Online shopping is becoming the new normal as a result of the spread of global pandemic. E-commerce generated 4.9 trillion dollars worldwide in 2021 alone. And it’s expected to continue growing rapidly.
In light of this, it’s crucial to optimize your website so that customers can easily find what they’re looking for and make purchases with minimal effort. A well-designed website is essential for any business, large or small. It should be attractive and easy to navigate; it should also have the latest features that make online shopping a pleasure for customers.
A basic eCommerce website typically has a Homepage, Products page, Blog and About Us page. But this is 2022, and to succeed in eCommerce, owners must constantly be on the lookout for new technologies that will help them meet their customers’ ever-evolving needs. We, an ecommerce website development company in Canada, has put together a list of the most important elements for successful eCommerce website in 2022.
1. Responsive Website Design
In today’s market, there is no doubt that consumers are increasingly turning to their mobile phones as they shop and interact with brands online. Because customers can purchase products from the screen of their smartphone, tablet or computer—and may do so while in a wide range of locations and conditions—it’s essential to make sure that your website is mobile-friendly.
To ensure that your website looks great across all devices, you should make sure it is responsive and does a mobile friendly test. You can also use drag-and-drop website builders such as Elemento and download customizable eCommerce templates to make your website more responsive.
2. User-Friendly Navigation
To help your visitors get where they need to go easily and efficiently—whether it’s purchasing, looking for additional information or contacting customer service—it’s important that your navigation be as user-friendly as possible. Another trick for making your eCommerce website in 2022 a success is to make your menu vertical. This will allow you to shift your navigation to a mobile-responsive design, making it easier for both new and returning visitors alike.
In addition to the above guidelines, when designing navigation for your site keep in mind:
- Put the most important features at the top of your list.
- Opt for SEO-friendly menu terms.
- Add a search bar.
- Mark important pages and group them together.
3. Multiple Security Features
As technology advances, the possibility of hacking and security breaches increases. This is why a good eCommerce website in 2022 should include security features. A virtual private network, or VPN for short, is one of the best ways to protect your data and other information sent over the Internet. This is especially useful when you have a large team from around the world accessing your data.
To protect your website and its users’ data, you should add the following features:
Install an SSL Certificate: This ensures that nobody else is able to access the data being sent between the server and browser.
Enable 2-factor authentication: Anywhere and anytime your passwords might get compromised is a possibility. That’s why it’s important to secure your accounts with a second form of authentication. Changing your passwords regularly can help you maintain high levels of security.
4. Shopping Cart and Checkout Buttons
ECommerce sites are in business to make money, and an optimized shopping cart feature can increase their sales. To improve the customer experience and boost sales, e-commerce businesses can implement features such as fast service, seamless checkout procedures—and even provisions that allow customers to preview orders before completing purchases. If your customers struggle with any aspect of their shopping experience, they are more likely to abandon the transaction.
If you want to keep your customers engaged with your brand, follow these best practices:
Make your items clickable: This gives customers a chance to look at the details before buying. Help your customers avoid mistakes by letting them view the product attributes—size, color, and model—before completing an order.
5. Offer Multiple Payment Options
When you’re thinking about building an eCommerce website in 2022, it’s important to make sure that the site can process multiple payment options. Having an alternative payment method to offer your customers is a smart way of ensuring that they are as satisfied with their experience as possible.
Mobile payments and digital wallets are growing in popularity as alternative payment methods. While you can still offer traditional payment methods such as bank transfer and credit card, customers may prefer newer forms of payment for security-related reasons.
6. Detailed Shipping and Return Information
The global pandemic had a drastic effect on how shipping and supply chains operate, changing consumer behavior as well. To manage customer expectations, brands must understand what their customers want.
To set customer expectations and boost trust, it’s important to clearly advertise whether you offer free or paid shipping. You may also want to inform customers about your return policies on the checkout page.
If you make your customers feel valued, they will buy from you again. This helps a business to reduce losses and develop long-term client relationships.
7. High-Quality Photos and Videos
Your website’s visual design is the first thing users notice. Therefore, the quality of photos and videos shown on a website can greatly influence a customer’s first impression of that brand. However, for an eCommerce website in 2022 to be successful, it’s not enough to have high-quality images and videos—it’s time for brands to move past that.
Here are some steps to improve your brand’s visual content:
- Optimize your images and videos for e-commerce by making them shoppable. Now, customers can use images to make purchases from social media platforms and even Google Lens.
- Offer products that are tailored to each customer’s preferences by using local, demographic and personal information.
- Testimonials and reviews can be very valuable source of real-world feedback about your brand.
- Offer customers a “try-before-you buy” experience, allowing users to sample products or services before making purchases using Artificial intelligence.
8. Contact Page with Multiple Contact Options
It’s crucial to maintain a good relationship with your customers. Giving your customers the option of contacting you when they have questions, clarifications or concerns can help build goodwill and strengthen customer relationships.
9. Create an Omnichannel Platform
Once you have an optimized eCommerce website, it’s important to connect your online and offline marketing efforts. By using an omnichannel platform, you can connect with customers and provide a seamless experience without users having to log in or switch between different social media channels.
10. CRM (Customer Relationship Manager)
To succeed in eCommerce, companies must be able to provide good customer service. A powerful CRM is a must-have for any successful eCommerce website in 2022. A CRM platform provides tools to centralize communications from multiple channels, giving you a better understanding of your customer’s behavior.
When choosing a CRM, consider factors such as:
- Flexibility
- Integration with your existing communication channels
- Tools for increasing the efficiency of your team’s work
- Capability to function as an Operational, Analytical, or Collaborative CRM
Optimize Your eCommerce Website in 2022
A well-designed eCommerce Website can generate more sales for any business. It may be only one part of your marketing strategy, but it can have a big impact on how successful you are as an e-tailer. Optimize your eCommerce website today with Cybocx Technology, leading eCommerce website development company, to increase leads and grow your business.
