Our Top 10 Features That Are a Must for Any eCommerce Site

Saying "any eCommerce site" is very broad but when you really get down to the nitty-gritty here are the essentials for any online store:

1. User-friendly, aesthetically pleasing website and navigation When people come to your website, you want them to be able to view it no matter what device they are on. So make it mobile, desktop, tablet, and laptop-friendly because it should be able to accommodate any of them. I cannot express this enough, website design and functionality are so essential to any eCommerce site. More than 85% of the time, customers will leave your site if they can't find what they are looking for or if it’s unclear what you are offering.
2. High-quality images and videos The photography of your products should represent to the customer exactly what it would be like if they were physically looking at it. There are so many options these days like virtually being able to try on the product, being able to see the product in your room, and having a full 360 view of the item so if you aren't doing all that you have to at least have the highest quality images and videos to be able to compete. Visual presentation is everything in the digital world.
3. User-generated reviews Having reviews from any legitimate customers will validate your presence as a business more than people think. Whenever you want to buy something new, you usually look at reviews or ask trusted friends or family. The reviews on your site should not be curated by you or your team but by actual users. The more real and genuine the reviews the more likely a customer will buy. When something is too good to be true, like five stars across the board it usually is a fluke. There are apps that you can integrate or that give you embed codes to place reviews on your website like Judge.me - Product Reviews, YotPo, etc.
4. Seamless checkout process Purchases on your site can only be made if the checkout process is easy and hassle-free. You want the cart to be accessible and visible to the customers, more importantly, your call to action should be prominent and eye-catching. Ensure there are no potential barriers in the way of the customer's checkout process.
5. Customer support and self-service Customer support is the core of a business, and providing a simple contact form, email or even chat option is essential to ensuring customer loyalty. You can easily add a chat, contact form, and email to your site usually within your website/hosting platform. I recommend using an app like Re:amaze which can integrate everything for you and provide 24/7 customer support so your site is a self-service center when you need it to be.
6. Multiple payment options Customers should be able to pay using a credit card whether that be through Stripe, PayPal, or in installments. Limiting payment options allows room for the customers to leave your site without completing the purchase. I am not saying you need all of the payment merchants out there but providing a variety for your customers is ideal.
7. Clear and concise shipping/delivery information Everyone wants to know what will happen after the purchase is made. Provide your customers a clear set of instructions on the delivery methods, time frames, etc. Make sure you have a whole process set up that provides communication to the customer of when the order is being processed, shipped out, in their area for delivery, and when it has been delivered. Integrating or signing up with the proper shipping providers will be key to having a great after-purchase experience for the customer.
8. Product information and recommendations Be sure to have clear product descriptions and measurements or references for the customers who are purchasing your products because that will help to reduce the return rate. Incorporate a section or if you use a chatbot like Re:amaze set up the ability to generate product recommendations for the customers.
9. Push notifications Nobody ever wants to put their email into a form or give out their email just to be spammed with promotions and junk. With Re:amaze we offer the ability to utilize our push notification feature! It is so important to use push notifications because they do not ask for email addresses or any personal information from a customer. They send notifications straight to the customer in their browser about their shopping cart, new products, or recommended products!
10. FAQ When customers shop online they want to ensure what they are asking is relevant and has an answer. With Re:amaze you have the capability to use the FAQ feature right on your website. If they have questions about your return policy, shipping methods, product materials, etc. those questions can be quickly answered. Customers won’t second guess and question their purchases when they are guided every step of the way.