Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I hope I am posting this in the right forum.  I am seeking opinions on what people think are the most important things (website design, functionality, useability, technical or non-technical, make customers want to make a purchase, etc.) an ecommerce website should have or shouldn`t have.  It doesn`t have to be 10 things exactly.  I am looking to build a new website since there are several unfixable issues with the one I already have.  It being a template website is the #1 issue.  I`ve looked back at the critiques I have received about my current website and made notes on the advice I have received, and I just wanted to make sure that when I have a new one built that I won`t end up with the same problem I have now.  I appreciate everyone`s time and help.  Thank you.

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Lora L. Warta
www.diddlehillassociates.com
www.mysticdreamzcollectibles.com

"What you are is your parent`s fault. If you stay that way it`s your fault."

Lora,

As a person who spends a LOT of time on-line, I think that usability is the key factor for me. 

I look for a site that`s easy to read, uncluttered, and easy to find my way around.  If I can`t find what I`m looking for in about three clicks, I`ll probably look elsewhere.

It`s not an easy thing to do.  I`m still working on my own sites to make them meet my goals.

Sheryl

• able to be found  - through searches, links, referral, etc
• easy to use - very user friendly
• easy to remember - have "sticky-ness" so people want to return
• free of errors - no boo boos
• easy to learn - don`t use jargon, have an intuative navigation, communicate your message clearly

Is having a web site with all the above enough to make a sale? No, there are three critical factors behind a viewer’s decision to make a purchase:

• Relevance
• Differentiation
• Trust

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This question gets a lot of time, but it really isn`t all that difficult to handle. A great e-commerce site should provide the customer with answers to every one of their questions, almost instantly. That`s pretty much all it takes.

To build a site like that requires only that the builder/owner "become" a customer, each step along the way while building the site.

I go to a site, see an interesting product, and ask certain things right away: What exactly is this thing? I want answers and pictures. If, seeing those answers, the product meets my needs, then I want to know how much it`ll cost. And that includes how much it`ll cost to ship.

I`m repeatedly astonished at the number of Web sites that won`t tell me how much it`ll cost to ship. They won`t show me pictures, don`t explain the product, and really could care less if I buy it or don`t. It`s as if they`ve built the entire site as a sort of school project in technology, without having any purpose other than testing their computer skills.

All of this "how" of things entirely rests on whether or not there`s even a product at all. I can go to about 10 different stores, right here in town, and buy duct tape, for example. Why would I bother to find duct tape online? And yet a huge number of e-commerce sites sell only the exact same things I can get without shipping charges from many local stores.

Thank you so much everyone for all of your help and advice.  I can`t begin to express my gratitude to you.  God bless you all.

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Lora L. Warta
www.diddlehillassociates.com
www.mysticdreamzcollectibles.com

"What you are is your parent`s fault. If you stay that way it`s your fault."

When I shop online (haven`t shopped at a physical store in years), I love sites that have a feature to view my specific requirements. For example, if I look at clothes for sale, I only want to look at clothes that are my size. I hate it when I see something I like, and then I click for detailed information and it`s no longer in stock for my size. Don`t annoy customers during their shopping experience.

Kudos to all the great advice above.

Hi,

If you need a Search Engine Friendly Shopping Cart here is the most complete list:

http://www.merchantmetrix.com/shopping-carts/cart-eval.html

Jeff

I can`t say enough how greatful I am to everyone for all of your help and advice.  I am working on revamping everything now that I have learned more.  All of my future success (and there will be lots!) is owed to this great community of people.  Thank you.

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Lora L. Warta
www.diddlehillassociates.com
www.mysticdreamzcollectibles.com

"What you are is your parent`s fault. If you stay that way it`s your fault."

An ecommerce site should have a blog to personalize the company. This will add content and drive traffic.


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EventBrander.com | Custom Printed T-Shirts, Promotional Products, Lowest Prices Guaranteed

Hi,

Don`t forget a product data feed.  The owner should be able to easily download their entire product Data Base into a .txt file or .CSV to upload to comparison shopping site like shopping.com, shopzila, google base, yahoo shopping, nextag, and others.

Also a phone number that actually connects to a live person that speaks English would be helpful...might double your sales :) 

j/k on the doubling of sales but honestly a phone number can be huge

Jeff