Starting your own ecommerce store is an exciting experience, but it’s also a little bit daunting. There’s just so much to think about. Luckily, there are tools and services available to help make your e-store launch simple as can be. Below are a few of the ways the right ecommerce platform makes your business perform better.
Choose an E-Store Builder
One of the truisms of ecommerce is that it’s not just about what you sell, but rather how you sell. While some vendors decide to build their own websites, it is much quicker and easier to take advantage of a platform provider or e-store builder.
If you are seeking the best ecommerce site builder, Shopify is an appropriate place to start since it offers built-in payment processing, inventory management, secure shopping features and more.
Choose Good Design Elements
Adopting the right ecommerce platform builder will also ensure that your site is visually appealing and simple to use. All you have to do is click on one of the pre-fab templates and make adjustments where necessary.
Of course, if you prefer to build the site on your own, at least follow web design best practices. Otherwise your e-store could devolve into a clunky catastrophe.
Employ HD Images
Let’s be straight – ecommerce is super convenient and wonderfully adaptable, but it does have its limitations. For example, shoppers are generally unable to try on or examine items before shipping them to their homes. This means they have to place a high level of trust in your product images.
Be sure to use only high-definition images of your products (no grainy smartphone pics). It wouldn’t hurt to post photos in varying colors, with and without models or from different angles. Some platforms even allow for interactive photos.
Write Clean, Error-Free Copy
Similarly, consumers look to your product descriptions to make their purchasing decisions. Make sure your copy is well written and free of spelling errors.
Take some time to anticipate customer questions and answer them in your descriptions. Examples include sizing guides or cleaning and maintenance tips. Make sure your site builder integrates product descriptions.
Adopt Mobile & Tablet Integrations
Did you know mobile commerce makes up 30 percent of all ecommerce in the United States? If your store isn’t optimized for smartphone and tablet shopping you are missing out on a swath of potential sales.
Double check your mobile site to make sure images are posted correctly, entry fields are accessible and buttons are big enough to tap.
Avoid Annoying Advertisements
Truth be told, some fledgling ecommerce vendors who find it hard to turn a profit will resort to hosting third-party advertisements on their site. While this isn’t a terrible idea, is not exactly great for the customer experience.
Flashy banner ads or pop-ups can annoy your visitors and could be enough send them to a competitor. Keeping your platform free of ads and clutter is a much better idea.
Recognize New Payment Options
This next tip is all about the money. Sure, your e-store builder accepts credit and debit card payments, but does it also accept PayPal purchases or cryptocurrencies? Security-conscious shoppers might not like to share their financial information online and prefer to use new payment options.
The bottom line? Choose a platform provide that either accepts these payments by default or offers add-ons to do so.
Embrace Platform Management Tools
As mentioned above, running an ecommerce site can be difficult. Luckily, platform management tools can alleviate some of the stress by automating some of the processes for you. For instance, an inventory management add-on can monitor your product levels in real time to ensure that the offerings on your website match with the number of goods in stock.
As you can tell, choosing the right platform makes all the difference. So, what are you waiting for? Start exploring new ways to improve your ecommerce business today!
