Creating an eCommerce website that ticks all these boxes is no easy feat, but it’s worth the effort. To help you get started, I’ve put together a list of 22 mistakes to avoid when designing your eCommerce website.
What Is Ecommerce Design?
Ecommerce design is the process of planning and creating an online store. This includes everything from the user experience and interface to the overall look and feel of the site.
A well-designed eCommerce website should be easy to use, offer a great user experience, be visually appealing, and optimize search engine ranking.
Importance of a Good Ecommerce Website Design
There are several reasons why it’s crucial to have a well-designed eCommerce website:
- A good design can help you stand out from the competition. This is especially important if you’re selling products in a competitive market.
- A well-designed website will offer a better user experience, leading to increased sales and repeat customers.
- A good design can help you rank higher in search engine results, allowing you to reach more potential customers.
- A well-designed website can help to build trust and credibility with potential customers.
What Mistakes Should You Avoid When Designing Your ECommerce Website?
There are many different factors to consider when designing your eCommerce website. To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of 22 mistakes to avoid:
01. Not Designing for Mobile
In 2021, mobile commerce accounted for 73% of all online sales in the United States. If your eCommerce website is not well optimized for mobile, you’re missing out on a massive chunk of potential business.
When designing your eCommerce website, you need to keep in mind that people will be accessing it from various devices, including smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Your website needs to be responsive, meaning it adjusts to fit any screen size.
02. Not Making the Search Bar Prominent
Many first-time eCommerce website visitors won’t know what they’re looking for. They might have an idea of the type of product they want to buy but not a specific brand or model.
This is why it’s essential to make your search bar prominent and easy to use. It should be one of the first things visitors see when they land on your website, and it should be easy to use.
03. Not Offering Guest Checkout
According to Shopify, 24% of online shoppers abandon their carts because they’re forced to create an account to complete the purchase. If you want to boost your conversion rate, you need to offer guest checkout.
Guest checkout allows visitors to purchase without creating an account. This might seem counterintuitive, but it’s good for business. By offering guest checkout, you make it easy for people to buy from you, which leads to more sales.
04. Not Optimizing Your Checkout Process
The checkout process is one of the most critical parts of your eCommerce website. If it’s too long or complicated, people will likely abandon their carts.
You can avoid this by streamlining your checkout process. Make it as short and straightforward as possible. The fewer steps there are, the better. You should also make sure the process is secure and that visitors have the option to save their information for future purchases.
05. Not Offering Free Shipping
According to a study by ComScore, free shipping is one of the most important factors influencing whether or not people complete a purchase. Nearly 83% of respondents said they would be more likely to buy from a website if it offered free shipping.
If you want to boost your sales, you need to offer free shipping. This doesn’t mean you have to eat the shipping cost, though. You can offset the cost by increasing your product prices or charging for shipping on orders under a certain amount.
06. Not Offering Live Chat
According to a study by Zendesk, live chat is the most popular customer service channel, with 92% of respondents saying they would use it to solve a problem.
Live chat is a great way to offer customer support and boost sales. It allows you to answer questions in real-time, which can help put visitors’ minds at ease and make them more likely to buy from you.
07. Not Having High-Quality Product Photos
Product photos are one of the essential elements of your eCommerce website. After all, people can’t physically see or touch your products, so they have to rely on photos to make a decision.
This is why it’s so important to have high-quality product photos. They should be clear, well-lit, and show the product from different angles. You should also offer zoom features so visitors can get a closer look at the details.
08. Not Offering Product Videos
In addition to photos, videos can also help boost sales. A study by Internet Retailer found that product videos are responsible for a 64% increase in purchase decisions.
Product videos are a great way to give visitors a closer look at your products. They can see the product in action and get a better idea of what it’s like to use. This can help make a sale.
09. Not Creating a Sense of Urgency
People are more likely to buy something if they feel like they need to act fast. This is why it’s so essential to create a sense of urgency on your eCommerce website.
There are a few different ways you can do this. You can use countdown timers, display scarcity messages, or offer limited-time discounts. These things will help encourage visitors to buy from you before it’s too late.
10. Not Offering Discounts or Coupons
People love getting a good deal, which is why discounts and coupons can be so effective in boosting sales. A study by Forrester Research found that nearly 70% of respondents said they would be more likely to buy from a website if it offered coupons or discounts.
Discounts and coupons are a great way to encourage people to buy from you. They make your products more affordable, making them more appealing to potential customers. Just be sure not to offer too many discounts, or you’ll devalue your products.
11. Not Having an Easy to Navigate Layout
Your eCommerce website’s layout plays a significant role in its success. If your layout is confusing or hard to navigate, people will likely give up and go somewhere else.
You can avoid this by keeping your layout simple and easy to understand. Your navigation should be clear and concise, and your product pages should be easy to find. A well-designed layout will make it easy for visitors to see what they’re looking for and make a purchase.
12. Not Optimizing Your Website for Mobile
More and more people are using their smartphones and tablets to shop online. In fact, according to Statista, mobile commerce sales are expected to reach $659 billion this year.
This is why it’s so important to optimize your eCommerce website for mobile. Your website should be responsive and easy to use on a small screen. You’re likely to lose out on many potential sales if it isn’t.
13. Not Having Compatible Theme and Plugins
If you’re using a WordPress eCommerce website, it’s essential to make sure your theme and plugins are compatible. Otherwise, you could run into problems with your website not working correctly.
To avoid this, only use themes and plugins that are designed for WordPress eCommerce websites. This will ensure that everything works together seamlessly and you don’t run into any problems.
14. Not Offering Customer Support
If something goes wrong with an order, customers will expect to be able to get help from you. This is why it’s so essential to offer customer support on your eCommerce website.
There are a few different ways you can do this. You can offer live chat, email support, or even a phone number. The important thing is that you provide customer support so people know they can reach out to you if they have any problems.
15. Not Keeping Your Website Up to Date
It’s essential to keep your eCommerce website up to date. This includes updating your plugins, themes, and software. Outdated software can be a security risk, so it’s essential to make sure everything is always up to date.
You should also regularly update your product photos and descriptions. This will help ensure that your products are always accurate and updated.
16. Not Integrating with Social Media
Social media is a powerful tool that can help you boost sales and grow your business. You’re missing out on many potential customers if you’re not using social media to promote your eCommerce website.
There are a few different ways you can integrate social media into your eCommerce website. You can add social media buttons to your product pages or add a social media feed to your website. You can also use social media to run ads and promotions.
17. Not Having Customizable Shipping Options
Shipping is a big part of eCommerce, and it’s crucial to offer customers a variety of shipping options. This includes free shipping, express shipping, and even international shipping.
The important thing is that you offer various shipping options so customers can choose the option that best suits their needs.
18. Not Offering a Variety of Payment Options
Customers like to have options when it comes to paying for their orders. This is why it’s vital to offer various payment options on your eCommerce website.
The most popular payment options are credit cards, debit cards, and PayPal. However, you can offer several other payment options, such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Amazon Pay.
19. Not Having Right Fonts Design and Size
Fonts are an essential part of web design, and they can have a significant impact on how your website looks. It’s vital to choose the right fonts for your eCommerce website.
Your fonts should be easy to read and should complement the overall design of your website. You should also make sure your fonts are the correct size. If they’re too small, they’ll be hard to read. If they’re too big, they’ll look out of place.
20. Not Having CTA Button in Right Place
A CTA (call to action) button is a button that encourages people to take a specific action. For example, a CTA button might say “Buy Now” or “Add to Cart.”
It’s essential to have a CTA button on your eCommerce website so people know what you want them to do. The CTA button should be easy to find and should be placed in a prominent location.
21. Not Having a Search Bar
A search bar is a great way to help people find what they’re looking for on your eCommerce website. If you don’t have a search bar, people will have to browse through your products one by one, which can be time-consuming.
It’s essential to make sure your search bar is easy to find and use. It should be located in a prominent location on your website, and it should be easy to use.
22. Not Optimizing Your Website for Search Engines
If you want people to find your eCommerce website, you need to optimize it for search engines. This means using keywords throughout your website, including your product descriptions and titles.
It also means making sure your website is fast and responsive. Search engines penalize websites that are slow or difficult to use.
These are just a few of the many mistakes you can make when designing your eCommerce website. If you avoid these mistakes, you’ll be well on your way to creating a successful website.
Conclusion
Building a successful eCommerce website is not an easy task. It would be best to consider many things, and it’s easy to make mistakes.
However, suppose you avoid the common mistakes discussed in this article. In that case, you’ll be well on your way to designing a successful eCommerce website.
Need Help with Building Your Ecommerce Website?
If you need help with building your eCommerce website, I can help. I specialize in eCommerce website design and have helped businesses of all sizes create beautiful, effective websites.
Contact me to learn more about my services or request a free quote.
FAQs
What are the common mistakes in designing an eCommerce site?
Several common mistakes can be made when designing an eCommerce website. Some of the most common mistakes include not having a clear purpose for the website, not considering the target audience, not having a mobile-friendly design, and not optimizing the website for search engines.
What are the most common errors you see with eCommerce websites?
Some of the most common errors you see with eCommerce websites include not being user-friendly, not being responsive, and not having a clear call to action. You want to make sure that your eCommerce website is user-friendly so that customers can easily navigate through your site and find what they are looking for. You also want to make sure that your site is responsive so that it can be viewed on all devices.
What are the common mistakes you need to avoid while developing a website?
Some common mistakes are not having straightforward navigation, not having a search function, or not having filters on the site. These common mistakes can make it difficult for customers to find what they are looking for or make it difficult to purchase items.
Another mistake is not providing enough information about the products or services offered. Customers need to know what they are buying and what the benefits are. Without this information, they may not purchase anything from the site.
