There are plenty of fish in the sea – not only in terms of romantic relationships, but also in terms of online retailers. This is exactly why, like relationships, first impressions can make or break the deal.
Online browsing in general is very fast-paced, and visitors to your site will be quick in making their decisions. It’s usually the smallest of elements that play a large role in purchasing decisions. The following is a list of the top three most crucial components we strongly recommend you invest heavily in, for the sake of having a competitive edge in regards to first impressions.
- Visual Design
We’ve written about the how eCommerce is getting increasingly visual multiple times on our blog, as well how how quickly the brain processes images. Plus, it goes without saying that presentation is everything, especially in eCommerce. As such, it’s worth your while to use budget towards high quality images. The images should also clarify the visual hierarchy of your content. That will help advance the navigation and flow of your site to get more conversions.
- Website Functionality
No online retailer can afford to go cheap on the functionality of their website, because doing so would render the rest of their efforts to be pointless. Luckily though, if budget is tight, there is no longer a need to pay big money for a fully functional website. There are DIY eCommerce platforms such as Shopify that helps supply critical functionality, such as hosting, shopping carts, inventory tracking, and payment records. This is all in addition to a mobile-friendly storefront. However, nothing can replace the expertise of actual developers, as they understand how the smallest tweaks would be able to result in a significant increase in sales.
- Marketing Copy
Content marketing is just as important as visuals, and is also just as much an art form in its own right. Quality strategic writing is essential various forms of marketing copy, including product pages, blog posts, information pages, email blasts, and more. It goes hand-in-hand with the sales strategy, and must be informative, consistent, and flawless. This often requires a team of writers that really know what they’re doing, because even the slightest mishap can put in dent into your credibility.
Invest in these resources, and the rewards will be handsome!