a holistic approach to creating an enjoyable buying experience for customers while boosting sales opportunities for yourself, you can maximize the success of your website. With the help of a professional web designer, you can ensure that all these elements are in place and ready to go. Good luck!