When starting an e-commerce site, there are a number of things you need to consider. Convincing prospects to buy from you is difficult enough but when they do make that decision, making the process as easy as possible is vital.
Carefully plan your website, outline your objectives for the site, and what you feel it should contain before you start to build it. Part of this process for an e-commerce site is to map out the steps your prospects will take when they get to your site. This may include a search facility, a product category section or an online catalog.
Your catalog will need pictures, descriptions, specifications and prices. You may want to include customer ratings and reviews, and will need to add a facility for customers to add their comments after purchase. Your catalog should be organized according to how customers shop and this is an important factor to remember. Keyword research would be a lot of help here. Figuring out if people search for kids jewelry or specific items like necklaces and bracelets is one example. Helping you work out how to categorize your products is how they search. Your shopping cart buttons should be prominent and clear so that when customers want to buy, they would know exactly what to do.
Offering the facility to add items to the cart and continue browsing through the site without interruptions is your shopping cart. Multiple payment options should be offered as well so that customers will find it easy to make a purchase. You may want to look into encryption technology since security is a big issue for online shoppers. Customers are reassured if they a money back guarantee is offered and after sales service and support that's easy to find should be provided.
Helping to minimize the amount of queries you receive is an FAQ section that covers the most common questions but easy contact facilities must be provided so if customers have questions or problems, they'll be able to get hold of you. A telephone number, even if that number is never used, can make or break a sale but many online shoppers like the idea that they can call you.
Your customer's experience is the most important point to consider when you build an e-commerce site. If you make it difficult for them to purchase, they will go elsewhere. Think about how you shop online, what features you like and have used in the past, and even some that you feel are missing from most e-commerce sites. Making your customer comfortable and helping them to purchase will result in more sales, and that is the goal of your site.
Carefully plan your website, outline your objectives for the site, and what you feel it should contain before you start to build it. Part of this process for an e-commerce site is to map out the steps your prospects will take when they get to your site. This may include a search facility, a product category section or an online catalog.
Your catalog will need pictures, descriptions, specifications and prices. You may want to include customer ratings and reviews, and will need to add a facility for customers to add their comments after purchase. Your catalog should be organized according to how customers shop and this is an important factor to remember. Keyword research would be a lot of help here. Figuring out if people search for kids jewelry or specific items like necklaces and bracelets is one example. Helping you work out how to categorize your products is how they search. Your shopping cart buttons should be prominent and clear so that when customers want to buy, they would know exactly what to do.
Offering the facility to add items to the cart and continue browsing through the site without interruptions is your shopping cart. Multiple payment options should be offered as well so that customers will find it easy to make a purchase. You may want to look into encryption technology since security is a big issue for online shoppers. Customers are reassured if they a money back guarantee is offered and after sales service and support that's easy to find should be provided.
Helping to minimize the amount of queries you receive is an FAQ section that covers the most common questions but easy contact facilities must be provided so if customers have questions or problems, they'll be able to get hold of you. A telephone number, even if that number is never used, can make or break a sale but many online shoppers like the idea that they can call you.
Your customer's experience is the most important point to consider when you build an e-commerce site. If you make it difficult for them to purchase, they will go elsewhere. Think about how you shop online, what features you like and have used in the past, and even some that you feel are missing from most e-commerce sites. Making your customer comfortable and helping them to purchase will result in more sales, and that is the goal of your site.
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