These days, it’s very easy to set up an e-commerce site, but increasingly more difficult to make one a success. DIY websites now allow users with minimal technical knowledge to create their own personalised online stores. This is fantastic for entrepreneurs with a drive to succeed, but this doesn’t give any more help when it comes to actually selling products. Even with the best looking website in the world, there are many other key aspects that every e-commerce site should focus on getting right in order to start making a profit.
Here are three of the most important factors that need to be addressed if you’ve just started out, or perhaps don’t feel quite up to speed yet.
1. Get responsive
As we mentioned, it’s obvious that any e-commerce site should look great. But looking great, and actually being great to a site user, are very different. When it comes to encouraging someone to make a purchase, there shouldn’t be even the slightest issue arise. Every website should be responsive. The amount of people using mobile and tablets to shop online continues to rise exponentially year on year and it’s not a case of ‘should’ or ‘could’ anymore. If your site doesn’t render for smaller screens, you’ll be waving goodbye to potential customers before they’ve even had a peek through your shop window.
2. Report data
Your main priority should always be your data, it is far more powerful for a business than it may seem. Spend time studying it and learning from it. A successful website doesn’t sit still and hope for the best. It is constantly evolved through analysis of user data, which often highlights bumps in a customer journey, and other areas for improvement. Make sure that you can access web analytics and use this information to react and respond. It’s very easy to think that a slick website automatically means a purchase will be smooth for the end user. More often than not, it isn’t that straightforward.
3. Test
As well as collecting analytics data on your website, you should also be testing, testing and then testing some more. From web banners to category links, you should be regularly running A/B tests to see what elements on your website are the best performers, and how changes impact the user experience. Even the slightest percentage increase in conversions can make an enormous difference to a business.
There are many aspects involved in running a successful online business, and your marketing plans will need to be tailored to suit your needs. Never do anything by chance, research how to correctly implement any changes to your website, and you’re sure to be on the way to success.