Despite uncertainties with the economy, the Department of Commerce recently reported that online stores’sales were up in January compared to last year. With the internet becoming more and more accessible, it is almost easier to complete errands online than to drive downtown, sit in traffic, and spend money on gas.

Statistics show that 94% of people who make more than $75k use the internet, according to the Pew Research Center, an organization dedicated to providing information on the issues, attitudes and trends that shape America and the world. 

The working class can now use the internet to shop for groceries, clothes, and even pets. What’s the point of leaving the office or home, if you can save time and money in most cases by ordering it online? Now, more than ever, it is critical to have an effective and professional Ecommerce website that can help maximize your online revenues. Want to boost your company’s Ecommerce results?

Follow these 10 best practices:

Use Common Names for Products, Cart & Checkout

Make sure your customers can recognize the different forms on your website. Creativity is not always good if the customer can’t understand how to complete the transaction. You could quickly lose a sale this way. The Ecommerce process should be smooth and simple, for example:

1. Browse/search for products (quotes, product availability, etc.)
2. Add products to the cart/shopping bag
3. Checkout

Have Adequate Fields

If you’re selling products internationally, does your site have appropriate fields for their contact information? For example, a Canadian may have to input a postal code that includes letters instead of a zip code with only numbers.  Look beyond serving domestic customers, but remember to consider things such as language translations, support, and currency/exchange rates. If your site only ships to the US, then make this clear from the onset in order to avoid any potential confusion.

Evaluate Multiple Payment Options

Don’t just assume PayPal is the only method of payment. Many companies use other payment gateways such as Google Checkout, Authorize.net, 2checkout, and more. Look into different options and weigh their pros and cons before deciding on a payment gateway solution. Other payment options include:

1. Credit Cards
2. PO (B2B)

Make It Easy

The customer shouldn’t be confused when trying to make a purchase. Make your site as simple as possible and always provide customer service information, whether it be a live chat or 1-800 number.

Include a Site Search

Incorporating a site search is always a good idea, but it has to work well. Make sure it searches for more than just product names. It should be able to search for SKUs, model numbers and other related information.

Inform the Customer

Display information to the customer such as your shipping and return policies or the status of an order. This will promote confidence in your buyer and keep them well informed. Then they won’t have to seek this information, which will make their shopping experience more enjoyable.

Install Analytics

Everyone needs feedback in order to improve. By installing a tracking system, you will be able to review what customers are looking at and where your purchasers exit the site if they don’t make a purchase. You can use this feedback to retain customers and improve conversion rates.

Integrate CRM to Boost Your Ecommerce

By using a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system like Salesforce, MS CRM, SalesLogix, etc, you can keep track of your customers’ past orders and actions, as well as their contact information. If it is stored in a CRM, then multiple employees can access this customer information as well.

Make It Search-friendly

Compliment your Ecommerce site with a search-friendly URL that relates to a product or service you sell. Implementing a successful search strategy is sure to generate more traffic and make it easier for your customers to find you.

Incorporate E-marketing

E-marketing makes it easy to link your customers directly to a product or service. It is a cost-effective way to reach your customers and offer them special packages or deals. Send out e-newsletters or marketing emails, purchase pay-per-click advertisements or customized banners. A CRM or Ecommerce system can store lead information, which allows you to build customer profiles and manage customers through multiple stages of the customer lifecycle.

IN CONCLUSION…

… Recognizing the opportunity to bring their businesses online, many business owners have taken the frightful leap of managing an Ecommerce site. Despite this daunting challenge for some, it could be the “make or break” moment for many. The number of consumers online shows no sign of decreasing any time soon. I mean the BBC recently reported that four out of five people in the world believe that access to the internet should be a fundamental right.

The online competition will stay fierce and as we begin to see more subtle signs of the economy improving, it is more and more important to maintain a well developed Ecommerce site that appeals to consumers.