Top 7 Design Tips For Ecommerce Sites

Posted on 26. May, 2010 by Rebecca Wright in Tips

When it comes to ecommerce, design is everything. If you have any intention on making profit, you’re going to need a site that is designed so as to be appealing and comforting to the user. You could be selling the best products on the market for extremely reasonable prices, but the fact is, a poorly designed site is going to damage your sales immensely. Here are seven tips to help move your ecommerce website design in the right direction.

1. Cleanliness Is Next To Goodliness

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It should go unspoken that a clean, visually appealing design is the most important thing you can do for your ecommerce site. However, the amount of cluttered and broken-linked ecommerce sites on the web is astounding. If the consumer is unable to shop efficiently, they will inevitably go elsewhere.

2. Colors Speak Words

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Any college-level graphic design class worth taking will approach the subject of color and its connection to emotions. This does not hold more true than when it comes to web design, specifically when it comes to ecommerce. Use non-threatening colors such as light blues and greens. Green is an excellent color to indicate a sale or price cut. Avoid using the color red if possible.

3. Sneak In Your Sales

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One of the advantages of ecommerce is to be able to advertise external products while a customer is shopping. Many websites use the “customers who purchased this item have also purchased…” strategy, which can be very effective. Just be sure not to be too vigilant, as no one wants to have extra items pushed upon them.

4. Choose Your Provider Wisely

Finding the best ecommerce web hosting provider for your business is not to be understated, as this is a crucial part of the process. Doing a bit of research on the web will save you time and money, as well as help guide your decisions. While price is always important, be sure you choose a provider that rides on a good reputation.

5. Speed Is Everything

Most people enjoy shopping online because it affords them the opportunity to finish their shopping quickly. Be sure that your checkout process is streamlined and easy for the user to understand and complete quickly. After all, if there is too much red tape, a customer might exit out of an order they are about to make, which translates to losing a sale – and no one wants to lose a sale.

6. Don’t Be A Jack Of All Trades

Some ecommerce sites are able to get away with selling everything from lawnmowers to toothbrushes, but this is unwise for a smaller or start-up site. Focus on a niche that you are knowledgeable about, as many consumer would prefer to go to a site like that rather than a “big box” site if they are looking for something very specific.

7. Watch Your Pricing

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People who shop online do so primarily based upon pricing, which is why it is crucial to keep your pricing low and competitive and to let the consumer know this. Designing your site to show your competitors prices right next to yours can instill confidence in the buyer, and will lead them to believe that your site holds the best deals on the net.

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Tags: Design, eCommerce, How To, Tips, Websites