8 Essentials for Any Fashion eCommerce Store
As of 2019, the US apparel market was valued at $368 billion U.S. dollars, making it one of the most competitive markets on a global level. So, if you want to start off on the right foot, it’s worth considering what elements are essential for an eCommerce website.
When it comes to building a good online store, there are lots of functionalities to choose from. It’s all very nice but if you are a brand that is relying on sales, you first need to ensure you have all the essentials down.
To help you out, we have compiled a list of 8 essential features that will help you build a great online store and set yourself apart from the competition.
1. Pick a Solid eCommerce Platform
Even though this sounds like a no-brainer, you need to ensure that your website is built on a solid and secure platform. After all, people can’t buy from you if they can’t access your e-store. While it is true that no platform can guarantee 100% uptime or success, it is definitely important to build your eCommerce empire on strong foundations. For this reason, consider checking out the best places to sell online before going all digital with your business.
Another important aspect to have in mind is security. In today’s digitalized world, customers need to be sure that their personal data (including credit card details) will be protected. That’s why, if you want to build a reputable eCommerce brand, choosing a secure platform is crucial. Another important step is working with expert PPC services for eCommerce to build profitable ad campaigns and increase sales.
2. Apparel Management Software
Today, manual processes are no longer sufficient for retail businesses, especially with the variety and volume of apparel products, sales, orders, and overall operations.
In the fashion eCommerce industry, an apparel management software solution is crucial to operating and streamlining your most taxing and complex processes. Luckily, the advancement of technology has paved the way for the emergence of a great number of great solutions in this niche. If you want to find out more, check out this Apparel Magic: Apparel Management Software: A Step-by-Step Guide.
3. Make Your Navigation Clean and Simple
eCommerce stores usually have a number of brands and therefore, a great number of products to sell, which can easily make the site look messy and cluttered. That’s why you need to make sure to strip it down to the essentials in order to keep the customer’s journey simple and enjoyable. Customers usually know what they are looking for, so you need to make sure they find it quickly and easily.
4. Use High-Quality Images
In the world of eCommerce, visuals are everything. Think of it this way: if people can’t see what they are buying because your image quality is poor, they’re going to give up and go to your competition.
Fortunately, thanks to the evolution of smartphone cameras, anyone can create HQ product photography without having to spend tons on money. When creating your imagery, make sure your photos show your product from different angles, as well as how it can be used in real life.
In addition to product images, make sure to take care of other visuals on your website. Check if your logos and banners are clearly visible and easy to read.
5. Produce Well-Written Copy
Well-written copy is an often overlooked component of a great eCommerce store. This is a mistake, as copy is one of the best tools that can help you increase sales.
However, in order to produce a copy that boosts sales, you need to know who your customers are, what they care about and how they speak. Once you figure this out, you’ll be able to tailor your language specifically to your target audience.
Remember, people like buying from other people not from faceless, dehumanized businesses, so when writing your copy, make sure it conveys that you’re a human being who understands the customers and really cares about their needs.
6. Cover the SEO Basics
Most eCommerce retailers tend to avoid SEO due to the fact that it requires a great deal of effort and time. However, SEO can be a very powerful tool when it comes to increasing your store’s online visibility.
Of course, nobody expects you to become an SEO specialist, but there’s a number of things you can do in order to make sure people discover and visit your store.
Start by choosing an eCommerce platform that allows you to implement SEO basics into your website. Next, add a blog to your website where you will be posting content on a regular basis, making sure to incorporate relevant keywords. These relevant keywords should also be incorporated into your product descriptions.
7. Implement Customer Product Reviews
When it comes to selling clothes, there is nothing more influential than other people’s experiences. Implementing reviews is an excellent way to demonstrate that you are selling good-quality products and increase your brand’s reputation.
Negative reviews are also good for you as they allow you to identify certain weak products or issues, and address the problems on time. Reviews are also great for SEO, as they show search engines that you are a reputable brand.
8. Create Reassuring Policies
Customers need to be able to clearly see that the product they’re planning to buy has a comprehensive delivery, return, and refund policy. This should reassure them that their order will arrive on time, and they can easily return it if it is not right for them.
These policies aren’t difficult to implement – all you need to do is create a page on your site that can be accessed from every other page. You can also include tabbed content on the product pages which allows customers to easily navigate between policies.
Final Thoughts
An e-commerce website needs to not only be visually appealing but also provide a stress-free shopping experience. Implementing these 8 strategies should help you create a solid foundation for your eCommerce store and, in the long run, retain your customers and grow your business by acquiring new ones.
