As an online shopper, you've probably noticed that most eCommerce websites look similar. A lot of them have the same categories and products, and each one has a search bar, a cart button at the top of the page, and maybe some social media buttons on the sidebar. These days, though, it's not enough for your store to just have these basic features—you need to stand out from all the other ones out there who are also trying to sell their own stuff. If you want your site to be memorable in a crowded marketplace full of options, here are five features that will help:
Data analytics is the use of data to benefit your business and its customers in various ways. It can help you to understand your customers, their needs and the best way to serve them. It can also help you to improve your website or business. Data analytics are used to discover new opportunities and make better decisions about how best to grow your business.
Analytics will show what kind of customers you're reaching, as well as how well they’re converting on each individual page or product category. This information allows retailers to target their campaigns more effectively by knowing which products are being viewed but not purchased, or by identifying areas where more traffic could be directed toward conversion pages.
Responsive design is the practice of designing websites that will automatically adjust their layout to match the size of their viewer’s screen. This is important for a few reasons:
The checkout process is one of the most critical parts of your eCommerce website. If you can't get people to complete their purchase, then they will go elsewhere. A simple and clear design that makes it easy for customers to follow the checkout process is essential.
Make sure the checkout process is secure—it's not just about protecting your customers' data, but also about making sure that they don't have any reason to take their business elsewhere because they don't trust that their information is safe with you.
A live chat option on your website is one of the best ways to engage with customers. When a customer wants to know more about a product, or has questions about an order, it's important for them to feel like they are getting a response from you in real time. Live chat also helps build trust and credibility with potential customers who might be unsure about purchasing from your site.
The main reason why people contact customer service is because they want assistance in making their purchase decision or have questions regarding shipping times (source: Shopify). It's been proven that having live chat available on eCommerce sites increases conversion rates by 30-40% (source).
Chatting with customers through a third-party platform not only gives you access to all their information but also allows you create personalized experiences for each user that stays logged into their account:
When people visit your site, the first thing they’re going to want to do is find what they need. That means these five features:
These are just a few of the things you should consider when building your online store. In addition to these features, always keep an eye on what your competitors are doing and get some ideas from them if it makes sense for your business.
The five features that we have detailed in this article will help your store stand out from the crowd. While each of them is important, it is the combination of all five that will really give you an edge over your competitors.
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