Setting up an ecommerce retail store takes a few tips to maximize your website to include the type of support your customers need.
1. Get your senior management's support and commitment on your efforts to improve your website.
2. Identify the changes required and build a good operations team.
3. Always remember that your goal is to sell products through your website.
4. Set achievable goals for every webpage.
5. Make sure you have an about us page filled with your company's information.
6. Set a key performance indicator (KPI) for every online marketing campaign you conduct.
7. Never depend totally on technology.
8. Help users to reach you by different means - email, telephone, physical address, live chat, etc.
Here is a list of important Retail ecommerce usability/merchandising tips:
9. Don't use animation in your home page.
10. Display top-selling and newly launched products on your home page.
11. Make sure every product page is reachable within 2-3 clicks.
12. Recommend product accessories for items that have been added to a shopping cart. For example, if a customer buys a notebook, then recommend laptop accessories like a USB mouse or bags. Just recommend! Don't add them automatically to the shopping cart.
13. Add a buy button to your recommended list or wherever you show a product.
14. Also show product prices for each product in your recommended product list or anywhere else you display your products.
15. Make sure your content has compelling call to actions - buy now, limited offer, etc.
16. Wow customers by offering surprise gifts, offers, and price discounts.
17. Have good site search functionality within your site.
18. Also include advanced search functionality, such as search by color, size, etc.
19. Add breadcrumb navigation, which helps users understand their depth of their visit to your site.
20. Allow users to modify their shopping cart lists. They should be able to add or remove products and change the quantities that they want to purchase.
21. Avoid hidden cost - imposing additional cost on the total value of the purchase. Allow user to add associated products manually. Don't ever automate it. Hidden costs lead to shopping cart abandonment.
22. Don't force users to register, even for adding items into their shopping cart.
23. Glean only necessary information during the sign up process.
24. Display security badges clearly.
25. Give alternate payment options. About 74% of online merchants provide alternate payment options.
26. Offer free shipping for a certain price threshold.
27. Install an analytics program to help you better understand user behavior.
28. Use a visual analytics program to facilitate easy interpretation.
29. Avoid having a long check out process.
30. Provide all necessary information, such as shipping, privacy policy, return policy, delivery date and time,