Pros and cons when designing a great web shop
It is a digital age we live in where almost all purchases are made online.
In recent years, and especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of online shopping has increased even more. For consumers, it is becoming increasingly important how the web shop looks like and how easy it is to navigate it.
As the internet is full of online shops offering consumers almost limitless choices both locally and internationally, it is important that your company’s e-commerce site is easy and intuitive to use. One important keyword for achieving this is web design. However, web design is not just about the appearance of the website, it encompasses a much wider concept, including user-friendliness and thoughtful details.
In this post, we will look at what to consider when creating a web shop so that your customers feel comfortable using it, and not tempted to turn to a competitor.
What a great web shop should look like:
- Simplicity. An effective web design must be visually appealing – simple and aesthetic, without unnecessary details. In addition, the e-commerce site must be easy to navigate. Keep the design clean and simple, and use clear and concise design language to guide your customers.
- Mobile optimization. As more than half of online purchases are made on smart devices, it is important that your web shop is optimized for mobile. Make sure that your website loads quickly and is easy to use on a smart device.
- High-quality images. A picture is worth a thousand words. Use only high-resolution and well-thought-out images. It is important that the product is visible from multiple angles, but keep in mind that they should not be too large in size and load quickly. Also, include the option to zoom in on the images so that people can examine the product details.
- Positive customer reviews are a powerful sales tool for your e-commerce site. Add customer reviews and ratings to your product pages to create and maintain trust and increase conversion rates.
- Clear CTA. Use simple, catchy, and motivating calls-to-action that are strategically placed. The use of CTAs increases the web shop´s usability as it makes the buyer’s journey more comfortable and faster.
- Useful and good content is as important as the usability of an online store. For the consumer, quality content means trust. In addition, it must also be useful because people must feel that they are getting relevant information while browsing the web. It is also crucial to use the same language and tone of voice that has already been created for your brand.
- In addition, product collections can be added to the online store, which create a compact image for the customer. Often, people also find it important to have an easy way to share the product or service information with their friends on social media. And finally, a customer support option, where people can conveniently ask questions, seek advice or give feedback. There are various options for this, but the most intuitive is the chat option.
What to avoid in a web shop design:
- Poor usability. Your customers should be able to find what they are looking for on your website easily. Avoid complex navigation menus and instead use clear categories and subcategories to help customers find the products they need. Intuitive navigation is key to a modern web shop. Your online store environment must be as convenient and easy to use as possible, as the risk of losing your customer to a competitor is high. Make sure to use a UX/UI experienced designer.
- Small fonts. Small fonts can be difficult to read, especially on smart devices. Use a clear and readable font and make sure the text is large enough for your customers to read.
- Pop-up windows. Pop-ups are annoying and disruptive for the user experience. Avoid using pop-ups, as they disrupt the customer’s journey and create confusion and unnecessary clicks.
- Hidden shipping costs. People don’t always like surprises. Make sure to clearly display shipping costs on the product page, or add a disclaimer that additonal costs will be added at check out.
- Complicated checkout process. Keep the checkout process as simple as possible without any extra steps. Only ask for necessary information. The fewer fields that need to be filled out, the better.
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