So, you’re developing your first eCommerce website. You already know how vital an awesome website design is—it allows you to create excellent customer experience, which is a key to conversion, and making your business profitable. But, where do you start? The UX.
Create customer-centric search on the website
Did you know that good search experience is one of the most highly reported motivations for customers purchase? Then obviously, customer-centric search should be one of the essential elements of your UX design. There are two types of customer-centric search: voice search and image recognition. Let’s drill down on them.
- Voice search. With the rise of voice search through technologies such as Alexa and Google Assistant, customers demand convenience. 50 percent of all searches are performed via voice search.
- Image recognition. Imagery plays a huge role in purchase intent—after all, we are visual creatures. Before purchase, we want tangibility. Brick and mortar stores are great for this, but we can now digitize the experience through excellent imagery. With the ability to retrieve, process, analyze, and then interpret images and photos, we’re on a role!
Use a horizontal toolbar
Dated eCommerce websites used left-hand vertical sidebars filtering interfaces. However, today, customers prefer horizontal toolbars. The obvious benefit is more page width and real estate—left-hand vertical sidebars used to occupy most of the space on the page, while a horizontal flow allows for better use of ‘above the fold’ content.
In addition, the horizontal toolbar is far more responsive and mobile and tablet friendly.
Don’t overload your website with too much information
As previously mentioned, we are visual, and imagery is far more stimulating than text / plain copy. We need to make website copy concise, comprehensive and readable. Here are some useful tips on how to make your texts and descriptions of your products eye-catching and easy-to-read without overloading the website.
- Know your audience. If you have a product to sell, then you have a target audience. Think about them and create a customer profile; who are they, what makes them laugh or smile and what are their interests and hobbies? Once you have a clear image of your potential customer in your head, then you will be able to create a customer journey—this will help establish a personal connection with your target audience.
- Ensure your text is scannable. We live in a fast-paced world and time is our most important asset. Today people are masters of the scan and can sift through information incredibly efficiently; by catching only specific keywords, expressions and emojis. Think bullet points and clear, short headings and subheadings.
Ecommerce is not only about the quality of service or the price of a products―half of the sales cycle largely depends on the customer experience, including an impactful eCommerce website design. So, get designing and then start selling!