For any ecommerce company, the website is the storefront. More than that, it is also one of the first touchpoints where people create an opinion of your brand. That is why exemplary web design is a crucial element you should never overlook. So, if you are a business owner looking to drive up sales and get better engagement, this article is for you. Here, we are exploring the influence of good web design on your revenue margins. More importantly, we also added key ecommerce web designing practices that will help you do exactly that. (Photo credits to: Tranmautritam) Why Is Ecommerce Web Design Important? It is by no means is it an exaggeration to say that web design can make or break your ecommerce business. As mentioned earlier, it is your storefront in the digital realm. it is where you showcase your business and the products and services you offer. Moreover, it is the very space where you guide interested visitors into paying customers. Furthermore, you do not have the same leeway as traditional brick-and-mortar businesses. They have another avenue to touch point with their customer and guide them accordingly. Great web design helps you achieve the following things. Drive up organic traffic. Generate more legitimate leads. Increase customer engagement. Boost sales and revenue Besides that, every great ecommerce web design always has these elements. Responsive Simple Design Clear Branding Easy Navigation Properly Optimized Striking Visual Mobile-First Design That is why well-known ecommerce brands shell out big money for Shopify development. Because they know it is an investment that will help them rake in big revenues in the long run. Of course, it is important to note that you do not need a big budget. In fact, you just need a UI/UX designer with a good eye, a good understanding of the latest trends, and a reliable web developer to achieve this. How Does Great Web Design Affect Your Business? With that said, paying attention to how the user interface (UI) looks and the quality of the user experience (UX) can make a significant impact on your ecommerce website and business fares. Of course, it does not stop there. Create a Positive First Impression The famous proverb, “First impression lasts a lifetime,” still rings true today—even in the digital space. In fact, the quality and look of your website can have two outcomes. One: Your visitors may stay longer, explore what you have to offer, and (potentially) make a purchase. Two: They do not stay that long, head back to Google, and look for other brands with the same products and services. Stand Out from The Competition As mentioned earlier, your website is one of the first touchpoints your potential and loyal customers have with you. Given the highly competitive nature of the digital space, it is important to stand out. One way to do that is through good design. It is not just through striking visuals, this also extends to showing your web visitors who you are, what you have to offer, and how to relate with each other. Bring In More Visitors Of course, a great web design also increases your visibility and helps you climb the search engine ranks. Basically, the efforts that you pour into your site will eventually be paid back and boil down to bringing in more visitors and more sales. Better Customer Experience More importantly, good web design also enables you to provide your potential and loyal customers with top-notch customer experience. Online shopping is no longer just about looking at a product and then purchasing it. On your end, providing an immersive and personalized experience shows you care for your customers. Every intentional design choice you make compounds together and is conveyed—which translates to creating more loyal customers. How to Design an Ecommerce Website That Will Boost Revenues? (Photo credits to: PhotoMIX Company) So, we have established that being intentional with how you design your UI and UX plays a huge role in driving up sales and engagement. Aside from that, we have also highlighted just how impactful it is for your business. Now, we will get to the best part of this article: Which is how to achieve it yourself. A great web design is like a dress—it is not one-size-fits-all. So, we decided to share instead key ecommerce web design practices that will guide you to create a site that fits your brand and your intent . Design With the User in Mind The service you provide to your potential and loyal customers starts the moment they land on your website. With that in mind, you need to be mindful of your web design. Prioritize how people will interact with the site, how it will make them feel, and how they will move from the home page to Point A or Point B. Tip: Conduct thorough research about your target audience then put yourself into their shoes when you lay out the flow of your site. Take a Mobile-First Approach Aside from that, you need to also make sure your site is meant to cater to mobile users. The reality is the majority of online shopping is done via mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. So, to appeal to these people, you need to ensure that your website is easy to navigate and looks good on a mobile device. Tip: Instead of just being mobile-friendly, take a mobile-first approach. This ensures that while in development how it will look on any hand-held device will be the priority. Stick to the 3-Click Rule Easy navigation is one of the key factors that people are very particular about—regardless of if it is desktop or mobile. Tip: The best way to ensure that your website is easy to navigate is to stick to the 3-click rule. Basically, from the home page to any other page should only take three clicks. Of course, it is important to note that there are also other factors that help with easy navigation, such as: Consistent labeling for navigational elements Logical hierarchy Breadcrumbs for easy retracement of steps Break down information into manageable chunks. Regular user testing Enable Customer Reviews and Testimonials Most potential customers are smarter and more cautious these days. One way to gain their trust is by incorporating customer reviews and other features that showcase social proof. In truth, most online shoppers may not completely trust you when they make a purchase. But, they are more likely to trust the reviews of other shoppers—especially those that share pictures and videos. Use White Space Wisely White space does not only look aesthetically pleasing—it also has other uses that you can leverage to your advantage. Lead their eyes to focus on your product Avoid overwhelming them with so many options Provide visual simplicity to lessen mental resistance Tip: Check out websites with minimalist designs and how they masterfully use white space to highlight their products and information. Simplify the Checkout Process Another step in which people have a certain level of mental resistance is the checkout counter. Basically, the easier it is, the more likely they are to complete the purchase process. Conversely, if you have a convoluted process, this causes mental friction and makes them second guess if purchasing your product or service is worth it. Tip: Opt for reliable accelerated payment methods that people use such as PayPal, Stripe, Amazon Pay, and other e-wallet alternatives that are popular in the country you are catering to. Ensure Trust Signals Are Visible Aside from incorporating customer reviews and other forms of social proof, make sure to add trust signals. Trust signals are essentially details that provide a layer of transparency—they show skeptical customers that you are a real business, with real people, and can be easily reached. With that said, make sure these are easily seen: Professional Photos High-Quality Graphics Contact Information Link to Store Policies Technical Certifications Conclusion There are a lot of things that go into great ecommerce web design. So, before you get fancy, make sure to get the basics right first and create a good foundation. Once you have that, it is a lot easier to level it up to be more aesthetically pleasing. Just keep in mind, throughout the development, this is an investment that will yield you a lot of things, such as better engagement, higher sales, and more loyal customers, in the long run. With that said, last word of advice, be clear with your goals and stick to them. It is easy to keep adding new features and changing how a page looks. However, these delays will just further complicate things and end up costing a lot more than you anticipated. So, make sure to iron out the important details first before you get started. Author Bio: This article is written by Flexi Digital Marketing. Flexi Digital Marketing specializes in empowering professionals and small businesses to thrive by enhancing their expertise and proficiency in the digital realm.
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