You’re not just running an online store; you’re steering a high-stakes enterprise with ambitions to shatter the ceiling. And you’re acutely aware that your website isn’t just a digital storefront—it’s your most powerful salesperson, working around the clock. But how can you ensure this salesperson is at the top of their game, pulling in sales and increasing your bottom line?
You’ve come to the right place. We get it; the world of ecommerce is akin to a turbulent sea, where trends change like tides. You don’t have time for fluff. What you need is actionable, straight-to-the-point advice that delivers results. That’s exactly what you’ll get here: five proven ecommerce web design tips that will not only enhance user experience but will skyrocket your sales.
#1. Prioritize Mobile Experience
You know your customers are everywhere, but did you realize that over 50% of ecommerce sales now happen on mobile devices? You can’t afford to overlook this substantial segment of your customer base. Your website needs to offer the same robust functionality on a 5-inch screen as it does on a desktop.
Opt for Responsive Design
If you want to cater to every potential customer effectively, implement a responsive design. This ensures your website adapts to any screen size, automatically adjusting elements like text, images, and buttons. No one should struggle to purchase on your site, no matter what device they’re using.
Test Website Mobile-Friendliness
After you’ve implemented a responsive design, don’t stop there. Test how mobile-friendly your website actually is. You don’t want any surprises down the line, especially when stakes are high.
Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test Tool for Precise Results
For a thorough evaluation, Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool can be invaluable. It will provide specific areas for improvement, so you know exactly what to fix to enhance the mobile experience.
When you prioritize mobile experience, you’re directly investing in a larger, more diverse customer base. It’s not just a design adjustment; it’s a strategic business move. So, take the time to get it right and watch your reach—and revenue—expand.
#2. Streamline Navigation
Here’s the straightforward truth: a confusing, cluttered navigation menu will drive your customers away. Imagine you walk into a brick-and-mortar store, and you can’t find your way around. Frustrating, right? The same principle applies to your online store. Unclear or complicated navigation can overwhelm visitors, leading them to abandon their cart and exit your site. It’s a missed opportunity you can’t afford.
Simplify Menu Items
First things first, cut the clutter. Limit your main menu items to essentials that directly relate to your product categories or key sections of your website. The rule of thumb? Keep it under seven items. Anything more, and you risk overwhelming the user.
Create a Hierarchical Design
Organize your menu items in a hierarchical fashion. What does this mean? Position the most important categories or pages at the top or beginning of your menu. This setup aligns with how people naturally browse and helps them find what they’re looking for more quickly.
Utilize Sticky Navigation Menus for a Better User Experience
Ever browsed a website where the menu stayed at the top of the screen as you scrolled down? That’s a sticky menu, and it’s your best friend. It allows your visitors to navigate to other parts of your website without having to scroll back up. Simple, yet remarkably effective for keeping users engaged.
#4. Opt for Simplified Checkout
The checkout process can make or break your sales. Imagine your customer has navigated your site, chosen products, and then gets to the checkout, only to be confronted by a maze of forms and options. Confused, they abandon their cart and exit your site. You’ve not only lost a sale but potentially a repeat customer. According to Baymard Institute, nearly 70% of online shopping carts are abandoned, and a complex checkout process is a leading culprit.
Minimize Steps in the Checkout Process
The fewer obstacles between your customer and a completed purchase, the better. Simplify the checkout process by reducing the number of pages or steps. Keep it streamlined; focus on essential information like shipping details and payment options.
Include Guest Checkout Options
Not everyone wants to create an account, and that’s okay. Providing a guest checkout option can reduce friction, making it easier for customers to complete their purchases.
Incorporate Progress Indicators
Let customers know where they stand in the checkout process. Use progress indicators to guide them through each step, from cart review to payment confirmation.
Incorporate a “Save for Later” feature. Sometimes people hesitate at the last minute. Rather than pushing for an immediate decision, allow them to save their cart for a future purchase. It keeps the door open without pressuring the customer.
#4. Use High-Quality Product Images
You’re a discerning business owner, and you know that first impressions can make or break a sale. Nowhere is this truer than in the visuals you showcase. Forget the days when a simple product description could do the trick. In today’s hyper-competitive market, the quality of your product images can be the difference between cart abandonment and a finalized sale.
Use High-Resolution Images
No one likes a pixelated image. Period. For the sake of your brand’s image and customer trust, invest in high-resolution photos. These provide the crispness and detail that help your products pop off the screen.
Offer Multiple Angles and Zoom-In Options
Imagine you’re a customer contemplating a purchase. What would you want to see? Probably the product from all possible angles and maybe even a close-up of its features. Incorporate this into your ecommerce strategy. Include multiple-angle shots and allow zoom-in capabilities to give your customers a nearly tactile experience.
Utilize Lazy Loading for Faster Page Speeds
Speed matters. But so does image quality. This is where lazy loading comes into play. It allows images to load only when they appear in the user’s viewport. This reduces initial page load time, keeping your customers engaged while not compromising on image quality.
Lazy Loading
If you’re not a tech wizard, the concept of lazy loading might sound complicated. But here’s the straightforward truth: lazy loading is easier to implement than you might think. Plenty of ecommerce platforms offer this feature out-of-the-box, and there are numerous plugins available for those who need them.
Quality product images build trust and encourage sales. They enable the customer to understand the product better, eliminating the guesswork that often comes with online shopping. You’ve put immense effort into sourcing or creating quality products. Now, let’s make sure your website shows them off in the way they deserve.
#5. Integrate Social Proof
You know how powerful word-of-mouth can be in driving your business. In the digital realm, social proof acts as the new word-of-mouth. Think about it: how often have you tried a new restaurant or bought a product because someone you trust recommended it? Your customers are no different. In fact, around 93% of consumers say that online reviews influence their purchasing decisions. The psychological principle at work here is straightforward—people tend to trust the experiences of others.
Feature Customer Reviews Prominently
Don’t bury reviews deep into your product page where they’ll hardly get noticed. Position them strategically near the product description or even integrate a snippet of reviews directly on your homepage. Why? Because reviews do more than just endorse a product; they answer questions and resolve doubts that your potential customer might have.
Show Star Ratings Next to Product Listings
A five-star rating system is quick to read and easy to understand. By showing star ratings next to each product on your listings, you’re offering at-a-glance information that can steer a potential buyer’s decision in milliseconds.
Use Verified Purchase Tags
To take your social proof a notch higher, include a ‘Verified Purchase’ tag next to the review. This adds another layer of credibility, assuring new customers that the review comes from someone who actually bought and used the product.
Encourage Reviews with Incentives
Some customers need a nudge to leave a review. Offer small incentives like discount codes or free samples to encourage more customers to write reviews. More reviews mean more trust, which in turn means more sales.
Take Amazon, for instance. The retail giant not only features customer reviews prominently but also uses star ratings and ‘Amazon’s Choice’ labels to guide customers. This isn’t just a design element; it’s a powerful sales strategy.
