Window shopping can be fun. Have you ever considered why certain stores pull you in and others don’t? Designing and optimizing your website storefront is similar and can be quite challenging. It is an important step in creating a successful online business because it's the first thing potential customers will see when they come to your site, and it will be the main source of traffic to your other pages.
That’s why it's vital to make sure that your storefront is attractive, well-organized, and easy to navigate. Additionally, there are some crucial aspects that you need to consider to ensure that your website is as effective as possible.
So, if you are finally ready to get started on your website storefront, we’ll take a look at some of the best ways to design and optimize it.
7 Steps to Design Your Website Storefront
1. Choose the Right Platform
When it comes to website design, it’s important to choose the right platform for your needs. There are a variety of different options available, such as WordPress, Shopify, HubSpot, and Wix. Each one comes with its own advantages and disadvantages. Consider the features of each platform to determine which one is best for your website.
2. Use Clean and Intuitive Design
Keep your website design clean and intuitive. This will make it easier for visitors to navigate and find what they’re looking for. A cluttered and confusing design will drive away potential customers.
Think of a store that’s messy, would you want to shop there? Same applies to your website.
3. Include Easy Navigation
Make sure that your website has an easy-to-use navigation system. The easier for visitors to find the information they’re looking for, the better. If your website is difficult to navigate, visitors will become frustrated and leave.
Create a simple navigation bar or a search bar and organize your products into categories to make it easy for customers to find what they need.
Another major frustration for clients is the never-ending scroll. You’ve probably been on websites that seem to keep going and going…… and you never stop scrolling down the page. Keep your info short, and link to pages internally with that additional info to keep customers on dwelling on your page.
4. Optimize for Mobile
With more and more people using their mobile devices to shop these days, it’s important to make sure your website is optimized for mobile. This includes making sure that the layout is responsive and that the content is easy to read.
More than 54.4% of global website traffic is contributed to mobile devices. Most platforms you use will have a very intuitive mobile optimization tool.
5. Provide Quality Content
Once visitors have arrived at your website, it’s important to provide them with quality content. This should include product descriptions, images, and videos. Quality content will help keep visitors engaged and can encourage them to make a purchase. They can also share their experience with friends and family which is a great opportunity for referral of potential customers.
High-definition graphics and videos are also the best way to engage customers. Go to the Apple or Tesla site as an example with crisp clean graphics. These sites are stunning and draw you in and entice buying.
6. Utilize Email Marketing
Email marketing is a great way to keep in contact with customers and an even better way to promote special offers. Make sure to include email signup forms on your website so that customers can easily stay up to date with all of your latest news and offers by subscribing.
7. Allow Customers to Leave Reviews
Reviews can help customers decide whether or not to purchase a product. Allowing customers to leave reviews on your website will help other customers make an informed decision. If you use Amazon, you’ve likely read a review on a product you’ve bought, same thing applies here. Testimonials are powerful ways to promote your brand.
Why do you need to optimize your website?
It will only take a few seconds before visitors form an opinion about your website. That’s why it’s important that you make a good first and initial impression. Visitors will stay if they like what they see. But if not, then you might have already missed the chance of getting more prospective clients.
By following these 7 easy tips, you can ensure that your website storefront is designed and optimized for success. Keep in mind that website design is a continuous process. You’ll want to be sure to analyze and monitor your website regularly to ensure that it’s performing as expected.
Need help? Get in touch with BAM Marketing & PR.
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