Online shopping comes with various benefits. You can compare products from comforts of your home, pick out the one that suits your preferences, and budget. Sensing the growing popularity of online shopping, many people have started creating ecommerce websites.

Unfortunately, most are unaware of the fact that for smooth user experience, paying attention to ecommerce web design is critical. Imagine the shock and frustration when a customer completes the registration process, finds the checkout link, and realizes that the product is out of stock. Chances are high that he/she will not return to the site. To ensure that your e-commerce solutions offer a rewarding experience to your users, read on.

1. Opt for a Short Registration Form

We understand that registration form consists of an important aspect of online shop. However, as a website designer, you should understand psychology of the customer as well. All customers look forward to buy items, rather than filling up lengthy forms. A lengthy registration form, therefore, can irritate them.

The best way to minimize irritation of clients is by incorporating a short registration form in the website design. Ask only for basic information.

2. Inform them about Availability/Non-Availability of a Product

People hate it when they complete the necessary procedures, later realizing that the chosen product is out of stock. For this reason, if a product is currently unavailable, inform about it to the customers as early as possible.

3. Allow Clients to make Changes Easily

Your site should offer clients flexible shopping. This means that if they put an unwanted item in their basket by mistake, you should allow them to change it without any hassle. For best results, add a ‘remove’ link beside every product added to the cart. This will allow customers to implement modifications easily.

4. Offer Real-Time Support

As compared to directing users to FAQ pages, offering them real-time support will add greater value to your site. This strategy will solve problems and queries of customers promptly. Remember that if customers do not receive assistance, while facing problems during online shopping, they will simply cancel their order.

5. Do not Disable the ‘Back’ Button

Many visitors prefer hitting the ‘back’ button when they want to move on from the page they are currently viewing. Disabling this button can create confusion and frustration. To ensure that users do not face any problem, never disable the back button.

6. Allow Users to Check their Baskets

Before clicking the ‘order’ button, allow customers to view their basket. This will convince them that they have placed right items in the basket, and thus offer peace of mind. For best results, incorporate pictures, product specification, along with item titles in the cart. This will help visitors to scan the necessary information quickly.

7. Offer Progress Indicator

Progress indicator allows customers to understand the stage where they are currently. This in turn, will make them feel that they can control the shopping process. Furthermore, it offers assurance to them, since they can directly observe the various stages of online shopping.

8. Simplify the Checkout Interface

Consider the fact that during the checkout process, your customers are concentrating on buying the product. Implementing browser controls at such a stage would disrupt their activity.
To remain on the safe side, opt for a simple checkout interface. Avoid unnecessary elements, such as latest products, discount coupons, and product category links.

9. Avoid Disrupting the Checkout Process at any Cost

If you want to offer valuable information to a customer, who is currently at the checkout stage, consider two options. Opt for a floating window to provide them with necessary information. Alternatively, use a pop-up window.

Never encourage a client to leave the checkout page, no matter what the reason is. Doing so can distract them. Additionally, they may lose track of where they are currently, and finally, fail to complete the order.

10. Highlight Your Delivery Time

To assure customers about delivery of the product, inform them about the expected time. This will allow them to prepare themselves, accordingly. For example, if you highlight the expected delivery date in your site, they can make sure that someone stays at home on the particular day.

11. Communicate with Them

Once the users have placed the order, express your gratitude. Sending them a ‘thank you’ note will definitely impress them.  Additionally, inform them about the next step-i.e. you will send them a confirmation mail soon. This will clear up the confusions and provide them with assurance.

12. Do not forget to send the Mail Actually

Finally, send a confirmation mail stating the necessary details and expected date of delivery. This will ensure users that they have ordered correctly. In case of any mistake, allow them to change the order.

Consider these strategies for developing a user-friendly website design.

Shipping is the most critical aspect of an ecommerce website design. Surprisingly, many people do not pay attention to this aspect of web design. The result is that customers feel frustrated due to lack of good information. Sometimes, they feel irritated because they manage to find the shipping policy section after an extensive search. As a result, they move on to other sites and this affects the revenue.

Incorporating a strict shipping policy in website design of your site is critical. It will help people to understand the rules that you follow for shipping products to customers. Furthermore, this will encourage clients to trust you. A strict shipping policy offers people peace of mind, because they know that the shipping policy will safeguard their products in any situation.

Simply stating shipping policy, of course, is not enough. To build a long-term relationship with your clients, adhering to these policies is critical. If you want to know how you can improve shipping section of your site, read on.

1.  Offer Detailed Information

Many customers complain that they do not find relevant information in ecommerce sites. The best way to deal with this situation is to offer visitors detailed information about different shipping options, costs, and approximate delivery time. To create a strong impression, try to stick to the due date.

2.  Opt for Radio Buttons

Use radio buttons to display shipping information before your visitors. This is because radio buttons guide the user’s eye to various options, thus encouraging him/her to select the right option.

A drop-down list, on the other hand, emphasizes on current selection. Using such a list can make users think that you are forcing them to choose a particular option.

3.  Free Shipping

Many online marketers insist on offering free shipping to grab attention of customers. This is a good technique because it encourages people to buy items from an ecommerce site. However, if you misuse the free shipping option, it can have a drastic impact on the relation that you share with your customers.

Examples of misuse of free shipping option can include canceling it suddenly or charging customers with hidden costs.

4.  Do not Delay Shipping

Once you receive an order, pack the product and ship it immediately. Do not invest 4-5 days for shipping. Rather, try to ship it on the same day you acquire the order. Remember that if you want to earn trust of customers, ship it as soon as possible.

5.  Stay in Touch with Customers

As the owner of an ecommerce site, you should stay in touch with clients regularly. Offer them peace of mind by updating them about the status of their products consistently. Whenever you receive any order, send an email to the concerned person immediately. State that you have received the order.

Contacting the customer, after you have shipped the item, is also critical. If you any face any problem, inform him/her as well. This is particularly important when an item is back-ordered. This will convince clients that you care about them and thus, create a positive impression.

We discussed some crucial shipping practices an ecommerce site should follow. Apart from creating a good impression, these techniques will help you to reduce complaints as well. This in turn, will allow you to acquire repeat customers. Remember that clients always prefer to buy items from a site that respects their preferences and safeguards their products.

In today’s generation of Internet, there is no longer any need to build retail shops in order to sell goods. As an alternative Ecommerce website can be a much easier mean of business and an Ecommerce Website Design can be the key to success. Following are the five tips in order to make ecommerce website design a success:-

• Ecommerce Website Design Success Tip 1 – Proper showcase of products
  Your ecommerce website design should be done keeping the customers in mind. It should be simple and navigation should be easy to understand. The Website design should be done in such a way so that the customer should understand what are the products that you want to sell. The products should be highlighted either on the side or there should be a dropdown menu for the products. If there is any offer, money back or exchange scheme then your website must show it. For best result, the products should be positioned strategically. Continue reading ‘Ecommerce Website Design – Five Tips For Success’ »