Selling online is the name of the game today, and even if you're focusing on just your local area, being available online is a must. Many people opt to buy items through online means, and not being available online simply hurts the number of opportunities you get to earn more.
That being said, just because you have an e-commerce website doesn't mean it will work or be successful. For instance, a slow-loading website will not perform better than a fast-loading one! So, with that in mind, here are the key things your e-commerce website needs to have to maximize your chances of success:
1. Quick Loading Times
It's no secret that today's online customer expects incredible things from websites. They expect lightning-quick load times, videos that load in seconds, and for everything to be as smooth as possible. If your site takes a long time to load, if it crashes on mobile, or if it has other technical issues, then you're going to see a lot fewer visitors and ultimately a lot fewer sales.
So make sure your site is always performing well and fast. Otherwise, you are going to lose customers!
2. Responsive Design
The great thing about e-commerce sites is that they can be accessed by anyone from anywhere, so there is no reason not to make your site responsive. A responsive design ensures that your site is going to be just as usable on mobile as it is on desktop, which is a big deal for users of today.
If your site can't be accessed anywhere, then you're going to lose out on customers.
3. Straightforward Navigation
Navigation is one of the most important things to have when it comes to websites. If you're new to e-commerce, you need to keep your site simple, organized, and easy to navigate. Your products need to be easy to find, and their descriptions should be clear and succinct.
You don't need many bells and whistles on your e-commerce site. It's just not necessary. So make sure the navigation is nice and simple, the site loads quickly and performs well, and you are offering the information that customers want and expect. Plain and simple!
4. Secure Payment Solution
If you are selling a product or service, most likely, you're going to want to accept payments. So, regardless of whether or not you have an e-commerce site, you should consider a secure payment solution.
Secure solutions such as PayPal offer the best way to accept payments online. And, on top of that, they are trusted by millions of people, so you don't have to worry about security. So if you do have an e-commerce site, make sure you're using a secure payment solution.
Conclusion
There are many factors that contribute to a successful e-commerce website, but these are some of the most important ones. So, if you're experiencing an underperforming website, check to make sure that all of the above is applied. If anything is missing, get it fixed! That said, creating an e-commerce website isn't easy. As such, we recommend reaching out to professional web designers to assist you. With their expertise, you can enjoy a fully-functional e-commerce website that promotes your business and leads you to success.
Distinct is a local web design company that serves small Indiana businesses to build quality websites for busy leaders. If you need web development services for your e-commerce website, work with us today!
