5 Tricks for E-Commerce Success

E-Commerce Tips | 07 Sep, 2023

Running a successful online store can be tough if you don't have the right tools and tricks. But don't worry, there are some easy and proven ways to get more customers by making your online store better.

Imagine your online store as a shop in a mall. Just like a beautiful shop window attracts shoppers, a good-looking website draws in visitors. And just as a well-organized store makes people more inclined to buy things, a structured website helps convert visitors into customers.

In today's digital world, your website is like your store's front door. To do well in the online shopping world, you need to make your website look good and work well. These e-commerce marketing strategies will show you how to make your online store more appealing and organized, so you can succeed in the online marketplace.

Running an eCommerce website is a bit different from regular websites. There are extra things to think about, like setting up SSL for security, offering different ways for customers to pay, designing the site, making sure it loads quickly, and having good product photos. Plus, you need a platform that can handle enough server power; otherwise, your store might become really slow or even crash.

Select the Right Platform and a Functional Theme

The foundation of your online business is the platform you choose. When you're planning your eCommerce website, opt for a reliable e-Commerce website builder like BigCommerce, Magento, Shopify, ecDigi or others that can handle the expected volume of your business.

After picking the platform, the next vital decision is selecting a theme.It should possess an attractive visual design and user-friendly navigation. Additionally, having customizable features for future merchandising is a big advantage.

Don't forget about factors like loading speed and responsiveness. Ensuring that your website loads quickly and looks good on various devices (iOS, Android, etc.) is essential. A consistent and user-friendly experience across devices often leads to higher conversion rates.

Next, let's delve into the technical aspects of SEO and performance optimization.

E-commerce SEO: Boosting Online Store Visibility

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for e-commerce refers to a set of strategies aimed at improving the visibility of online retail websites in search engine results. When an e-commerce website is well-designed and optimized, with high-quality content, it tends to rank higher in search engines like Google. This improved ranking leads to increased visibility and, ultimately, more traffic to the online store.

In simpler terms, e-commerce SEO focuses on making your website more search engine-friendly, which, in turn, helps attract potential customers and drive conversions.

However, unlike SEO for websites primarily focused on content, e-commerce SEO goes beyond simply adding keywords, creating blog posts, and building backlinks. It involves a deeper understanding of how search engines operate and what factors they consider important when ranking websites.

Mobile Responsiveness Matters

According to Statista, in 2017, nearly half of all website page views, precisely 49.7%, came from mobile devices. If your website isn't mobile responsive, you could be overlooking a substantial portion of your customer base.

Many users will browse your site on their smartphones, and if your web pages aren't optimized for mobile, you risk losing these potential customers. That's why our top recommendation is to ensure your online store is mobile-responsive.

A good website builder like ecDigi can automatically adapt your website into mobile-friendly templates, a crucial feature for e-commerce sites operating exclusively online. It ensures that everyone has an equal opportunity to shop with you, regardless of the device they use.

Enhancing Product Presentation with Visuals

In the world of e-commerce, where space is precious, the importance of high-quality images and videos cannot be overstated. Statistically, consumers give you about 10 seconds to capture their attention, making visual content your most potent tool. To make the most of this brief window, your product images should be focused, high-resolution, and ideally complemented by a slideshow showcasing different angles or product use cases.

Visual appeal plays a crucial role in e-commerce, regardless of the type of products you offer. Customers often need to see a product in action before making a purchase decision. Therefore, it's crucial to include engaging videos, as they can tell a complete story that images alone cannot. To maximize their impact, place these visuals prominently, ideally above the fold on every page.

Video content, in particular, can be a game-changer. Incorporating product videos can significantly enhance your customers understanding of your offerings and increase the likelihood of conversion. To take it up a notch, consider enlisting a skilled video editor to enhance storytelling and further boost your conversion rates. By prioritizing captivating visuals, you can seize your audience's attention, keep them engaged, and ultimately drive more sales.

Simplifying the Checkout Experience

You've followed all the right steps to guide your customer to the checkout stage. They've found what they were looking for through effective site search, detailed product descriptions, and clear photos. They've added the product to their shopping cart and are ready to make a purchase, but suddenly, the checkout process seems more complicated than a maze.

Common checkout hurdles include unexpected shipping costs, unclear return policies, limitations on payment methods, and the requirement to create an account before making a purchase. Any of these issues can drain the excitement out of a shopping spree and even lead to cart abandonment. So, what steps can you take to avoid this situation?

First, address the shipping concern proactively. Display your shipping fees and policies prominently on the home page and product pages to eliminate any unpleasant surprises.

If your current platform restricts payment options, it might be time to consider an upgrade to one that offers more flexibility. Ideally, your e-commerce platform should support international credit and banking cards, online payment gateways like PayPal and Stripe, as well as digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Amazon Pay.

Another significant obstacle is requiring customers to "sign up" or “create an account” before they can complete a purchase. To overcome this barrier, implement a guest checkout option. After customers complete their purchase, give them the choice to create an account with just one or two clicks, without forcing them to do so. This streamlined approach can enhance the overall shopping experience and increase your chances of completing the sale.

Last Line

In the fast-paced world of e-commerce, success hinges on mobile-friendliness, captivating visuals, a hassle-free checkout, savvy SEO, and a strong website foundation. These strategies, when applied wisely, can propel your business forward. Don't forget, consulting an E-commerce Website Development expert can further accelerate your growth. Contact Ecdigi today for expert guidance in navigating the e-commerce world and achieving lasting success.