In today’s world of business, most shopping is done online. Giant companies like Amazon have effective eCommerce websites that allow you to buy items without leaving the comfort of your home. But how are they so effective?
To run a successful eCommerce business there is a myriad of things you can do, and some must-haves you can implement that will help your platform run smoother. In the article below we look at five cornerstones of an eCommerce business that you should consider:
1. A Reliable Delivery Courier
Firstly, unless your business provides digital products, you must have a reliable courier. If your customers order physical products, they want them quickly, and to arrive when expected, without damage. There is a range of delivery services you can use and cost shouldn’t be the only consideration when choosing one.
When creating your online store, consider your products and how they need to be delivered. Are there any delicate items? Will you offer international delivery? Understand exactly what delivery service (if any) you need, and find a reliable courier that will provide a first-rate service to your customers.
2. Consistent Branding Across All Outlets
To support your eCommerce store, you should have consistent branding. This should include social media, print media, business cards, and the online store itself. The branding should have a consistent colour scheme, logo, and other imagery. Also, you should use a consistent voice throughout all of your media.
By reinforcing your branding and incorporating it into your online store, you can ensure that customers will recognize your business. Recognition by association is an effective part of eCommerce and marketing and most large companies do this.
3. A Logical and Organized Product Catalog
If your eCommerce store has a confusing layout with unorganized products, customers will quickly become irritated and potentially shop elsewhere. Before creating your product pages, you should therefore think of a logical structure.
Look at your products and/or services and try to break them into logical categories. Create an easy to understand structure and incorporate this into your eCommerce store design. This will improve your customer’s experience and ensure they can find products easily.
4. Customer Review & Comment Plugins
The best eCommerce stores are accessible but also allow customers to see real feedback and reviews from actual customers. Nothing gives reassurance and boosts confidence like seeing positive comments from customers that have used your products/services.
A simple way to do this is to have customer review and/or comment plugins on your product pages. Many shop builders have this functionality and it can drive engagement and positive interactions with your eCommerce store. If you implement these features, ideally they should have some form of required authentication enabled to prevent spam and/or fake comments.
5. A Secure Payment Gateway
Finally, your eCommerce store must have an effective and secure payment gateway. This is so that customers can purchase your products/services with confidence. Many website builders include payment systems and offer payment protection. Shopify, for example, works with a wide range of industry-recognized payment providers.
When looking for a payment gateway, it should ideally offer 128-bit or 256-bit encryption for all transactions. Also, it should support a range of common payment methods like Visa, MasterCard, and PayPal. Ideally, there should also be no or minimal payment fees to your customers.
Conclusion
If you incorporate the above thighs into your online store, it should improve its effectiveness. We are not guaranteeing success, but this will at least ensure you are providing a reliable and quality service to your customers. Also, things like business cards, branding, and comment plugins will drive engagement and ensure your online store gains exposure.