5 essential design tips for eCommerce websites

As of 2017, the global eCommerce industry was worth $2.3 trillion and according to projections, it is expected to grow to around $4.8 trillion by the year 2020. This is due to the fact that more companies than ever are now moving their operations online in order to reach a wider market and eliminate the costs associated with physical shops. Here are some essential tips to ensure that your eCommerce website is maximising conversion.

Make sure it’s neat One of the biggest mistakes that many eCommerce companies make, especially young brands or businesses that are new to operating online, is to cram as much content as possible into every page in the hope that a certain product will catch the attention of a consumer. Bombarding browsers with too much content which isn’t laid out in a structured way can make it difficult for them to navigate the site and figure out exactly what is on offer. Use quality images Although more people than ever are now buying online, there is still a significant percentage of consumers who are reluctant to purchase goods from a website, particularly one which doesn’t have a global reputation as big as Amazon. Images not only create a more aesthetic appeal, they also allow you to provide as much detail as possible about your products to encourage purchases and increase conversion. Categorise everything It’s essential that you make it as easy as possible for browsers to find exactly what they’re looking for when they visit your website. Using categories and headers that are laid out neatly will create a more seamless user experience and remove any unnecessary hurdles for consumers trying to find specific items. However, remember that you don’t need a different drop-down header for every product. Try to keep the categories concise. Choose the right font When it comes to page titles and logos, don’t be afraid to go big or be bold in order to grab the attention of consumers and represent your brand. However, it’s important not to overlook the body text. The size, style and colour of the font you choose for your product descriptions and web content need to be well laid out and legible. Reduce checkout clutter One of the biggest causes of shopping cart abandonment is difficulties during the checkout stage. Many eCommerce websites make the mistake of adding extra sections and increasing the time it takes to complete the purchase. It may seem like a good idea to get extra customer information or promote another product but it is seldom worth the risk of losing the customer altogether.