Selling online opens your Bedford business to customers 24/7, nationwide or globally. But a poorly built e-commerce site can actually damage your brand. Here is what successful online selling really requires.
Choosing the Right Platform
For most Bedford SMEs, WooCommerce (built on WordPress) is the best choice. It’s the world’s most popular e-commerce platform, fully customisable, and you own everything. Shopify is a strong alternative for pure e-commerce businesses. Avoid WixStores and SquareSpace Commerce if SEO is a priority.
Product Page Optimisation
Your product pages make or break conversions. Each page needs: high-quality images from multiple angles, a compelling description focusing on benefits not just features, clear pricing, stock information, delivery timeframes and prominent add-to-cart buttons. Customer reviews on product pages increase conversion rates by up to 270%.
Checkout Optimisation
70% of shoppers abandon their cart before completing a purchase. Reduce abandonment by: offering guest checkout, showing a progress indicator, displaying security badges, keeping the form as short as possible and offering multiple payment methods including PayPal and Apple Pay.
Driving Traffic
A beautiful e-commerce site with no traffic generates no sales. Budget for SEO, paid social media advertising or Google Shopping alongside your website build. Factor this into your overall investment decision.
Planning an online store? Book a free e-commerce consultation with WebDevLab.