Online selling has exploded in recent years and competition in the E-commerce space has never been fiercer. With countless brands popping up every day and competing for attention, having a flawless E-commerce website design can often mean the difference between success and failure.
As an E-com business owner, you might think your site is up to scratch, but does it measure up to what people are expecting to see today?
Look at your website from your customer’s perspective — if the site looks drab or outdated, or it’s missing some key features, they’re not likely to make any purchases, no matter how good the deals may be. With that in mind, let’s walk you through some E-commerce design trends as we approach the new year.
Simplicity
Simplicity is a timeless trend. A cluttered website with no structured path for how an online visitor would interact with the various elements will not convert.
It can be tempting to load up your E-com site with the latest features and nifty designs to attract attention. But here’s the thing–if these features do not enhance user experience, they’re better off left out.
Rich Animations and Cool Cinemagraphs
2020 has seen the rise of rich multimedia content pieces gracing the pages of many E-commerce websites for good reason. These animations and cinemagraphs add visual interest to the page and can encourage engagement on the part of the visitor.
Remember to use these elements strategically. In some cases, having too many animations on a page can actually be distracting, not to mention they can make the page speed slower.
Designed for the Mobile Experience
Mobile technology has revolutionized the way we access the web, so a modern, responsive website is an absolute must. And it’s not just the website — ads, infographics, and multimedia posts should also be optimized for mobile screens.
Again, keep the user experience in mind. Is it easy to scroll across your E-commerce website when browsing on a phone? Are the texts and images clear enough to see on a mobile screen? What about the calls to action? Are they clearly delineated on the page? These are all crucial considerations for any E-com web design.
Long Scrolls and Lazy Loading
Long scrolls are starting to take precedence over the usual “next page” button. This is especially beneficial if your online store offers many products. A long scroll page allows the visitor to simply keep scrolling down to see all the products instead of clicking a link to get to a new page.
Lazy loading is another potential advantage that comes with long scrolls since it lets the page load much quicker by only adding more objects to the user’s view as needed.
Chatbot Integrations
While not strictly speaking a design element, chatbots are definitely a key part of any successful E-commerce web design. Integrating chatbots into your website provides users an easy, personalized way to reach you.
If they have questions about certain products in your store or perhaps want to confirm delivery schedules, they can easily hit the chatbot and get answers right away. This greatly enhances user experience and has even been known to improve conversion rates.
Emotional Appeal
Whatever design you choose for your website, the goal should be to evoke an emotional response from visitors. From your color choices to the icons and characters on your website, everything should work together to help users establish a personal connection to your brand.
A good way to do this is to introduce relatable, conversational interfaces into your web design. For example, showing people the face behind the brand can create a sense of trust. Let people know who you are and what your brand stands for — this makes it easier for them to want to patronize your business.
Location Awareness Feature
Location technology has been around for a while now and it was only a matter of time until it was used to enhance user experience on E-commerce sites. This feature is very useful if your online store caters to customers across multiple geographical locations.
People accessing your website from different countries or regions could have a personalized, streamlined experience based on where they are located. For example, you could be targeting a new location and setting up special coupons or deals so anyone who visits your website from that area can enjoy these additional benefits and familiarize themselves with your brand.
Does your E-commerce website need a design overhaul?
Perception is everything when it comes to online selling. If your online store could use a few tweaks or perhaps a complete overhaul, let Tulumi help you do something about it. We are the premier web design agency serving Orlando, FL, and the surrounding communities. Call us today at (800) 481-1720 or fill out our contact form to get started with a FREE design consultation.
