The blueprint of a successful online shopping cart

THE BLUEPRINT OF A SUCCESSFUL ONLINE SHOPPING CART "Successful selling onfine depends on the features, functimality and usabiflity of your shopping cart Use this blueprint to help you make informed decisions." WEBSITE DESIGN Choose a design which is aesthetically pleasing whilst functional. The solution should have an easily adaptable and mobile-friendly design. Good, easy-to-use design is proven to increase website conversions: FEATURES 70% 68% Ensure that your shopping cart has the right functionality to serve website visitors: Over 70% of web users judge a company's credibility based on its website design and first impressions do count! Around 68% of e-commerce shoppers may distrust a website if it isn't updated frequently, looks dated and has a generally unprofessional appearance. • Integrated Marketing Tools. • On-Page Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). > Reviews and Testimonials. • Integration of Social Media, RSS and dynamic content. • Special Offers, Voucher Codes and Newsletter Signup Forms with incentives. An Affiliate Program if applicable. • Ease-of-use preferably with one page checkout. SUPPORT Clear SSL gold padlock, company name, VAT registration number, company address and clear contact information. Unlike brick and mortar stores, "click and mortar" e-commerce websites are open 24/7. Server uptime is very important as is good customer support. Choose an e-commerce website design company that can provide fantastic support and timely • Analytics consisting of visitor information including common points at which the shopping cart is abandoned. customer service. 60% The average rate at which point the shopping cart is abandoned is 60%. The following should help you make your decision: The web design company you choose should be a recognised one with a good knowledge of digital marketing. General support should be available Online shoppers want discounts and around 70% have said they may not make a purchase (especially a bulk order or large purchase) without a discount. within standard business hours with support for critical issues being available 24/7. 70% The web design company you choose should have a range of different sized clients. So if you're a small business they can support your business as it grows. A A range of different customer service contact types should be available from email, chat, support tickets and phone support. SECURITY Support should be high quality without annoying canned responses. Your web design company should be proactive in the support provided. Having a secure website is important. Even more so with an e-commerce site. Choose a solution with these features: Choose a web design company with a good portfolio. Resources for training should be available to you including a Knowledge Base and FAQ section. • Use SSL Encryption on • PCI Compliance - find out about the your e-commerce website to create a safer different options that and more secure online are available shopping experience. SOCIAL AND MOBILE • Use a web hosting provider with a web server that is fit for purpose, kept up-to-date with the latest security features and software updates, and has a fantastic uptime Service Level Agreement (SLA). Social is becoming increasingly important to shopping cart success. f TWITTER FACEBOOK MOBILE Over 50% of Twitter users recommend and purchase products based on their interactions on Twitter. Over 50% of Facebook users Over 55% of Internet searches now say that the social network influences their buying decisions. take place on mobile devices and tablets than desktop and laptop computers. INTERNET MARKETING PLATINUM