Must-Have Features of eCommerce Websites in 2021
An eCommerce website is imperative for managing an online business. However, it is equally crucial to have one that includes all the essential eCommerce features to ensure success. A good eCommerce site will extend all the means to the client and the retailer to help them get connected in a profitable transaction.
All websites are different in their own manner. We have noticed trends in eCommerce website designs such as animation, 360-degree product previews, dynamic product search, and advanced filtering.
However, trends don’t assure conversion rates or effective user experiences. There are numerous elements that every eCommerce website should have to stay compatible and competitive. Here is a list of few features that engage online shoppers.
Mobile-friendly Design
Did you know that more than half of all site traffic now comes from mobile gadgets, and 61% of customers are more expected to shop from mobile-friendly sites? That indicates ensuring your eCommerce website is mobile-friendly can boost both your traffic and conversions!
To set up your website mobile-friendly, adopt responsive web design — it’s the best method for eCommerce web design. Responsive websites adapt to the screen on which someone views them, so your website looks excellent and works perfectly on laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
Shopping Cart
This is an elemental part of any eCommerce website, the shopping cart. This is where your end customers save the products to proceed with the shopping process. A flexible cart supports both the guest user and enrolled user to checkout. In comparison, the guest checkout does not need the customer to sign up on the website, hence making the method faster.
User-friendly Navigation Features
If customers can’t instantly identify what they need on your eCommerce website, they are unlikely to stay around long and even less possible to purchase anything. Convenient, easy-to-use navigation is one of the most indispensable eCommerce website features.
For impressive eCommerce UX design, have clear-cut menus that favour users to browse different product lists. Ensure these menus are in easy-to-find positions, such as across the top of each page.
You can also allow users to filter and sort brands by style, price, size, manufacturer, and other peculiarities. The features you encompass depend on the products you offer and the characteristics that affect purchase decisions for your clients.
Security Features
One of the most important must-haves for an eCommerce website is adequate security. You have to keep the data of your customers safe, and you’re required to disclose to users that your website is secure and credible.
If buyers don’t trust your website, they probably won’t make a purchase. Inadequate security also opens your business up to serious financial and legal risks.
Some of the most fundamental website security measures include:
- Acquiring a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate, which facilitates your website to send data securely
- Handling an address verification system (AVS) and credit card verification value (CVV) during checkout
- Establishing secure passwords and updating them frequently
Multiple Payment Options
Another element that makes an exceptional eCommerce site? The various methods that you accept payment through. Authorising as many familiar payment options as possible enhances your customers’ experience and can boost conversions.
In extension to major credit cards, consider taking payment methods such as PayPal, Google Pay and Apple Pay. Display icons of authorised payment methods on your website so consumers know in advance what they can employ to purchase your products.
High-quality Photos and Videos
Visual content gets customer's attention, keeps them engaged, and backs them to make shopping decisions. Adopting high-quality photos and videos on your website makes you look competent and boosts user experience.
Researchers have even recommended that product videos make buyers 85% more likely to shop a product, which makes video one of the leading features of an eCommerce site.
Don’t just settle for one picture of your product either. Add images from different angles, let consumers zoom in on the image, and show people handling the product in diverse conditions.
Ensure, though, that your visual eCommerce site details don’t make your pages load slowly. Page speed optimization methods and services can help you fend off th
