Studio Smith-Cordell

Web design best practices for e-commerce: a checklist for success

Follow these tips to make your website user-friendly, visually appealing, and optimised for conversions.

As an e-commerce business owner, your website is the backbone of your digital operations – it's where you showcase your products, take orders, and process payments. It's also the face of your brand, and you want it to make a good impression on your customers. But how do you design a website that's both functional and visually appealing?

Fear not, dear reader – we've compiled a list of web design best practices for e-commerce to help you create a website that's a cut above the rest. Follow these tips to make your website user-friendly, visually appealing, and optimised for conversions:

Keep it simple, stupid.

You want to make it as easy as possible for customers to find what they're looking for and complete a purchase. A clean, uncluttered design can help with that. Use a clear hierarchy to organise your content and ensure that the most critical information (like product descriptions and pricing) is easy to find.

Show off your goods with high-quality product images.

Your product images are often the first thing customers will see when they land on your website, so they need to be top-notch. Use high-resolution images that show off your products in the best possible light. It would be best to consider using multiple images for each product, including ones with different angles and close-ups.

Make the checkout process a breeze.

No one likes a long, complicated checkout process. Consider using a one-page checkout or a streamlined multi-page process to make things easier for your customers. You should also ensure the checkout is secure and use a payment processor that customers can trust.

Optimise for mobile.

More and more people are using their phones to shop online, so it's essential to make sure that your website is mobile-friendly. This means it should be easy to use on a smaller screen and load quickly.

Include customer reviews.

Customer reviews can be a powerful tool for e-commerce websites. They provide social proof that can help boost sales and increase customer trust. Make sure to include reviews on your product pages, and consider using a review platform that allows customers to leave ratings and detailed feedback.

Use clear calls to action.

Calls to action (like "add to cart" or "buy now") are an essential part of e-commerce web design. They should be prominent and easy to find and use clear, actionable language.

By following these best practices, you can create an e-commerce website that's easy to use, visually appealing, and optimised for conversions. With some planning and attention to detail, you can create a website that will help your business thrive. So go forth and create a website that'll have your customers clicking "add to cart" in no time!