It’s no secret that the eCommerce sector is competitive. There may be more and more people comfortable with buying products online, but there are also plenty of websites for them to buy from.
And that makes it difficult to get ahead, even if you operate in a niche area. While there’s no guaranteed pathway toward success, you can increase your chances of being successful by giving your customers the things they want and expect from an eCommerce store. After all, if they’re happy, then they’ll be more likely to buy from you.
So, what do they want? Let’s take a look.
Intuitive Design
People make snap judgments about websites. They’ll know whether they like it within a second of arriving on your landing page. Working with a web design agency can ensure that you have a website that’s modern, aesthetically pleasing, and in line with what your customers expect from your site.
As well as the overall look and feel of the site, make sure that it’s also easy to get around from one page to another. No customer wants to go through a maze just trying to get to a product that they’re interested in.
Easy Checkout Processes
It takes a lot of effort — and also money — to bag yourself a customer. The last thing, the absolute last thing you’ll want to do is lose them at the very last second. Alas, that’s something that many eCommerce websites have to deal with, all because they have checkout processes that are too long. You’ll find that a customer is much more likely to complete a purchase if the process is simple and straightforward. By adding a woocommerce payment processor to your site, you can take payments without having to route customers to a third-party website. While that might sound like a small detail, it can have a big impact on the number of sales you make; the more hoops a customer must jump through, the more likely it is that they’ll click the ‘X’ button. Make sure that doesn’t happen!
Affordable — and Fast — Shipping
Real world stores do have one clear advantage over eCommerce stores, and that’s that the customer gets to take the product they purchase as soon as they’ve handed over the cash. And they don’t need to pay anything extra, either. Unless you’re a hyperlocal online business, you’ll probably need to charge for shipping, but it’s worth exploring the minimum amount that you can charge. Also, take another look at the speed of your shipping; is there a way that you can get your customers’ orders to them more quickly?
Great Prices
There’s a world of choice out there in the eCommerce world. And while price isn’t everything that a customer looks at when they’re making their choice about which store to buy from, it’s certainly a big factor. While you’ll need to have prices that generate profit, also keep in mind that your customers will want the best possible deal. This article has helpful advice about how to price your products correctly.
Up To Date Products
You wouldn’t buy from a real world store that looked like it hadn’t updated its inventory in ten years. While you might have some mainstay, classic products that are always available for purchase, it’s also worthwhile keeping your product list up to date with the latest items available in your industry, especially if it’s an innovative industry. Your customers will want to see that you’re keeping up to date with all that’s happening.
Useful Information
Take a look at any great eCommerce store, and you’ll find that they’ve all invested a lot to provide as much information as they can to their customers. And by that, we mean things like blog posts, tutorials, how-to guides, and more. This helps to establish trust in the eyes of your customers that you know what you’re talking about, and can also help to boost your SEO, too.
It’s not just about selling products. It’s about establishing yourself as a knowledgeable industry voice that provides genuine help to customers.
Site Updates
It’s important to keep the look of your website up to date with the latest standards. However, also remember that it’s worthwhile changing the look of your site from time to time in line with the seasons. It would be strange to visit an eCommerce store around the holidays and not see a Christmas theme, for instance. Even if you don’t really celebrate any of the major holidays, it’s recommended to look like you do on your site.