Online shopping has provided a convenient alternative to in-person shopping, which proved particularly useful during the pandemic. Due to physical restrictions implemented during the lockdowns, people had no choice but to shop online.
For this reason, eCommerce stores have experienced a surge in popularity these past few years. Based on current projections and growth rates, global eCommerce revenue is expected to reach $4.48 trillion in 2023.
eCommerce business owners are in an excellent position. However, the growing market also places them amidst solid competition.
Since online businesses rely on eCommerce platforms like marketplaces and websites, web design is a core factor in achieving success. Here are some tweaks you can make to your eCommerce site to increase sales and improve conversion rates.
Why Good Web Design is Essential for eCommerce
Online stores operate differently from traditional brick-and-mortar stores in that they rely on online platforms for their operations. eCommerce businesses could sign up for online marketplaces like Amazon or eBay, which are easier to set up.
However, creating a website is essential if the business grows or wants more control over its online presence. Here's why good web design is critical in growing an eCommerce business.
Creates a good first impression
Many eCommerce businesses make all their sales online, so they don't have a brick-and-mortar store. For this reason, investing in web design is the best way to increase visual appeal and attract potential customers.
The eCommerce website is where most, if not all, customer interactions occur. A user-friendly, appealing website that addresses people's needs can encourage visitors to stay and consider your product and service offerings.
Your website must be pleasing to the eye and easy to navigate so you make an excellent first impression. It's also essential to ensure there are no glitches and errors in your website content.
Reaches more clients
Part of good web design is optimizing your web pages for various devices, such as desktop computers, tablets, or smartphones. Creating a website that works well on multiple devices allows more people in and opens more doors for sales.
Well-designed websites that adhere to Google's Core Web Vitals can also aid your search engine optimization (SEO) and marketing strategies. Boosting your SEO rankings can push your online business toward more people and help you reach new customers.
Increases conversion rates
Your website should address customers' needs. Providing good user experiences can increase conversion rates. Good design can help you better convince website visitors to sign up for your service or buy your products.
Suppose a customer is looking for a particular product and visits your eCommerce site. If your website is well-structured and has accurate and engaging content, they'll have an easier time considering your offerings. You'll also be more likely to lead them to the shopping cart.
5 eCommerce Website Tweaks To Increase Sales
eCommerce business owners and web designers can improve certain aspects of their websites to increase sales. Here are some changes you can make to your online store's website to help you get more sales.
1. Improve site speed
Page loading speeds can affect a potential customer's user experience. Slower loading times could lead to people clicking away from your website. Who wants to wait for a landing page to load if other options are available?
Loading speeds are a significant consideration in Google's Core Web Vitals, which can also affect SEO and conversion rates. You need to have a reliable partner that provides top notch IT solutions to ensure that your website is up to snuff.
2. Simplify navigation
Simple and user-friendly site navigation can help customers accomplish what they set out to do. Usability is a significant factor in improving the customer experience and increasing your sales.
Simplifying and organizing your navigation options allows site visitors to find what they want quickly. There may be less frustration, and the potential customer may find it easier to check out your products or services.
3. Optimize for multiple devices
People browse the internet using various devices, from computers to tablets to mobile phones. In today's tech landscape, optimizing your site for multiple devices is necessary.
Mobile device optimization is vital in providing better experiences for customers. In 2022, there were 4.97 billion mobile internet users worldwide.
Test your site on various devices before launching. This step helps ensure site visitors get the same seamless experience, no matter their device.
4. Write actionable CTAs
Every page on your website should have an objective. You can make this objective clear by placing calls to action, or CTAs, that can guide site visitors.
An eCommerce product page, with its images and product descriptions, aims to jumpstart the checkout process and get a purchase. A "contact us" page aims to encourage visitors to reach out.
Well-written and consistent CTAs can help potential customers along their journey and increase your eCommerce sales.
5. Display customer reviews
Word of mouth is an excellent eCommerce marketing tool. It's much easier for people to trust their peers than a faceless company, hence the need for social proof.
Enable reviews on your products or display positive testimonials on your site's home page. Reading about other customers' experiences and feedback can encourage site visitors to make a purchase.
Web Design Elements To Improve and Explore
A website's overall design involves the interplay of visual and functional elements. A single web page might look simple, but it has several components working together behind the scenes.
Improving your eCommerce site's web design involves manipulating the elements below.
Visual elements
As the name suggests, visual elements are the part of the website that a visitor sees, such as text, images, videos, etc.
This definition covers a lot of elements designers can work with, some of which we discuss briefly below.
Shapes. This element marks boundaries between pieces of content. Different shapes also have emotional or mental connotations that can influence how your page comes across.
Colors. Choose colors consistent with your brand. Like shapes, colors can also evoke certain moods or emotions, which you can channel through your website's design.
Images. High-quality images and icons are excellent ways to attract your audience's attention. They create visual interest and allow you to explain more complex concepts.
Layout. The layout determines how various elements sit on the page, such as graphics, product images, text, ads, menus, content, etc. A good page layout makes it easy for the eyes to move across the page.
Functional elements
In web design, functional elements involve those that deal with how a website works and what it can do. These elements work behind the scenes and ensure that the website or web page performs as intended.
Examples of functional elements in web design include the following:
User interaction. User interaction covers elements that site visitors can interact with, such as buttons, text boxes, scroll bars, etc. An intuitive user interface can help simplify tasks and aid the customer in their journey.
Navigation. Navigation involves monitoring and controlling one's movement across a website or web page. It guides the user to their desired destination.
Animation. Animations can be simple or complex, but significantly improve the user experience. It improves interactivity within the page and enhances communication.
Leverage Web Design To Achieve Sales Goals
eCommerce sites rely heavily on their online presence. For this reason, a well-designed website is essential in increasing online sales and improving the business' bottom line.
Working with experienced web designers and developers is an excellent investment that attracts more customers and increases profitability.