Navigation
In order for customers to easily browse the products according to category, the navigation must be simple. If you have a large site with several categories, a drop down menu, also known as a fly-out or super menu, will help reduce the clutter on the site, while providing effective access throughout the site.Search Bar
Your e-commerce site should have a search bar. A search bar will make it easy for your customers to search for specific products according to the product name or product ID. A search bar will also help keep the customer on the site, because they will be tempted to search around the site.Clean Pages
One of the most important things you can do for an effective e-commerce site is to keep the products pages clean. If there is clutter, confusion or messy descriptions the customer will be tempted to stray from the page and may ultimately leave the site.Add to Cart
The "add to cart" button should be clear, bold and easy to find. The shopping cart should also be clearly visible and included on every page. Customers also like having access to thumbnails of products they have in the cart.Inventory
Staying on top of what you do and do not have in stock is vital to an effective e-commerce site. Products that are out of stock should remain on the page, however, it should be clearly stated that these products are currently out of stock. If you no longer carry an item, remove it from the site immediately.Promotions
When you have promotions, display all of the promotional offers on the homepage. For example, if you are having a sale, in addition to the product page, include the product on the homepage with the original and the sale price included. Remove items from the homepage as soon as the promotion ends.Pictures
Customers shopping online do not get to touch and feel the product before buying so the use of crisp, clear pictures is important. Use plenty of photographs on your site and make sure they are clear, colorful and crisp. The customer should be able to get a sense of what the product will look and feel like from the photos on the site.Checkout
The checkout process should be smooth and free from distractions. Avoid sidebar navigations and do not promote additional deals or products on this page. Customers want to go to the checkout, view their purchases, pay and get out. If you charge shipping for your products, include the shipping price before the customer gets to the checkout. The customer should have easy access to how much their shipping charges will be before totaling their order.The goal is to help your customers feel as though they are shopping at the mall, without driving there. The customer should be comfortable shopping on your site and have options. If the customer were to go to a shopping mall, they would be able to pick an item up and determine from the touch if they want to buy. An e-commerce site should be clear, clean and appealing so the customer feels as though they know what the products look and feel like.
Written by Danial Munsif
I am a Creative Blogger who is addictive to writing on latest topics on Technology, Smartphones, Graphics, Web development and Android
