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Due to the majority of people favouring its accessibility and convenience, the e-commerce sector has been flourishing. Over 75% of consumers globally now favour online purchasing over going to a physical store. Many people have established their e-commerce websites to take advantage of the growing market as a result of the e-commerce sector’s enormous success.
With a rise in the number of e-commerce companies, the market is becoming more and more competitive. Businesses must take care to set up their e-commerce stores precisely if they want to stay competitive and profitable. A successful e-commerce website is user-friendly, offers customer satisfaction, and uses efficient marketing techniques to target the right audience. The following are features that every e-commerce website must have.
1. Easy-to-use navigation
An e-commerce website needs a user interface that is carefully developed. Only when the website’s user experience is positive do customers opt to purchase products. In addition to showing the product catalog, an online shop must make it simple to switch between different product categories. If a customer can easily and quickly find a product, they are more likely to buy it. Navigating the product catalog will be simpler and more efficient if it is organized into appropriate categories and subcategories.
2. Product List
Customers depend heavily on the information provided on the product listing page because they cannot physically handle the product before making a purchase. The product listing should include the product’s measurements, high-definition photos and videos, ideally taken in real-time, an accurate apparel sizing chart, the item’s main features, and directions for using those features. Estimated delivery dates, stock availability, and product price are additional characteristics of a product listing page. To help customers discover their best option, a product listing page should also include a list of related products. This will encourage them to investigate more options.
3. Products Filters
Product filters are a great way to make goods accessible to customers. Customers can quickly focus their product search based on their tastes by using filters. Applying the proper filters depends on the type of e-commerce site and the goods it sells. The most popular filters used on e-commerce websites include characteristics like price, ratings, model, design, or color. The placement of the filters on the website is also crucial; they must be clearly visible and easily integrated into the user experience.
4. Product Reviews and Rating
The majority of online consumers base their decisions on the ratings and reviews left by other customers. To encourage customers to leave reviews on the products they have purchased, the review procedure should be simple and question-based. To reassure customers about the credibility of the company and the product, the reviews section should be accessible to customers, ideally below the product listings.
5. Push Notifications
Push Notifications are a useful tool for informing customers and converting leads into actual paying customers. Push notifications allow customers to learn about special offers, sales, and discounts as well as the state of their orders. By reminding customers of their purchasing journey, push notifications can lower shopping cart abandonment. The reach of the website that sells goods is increased by the ability to send these notifications to desktop and mobile devices. They interact with customers and let them know when new products are available, promoting the growth of your online store.
6. FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) can help customers with product-related questions before purchase and are a great way to increase customer interaction. Customers who have bought the product can respond to commonly asked questions about it in a section on the product listing website. Along with ratings and reviews, commonly asked questions (FAQs) give customers confidence in the features and quality of the product, enabling them to make an informed purchase choice. Questions about online privacy, security, payments, delivery, returns, and other shopping-related topics must be answered in the store’s FAQ.
7. Mobile-friendly Design
More than 45% of online consumers shop on their mobile devices. To adjust to the screen size of any device, an e-commerce website needs to be extremely responsive and mobile-friendly. Businesses must make sure that their mobile web pages are highly intuitive and aesthetically pleasing. Businesses can create a specialized mobile app to improve the functionality of the store and make it easier for customers to access the online store to improve the mobile experience of an e-commerce shop.
8. Search Bar
On e-commerce websites, the search bar is used by more than 70% of internet shoppers. Your e-commerce website’s customers will discover products more easily and quickly if you add this feature. Any online shop must have a search bar, but building one with lots of features takes time and effort. Companies should make sure the search bar functionality accurately captures long queries, recommends relevant results, and corrects spelling errors.
9. Multilingual Assistance
A multilingual e-commerce website can greatly benefit companies and vendors with a global outlook. The incorporation of numerous language options in an online store can help the company attract more customers. Language barriers should be removed to increase customer satisfaction and experience at an online store. Even if a global audience is not the target market for the e-commerce company, incorporating numerous regional languages can help it reach a larger domestic audience.
10. Multiple Options for Payment
A simple checkout and payment procedure is a requirement of an e-commerce website. If a customer cannot locate their preferred payment option, they will probably leave their shopping carts, which results in a loss of sales. Stores should take internet banking, e-wallets, smart cards, and cash on delivery in addition to credit and debit cards. Supporting a variety of payment options can speed up the checkout process, let customers choose their preferred payment option, and eventually make it easier for them to complete their purchases.
11. Flexible Options for Delivery
Your e-commerce store’s ability to fulfill orders can make or destroy it. Customers of today demand quicker and more prompt deliveries. But a lot of deliveries fall through because the customer is unavailable or because of unexpected circumstances. By offering a variety of shipping choices, failed deliveries can be avoided. For customers to expect the arrival of their package, they should be able to choose the delivery time, place, and duration. Customers will be more satisfied if they have the option to customize their delivery experience, and shipping costs will decrease as a result of a decrease in failed deliveries and returns.
12. Realtime Tracking
Customers want to be able to follow the progress of their packages from the time they leave the packing center until they reach their front door. The customer experience and brand image of your e-commerce company can be enhanced by offering end-to-end visibility of the last-mile delivery process, including details like the expected time of arrival and notifying in the event of delivery delays. E-commerce websites should implement tracking features and promptly inform customers of the status of their orders.
13. Return and Refund Policies
Before making a purchase choice, customers always look into the return policy. A clear return and exchange policy is crucial for an e-commerce company to implement to gain the trust of its customers. The e-commerce website should make the return and refund policy readily available. Customers are successfully made aware of the return policy and convinced to buy by displays of the policy in the FAQ section or during the checkout process.
14. Discounts And Coupons
Customers frequently search for discount coupons and coupon codes. 73% of online shoppers look at the sales area first when they visit an e-commerce site. A good strategy for increasing sales and retaining customers is to give customers personalized coupons, discounts, and special offers based on their purchasing history. Another great way to keep returning customers at your e-commerce site is through loyalty programs.
15. Customer Service
Customer experience and satisfaction are highly valued in the e-commerce sector. As a result, a 24/7 excellent customer service department is essential for an online shop. E-commerce businesses can now use AI-powered chatbots for customer support thanks to modern technology. Chatbots are incredibly quick, cut down on waiting times, and effectively handle customers’ repeated questions.
Final Thoughts
The list of top e-commerce features is not complete; you can add to it based on the size and scope of your company. However, these 15 website features will undoubtedly assist you in beginning to create an unforgettable customer experience.
Whatever design you choose, keep in mind that a user-friendly layout is essential for the creation of an effective e-commerce website. A user should receive worth from it, whether that comes in the form of thorough product descriptions or a simple checkout process. Only then will you start to notice occasional viewers turning into loyal customers and clicks into purchases. When you’re ready to launch your shop, be sure to pick a reputable website design company. An experienced website development company can provide you with the best option that satisfies your needs as a business.
See Also: Tips to Create a Clothing Store Website
