E-Commerce Guide

In the last few years there has been a massive increase in the demand for online sales. Statistics show that during the holidays, shopping is always in full swing and the online purchase increases up to about 59%. This is indeed a very hopeful percentage for the retailers who have newly ventured into the business. Since this is still considered to be a new medium of investment people tend to make mistakes which may lead to heavy losses in the long run.

It is always necessary for you, as a retailer, to have a look at your website from the point of view of a customer. It is only then that you will be able to make out what its flaws are and fix them. Out-of-the box solutions are always preferred but never try to experiment on something you are not confident about. However, here are some tips that can help you to create a niche as an effective online retailer.

Feature excellent shipping offers: This is a tempting offer for customers. It won’t take much to pack and ship items to different destinations. But if you charge a lesser price for shipping items purchased in bulk, then it can help attract more customers. This would also make them buy more since the concept of lesser shipping costs could mean some form of saving to them. In turn you can increase your profit margin by encouraging customers to order more. Free shipping services can also be an excellent offer to start with.

Do not include hidden prices: Be straight forward about the cost of the product and also the other charges associated with it. Hidden costs would create a negative impression for your business.

A user-friendly ecommerce site: Your site should be comprehensible and easily accessible. Remember that not all users are technically qualified and they also have low patience level. If your site is slow and not easy to understand, people will not take the time to scroll through as there are many other competitive and easy-to-navigate sites waiting for them.

Adequate product information with photos: Provide as much information as you can generate about the product on your site. If the description is accompanied by a photograph it becomes easier for the customers to study the product. Since they cannot physically feel the product, they should be given an adequate description of it for better understanding and comparison.

Adequate payment facilities: Your website should include adequate payment facilities for the benefit of the customers such as credit cards and debit cards, payment gateways etc to enable your customers to pay easily and quickly without any hassles. But security of the site is critical. Proper encryption facilities would help develop the customers’ faith in your website and hence encourage them to visit again.