Creating an eCommerce website is a big task. Not only do you have to worry about the design and features of your site, but you also need to make sure that it represents your brand in the best possible way. In addition, a website is often the first impression that potential customers have of your business, so it’s essential to make sure that it looks professional and trustworthy.
You want a website with the proper appearance, the right features, and displays well. Not only do you want your site to look good for search engines but also for visitors. A poorly designed or out-of-date website will turn users away and make it seem like your brand is not classy or reputable. You don’t want this. You can do a few things to make sure your website represents your brand in the best way possible.
Contents
1. Make Sure Your Website Is Designed Well
Look through your website’s design. Is it clean and modern? Ensure that the fonts are easy to read, have crisp images, and responsive design. The last thing you want is for potential customers to have difficulty navigating or viewing your site on their devices.
Update any outdated graphics or logos, mainly if they are very childish-looking or otherwise unprofessional. Check out FluidRank.com for design development, marketing, and support services. You don’t want to give off the wrong impression about your brand by having dirty, messy imagery plastered all over the site. Simple, professional designs work best.
2. Utilize A Content Management System For Ease Of Use And Updates
At most, a content management system, or CMS, is all you need to have a fully functional eCommerce store with a way to update your site quickly and for free. Some examples of CMSs include WordPress, Shopify, and Magento – these are just a few of the many options available today that can be used on their own or in conjunction with one another. Find which option works best for your needs, and then add products from your supplier to start selling right away. If you aren’t tech-savvy, don’t worry about it. There are people out there who can do just about anything for you; setting up an eCommerce website is no exception. Just do a quick search online for “ecommerce website design” or “ecommerce website development,” and you’ll find plenty of companies who can help you out.
3. Make Sure Your Site Is Responsive
As mentioned before, many people choose which businesses they purchase from based on their first impressions of their website. With 70% of internet users owning smartphones, the chances are very high that someone browsing your site will do so from their mobile device. Therefore, ensure that your website is responsive and looks good on all devices to improve user experience. You can quickly test this by viewing your site in different browser windows—on a laptop, tablet, and phone and ensuring that it doesn’t appear distorted or too small for easy reading.
4. Add The Right Features
Your eCommerce website needs the right features to make shopping online easy for customers and encourage them to do so. For example, rather than listing prices with confusing sales tax calculations, list the price, including sales tax already included, to make things less complicated for shoppers. Also, think about offering free shipping on orders over a certain amount and incorporating a search bar to help customers quickly find what they are looking for. Finally, if you sell digital products, make sure you offer a download area where customers can easily access their purchases.
5. Use Professional Photography
One way to make your website look more professional is to use high-quality, professional photography on your site. This doesn’t mean that you have to hire a professional photographer (although that would be great)—if you have an iPhone or other good quality camera, take some pictures of your products yourself. Ensure that the images are clear and in focus, and show off your products in the best possible light. Customers want to see what they are buying, giving them a good sense of what they are getting.
6. Promote On Other Websites And Social Media
One of the best ways to promote your eCommerce business is through other websites. Try contacting popular blogs in your industry about writing a guest post for them or offering advertising space on your site/blog. This gets more eyes on your brand and lets people know that you are an authority on your topic. Social media is also a great way to get your brand out there and attract customers, particularly if you have a good amount of followers. Even the smallest eCommerce business can benefit from social media because it allows people who may not have heard about you before or might just be looking for inspiration to find you easily.
7. Market Your Site And Products Online And Offline
Just as important as promoting your business online through websites and social media, don’t forget to market yourself offline too. Advertise in local magazines and newspapers, search for competitions to enter so you can win valuable marketing space, and give out promotional material such as flyers at events where lots of people gather, such as farmers markets or even outside of your store.
8. Know Your Target Audience And What They Want
Many new website owners make the mistake of making their site all about themselves and what they can offer their potential customers. The problem with this is that many eCommerce websites compete with each other, so you won’t be able to stand out if your voice isn’t unique. Instead, think about who you’re targeting and what kind of people care about your product or service—this helps you tailor things on your site to them (for instance, if staying eco-friendly is important to them, then make sure you mention this).
Remember that a website is often the first impression customers have of your business. Therefore, make sure to take the time to create a high quality, professional-looking site so customers will want to shop from you and spread a positive word about your brand. Hence, having a well-designed, updated, and branded website is essential for any eCommerce business. Follow these tips to ensure that your website represents your business in the best way possible.
