One of the most approachable ways to start a business is by running an e-commerce store.
For one, it is easy to create an online store these days. Second, it is one of the fastest ways to start a business.
But because of the convenience it provides, we cannot deny that the competition in the e-commerce space is also becoming fierce. Thus, you want your online store to stand out as much as possible.
And one of the many ways to do that is to incorporate these six essential e-commerce elements:
1. User-Friendliness
When you’re first creating your ecommerce store, one thing that you should keep an eye out for is how user-friendly your site is.
Whether you use a site that hosts multiple ecommerce stores or would want to have a domain of your own, you have plenty of options. Regardless, you want to make your ecommerce store easy to navigate.
If customers have a hard time going through your catalog or moving around your website, they’re not going to stay long. That means you have to keep your web pages organized, your navigation understandable, and your pages load fast.
These are some of the foundational elements you have to look into when creating a user-friendly ecommerce store.
2. Mobile-Friendliness
There is an increasing number of smartphone users, which means that more people can access the Internet from anywhere. Mind you, there is a growing trend of e-commerce customers using their mobile devices to shop.
That said, it is imperative to have a mobile-friendly online store. Better yet, develop a mobile app for your e-commerce website.
Nonetheless, mobile optimization allows you to have a user-friendly online store. That way, they can navigate through your e-commerce website with ease, regardless if they are on desktop or mobile.
3. High-Resolution Photos and Videos
Another critical aspect of a successful e-commerce site is high-resolution product images. You can also use compelling videos to showcase how your products work.
Given the number of competitors out there in your niche, you want to make sure you stand out. An excellent way to stand out and grab attention is by having high-resolution photos and videos on your ecommerce store.
Nobody would want to buy a product from an ecommerce store with product images that look grainy or with insufficient detail. Since buying online is already a risk for customers, they want to make sure they’re buying what they expect.
However, they have nothing but the photos and description to rely on for proof of authenticity. That’s why you should make sure that any media you have is of high quality.
4. User-Generated Reviews
Before someone buys from your online store, they are likely to check whether your products have reviews.
In case you do not know, 9 out of 10 people read customer reviews. And eight of them trust online reviews as much as they trust friend recommendations.
That said, it only makes sense to include user-generated reviews on your e-commerce website. The best part? You can use these reviews as part of your marketing campaign.
Fortunately, there are a couple of ways you can encourage customers to leave a review on your online store.
5. Special Offers
Everybody loves discounts.
Sales, discounts, coupon codes, and so on are a great way to get attention to your products. That’s why you should make sure to include special offers as part of your promotional plan for your ecommerce store.
There are specific dates to watch out when you can guarantee that many people will be looking out for sales or discounts. However, you can also hold your special offers outside of these dates.
Special offers are an excellent way to get people to want to shop in your store. Even something as simple as plastering your free shipping policies anywhere on your site can push customers to spend more. Because who does not want free shipping, right?
6. Wish Lists
One thing that e-commerce stores want to fight against would-be shopping cart abandonment. Customers who showed interest in a product before buying can be easily swayed to take action through remarketing.
But instead of abandoning their cart, it would be better to add a Wish List feature. This allows your customers to save the product they intend to buy in the future.
On the other hand, it makes it easier for you to coax a potential customer to buy. Instead of bombarding them with remarketing ads, you can notify them instead when a wish list item had a price drop.
Conclusion
The secret to a successful e-commerce website is to always think of your customers.
What would make it easy for them to look for the products they would want? What would make it easier for them to buy that product?
Doing so can help you identify what elements you would want to incorporate in your online store. That way, you can ensure e-commerce success.