When it comes to web design, first impressions count. The problem is that your Wirral business only has 50 milliseconds to convince online shoppers to stay on your website. The last thing you would want is to lose a potential customer due to poor web design.

So, does your e-commerce website appeal to online shoppers? Have you incorporated the essential elements of every successful online shop?

Here, we consider the five essential design features that every e-commerce website should have.

#1: User Reviews

User-generated reviews are crucial for the success of your Wirral business website. You should think of user reviews as widely broadcasted word-of-mouth referrals. If a new customer wants confirmation about the quality of your products or even the legitimacy of your website, they will most probably turn to user reviews for help.

Existing customer reviews will greatly influence your new customer’s purchasing decisions. As many as 97% of consumers report that the customer reviews they read influence their purchasing decisions. Therefore, your website design should have user reviews on each product listing.

#2: Fast Load Speeds

In 2020 alone, 87% of UK households shopped online. For your business to take full advantage of current e-commerce trends, your website must load as fast as possible.

In today’s busy world, time and attention are valuable commodities that should not be taken for granted. E-commerce websites are filled with high-quality product pictures and videos, which makes them data-heavy. The average online shopper expects a website to load within two seconds. Slow loading speeds can discourage your customers from staying on your website, which will almost certainly impact your sales.

#3: Easy Navigation

Simplicity is key when it comes to website design. If your website is difficult to navigate, it won’t matter how great your products are.

The online shopping experience should be simple and user friendly. Shoppers should know what to expect when they visit your website. If your customers know where your products are and can navigate your website conveniently, they are more likely to remain on your online store and continue shopping.

#4: Mobile-First Design

Mobile devices make up most of all internet traffic. Thus, if your e-commerce site is not mobile-friendly, you could be missing out on a massive chunk of potential sales.

As the name suggests, mobile-first web design is a web design practice that puts smaller screens first. That design is then scaled up to fit larger screens. Mobile-first designs ensure that users can experience your website in the best format. With no unnecessary zoom or disproportionate pictures, online shoppers can focus on your products instead of adjusting their screens.

In addition to improved user experience, mobile-first design can also boost your search engine rankings.

#5: Frictionless Checkout

Your e-commerce website aims to sell products, so the last thing your website design should do is deter customers from buying your products. And yet, so many checkout processes manage to do precisely that. Just under 70% of all online shoppers abandon their checkout.

To prevent unnecessary checkout delays, your e-commerce website design should offer customers the option of checking out without creating an account first. You should also have a payment gateway that accepts various payment methods to cater to different user preferences. If a customer doesn’t see their preferred payment method, they are unlikely to continue any further.

Choose Ctrl Alt Create for Your E-Commerce Website Design Needs

The first step to building a successful e-commerce website is implementing web design best practices. Your online business will not reach its full potential without a user-friendly website that boasts fast loading speeds and an easy checkout process.

Ctrl Alt Create has partnered with many business owners across the North West to help them grow their online ventures. Our comprehensive digital services are tailor-made to ensure that you get the best digital expertise for your business.

Whether you’re a start-up or an existing company looking to grow your e-commerce operations, we can help. Contact us today to have one of our experienced team members assist you.