Ecommerce is one of the fastest growing industries, with the demand for shopping online increasing continuously. A 2017 survey by Statista found that 40% of internet users in the United States shopped online multiple times per month. What’s more, ecommerce sales are expected to grow to over 230 million online shoppers within the next few years.
With that said, running an ecommerce business is a smart way to go. However, there are some important ecommerce features that consumers demand. Here are some important features you need for a successful ecommerce business.
1. Mobile Shopping
While many people shop online using their web browser, smartphone shopping is becoming increasingly popular. Being able to shop via a smartphone browser makes it easy to buy things on the go.
If you’re running an ecommerce business, make sure your online shop is mobile-friendly. Most online shopping cart software these days is also optimized for mobiles. Make sure your site can be scaled down to a small screen while still being fast to load and easy to browse.
You could also take things further with a personalized app. Buyers are much more likely to become repeat customers if you provide a simple-to-use app that lets them buy with a few touches of the screen.
2. Fast Customer Support
Fast and efficient customer support is crucial in ecommerce. In fact, a 2017 study by Arise found that over two-thirds of customers would wait less than 2 minutes for customer service before going to another business.
Make sure you offer customer support via as many channels as possible. Email can be slow, so offering an active phone line can ensure you keep customers happy. You should also implement live help software on your website – that way your customer service reps can provide instant support online.
Social media is also becoming a huge part of customer service. If you can reply to customers immediately on Facebook and Twitter, you’ll impress them and anyone else following. Make sure your buyers don’t have to wait and you’ll gain loyal customers for life.
3. Multiple Payment Options
One of the best ways to boost your chances of making sales is to simply add more payment options. Credit card payments may already make up the bulk of your sales. However, the more alternative payment methods you offer, the better.
Accepting credit cards is a must for online businesses these days. Many people prefer to pay out of their online wallet instead of entering all their bank details. You should consider accepting alternative online payments such as Apple Pay, Android Pay, ACH, and more.
4. Various Shipping Locations
Much like with payment options, the more places you can ship to, the better. While you may start off locally, offering delivery across the states can instantly boost your sales and profits. For even more success, ship internationally.
Naturally, you’ll want your shipping costs to be as low as possible. The best strategy is to offer free shipping if customers buy over a certain amount. The free shipping will often entice them into buying more, and you can save on shipping items in larger quantities.
Shipping internationally will usually require a high charge. However, if an international buyer stumbles upon your site and sees something they like, they’ll be willing to pay the extra shipping costs.
5. Reviews
Reviews are huge in ecommerce. Customers want to know exactly what to expect from your business, as well as specific products.
Registering your site on Trustpilot can help a lot with sales in the long run. By collecting positive ratings from your buyers, you can build your rating and display it on your website. Potential buyers will instantly see this and know you’re a trustworthy seller.
You should also use shopping cart software to provide product reviews. Allow buyers to give star ratings and text reviews to products they purchase. Future buyers will be able to make informed decisions on their purchases, and high-rated products will net you much more sales.
6. An Attractive User Interface
Your user interface is another key feature in ecommerce. If a user clicks onto your site and sees dull colors, broken links, and poor navigation options, they’re likely to leave instantly. On the other hand, an eye-catching site with clearly laid out navigation buttons will improve your sales.
Get your site professionally designed for the best results. You want it to look instantly inviting, while still loading fast.
Set it up so your products can be seen from the landing page. That way, customers are much more likely to start browsing through them and buy.
7. Customer Loyalty Rewards
An Adobe Digital Report found that on average, 40% of an ecommerce store’s revenue will come from just 8% of customers. Instead of investing your budget in attracting new buyers, focus on how you can keep existing ones returning.
One of the best ways to do this is with rewards for customer loyalty. Offering a points feature where people gain rewards the more they buy will entice people to buy more. You could also implement a referral program, where people refer their friends to gain points or a money-off voucher. Not only will this encourage loyalty, but it will also gain you more buyers.
Things like fast customer support and outstanding service will also help you keep customers. Make sure you satisfy your buyers every time. They’ll be more likely to come back and also more likely to recommend you to friends.
Running a successful ecommerce business is all about keeping your customers happy. Make sure you give them the features they want and offer a fantastic customer experience every time. These seven key features will most definitely help to improve your success as an online store. Stick to them and monitor customer feedback to find out anything else you need to do differently. Offer what your customers want and then provide the best experience possible to keep them coming back.
