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Your customers may not really know what UX is, but you do. So you can let customers know how to Elevate Your E-Commerce UX. UX, the convenient term for “user experience,” is about much more than pretty web design. A website that looks sleek and pleasing will only take you so far. If you want long-term success, you must invest more in your customer’s overall UX.
So what does that mean exactly? It means your site must be easy to navigate. Make it as easy as you can for your customers to find the information they need. In today’s on-the-go world, don’t forget to make your site mobile-friendly. There are many aspects to consider — how can you possibly bring it all together for great UX?
Follow these seven tips below, and you’ll see your UX experience reviews start to climb.
How to Elevate Your E-Commerce UX
1. Use an E-Commerce Solution
For an online business to succeed, one thing is a must. The inventory, order fulfilment, and shipping process must be seamless. If there’s any snag in the process, your customers will be affected. Some will be disappointed by delays. Others will be angry over lost or forgotten shipments.
You can avoid these types of problems by using a complete e-commerce solution. These tools give you control — in one spot — over your warehouse, product fulfilment, and shipping. They go a step further though. They provide detailed information about your revenue and inventory to help you keep better track of your bottom line.
2. Create an Organized Website
When you walk into a store, you expect products to be organized, right? Kitchen supplies should be in one aisle and bathroom necessities in another. You must design your website the same way. If your products aren’t well organized when your customers visit, they aren’t going to stick around. Take the time to map out your website navigation.
In general, good navigation includes strong top menu categories. For example, if you’re a soap retailer, divide your categories between the bar and liquid products. You should also use filters, such as price, size, or colour to help your customers find what they want. Straight-forward navigation makes the UX faster and easier. Happy customers are customers who make purchases.
3. Make Your Policies Clear
Have you ever spent far too much time searching a site for product details or shipping regulations? If so, you know how frustrating that can be. You didn’t like it, and your customers won’t either. Do them a favour and be as clear as possible about all your policies and product information.
Being upfront with this information builds trust and creates a better UX. Be clear about your products — their size, ingredients, or any special instructions. Include any other details you think might be important to your customers. If possible, include a trust seal at the bottom of your website.
4. Offer Personalized Recommendations
Making personalized recommendations available will take a little work on your part. However, it can guide your customers to other items they might enjoy or need. Giving them a nudge in the right direction can greatly enhance their overall UX. If you can’t give them face-to-face customer service, these recommendations are the next best option.
You can do this in several ways. Keep track of the products that are frequently purchased together. If a customer puts one in their shopping cart, suggest the other as an add-on. For regular customers, keep track of their purchase history and periodically suggest they make a repeat purchase. You can also highlight your “best sellers” or “hot buys” to steer people toward products others are enjoying.
5. Encourage Customers to Share Product Info
Sure, most of your customers will shop online for themselves. Either they’re looking for a product they will use, or they’re buying a gift. That’s not always the case, though. Sometimes, they’re sniffing around the internet to help someone else with a purchase. Think about the product page suggestions on Tik Tok.
If your website browsers find something good on your site, they’ll want to share it. Set up a way for your customer to send a suggestion to a friend. Typically, this involves gathering email addresses. Your customer sends a helpful hint to a friend, and you have another potential customer on your email list. It’s a win-win!
6. Ask for Feedback
You may love your website and its navigation. Even if it works well, there will always be opportunities to tweak it. To be sure these changes meet your customers’ needs and wants, ask for their feedback. Only they can tell you what they think matters most.
Sending automatic feedback emails is one of the easiest ways to collect consumer input. Set your system to send one the first time a customer makes a purchase. Give them some type of gift, such as a discount code, for sharing their thoughts. Be sure to showcase their feedback on your site, so your other customers can see it.
If you get back a noteworthy response, acknowledge it and take steps to fix any issues. It helps you build even more trust with your other clients.
7. Stay Engaged
You don’t want your customers to be one-and-done clients. Repeat business is key to your long-term success. So it’s important to remind customers that you’re here every now and then. Social media ads are a great way to do this. Sending periodic emails also works well, especially if you’re announcing a sale.
Consider rewarding your top return customers with exclusive promos or offers. Give them an early heads-up about big events. If customers think they’re receiving special treatment, they’ll come back more often.
Even though in-store shopping is still alive and well, online purchasing continues to grow. For internet retailers providing a great UX is your version of face-to-face customer service. Creating a seamless, enjoyable UX is critical to staying afloat. Keep these seven tips in mind, and you’ll have happy customers who keep coming back.
