Efficient tips for better eCommerce sites

Mega-menus

Mega menus, the next trend in web design, are huge menus consisting of a list of categories and subcategories that covers most of the page. These are usually seen on large sites, like eBay – which is known to sell almost anything. This kind of solution makes navigation simple, though the catalog structure is complex. Mega-menus do not occupy too much space, so it is an important consideration for a site with several categories.

Final cost

Another important tip is to display the final cost on the shopping cart page or product page. For a customer, nothing can be more outrageous than to find out about the extra delivery charges only on the last phase. This will instantly put him/her off. It may be best to set a single delivery rate for a particular area or offer free delivery. Just make sure to do the necessary computations to set up the right format. If this is not feasible, add the delivery cost computation on the product page to automatically calculate the price based on customer location.

SEO

In a particular situation where the eCommerce market – which becomes more competitive each day – grows steadily, SEO is a major key to success. Design may also have something to do with SEO. For instance, search engines prefer correct HTML coding that makes good use of heading tags H (in position where they have to be used).

Stand Apart from your Competition

The design of your eCommerce site should at least be original and unique in a number of elements. It is difficult to come up with something entirely different. However, if your site does not look distinct in any of its features, it will easily get lost among the competition. The unique aspect of your online store is the first thing that a customer recalls.

Social media

Certainly, an online garden tool store will not likely draw a multitude of fans in social media. Nonetheless, you should not ignore this option – at least for SEO purposes. It is not easy to place social media icons on the site. This would not get too much attention (as sliding buttons would do on several blogs). However, they should be visible to customers. When a user just grabs a creative description or nice picture to his news feed, even if he has not liked your site, you will benefit from it by letting more people discover about your store.

Quick Product Overview

This convenient feature gives the customer a chance to quickly go over the catalog and focus on the products he likes. With a quick overview, customers can look at the product while staying on the category page. It is also considered as quick overview when the user sees the same product page, yet in a light box and darker background, but not in the other tab. However, it is best to complete the box with something between the product card and the site’s full product page.

Let us listen to your requirements and give you custom eCommerce websites that suit your needs. We can also help you develop custom WordPress plugins.

Reasons Why WooCoomerce Suits Ecommerce Startups Best

Lots of Flexibility

One of the best advantages for ecommerce beginners to use WooCommerce is the fact that this platform allows them to be more flexible when it comes to their products – even if they are not technical people.

It can classify products, give them sale prices and own features, among others. In addition, WooCommerce stores are able to sell physical, allow downloads, as well as affiliate or external products.

Beyond Ecommerce

When users build their own online store, WooCommerce does not force them to go outside their comfort zone, yet it simultaneously opens more doors beyond ecommerce.

For instance, those who use WooCommerce can build a store that is fully functioning together with an incorporated blog within a professional website. The scope of a business’ online presence is managed in one place, and its dimensions seamlessly come together, which can be attributed to the WordPress based WooCommerce platform.

Familiar User Friendliness

Talking about WordPress, this extremely popular CMS supports more than 51% of the million leading websites that presently exist, and so we can say that a lot of ecommerce startups have been fortunate to use WordPress for similar or different online projects.

Since WooCoomerce is a WordPress plugin, those who have used the platform will have an advantage of using the user-friendly WordPress interface. In building an online store, being familiar with the interface could avoid confusion, and therefore save time while boosting creativity.

Professional but Simple

While WooCoomer is an ecommerce platform that is free and user-friendly, this does not mean that it is not a professional online store solution. In fact, it is just that.

The platform is incorporated with tools for detailed order tracking, as well as customer engagement. These tools let the merchants see past and open orders, apply discounts and update delivery statuses, to name a few. As a matter of fact, as part of WooCommerce website design, you get everything that a professional ecommerce setup needs right out of the box –  such as inventory management, tax settings, shipping options and coupon codes.

Analytics without the Complications

Their Analytics tool is the core tool that website owners use. Majority of ecommerce startups do not know how an analytics system is applied to a website, and that statistics require focused analysis. Luckily, WooCommerce has got these merchants covered.

The integrated analytics system enables a vast range of statistics to be very clear. Individual customer statistics, average order totals, total sales and sales by date and other figures are neatly presented by means of graphs without the need for users to leave their admin panel. It is that simple.

Room to Grow

WooCommerce is simply an ecommerce platform, which also lets you grow and expand when it comes to managing your store, customers and products. As an example, it is easy to modify templates whether users want to directly do so by means of the theme files or use several hooks and filters. Additionally, WooCommerse has a variety of APIs that can immediately be used to build extensions, alongside a comprehensive documention library to familiarize users on how WooCommerce thoroughly works.

Why Social Media Marketing Should Be First on Your To-Do List

Nowadays, businesses should not merely rely on their website. Their online presence should extend to Facebook and Twitter. It is about time to take advantage of these social media marketing sites. If your business does not have an account on any of these sites, it is time to join them and boost your sales. Otherwise, you face the risk of falling behind competition.

If you are not yet convinced, take a look at the reasons why social media marketing should be on top of your to-do list:

You are able to closely view your target market

One of the reasons why marketing with Facebook and Twitter are so cool is the interaction with your customers. You get to read their tweets as well as their status updates. This way, you get to know more about their everyday lives and as a result, tailor your marketing strategy to fit their needs.

It’s easier to respond to problems

You would certainly want to know if there are any problems with your products/services. The feedback you receive via social media marketing will let you know if there are any issues. Thereafter, you can solve them immediately. Studies reveal that customers appreciate companies that immediately respond to their complaints. Also, they rant when companies do not take the time to solve the issues.

You are aware that your competitors are active on Facebook and Twitter

Being an early bird always has its advantages and so, the sooner you sign up with Facebook and Twitter, the faster to get numerous followers and fans. You wouldn’t want competition to overtake you since it is not only harder, but costlier to catch up with them than to get into the game early. The truth is, your competition may already have started to market their products/services on Facebook, Twiter and LinkedIn.

This will allow you to boost your sells. If you stay close to your customer base, it is more likely for them to buy from you when the products you sell meet their needs. Aside from keeping the name of your company in front of prospective buyers, social media marketing also gives you an opportunity to offer incentives to purchase from you.  When you try to tweet or post coupon codes to your Facebook and Twitter followers, which are referred to as “Tweeps”, you will be surprised to know the number of people that purchase using the code.

You will discover customers that you did not know existed

When you follow certain keywords in Twitter, you will bump into people who are searching for the products you are selling then lead them to your website. It is great to use Twitter for marketing and let people who are looking for your products know how to buy them from your site.

Customers you probably did not know existed will purchase from your online store

When marketing with Facebook, it would help to join multiple groups that are associated with your industry, products and customer base. If you post links in these groups, customers will be encouraged to visit your site. So, it is best to post a link immediately. After two weeks, this may turn into a sale.