03TH December2023

The Definitive Guide to E-Commerce Websites.

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by XbitAgency

From Cell Phones to Artwork, you can practically buy anything online these days, and we do! Consumers are driving growth in all types of e-commerce, which is good news for companies looking to grow. With the right strategy, your storefront can be bigger, brighter and more visible than ever. However, succeeding online is not easy. It requires careful planning, effective implementation and continuous optimization. Let’s review some essential tips to help you succeed in e-commerce.

Key e-commerce skills

Before we begin, let’s establish some key facts and statistics about the e-commerce industry so you can decide if it’s right for you.

  • E-commerce is growing at an unprecedented rate, with more and more consumers turning to online shopping for their needs. The industry is expected to grow by 10.4% in 2023 alone.
  • 57% of online shoppers report that they shop internationally.
  • Consumers expect fast and reliable shipments as standard, and 22% of online sessions are interrupted due to slow shipments.
  • Most consumers shop from their phones and tablets rather than desktops; 91% make online purchases using their phones.
  • By 2026, 24% of retail purchases are expected to be online; this percentage is estimated to be 20.8% by 2023.
  • It is an incredibly saturated market, so brands must differentiate themselves through branding, quality and excellent service.

*We thank the Financial Times for the statistics mentioned above.

E-commerce tips for success

1 Choose a platform that is easy to use.

Selecting the right e-commerce platform is essential. However, you should consider solutions like WooCommerce or Magento, as they might offer you the capabilities you need. When it comes to choosing a platform, these are the factors you should consider: ease of use, scalability, customization, security, as well as integration capabilities with payment gateways and shipping providers.

2 Optimize your website for mobile devices.

Since most of us turn to our phones to shop online, it’s crucial that your website is compatible with mobile devices. That means everything from design and navigation to individual page load times. The better your website is optimized for mobile devices, the better your customer engagement and search engine rankings will be.

3 Use high quality product images.

When you can’t physically see or touch what you’re buying, high-quality product images become essential. Invest in professional photography or use stock photography resources to showcase your products in the best possible way. Effects such as zoom functions and views from multiple angles can influence purchasing decisions, so these are also worth considering. But don’t overdo it: it’s good practice to compress images and videos, otherwise buyers will be waiting for the content to load.

4 Simplifies the payment process.

Make sure you build a smooth buying process. Think as few steps as possible and a clear call to action on each page. Guest checkout options can be a smart strategy as well, reducing the number of clicks someone has to make before buying. It is also worthwhile to offer multiple payment methods, such as Apple Pay or even “buy now, pay later” options like Klarna.

5 Implements security features.

Whether someone is chronically online or makes purchases very rarely, they still want to know that their money is safe. Make sure you have solid security measures in place to reassure customers. There is a balance between being so careless that something looks suspicious and being so confident that it feels like being on a test full of trick questions, so that’s also important to keep in mind. You want buyers to feel confident, not exhausted.

6 Implements effective search functionality.

A powerful search function can significantly improve the user experience on your website. It includes filters, sorting options and category-specific search to help customers find what they are looking for. And if what they’re looking for isn’t there, you can show them related products they might even prefer – win-win.

7 Make it personalized and targeted.

Personalization is a growing trend among consumers and, with the rise of artificial intelligence to help, there are no excuses! Customer data can help you create tailored shopping experiences – from product recommendations based on browsing history to exclusive offers for repeat customers. Personalization also works extremely well for marketing. If you want to drive targeted traffic to your website, you might consider tactics such as automated email marketing and social media ad retargeting. If you have multiple customer groups, personalization can be especially effective.

8 Take advantage of social endorsements and reviews.

If you’ve ever come across an online store that seemed too good to be true, you’ll know how crucial social backing is. Sometimes, it’s the only way to know if it’s legitimate or a complete scam. To help build trust and credibility, encourage customers to leave reviews and ratings for your products. Once you have some, why not display them on your website? This way, prospective buyers can feel confident in buying from you. Integrating social sharing buttons and showing the number of shares or likes can also help instill confidence in your brand.

9 Provides exceptional customer service.

If the customer is king, you need to offer impeccable customer service worthy of royalty, no less. It’s a sure way to build trust and differentiate your online store from the competition.

Try to offer multiple support channels such as live chat, FAQs and a “contact us” page.
Ideally, buyers won’t need these channels: your website should give them all the information they need. So be sure to include detailed product information such as specifications, size charts and reviews.
Finally, partnering with reliable and fast couriers to offer next day delivery is increasingly the expected norm, so choose your mail carrier wisely.

10 Invest in SEO.

To attract organic traffic, it pays to invest in search engine optimization (SEO). Conduct keyword research so you can evaluate what customers are really looking for. Once you have control over this, apply it to your product descriptions, meta tags and URLs.

If you want to stand out as an authority in your field, why not also create a bank of valuable content? Things like blog posts and product guides are genuinely useful (if done right!), but they also help position you as the go-to brand for your particular niche.

Conclusion.

If you want to take your online store to the next level, you’ll need some strategic planning, user-centered design and effective marketing. It’s not easy, but if you ask us, it’s worth it; you can literally expand your customer base overnight. You’ll have to make some tough decisions, like which e-commerce platform to use and how to simplify your checkout process while keeping it secure, but that’s what we’re here for. As e-commerce experts, you can leave all the website details to us so you can focus on what you do best.

Interested in working with XbitAgency? Write to us at
contact@xbitagency.com

We are a creative digital agency based in Tenerife, specialized in creative web design, web development, branding and digital marketing.

We are also experts in the WordPress content management system.

 

 

 

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