ecommerce tips

15 Tips to Optimize an Ecommerce Setup

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Selling online?  Here are 15 ecommerce tips to make sure you are set up for success.

  1. Use consistent branding. Make sure your brand or logo is clearly visible on every page of your site. This builds trust that users are at a trusted site. Also provide information about you. People like to know about the company they’re buying from.
  2. Make shopper essentials easy to find. It should always be easy to reach shopping pages and the shopping cart, as well as customer service information and FAQs covering essential information like shipping costs and payment options. If users can’t find these pages, they’ll find it difficult to shop on your site.
  3. Make sure your site is mobile-friendly. Making purchases via mobile is becoming a popular option for many shoppers. So make sure they can easily complete their transactions on the small screen.
  4. Optimize for speed. Make sure your site is fast, even on slower speed connections. No one will wait for a slow site.
  5. Feature products. Have a prominent spot on your homepage for your core products or the items you currently have on sale.
  6. Include an effective call to action. Tell people what you want them to buy! Change over time as needed for sales, seasons or new product lines.
  7. Make products searchable. Every online store with more than 20 products should have a search option. Make sure you put the search option in a visible spot, as this will probably be the navigation of choice for your visitors.
  8. Use product categories. Categories help visitors get to different groups of products quickly, especially those who aren’t sure which specific products to buy.
  9. Include product images and describe key details. Product images say more than words. Images make it easier for visitors to choose from a wide variety of products. Each product description should offer all the details you know customers want to know. Don’t assume they know anything and make each product description a standalone sales moment.
  10. Be clear about pricing. Make all the costs and polices that apply to a purchase clear up front. Surprise costs are a major turn-off. Unclear shipping and other charges can make a customer hesitant to proceed.
  11. Share reviews. Genuine product reviews build trust and create confidence.
  12. Promote related products. Adding a related products section, or a ‘customers also bought’ section to your product page will trigger upsells, allow for bundles, and much more.
  13. Show stock availability. With online shops everywhere, people want to buy things at a shop that will deliver the products quickly. If you tell users a product is in stock, people are more likely to buy it.
  14. Don’t require an account. Allow customers to buy without forcing them to create an account.
  15. Optimize SEO titles and meta descriptions. Be sure to add a product-focused meta description to your product pages, to encourage Google not to show the wrong text in search results!