As a business owner, you put a lot of pride into your storefront, regardless of how big or small it may be. From proper lighting and making sure shelves are clean and organized, to branded signage and displays, you keep all areas of your business at its best. This should be no different for your online storefront. Although website users may not be in your physical store, it is equally as important that they encounter a positive shopping experience. Not sure what you should be looking for? Take a look at three key factors to help improve your website's storefront.
Make A Great First Impression
It currently takes about 50 milliseconds for users to form an opinion about your website that determines if they leave or if they stay. This means you have less than a second to capture their attention. If they go to your website and there's a slow load speed, loud audio starts playing, or all they see is old and outdated content, they're going to immediately click away and head straight to your competitors. Think of your website as an extension of your store. If your brick and mortar location looks old and outdated, people are more likely to keep on walking by. The same situation goes for your website.
Layout and Imagery
With the abundance of eCommerce websites, people are so used to shopping online that if they encounter a layout that is hard to navigate they will not hesitate to leave. You wouldn't put empty tables and other obstacles in between your customers and your products, so why would you do the same on your website? Implementing seamless functionality and user friendliness will not only work to keep potential customers on your site, but it'll also help boost your SEO and search engine rankings.
Another equally important design element is imagery. Store displays and packaging all play a crucial role in the sale of a product, but since your customers can't have the physical product right in front of them, the images you select need to be high quality and need to present your items perfectly. This includes images from various angles and magnified photos of the product's packaging, as well as lifestyle images of the product either being worn or being used. These images help users to really get a sense of what a product looks like, just like they would in your physical store.
Checkout Process
Last but certainly not least, the checkout process needs to be fluid. Just like no one enjoys standing in long lines, no one enjoys complex checkout processes or unexplained additional fees while buying online. While it's expected that there will be information they need to enter or read to ensure a successful purchase, you want to be aware of everything you're asking of your customer. Billing and shipping information is understandable, but requiring them to create an account that has multiple steps might be asking too much.
Remember, when it comes to your online store, you want to make a great first impression, dazzle the consumer with an intuitive layout and high-resolution images, and keep your checkout as quick and painless as possible. With these three factors in mind, you are certain to boost your online presence and increase sales. Wondering what steps you should take to upgrade your website experience? Contact the digital marketing experts at Informatics today!
