10 Elements for Effective eCommerce Websites – Part 2

The arrival of online shopping has also opened up a vast market opportunity for businesses. With the growing number of online shoppers, there is also a growing number of cyber criminals who are after your money and identity.

And with the increasing number of online payments, many online shoppers are interested in knowing how to make purchases online safely, which is why a guide on the elements for an effective eCommerce website may be an important tool in your arsenal that could help you build trust and engagement with your users.

Some of these elements are:

6) Have a Privacy Policy

A privacy policy should be the first page that a user sees on your website. It is a document that protects your site users by informing them how their information will be used and protected.

There are many things that should be included in your privacy policy. For instance, items such as your data collection and use practices, your data retention period, your third-party data controllers, and your current security measures should be clearly stated.

7) Shipping and Returns Policies

Many eCommerce websites have strict shipping and return policies that are usually difficult to understand. Make your shipping and returns policies clear and straightforward. Include a standard shipping cost table for your different products so that customers can estimate the overall financial impact of the shipping costs.

Also, make sure to include a return policy. A clear return policy not only builds trust with your customers but also lets them know what their legal rights are should they decide to return their products.

8) Secure Checkout

The checkout area is where potential customers will be most hesitant to proceed. It is important that your checkout process is integrated with a secure payment processor. Online shoppers are always worried about their financial information getting stolen. Having a secure payment processor that is able to combat online fraudsters will build trust with your customers.

Many eCommerce websites also offer their users a variety of payment options. For example, PayPal, Stripe, Amazon Payments, and Apple Pay are all options that can be used in the checkout process.

Also, be sure that your checkout process is designed so that minimal contact information is needed. The less information you require from your customers, the better the conversion rate is likely to be. That is why it is extremely important to make the checkout process easy and secure for users.

9) Security Alert Page

A security alert page is a place where you would typically let your users know that there are some security issues and that they must take action to fix them. For instance, if you process credit cards online, then you must have a security alert page. This is a page that is shown after an online shopper provides their credit card information during checkout. If a problem is found during the authorization phase, the page is shown to the user. This page should let them know about the problem and give them an option to try again or cancel the purchase.

This security alert page can prevent phishing attacks from happening. If a user encounters a fake website and logs into the website with his or her sensitive information, the security alert page will warn them that the website is not secure and that they should not proceed.

10) Product Reviews and Ratings

Product reviews play an important role in influencing potential buyers. When people are shopping online, they are often more likely to be swayed by the opinions of others. If a product has a lot of positive reviews from others, they are more likely to buy that product. Hence, you should have a system that gives you the ability to collect and display your product reviews and ratings. They can be placed right beside the product and encourage your potential customers to make a purchase.

Conclusion

Building trust with your customers is the first step to making more sales. If your customers do not trust your business, then they are likely to move on from your website. Hence, if you have the right elements for an effective eCommerce website, you are likely to have a lot more purchases. EB Pearls offers eCommerce website development services to help you build trust and engagement with your customers. We have a strong background in eCommerce website development. Let us help you create online shopping websites that can build and maintain a strong web presence. Contact us today to get started!