When it comes to retail websites, brands are consistently looking at how to make improvements. It is a process that really does not end. Retail online stores must be constantly improved upon. Multiple aspects of the site must be addressed and grown in effectiveness. Regardless of solution, leased or open source. The meaning of better online retail stores means customers easily navigate through the site. Customers can easily find products they are looking for, add them, check out and pay.
Furthermore, when brands create, display, and promote the proper incentives sales further grow. Momentum in sales can be created when multiple aspects are correctly managed by the brand or vendors. Conversion optimization is a service that often addresses some of these improvements. Website design must be from start done professionally with multiple items in mind that effect sales, search rankings, and website visitors.
It is critical to evaluate the home page of a retail online store, key landing pages, and store pages. In addition, the checkout process, and any other features utilized. It is smart to invest into improvements since they yield ongoing better results. There is residual benefits with this type of investment. Any traffic even future traffic will yield more sales and less abandonment and bounce rate.
Here are several website design tips for better retail online stores. Better means less bounce rate, less shopping cart abandonment, higher conversion rate, customer satisfaction, return buyers, and so on. When these tips are followed, results will too.
Keep website design well organized and clean.
Website design includes quality of images, text, layout of pages, navigation, and other aspects. A well-organized site structure and customer-oriented design, can make a big difference. The results are drastically better when website design for retail online stores is clean. Clean often is referred to design that is more minimalistic. It allows the customer to focus on specific details than getting confused and overwhelmed.
A retail website should avoid too many links in the menu. Too many categories are also not good for results. Again, organization with design and layout is a critical aspect to a successful online store. Professional retail website design services with enough experience can assist brands with their website design and improvements.
Display and make it easy to reach out and contact the brand.
Even though it is an online business, customers want to have the ability to contact the brand. Repeat sales customers much less, but new potential buyers do at times have questions. There are ways for retail online stores to improve communication with site visitors and customers. Retail websites should clearly display phone number in the ‘header’ top of the site page.
Chat is an additional feature that impacts retail websites positively. Customers like having the ability to chat quickly with someone and ask questions. Chat features can be strategically positioned throughout the site and on store pages. Email for customer support should be listed clearly as well.
Customer reviews are not an option anymore for retail brands.
Over 60% of shoppers read online reviews and are heavily influenced by them. Retail online stores must first enable review display, then give customers incentives to write and publish reviews on their website. Customers reviews can increase online sales by several percent. It takes time and brands should have several incentive driven campaigns towards customers to generate those reviews.
A step further is to take advantage of third party websites to also generate customer reviews. Some of these sites are very helpful for reviews such as on social media channels, Google+, and other sites. This further adds credibility to a retail brand.
Publish only high quality and professional photographs of products.
Too many websites have low quality and not professional photography of their products. It is one of the easiest way to improve online sales with retail online stores. Brands should hire professional photographers to do a photo shoot of their products for best results. Professional photographers even touch up photos with professional software to further improve the quality. Proper lighting is utilized which also improves the look.
High quality and professional photographs should be part of the priority set of retail brands that wish to increase online sales. There are photographers that specialize in retail photography and understand online requirements.
Brands that wish to improve their retail stores and retail websites should consult with e-commerce experts and retail business consultants. Consulting services can be a great way to get advice prior to allocating budgets for work. Either way, assistance can be provided by service providers that understand the industry well and work with retailers.
