Tips to build e-Commerce Website, convert website visitors into paying customers
Over the last decade, the web and e-commerce have completely transformed the face of modern retail to the point that online shopping has brought about the demise of many of the world’s previously most successful companies.
Furthermore, the meteoric rise in the popularity of the e-com model shows no signs of abating with more of us than ever now choosing to shop online rather than visiting traditional, brick and mortar stores. Indeed, through the last decade, global online shopping has increased in value from just $1.3 billion in 2014 to a predicted $6.4 billion by 2024
In terms of retailing, the time is now to get your firm online
With such expected growth (plus the undeniable evidence that e-commerce is sounding the death knell for more traditional, physical shopping), there’s no time like the present to get your firm online and set up with some form of e-com shopping option.
Whether you’re just starting out with online retailing or already have a shop site, below are some tips used by the pros to help you build a killer shop site and convert website visitors into paying website customers.
Remember the importance of SEO: We live in a world where there are now more web pages than there are people – so standing out online is more challenging than ever. If you’re to stand any chance of making a success of your e-com venture, you’re going to have to invest in Search Engine Optimization (SEO). It’s estimated around 70% of all consumer journeys start with a search, typically on Google which accounts for around 92% of all search-engine-generated traffic. SEO is the highly detailed and intricate process of enhancing a website, so it appears higher in the Search Engine Result Pages (SERPs) under terms most likely to be used by your clients (potential and existing). Ignore it at your peril.
Streamline the shopping experience: Online shopping can bring tremendous benefits to firms – not least of which is the global reach and 24/7/365 nature of e-com. However, if you put barriers in the way of customers, you’ll end up alienating users and, potentially, driving them away to rival websites. The shopping experience on your site should be as streamlined and logical as possible to make it easy for customers to transfer from first contact through to your payment module. Shopping Cart Abandonment (SCA) is a real and present danger for all e-com sites.
Avoid asking for information you simply don’t need: Nobody likes giving over unnecessary private information and if there’s one sure-fire way to drive away users and get them to back out of the shopping journey, it’s by featuring lengthy, detailed forms in your payment process. You should ensure you only ask for the bare minimum of details – plus avoid holding sensitive information. Instead, trust your payment getaway partner to store private user data.
Study your analytics and prioritize items: Everything we do online is traceable, and the same applies to your customers. You should take the time to study your analytics and sales figures to work out the so-called cash cows and prioritize them higher up your navigation structure, or better yet put them on your home page.
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