Over time, the sales from your online store have become just as important as those at your physical place of business. That’s why you want to ensure that the ecommerce platform you use is making it possible to enjoy the greatest range of benefits. As you evaluate different platforms, make sure the following features are present. If not, that’s a sign you should look at a different one.
Robust Content Management
Content management is essential to any type of online success. In the case of your store, you want product descriptions that are helpful to shoppers, but also tend to attract positive attention from the major search engines. In other words, they need to be keyword optimized as well as informative.
You’ll find that a platform containing a robust content management feature helps to keep your keywords up to date. The suggestions on how to alter or update descriptions will also help them place higher in search engine results. That in turn has a positive effect on the flow of traffic to your store.
Easy Use on Any Internet Connected Device
People use all sorts of devices to conduct online searches. Desktops are still in use and will likely remain so for some time. Laptops and tablets are also favorites for use. In recent years, smartphones have become one of the single most popular ways for people to search for the things they want, ranging from finding a local restaurant to searching for a shoe brand they can’t find locally.
You want a platform that works equally well on all of these different devices. The display must be easy to read and the pages must load without taking too much time. With these attributes, the odds of a user growing tired and deciding to look at a different site are kept to a minimum.
Internal Search Features That Make Shopping Fun
The patience level of many shoppers today means you only have a short amount of time to hold their interest. When someone visits your store and wants to search for something in particular, they want relevant results now rather than later. Your platform must provide them with quick responses.
Ideally, the search feature provides returns with the most relevant items displayed first. In descending order, alternatives that may be helpful are also displayed. This can have the effect of helping the user find what’s wanted and also increase the odds of encouraging the purchase of an additional item.
An Ordering Process That’s Simple to Understand
The shopping is done and it’s time to place the order. Ideally, your ecommerce platform makes it easy to enter all the data needed, provides a chance to review everything, and then requires a single click to submit the order. Anything more complicated may lessen the good feelings that have built up during the shopping experience.
Do provide the user a chance to save that information into an account. This will make it all the easier to place more orders in the future. Your platform must provide assurances that the shared data will be securely protected at all times.
Choose the platform carefully and make sure it stays updated. You’ll find that doing so helps increase the flow of return customers and may even motivate them to recommend your online store to those in their social and business networks.