Ecommerce Web Development to Increase Your Sales
Every type of business on the web has to have a strategy for bringing in leads and converting them into paying customers. These strategies can differ widely among companies and industries.
Nowhere is an online strategy more important than in the ecommerce field. Ecommerce businesses do not have brick-and-mortar storefronts; there is no foot traffic to attract with signs and billboards.
It comes down to you and the strength of your website. You know your business and products and ways of working better than anyone, but do you struggle with the technical aspects of building a robust website? Do you find customers are leaving without making a purchase because they’re confused or frustrated by your design?
That’s where LSEO’s ecommerce website development can help.
What Is Ecommerce Website Development?
Getting your ecommerce website development correct the first time is paramount if you want to make it in your industry. You have a few options for getting this done: you can carve out a chunk of time to get educated in web development, particularly in the ecommerce space, and do it yourself. Or, you can hire a digital marketing agency for its expertise in web development services.
The web design professionals at LSEO are experts in ecommerce development and can build you a website that draws in visitors and points them to everything you offer.
We’re going to take you through three elements of a well-developed ecommerce website so you understand the kinds of things that allow online business owners to succeed among the competition.
3 Elements for Ecommerce Website Success
Simple and Effective Navigation
Your ecommerce website relies on users and search engines being able to find everything that’s available on all of your pages. For that reason, having a sensible and simple site navigation is a vital component of ecommerce websites of any size.
When we talk about site navigation, we always want to keep things simple for people. It’s a good idea to organize your products into just a handful of categories so users are not overwhelmed with information. A cluttered navigation that leaves users confused about how things are organized on your site is not likely to produce many conversions.
In that case, effective ecommerce website development will always strive toward simplifying your business’s product categories. Doing so is likely to keep users shopping on your site for longer periods, encouraging them ultimately to buy something.
High-Quality Photos
It should go without saying that, with an ecommerce website, the photos you display for your products matter. You still must write detailed product descriptions that give shoppers all the specs of what you carry, but if users cannot see the product itself, they are less likely to convert.
The ecommerce web developers you hire will have to rely on what you provide to them, but the best advice on ecommerce website photos is essentially to spare no expense or effort. You should use a high-quality camera to photograph your products from all angles. Ensure that users are able to examine each aspect of the product in the item’s photo gallery.
It can also help to show the product being used as intended in the proper real-world setting. This will give people a better idea of what it would be like to own the product.
Then, when creating the features of your site, your web developers should set up large versions of all those photos, or a zoom function, so users can get more granular when inspecting a product they are considering buying.
Simplify Checkout
The last item on our list is to make the checkout process simple and easy to traverse. There’s that word again: “simple.” When we are talking about ecommerce website development, obviously you have the option to make some elements fancy and impressive for users.
However, other parts of the online shopping experience should avoid being complex to mitigate the risk of being confusing to shoppers. Perhaps nowhere else on your ecommerce website is this more applicable than in the checkout area.
Think about it like this. You have already done the work of helping shoppers to navigate your product categories, find what they want, and learn about the items through high-quality photos and product descriptions. This is very nearly a victory. Now, you have to take shoppers through one more phase of their buying journey: online checkout.
For you as a business owner, checkout is the final hurdle. You don’t want to scare anyone off now, but it is actually true that a variety of factors can arise now, in the checkout stage, that cause users to abandon the transaction.
Consider these possibilities: the sudden need to create an account to check out, a surprise fee or other charge that was not revealed earlier, or a lack of conspicuous website security features that might make someone fear entering payment information.
These are all useful items to bring up with your web developers. Other items you will definitely want to mention include: ensuring the checkout is optimized for mobile, making the payment gateway screen free of distractions that could sabotage the purchase, and including a “progress” feature in the checkout area that shows users how far they still have to go until they reach the “submit order” button. Any obstacle to checking out could very well undermine and ruin the buyer’s intention to buy.
Always talk to your web developers to make sure your ecommerce site’s checkout is as streamlined as it can possibly be.
How to Find the Right Ecommerce Development Company
So, now that you know what is needed to build a powerful website that will serve as your greatest online converting tool, how do you know how to choose the right development company for the job?
We always suggest looking at examples of an agency’s work before doing anything. Screenshots of the way certain screens could look for you will definitely help you make up your mind. You probably won’t want to have the developers copy anything exactly, but seeing past work can jog your mind and help you think through what you want.
You should also hire a company that demonstrates it understands the vision of your brand. Website design and development comes down to a lot of colors, buttons, and rearranging, but at the end of the day, the website is all about projecting your company to the internet. Make sure the developers you go with are able to put your brand front and center through all the other elements of the site’s features and appearance.
The right developers will collaborate with you on what you need and what the developers think will serve you best.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is ecommerce website development?
Ecommerce website development involves creating online platforms that allow transactions of goods and services over the internet. This process includes not just designing visually appealing websites but also integrating secure payment gateways, user-friendly navigation, effective product management systems, and strong backend support. The goal is to create a frictionless experience that makes purchasing easier for customers while offering businesses a platform to manage sales, inventory, customer relationships, and other elements critical to online success. Whether you’re a start-up looking to launch your first online store or an established enterprise aiming to enhance your digital presence, ecommerce website development is crucial to capitalizing on the growing digital economy.
2. Why is a strong ecommerce website crucial for sales growth?
A robust ecommerce website is the cornerstone of your online business strategy. It is essential for several reasons. Firstly, it serves as the primary interaction point with your customers; thus, it must offer a seamless user experience to encourage sales. A strong website builds trust and credibility, two vital components that can heavily influence a consumer’s decision to make a purchase. Comprehensive product information, clear images, and easy navigation are key elements of a productive ecommerce site. Additionally, with no physical storefront, your website acts as your brand ambassador, the quality of which can significantly impact customer impressions and purchasing behavior. Finally, as the ecommerce sphere becomes more competitive, well-designed websites with optimized features and functionalities can help you stand out, attract more traffic, and convert more leads into sales.
3. What are the key features of an effective ecommerce website?
An effective ecommerce website should include several critical features to ensure success. These features include a user-friendly interface, which makes navigation intuitive and encourages customer engagement. Product pages must be detailed and include high-quality images to accurately represent your offerings. Secure payment processing is crucial, as this builds trust and security among users concerned about the safety of their online financial transactions. Mobile responsiveness is another critical aspect, as many consumers prefer to shop via their mobile devices. Furthermore, incorporating customer reviews and ratings can increase the credibility of your products and influence purchasing decisions. Lastly, integrating an easy and straightforward checkout process minimizes abandoned carts, thereby boosting sales conversion rates. These features work together to enhance the user experience and drive your ecommerce success.
4. How can ecommerce website development increase sales?
Website development can significantly impact your sales by optimizing your online storefront to better cater to consumer needs, thereby increasing your conversion rates. Firstly, a well-optimized website ensures a smooth, user-friendly shopping experience, encouraging visitors to browse longer and purchase more. Implementing SEO strategies can boost your website’s visibility, drawing in more organic traffic. More traffic, combined with attractive, easy-to-navigate product pages, can lead to increased conversions. Additionally, enhanced security measures and reliable payment gateways build customer confidence, prompting more frequent and larger transactions. Innovations such as personalized product recommendations or streamlined checkout processes can further entice purchases and reduce friction in the buying journey. Ultimately, effective ecommerce website development focuses on streamlining every aspect of the buying process, enhancing customer experience, and thereby increasing sales.
5. What common challenges might I face in developing an ecommerce website, and how can I overcome them?
Developing an ecommerce website is not without its challenges, but understanding them can help you plan accordingly. One major challenge is ensuring the website is secure to protect customer data and maintain trust. Implementing SSL certificates and compliance with data protection regulations is essential. Another challenge is creating a responsive design that provides a seamless shopping experience across all devices, which can be tackled by employing designers familiar with mobile-first design principles. Inventory management can also be complex, especially as you scale, so choosing a robust platform that offers integrated inventory solutions can be beneficial. Additionally, differentiating your ecommerce site in a competitive market may seem daunting. However, focusing on your unique selling proposition and delivering excellent customer service can help set your business apart. By addressing these challenges head-on with comprehensive planning and expert resources, you can develop a successful ecommerce platform that meets both your business goals and customer needs.
Why Choose LSEO to Develop Your Ecommerce Website?
You have a choice of who helps you to develop your ecommerce platform. Why should you partner with LSEO for this vital work?
Web Design & Development