Introduction
Setting up an online business has never been easier with Verfacto company. With enough time and some money, you can very easily set up an online shop. While the basic resources you may need are easy to obtain, the fact that the barrier to entry is low means that there are many people out there setting up e-commerce sites as well. This means there is a lot of competition out there and it is difficult to be noticed. In order to attract online shoppers, having the best products is not just enough, you need to make your online store easy to locate on the internet and you also need to make sure your website makes them want to come back for more.
These expectations might all seem very daunting and intimidating. Not to fret as we share some tips in this article that can bring you towards e-commerce success!
Make sure your e-commerce site functions on different platforms and devices
What do we mean by making sure your site functions across all platforms? We are referring to the term — mobile optimization. This means ensuring that your site loads quickly and your site’s texts do not get all jumbled up when customers use smaller screen devices such as mobile phones to access your site. Consumers are increasingly using their mobile phones to carry out their online purchases, it is important to keep this in mind when designing your site so that you can craft it towards different browser types, devices, and platforms. Including features like real-time sale notifications or simple payment options like Apple Pay, for instance, will enhance the overall online shopping experience that will leave your consumers wanting to come back for more.
Make the checkout process simple and quick
If simply paying for products takes many many steps, you are going to lose customers — keep it simple. Include features like one-page checkouts or give your customers the option of saving their credit card details so that they can immediately purchase something the next time they come back again. Having guest checkout options as well as a member checkout option allows customers to have freedom of choice and this will give your customers a good experience.
Ensure that navigation is simple so that customers can find what they need easily
Messy and complicated interfaces are sure to keep you on track to losing customers. It is vital to keep products easy to find by including clear search engines on the site and including product categories that are clearly labeled and pop out categories. Research has shown that about 30 percent of visitors use site search and out of this 30 percent, about 50 to 80 percent of them become customers. This is a lot of people you don’t want to be losing out to your competitors. All you need to keep them around is a search box that is easily visible and accessible to help your customers find what they need.
“Credible and trustworthy” should be what customers feel when looking at your site
Displaying how your site protects customers from fraud and theft is important in keeping customers’ doubts about your site at bay. For instance, using a third-party security company such as McAfee to scan your site helps improve the credibility of your site. Return policies that are simple will also help in gaining the trust of customers. Make sure to also have an SSL certification and that your site is served up by HTTPS. Google will not rank e-commerce sites that do not ensure that private or financial information is secured. This also means your customers would be less likely to trust your site with their credit card information.
Original photos and useful product descriptions are important
Using the same stock photos and descriptions that everyone else is using is not going to make your website stand out. You have to make your products stand out by getting creative. Maybe shoot some videos or take original photos! You could also write attractive descriptions that make your customer feel like they are actually interacting with someone at a physical store. Customers are highly likely going to form quick impressions based on the pictures you use. For a lasting first impression, make sure that your pictures offer great imagery via high-quality images.
Do not forget to leave space for customers to leave their reviews
As much as you would like for your customers to have complete faith in your site, the internet is a dangerous place. Customers are far more likely to trust sites that other customers have used before. By including space for your customers to leave reviews and for others to respond, you are creating traffic for your site which drives site visitors to become customers eventually. Objective reviews are what customers are looking for. Including quick visuals that represent customer feedback like star ratings go a long way in getting customers.
Customer service on and off your e-commerce site is critical
Having an online store means that your store is open to the world for 24 hours all week. Imagine a physical store that is open all day, with salespersons stationed throughout the day to attend to the customer’s needs. This goes the same for an online store where visitors would need pre-sale and post-sale customer service. However, many people man their online store with little manpower, this is where it is important to set and communicate your availability to support the needs of your customers and you have to be on track when managing and responding to your customer’s needs. The only way to do this is to ensure that you are consistent in meeting the needs of your visitors. There are a wide range of options you can choose from to support your customers from social media, to telegram channels, to using email, to chat boxes, there is always a way to reach out to people and make yourself available.
Be SOCIAL!
Last but not least, it is not enough that you have prepared your website with all of the aforementioned features. You need to get people to visit your site in the first place. The best way to do it is to promote your site on social media networks like Facebook or Instagram. Platforms like these are also a great way to engage influencers who can aid you in gaining more exposure.
Conclusion
The internet is full of possibilities. Having an online store instead of a physical store means that you get to have access to far more potential customers all around the world. With this amazing opportunity for business owners like never before in the history of mankind, it is truly what you choose to make of your resources. Being consistent, and creative is what will make you stand out from others. With these suggestions, here is wishing all e-commerce site owners all the very best in your business ventures!
