5 must-have elements of an e-commerce website

Millions of new-age consumers are out shopping in cyberspace as you sit here reading this. They are browsing, comparing, and making up their minds about whether or not to buy. While many of them will proceed to pay and check out, many others may just terminate their shopping spree due to the faults of a badly put together e-commerce website. In the age of online shopping, e-commerce sites should pay close attention to user experience (UX) in order to stay ahead of the competition. Here are five key elements that are critical to making the shopping experience pleasant and safe for the customer.

Image : shutterstock

Visuals and photographs

Shopping is an act that's primarily driven by sight. A good e-commerce website needs to have splendid product shots, taken from various angles. Showing online customers what they are paying for is rather critical in the whole selling process. Also, the pictures need to be of the final product on sale and not a stock image.

Reviews and comparison

The element of doubt in online shopping is a tad higher when compared to regular shopping at the mall or at the market. In the absence of the chance to touch and feel the product, consumers settle for the next best thing — reviews and product/price comparisons. Giving the customer the satisfaction of being able to thoroughly research what they are planning to buy is an important factor in the success of a website.

Product name and description

A unique product name not only has a high recall in customers' minds but also boosts SEO and makes it easy to be found. Descriptions need to be short and interesting. ‘Patented leather men's shoes’ is far more SEO-friendly and effective than just ‘men's shoes’.

Chat widget

Chat has redefined human interactions and is greatly useful even for e-commerce websites. Many leading websites are harnessing the outcome of this trend by incorporating a chat widget on their sites. The ability to chat with another being (or bot) gives customers a sense of assurance and convenience.

Social media integration

Social media integration opens up a wider audience for the website, which can result in higher sales and greater brand recall. New-age customers are highly socio-dependent. They're connected 24/7. They share, compare, like, and follow trends on the move. Social media integration is the way for e-commerce websites to stay connected with the connected world.

Shopping is a pleasurable experience. Online shopping is meant to add convenience to this experience. In truth, all e-commerce websites, irrespective of what they sell, offer the same thing — convenience. That's what the customers are there for; to experience the convenience of safe, hassle-free, and seamless online shopping.