Top 5 Must-Have Features for any eCommerce Website

Online sales and eCommerce have become the face of multibillion dollar businesses around the world due to the growing demand and the need for selling online. Technology has become so accessible that almost any business can own an eCommerce website now. We can also see how some eCommerce businesses make huge profits while others can barely survive the competition.

One reason is, in addition to the products offered, the success of an eCommerce business depends on its website design and how well it’s been optimized to deliver robust results. In this article, let’s take a quick look at some of the must-have features for any successful eCommerce website.

1. User-friendliness:

Your website is the first contact point where your potential customers will find you. They might visit your site with a motive to make a purchase or simply to search for a product. If your website is not easy to navigate and use, it’s highly likely they would want to check your competitors’ website. This will also increase the bounce rate and impact your SEO ranking. To overcome these challenges, here are a few points that will help you optimize your eCommerce website for user-friendliness.

• Enable search bar
• Improve website loading speed
• Enable easy navigation
• Have a prominent call to action button
• Enable social sharing
• Help customers find related products
• Help customers find best sellers in the market
• Enable live chat feature for timely customer support

2. High resolution visuals:

When it comes to eCommerce websites, we cannot underestimate the power of high-resolution images as these are more than what meets our eyes. A poorly crafted image devalues your products and it does not create an impact on your customers. On the other hand, a high-quality and appealing image speaks for itself and keeps your customers engaged.

You can also consider giving your customers an option to view their desired products in multiple angles and in different settings. Make it easier for them to zoom in, so they can check even the finest details of your products.

3. Mobile-friendly website:

In every country, nearly eight-in-ten people use smartphones and in just seconds, they can look up just about anything they want.  That’s exactly why optimizing your website for mobile platforms should be a priority in your marketing strategy. Secondly, a large portion of online sales happen through mobile browsers because people are used to browsing and making purchases on the go. Optimizing your website for mobile-friendliness ensures your eCommerce website resizes properly on any size browser and from any mobile device – making it easy for you to reach potential customers and convert them into sales.

4. Secured payment gateway option:

Advanced, as well as secured payment options have become a prerequisite for eCommerce businesses. If you are looking to deliver your customers a user-friendly shopping experience, you should also add a seamless checkout process in your list. The payment gateway that you choose should instill trust in your customers and give them the sense of security and assured privacy. When we say secured payment gateway, the system should facilitate online transfer/payment and sensitive client information against scams, ID theft, fraud or other related security issues.

5. Reviews, rating and testimonials:

Customer reviews, ratings and testimonials serve as a valuable source of feedback that influences the purchase decision of your potential customers. Similar to the traditional word-of-mouth, user generated reviews/ratings strengthens your brand credibility and gives you an opportunity to win trust – thereby increasing customer loyalty and retention. Proper analysis of reviews lets you understand and identify unhappy customers – so you can address their queries in real-time.

Summary and one thing no ecommerce business can escape from…

Each eCommerce business is different. Some of them thrive on high volume sales but sell low cost items whilst others sell high value products but their volume would be few.  Depending on their business model, they employ varying methods of sales and customer care support. Irrespective of how they sell, and their business model, one thing none of them can escape is paying the right tax amount in the jurisdictions where they sell.  Our product SalesVAT is specifically designed for ecommerce businesses VAT filing in the EU and UK. 

Let’s know what you think about the must-have features we’ve compiled for every ecommerce store. If you have any other additional points, feel free to add them in the comments section below.