As more and more people buy products and services online, with at least 87% of UK internet users having made at least one online purchase, eCommerce website owners need to pay attention to a few key aspects to remain competitive.
In the UK, eCommerce sales make up 36.3% of total retail sales in 2022, so your eCommerce website needs to stay competitive
1) High-Quality Images and Media
In order to show potential customers what your products look like, your eCommerce website needs to feature high-quality product photos and videos. First impressions are everything. If a customer visits your website and sees poor quality images and media, they’re likely to be put off and move to your competitor’s site.
Professional photography and videography can be expensive, but there are ways to get around this. For example, you can use free stock photos or take your own photos with a high-quality camera.
2) User-Friendly Navigation
An eCommerce website is only as good as the navigation. Your website’s navigation should be easy to understand and use. Your customers must be able to find what they’re looking for without any difficulty. This means your website should have a clear hierarchy and labelling system. You might also want to consider using drop-down menus and search functions.
You don’t want your customers getting lost in your store and leaving without making a purchase. Make sure your eCommerce website has an easy checkout process, with as few steps as possible, a search bar that allows customers to find what they’re looking for, and easy access to customer support.
3) Mobile Integration
In today’s day and age, your eCommerce platform must be mobile-friendly. More and more people are using their smartphones and tablets to shop online, so you need to make sure your store can be accessed and used on these devices.
If your business wants to remain competitive, it has to keep up with customer demands. While eCommerce platforms like Shopify make it easy to build a mobile-friendly site, only a select few provide an option to sell across mobile devices and desktops.
4) Highlighted Customer Reviews
Nothing is as important as customer reviews. They are incredibly helpful in convincing potential customers your business is great and to buy from your eCommerce store. What’s more, customer reviews provide feedback to help businesses improve their products or services.
You can spend hours and hours building a website, but if the website doesn’t have excellent reviews, the business will suffer. This can cost the business revenue and reputation.
So how do you create a website that has great reviews? By using an eCommerce platform that has a built-in review system. This means customers can leave reviews for you and other customers will find it easier to trust you.
5) Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
If a website isn’t optimised for search engines, it’s as good as dead. SEO helps you to get more traffic through search engines like Google.
You should always use the most popular keywords in your titles, URLs, meta tags, and product descriptions. A clear and concise website is also important so that the search engines can easily crawl and index your website.
If you want to succeed in the eCommerce space, it’s important to invest in SEO. By doing so, you can enjoy the many benefits that come with ranking higher in SERPs. Attracting qualified visitors to the store, that results in more web traffic, helping generate long-term results, and staying ahead of the competitors.
Final Thoughts
With more and more people buying products online, a business needs to keep up and utilise the best technology to grow and succeed. Your eCommerce website needs to have high-quality product photos and videos, be user-friendly with easy navigation, be mobile-friendly, have highlighted customer reviews, and use search engine optimisation. If your business wants to remain competitive in the digital age, it’s important to invest in these features.
If you need help with creating the best eCommerce platform for your business, Web Design Southampton can help. We will help you build a website that gives you an edge over competition with eCommerce website design in Southampton.
Contact us today!
