1. Professional and Lightweight Packaging
Because shipping is often based on weight, it’s likely best to keep your packaging as lightweight as possible. You will not only save on shipping, but will be more environmentally friendly.
Consider that packaging is often part of the shopping experience for online shoppers. Details matter, so keep in mind ways your package can be more aesthetically pleasing to your customer.
2. Shipping Provider
Have you chosen a shipping provider? Below are links to the popular providers and their requirements.
- USPS
- FEDEX
- UPS
3. Inventory Stocked
Having a perfectly working website with lots of sales does little help if you have no products to sell! It can be difficult to predict the right amount of inventory but as a rule of thumb it’s better to be overstocked than not have enough in the beginning.
4. Customer Support
Do you have a customer service line set up? Surprisingly, many sites launch without considering how to help their customers troubleshoot. You may not only lose customers, but take a hit to your reputation if you do not have a plan for handling issues that your customer may need assistance with.
5. Security
It is imperative that your site is encrypted via SSL so that the transactions on your site are secure. Having an SSL will keep your customer’s information safe and also put their mind at ease when making a purchase.
6. Mobile Ready
If you are launching a website in 2017, it would be shortsighted to launch one that wasn’t designed for mobile devices. 80% [1] of people on the internet own a smartphone and use it to go online.
7. User Experience and Shop-ability
Make sure the “add to cart” button has priority and is easy to find. How can you do this? Simply make sure there is appropriate white space and that it is larger and a stronger color than any other nearby links (for example a read more link after the product description). Additionally, make sure all navigation elements are easy to see and don’t get cut off. Last but certainly not least, when a prospective customer visits your site it should be obvious what you are selling, and that you are selling it.
8. Order Processing and Alerts
It’s easy to get buried in orders when you are first started. A first in first out process will help you stay focused on getting orders processed in a timely manner. It is also important to notify customers when an order is delayed. This process is often called exception based notification. It is better to be proactive than to have disappointed customers calling about where their product is. For sites just starting out, set up email alerts so you don’t miss any orders that come through. It is also a best practice to send an email confirming your order has been processed to your customer for their records.
9. Test, and then Test Again
Have you tested a purchase on your site? Will it work across all credit card options? Before you drive traffic to your site, make sure you have dotted your I’s and crossed your T’s.
If you need assistance with developing or improving your e-commerce site, contact us at www.AsSeenOnTV.pro
[1] https://www.distinctweb.design/importance-mobile-ready-website