E-commerce websites are constantly increasing over the World Wide Web. Just like every website has its own specific design features, an eCommerce website is no different. You cannot plunge into an eCommerce business without having a proper website with all the necessary features. Unless you have these features, you would not be able to garner customers and encourage them to purchase from you.
Enlisted below are the top features that your eCommerce website needs to have if you want to entice online shoppers and convince them into conversion.
In addition to a good hosting provider and an interesting domain name, your website must have these features discussed here.
- Security
The first thing that a customer sees on an eCommerce website in the current age is security. e-Commerce websites are most susceptible to cyber-crimes and to prevent any security breach for the customers, you should certainly have an SSL Certificate for your store. You can buy EV SSL Certificate at reasonable rates from SSL2BUY and ensure safe transactions for your shoppers.
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If only your customers feel that their confidential information is safe with you, they will purchase from you. Besides SSL Certificate and HTTPS, you can have a two-factor authentication too for your customers. This will enhance the security by asking your customer for a username-password along with a one-time password on their email or phone, generated through the system
Besides, you can also have a firewall that does not allow malicious agents to enter your website and lets in authorized traffic only.
Make sure you include the privacy policy link in the footer that informs the customer that their data is not shared with any third-party sources.
All these security features make your customers feel that your eCommerce store is trustworthy and it is safe to purchase from you.
- Easy to Use
Your eCommerce store must be easy to use for everyone. Your customer should be able to find what he is looking for without any complex navigation. Even if the shopper has landed on your website for the first time, it should be simple to understand how it works so that it ensures a smooth shopping experience for him.
You can have shopping categories and filters that allow the customer to buy easily and compare the products they might be looking for. Your customer reviews and FAQ section should be prominently placed.
- Visually rich interface
We live in the world of augmented reality and mobile app development company, we have come a long way in the world of photography. You can incorporate a 3D visual experience for the customers. Include images that the customer can zoom in so that they can get a clear idea of how the product looks like. Visual marketing sells better than content marketing. This highly applies to eCommerce websites. Make sure you have high-resolution images that load quickly.
- Responsive Website
Your eCommerce website should be mobile-friendly and responsive to all the devices regardless of the size of the screen. Most of your customers are browsing through your website on a mobile device and as a result, responsiveness is a must.
- User Testimonials
We tend to believe people who have used the product before we make a purchase. Add user testimonials on your website so that the customer can decide on making a purchase. Based on the industry, plugins are also available for eCommerce websites. You can use Yelp, Foursquare or Facebook for the same.
- Discounts
Leverage on the header section of your website by including the special offers there. As an alternative, you can also have an exclusive tab named “Offers” in your navigation bar. Your customers love discount offers and that can lead to an impulsive purchase from them too. Do not miss out on this opportunity.
- Social Proof
Highlight your social media presence by linking these profiles and user-generated content. This will impart a brand personality to your eCommerce store and make more people buy from you. It also allows you to interact with your customers better and connect with them on an emotional level. You can also organize contests on your social media platforms and enhance the brand visibility plus customer flow on your website.
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- Easy Payment Facility
YoureCommercee store should have advanced payment options in addition to the basic payment facility like debit cards and credit cards. Allow your customer to pay through Apple Pay or PayPal. In addition, you can also allow them to pay through Bitcoin if you consider it a reliable option for you.
- Transparent Shipping Details
If you do not share the shipping costs upfront, you are likely to witness a surge in the number of carts abandoned. Therefore, you should provide the shipping information right at the outset of the purchase. You should also mention the countries that are not included in the normal shipping region.
- Returns Policy
Every customer is looking for easy returns policy whenever they plan to buy anything. You should dispel the insecurity of the customer by emphasizing on the return policy.
- Wish List
Allow the customers to add the products they love to the wish list. This enhances your chance to get a customer and allows you to remarket it to them in the future. If these customers share the wish list with their friends and family, can you imagine how many visitors would you have? Awesome, isn’t it?
- Maintenance of the Website
Add plugins that make Search Engine Optimization simple for your eCommerce store. Without SEO, your internet marketing would be in vain. You should employ SEO tactics that allow your target audience to find you based on the region/country they are in. This will also increase the likelihood of ranking well on popular search engines like Google.
Wrapping Up
Your website must follow these eCommerce trends if you want to be successful as an eCommerce business owner. The arena of eCommerce battle is getting bigger day by day, with a steady rise in the number of players. Hence, your website should stand out if you want to stay ahead in the bottleneck of fierce competition.