With online sales accounting for almost 20% of the retail sector, according to the Office of National Statistics, it’s becoming increasingly important for businesses, large and small, to develop a dynamic online presence – one that increases sales and boosts profits.
For many businesses, however, the world of e-commerce and having to set up a website to sell their product can feel daunting. It doesn’t have to be. By following some simple rules when setting up their e-commerce site, a business can build a strong online presence.
1. The Website’s Purpose
Websites can have many functions, including to educate and inform, but for any business their primary purpose should be to generate leads and increase sales, and this thinking should be front and centre when designing a website.
2. Don’t Make Homepages Too Busy
There are lots of things a business can say about who they are and what they do, and they might be inclined to try to put these all on the homepage. Doing so, however, can be confusing and off-putting for site visitors, and they may not stay on your site. It’s much better to have a simple design that leads people through the site to where they want to be.
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3. Share Important Information
When people are ordering goods or services online, they’ll want to be access key information quickly and easily. Business can help their customers by labelling products as in stock, on sale or available for immediate delivery.
4. Create Calls to Action
Labels can also help create a sense of urgency that encourages people to buy a product immediately – a countdown for how long is left for next-day delivery, for example, or how many items are left in stock.
5. Offer Incentives
Customers like incentives, which might include free shipping or same day delivery, which is particularly popular in cities. Same day courier Birmingham delivery, for example, might be popular. How much would a same day courier Birmingham service cost? It’s surprisingly reasonable.
Finally, businesses should make sure their website is secure because following these tips won’t mean anything if a customer doesn’t believe their data is safe. Companies should make sure that updates to web browsers are installed immediately, giving customers the peace of mind needed to make a purchase.
