Creating a user-friendly e-commerce site is part of the retail sector that can be overlooked. No matter what platform you choose, an app that is easy to use will improve your customer traffic. Customers will decide whether to purchase a product from your website or app in seconds, meaning it must be fast and responsive.
1. Fast Loading Time
You may want to make a splash with your design to impress your customers. The problem with many of the latest innovations for apps and websites is the time it takes for them to load. Your customers will usually decide whether they are going to buy a product or service within 30 seconds. A customer waiting for an extended time to view your page will often navigate away before it fully loads. Along with the loading time for your page, you need to make sure your logo and branding load quickly. Keeping your logo and branding front and center will keep your customers coming back to your site.
2. Link to Social Media Platforms
Your social media posts will often be the first contact you have with your customers. Others will search for your business online and read reviews through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Alongside maintaining your social media posts, the ability to move between your app and social media accounts needs to be easy to find. Including buttons allowing easy access to your social media platforms will help your customers feel they are part of your community. Social media use continues to grow, with your accounts being studied by customers to check your history. Online reviews need to be easy to find, including negative and positive interactions with customers. The way you interact with negative reviewers will help build trust between your company and customers.
3. Optimize Images
The internet has moved away from its text-heavy roots in the early-2000s to become an image-based delivery platform. High-quality images are a good option for attracting customers to your brand. However, a large number of images on your e-commerce app will slow your speeds down. Striking the correct balance between images and speed requires the use of professional services to complete your app or site design.
4. Research Your Host
Who is hosting your website or app? The question can be a difficult one to answer and leaves many business leaders stumped. If your host is not offering enough bandwidth or speed, your site will struggle to stay competitive. You can choose to use a Content Delivery Network. A CDN will make sure your app or website runs at its optimum speed, without the problem of downtime or slow performance.
5. Easy to Identify Payment Options
If you are looking to take part in e-commerce, you will need to be able to accept payments and interact with your customers. Icons and buttons for the most popular payment options need to be visible to your customers. A customer who cannot understand how to make a payment will not complete their sale with your company before moving on to a competitor.