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5 tips to optimise your website for eCommerce Success

Operating a successful eCommerce website follows a different set of rules to running a traditional B2B website. Much like a physical retail store, there are a lot of elements to consider in order to make it successful. 

In bricks and mortar retail, store owners are continuously improving the in-store experience to entice customers to buy, and the same should go for online retailers. 

For business owners across the island of Ireland this may seem like a daunting task, especially for those who have just recently taken their products/services online. The good news is, you’re not alone - there are a number of supports available for companies looking to grow their online sales.  

A tiny shopping trolley full of boxes sits on a laptop scroll pad.
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  1. Improve the checkout process

On average, 70% of online shoppers abandon their basket at checkout.  

Creating a checkout process that is simple and offers flexibility for the customer is crucial to improving the on-site conversion rate. 

A study by Baymard Institute found that 17% abandoned due to a long or complicated checkout process, and a further 24 per cent abandoned because the site asked them to create an account. Similar to the in-store experience, asking too much information from the customer or providing a poor UX (user experience) during the checkout flow, can cause unnecessary friction and lost sales. 

Checkout image with graphics on laptop.

Here are four tips to streamline the process: 

  • Remove outdated or unnecessary fields - don’t ask customers to supply information that isn’t relevant to their order. 
  • Collapse minority fields - a minority field is one that is filled out by a small number of customers only. For example, ‘Company Name’ is not relevant to most eCommerce shoppers.
  • Auto-populate fields where possible - autofilling saves the customer time and moves them through the checkout faster. For example, consider auto-populating City and Region fields using the customer Postcode/Eircode.
  • It’s also hugely important to offer flexible payment options at the checkout. While some customers will be happy to enter their card information, many online shoppers now prefer to use “single-click” payments such as Apple Pay or PayPal to seamlessly checkout. ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ options such as Klarna or Clearpay are also becoming increasingly popular, allowing price-sensitive customers to split the cost of purchase in a number of instalments. 
  1. Enhance product pages

Product pages are the eCommerce equivalent of the in-store sales assistant. They have to work hard to provide potential customers landing on your website with all the information they need to confidently make a purchase. A product page that is poorly designed, has sparse information and low quality product images is unlikely to inspire website visitors to take action and add products to the basket. 

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Below are just some of the fundamental things every eCommerce product page should have: 

  • High quality photos & videos - first impressions count. That’s why high resolution images are so important in helping customers visualise the product online. Adding video content to product pages can further entice potential customers to make a purchase and is useful for products that require extra demonstration. 
  • Informative & unique product descriptions - product descriptions can make or break a sale. Try to enhance generic information about size, colour and materials with enticing copywriting that explains the product’s key features, focusing on how it will enhance the life of the potential buyer. Conducting keyword research before writing will help with site SEO. 
  • Product reviews - displaying product reviews on product pages builds trust and authority, giving buyers confidence to complete the purchase. Try reaching out to past customers via email or SMS to capture reviews after purchase. Consider offering an incentive for leaving a review e.g. 10% off your next purchase. 
  • Clear calls-to-action (CTAs) - a good CTA makes it clear to the shopper what their next action will be. Common CTAs on product pages include ‘Add to cart’ or ‘Buy Now’ – these should be the largest button on the page and should stand out from other on-page elements to reinforce their importance.
  1. Optimise site speed

Site speed is a critical factor to eCommerce success. A lengthy page loading time deters shoppers, causing them to drop-off prematurely. Online shoppers are time-poor and have come to expect a super-fast online experience thanks to big players like Amazon, who make online shopping effortless for consumers. 

Site speed directly influences your conversion rates and search engine rankings, with Google now using site speed as a key signal to rank pages. Using a tool like ‘Google PageSpeed Insights’ is a great way to uncover errors with site speed. 

A computer monitor displays a website speed analysis.
  1. Adopt a mobile-first experience

Making in-store retail experiences accessible and appealing to different types of shoppers is crucial and the same goes for eCommerce. Online shoppers use a range of devices to discover and purchase online. Having a website that is optimised for desktops, mobiles and tablets is essential to ensure a great user experience across all devices.

User swipes the screen on mobile phone.

 As mobile commerce is set to overtake desktop shopping by 2025, it is now more important than ever that eCommerce sites are optimised to give mobile shoppers a seamless shopping experience.  

Responsive design across the site improves conversion rates and helps show off products in their best light. This is particularly important during the checkout process. The smaller surface area of smartphones increases the risk of input errors and a poorly designed mobile checkout can lead to a frustrating experience. 

  1. Invest in on-site merchandising and seasonal content

Online retail is fast-moving, so making continuous updates to the website is essential to keep buyers interested and ensure alignment with key holidays and promotions. For example, a Black Friday Sale in November requires fresh banners and graphics on the homepage to appeal to discount shoppers. As soon as Black Friday ends, the on-site content needs to be swapped out to reflect Christmas shopping, with a focus on gifting and seasonal offers. 

Failing to keep up with these key dates could see a loss in sales. Pre-planning of upcoming offers, promotions, and website content is crucial to staying on top in the fast-paced world of eCommerce. 

A shopping bag sits in front of seasonal lights.
Get started 

There’s never been a more exciting time to get started in eCommerce. Follow these fundamentals and you’ll be set-up for success when selling online.  

Additionally, you can explore our Trade Hub to discover tailored supports that can help your business grow, connect, and trade across borders.

Find out more about InterTradeIreland's supports