5 Trends in eCommerce Website Design that Boost Sales
In the world of eCommerce, it’s critical to stay ahead of the curve and your competition. In 2018 alone, 1.7 billion shoppers bought $2.8 trillion worth of retail goods online. Industry experts predict online consumerism will increase to 2.1 billion in 2021, and global eCommerce sales to soar upwards of $4.8 trillion.
That’s a lot of potential profit to capitalize on. But how can you turn your eCommerce business potential into reality? It begins with a great online store that leverages the latest web design tools and professional features.
Industry experts identified five trends in particular for eCommerce websites. Read on to see how you can deliver the best shopping experience possible by creating personalized content, being there for customers when they need you, expanding your sales reach and more.
5 trends in eCommerce website design
To stay ahead of the competition, take advantage of these trends:
01. Go All out on Video Content
Video content isn’t new, but its value keeps growing because it’s so well-suited for online shoppers. Studies show that 85% of customers say they want to see more videos from brands. And that’s good for your site because it keeps customers on your page for longer—around 2.6x longer. From a shopper's perspective, a product seems more credible if there’s a video showing how it looks and works in real life.
Aside from adding credibility, video is better for SEO. An online store with video is 53x more likely to reach the front page of Google.
Still not convinced? Video content has a greater marketing return on investment (ROI). Marketing professionals say conversion rates are higher for videos than any other content type.
Video content can be an integral part of your eCommerce website design, don't neglect it.
02. Create Videos with Your Customers in Mind
Need some inspiration for what types of videos to create? Here are some ideas that work well for online stores.
FAQs: Most visitors ask the same 5-10 questions, so cover them in a video. Produce other FAQ videos specific to your best-selling products or services.
Product Videos: Create videos where your products are the star. These types of videos can include product demos, tutorials or case studies. Just be sure to focus on the value of the product.
Customer Testimonials: Set your brand apart and build credibility by displaying video testimonials. Even better, get satisfied shoppers to share real experiences using your product.
Employee Bios: Showing the behind-the-scenes of your business is another great video option. It helps build familiarity and trust between your brand and potential customers.
03. Add Live Chat or Chatbots for Real-Time Engagement
Online shoppers expect eCommerce sites to provide around-the-clock service, which is why more sites are turning to customer support via live chat or chatbots.
With live chat, you can be there for shoppers right when they need you. This is a great way to build relationships with your customers and even boost sales. With Wix, you can customize your chatbox, set custom hours, send coupons and chat on the go with the Wix Owner app.
To contrast, chatbots are AI software programs that simulate real live persons. They let customers interact with your site via voice or text using automated/predictive responses. Chatbots can be used to answer customer questions and sell products when live chat is off-air. Regardless of what you choose, shoppers love the increased responsiveness and personalized services live chat or chatbots bring.
04. Optimize Your Online Store for Mobile
Ensuring your online store is mobile-friendly is a top priority. Mobile users make up 52% of global internet traffic.
What should you focus on? About 60% of all searches come from mobile users, so make sure your store site loads quickly. When it comes to tailoring your site's design for mobile, remove unnecessary design elements that can slow down your site. Also, be sure to test out your mobile checkout flow. Mobile transactions and checkout need to be streamlined and user-friendly so visitors don’t get stuck and buy elsewhere (to get started, check out best eCommerce website builders).
05. Sell Across Multiple Sales Channels
When you’re deciding on sales channels for your eCommerce website, don’t forget social media. With 3.5 billion social media users around the world, there’s plenty of opportunity to reach new customers.
Social media platforms make online shopping easier. Savvy online merchants use Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter to take visitors from casual shoppers to buyers with the click of a button. This year, Instagram tightened the checkout funnel with a new feature that lets shoppers complete purchases without leaving the app. Plus, Instagram even saves buyers' payment info for quicker checkout in the future.
Choose social sales channels that your customers use every day. Make sure your branding is consistent on these platforms and complements your eCommerce website. The goal is to provide a cohesive shopper experience from social to checkout on your site.
Want to learn more about eCommerce websites? Explore how to build an eCommerce website and how much an eCommerce website costs.
Daniel Clinton
Managing Editor, Wix eCommerce
Daniel is the Managing Editor at Wix eCommerce, where he uses his experience as a merchant, journalist and marketer to create content that helps online businesses grow.
