If you didn’t know already, eCommerce is constantly changing. What worked last week might not be even half as effective this week. Or maybe tomorrow Facebook might announce another change to it’s algorithm — prompting marketers to go into “crisis mode” over their social strategy. Through it all, however, one metric has retained a solid positive grasp on your conversion rate — how sticky your website is. It make’s a lot of sense, when you think about it, I mean if people spend more time on your website, that would mean they’re enjoying the experience, and if they’re enjoying the experience would they not in turn likely be more interested in your product?

So, below we’re going to share with you 6 simple tips we follow when designing websites for our clients to ensure they maximize the time spent on them by potential costumers.

• Branding. Branding.

Branding is critical when designing a website. If someone visiting your site for the first time can ascertain what exactly the company their looking at does or sells, then it’s wrong. Your brand voice should be as apparent as your name and logo are.

• Simple is better.

Sensory overload is real problem on the internet. You don’t need to bombard someone who lands on your homepage with everything your company has to offer. Provide them with some simple, easily digestible content, and if your content is doing  the job it should be doing they’ll find the rest.

• Simple doesn’t mean unengaging.

Just because your design is simple and user-friendly doesn’t mean that your homepage shouldn’t also be engaging. This is how you make them stay after they get whatever they were originally looking for. Which brings us to our next point…

• Great content is KEY.

Visitors should be able to take something away from your website without having to pay for it — no on likes to feel like the only thing something wants from them is money. Providing content that your costumers can access for free — such as a blog (did we just break the blog fourth wall?) — is a great way to make them think of your company as an industry expert, versus another company just selling a product.

• Everyone just wants to go fast.

If your website is still loading like it’s on dial-up you can bet your bottom line that you’re going to see potential costumers drop off. Love it or hate it, we live in an increasingly instantly gratifying society, and if your website doesn’t meet this demand customers simply won’t use it.

• Update it, then update it again.

Today’s consumer base is becoming more technologically savvy by the day — and you can bet they expect you to keep up. If your website feels outdated, no one is going to want to use it. Make sure you’re keeping up with trends and staying on top of your tech!

 

There you have it; those are some basic guidelines to follow when optimizing your site — to get the rest you’ll have to come talk to us, because remember the 2 keys to success are:

• Never spill everything you know