Is it Possible to Create a Working Web Design for a Retail Site in Less Than a Month?
While
it is possible to create a working web design for your retail site in under a
month, the question is: Would you want to compromise on design quality and
utility? For a professional web agency, ecommerce store design is a lengthy
process because of the complexities it involves.
Ecommerce
is a massive business and it has been around for some time. Site design impacts
the aesthetics, functionality and value of the website. As a designer, one
cannot afford to ignore excellent ecommerce design. Neither can a business miss
out on the competitive edge it provides.
- Deciding on the Product Range
One
of the biggest problems in an approach to designing an ecommerce site is
deciding whether it will be a single-product or multi-product site. A site with
tons of products has different needs compared to a single item. Single product
sites have multiple pages too, but relatively simple information architecture.
Sites with multiple products will have a wide range of pages and different
requirements to keep all factors consistent as well as organised.
- Why Ecommerce Store Design Takes Time
The web design process for ecommerce is different from other kinds of site. It is
primarily an established product line or store, with a lot of design constructs
in place. It is also crucial to consider existing product photos and budget for
compelling graphics. The sales funnel and the pages between the home page and
the final checkout are other important aspects that need to be mapped out from
the start.
A
successful online store needs to build a sense of trust among shoppers. If a
shopper does not like a site, they can take their business to your competitor.
Simplicity and ease of use are essential. Transparency needs to go hand-in-hand
with trustworthiness.
While
designing an ecommerce site, you also need to consider the type of site,
company as well as products being sold. People need to sell products they are
buying before making a purchase. Since shopping online prevents a person from
actually seeing the product, high-quality images are a key requirement the
store site needs to meet.
Every
product page also needs to have links to other related products. Additionally,
social media sharing functions need to be an important part of the product page
design. Word-of-mouth is a powerful ad and it
makes it easy for customers to share purchases and ideas about products
or services. Share buttons also need to be integrated on the product pages,
once the visitor has made a purchase. Product descriptions must also be
detailed.
- What Your Site Needs
So,
all these processes take their time. After all, you do want to ensure that the
design can handle descriptions of more than a single paragraph without looking
unappealing. With basics overlaid on the image, you need detailed descriptions
below for care, material, style, fit and shipping or return for apparel
retailers, for instance.
The
checkout process also needs to be quick and simple, as does the loading time.
A
working web design can be created for a site quickly. But planning is the key
to success. Your design needs to serve as a blueprint for an effective
presentation that interests and engages with individuals. Web designers and
agencies alike have a wealth of experience, when it comes to designing your
online store. Set a timeline that they judge suitable to meet your requirements
and you’ll have a quality website worth your time and money.