There are approximately 300,000 e-commerce companies in the U.S.
In such a competitive online market, it’s important to do what you can to stay ahead of the curve.
One of the most essential components of operating an online store is your platform itself. Your site’s design and content can heavily influence purchase decisions and user experience.
When choosing an ecommerce theme for your website, it’s essential to keep a few things in mind.
In this post, we’ll discuss the top web design tips for e-commerce entrepreneurs. Read on for insight!
1. Choose a Mobile-Friendly Theme
Over 77% of Americans currently have a smartphone. Mobile users are responsible for a large portion of e-commerce sites’ organic traffic.
For this reason, it’s essential to cater to your mobile audience when choosing an ecommerce theme for your site. Before you jump for the snazziest theme out there, ensure that it is responsively designed.
Responsive design ensures that your online content will adapt to fit the screen size of devices used to access it.
However, responsive design is just the beginning of a mobile-friendly theme. Some sites have other mobile-friendly features to ensure that mobile users don’t miss out on promotions, easy checkouts, and newsletter offers.
If you are using WordPress, some themes enable plugins that make for a mobile-friendly experience.
When browsing themes, keep mobile criteria at the fore.
2. Opt for Easy Navigation
E-commerce sites should be easy to navigate for all users. Every visitor to your site should be able to easily view products, make purchases, and find answers to common questions.
If a website is difficult to navigate or confusing in any way, it’s apt to turn visitors away.
When it comes to design tips for e-commerce websites, prioritize themes with simple, clear navigation.
Sometimes this means a handful of prominent menu tabs and an uncluttered front page. It may also mean a more minimalist design.
Most themes enable demos or previews to give users a sense of navigation experience. Be sure to peruse these demos so that you end up with an easy breezy theme.
3. Consider Product Presentation
At the end of the day, your e-commerce site’s goal is to urge conversions. Your site’s design can do a lot when it comes to influencing purchase decisions.
When choosing a theme for your e-commerce business website, consider product presentation.
Think about how you want your products to be presented to every visitor to your site. Do you want a comprehensive, minimalist catalogue? Do you want visitors to see multiple sides of a product when it’s selected?
Don’t forget about product descriptions, either. Do you intend to give visitors a lot of information about products or a few short lines? Is the theme your eyeing able to accommodate that need?
Once again, think about your user here. Compare themes based off of each one’s ability to present products in an enticing, authentic way.
4. Make Room for a Blog
Blogs are essential for driving traffic and conversions on your e-commerce site. They offer additional content for Search Engine Optimization (SEO) purposes.
Blog posts and articles can also assert your authority in your industry. They can enable you to engage with customers on a personal level and cultivate brand awareness.
For this reason, be sure that your site’s new theme accommodates a blog.
Most themes will make room for a blog addition. However, it is possible to find themes that do not. Read theme descriptions and details to ensure that you have a chance to regularly produce product-related content on your site.
For an example of an e-commerce blog that leverages the site’s other content, check out the Medical Marijuana Online Dispensary Blog.
5. Don’t Shy Away from Premium Themes
A lot of e-commerce business owners have tight marketing budgets. Others may simply not find the value in shelling out extra cash for web design or WordPress themes.
Certainly, such marketing endeavors may not be feasible for some business owners. This is especially the case for startups or entrepreneurs with minimal working capital.
Nonetheless, investing in a premium or more advanced theme–rather than just choosing the free ones–can be a smart move.
Many premium themes have more capabilities than free options. They may enable more interactive or media elements. Others give users a greater technical support system.
Higher-tier themes also have the advantage of looking less like a “template” than widely available ones. If you really want to stand out as an e-commerce platform, uniqueness is key.
6. Emphasize Interactivity
User engagement is central when it comes to web design. If a user is able to interact with your content in any way, she is more likely to stick around.
This is because interactivity can be fun, engaging, and interesting. If you are able to captivate a user with your web theme alone, she may make a purchase decision more quickly.
When choosing your ecommerce theme, look for themes that emphasize interactivity. For e-commerce business owners, interactive elements are likely to be visual.
Opt for 3D renderings of products, for example. Choose a theme that implements a consumer quiz or survey.
If these aren’t readily available within the theme itself, select a theme that can accommodate plugins or extensions for these elements.
7. Think About Tech
Some website themes are easy to integrate. Users simply upload content to a template.
Others, however, may be more tech-intensive. You may have to do a bit of coding, for example, to manipulate certain themes. Others may integrate with hosting platforms more easily.
When searching for ecommerce themes, be sure you have a firm grasp on the technical handling of your new template. Only opt for more fluid themes if you feel confident in your ability to technically manage content.
Final Thoughts: Choosing an ECommerce Theme
Your ecommerce theme says a lot about your business and your relationship with your customers. Be mindful when browsing themes and choose the one that is most likely to resonate with your user.
Opt for themes that cater to mobile audiences and integrate easily with hosting platforms and content.
Consider how you want your products to be displayed on your new site. Always choose a theme that incorporates a blog. Be sure to take advantage of demo themes to get a preview of the type of user experience a template offers.
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