eCommerce website design plays a critical role in the success of any online store.
An effective design helps to attract and retain customers, optimize conversion rates, and ultimately boost sales.
In this blog post, we review the best practices in eCommerce website design and explore some of the best examples of eCommerce websites to inspire you when creating your own.
- Ensure your eCommerce website is fully responsive and mobile-friendly for the growing number of users shopping online through their smartphones and tablets
- Implement intuitive and organized navigation menus to help users easily find products and information
- Use high-resolution product images from multiple angles, zoomable options, and lifestyle images to give customers a detailed view of your products
- Simplify the checkout process with a minimal number of steps, guest checkout options, and clear calls to action
- Display customer reviews and product ratings prominently on your product pages
Best Practices in eCommerce Website Design
Effective eCommerce website design is crucial for attracting and retaining customers.
Here are some of the best practices to observe when building your eCommerce website.
User-Friendly Navigation
A user-friendly navigation structure is crucial for the success of your ecommerce website.
Make sure to have a clear and logical hierarchy of categories and subcategories. Include filters and sorting options, and implement an effective eCommerce website search functionality.
Users should be able to find products with minimal effort.
Mobile Optimization
Mobile optimization is no longer optional in eCommerce website design.
With a significant portion of online shoppers using mobile devices, your website must have a mobile-friendly eCommerce design to give users a seamless mobile experience.
Implement a mobile-first design and ensure that all features and functionalities work well on different screen types.
Consistent Branding
Maintain a consistent brand identity throughout your ecommerce website.
This includes using the same fonts, colors, and design elements that align with your brand’s image.
Consistency not only reinforces your brand but also produces a more professional website.
High-Quality Images
Visual appeal is a critical aspect of ecommerce.
Use high-resolution product images that showcase your products in the best possible light. Also, allows users to zoom in for a closer look and provide multiple images from different angles.
Detailed Product Descriptions
Accurate and compelling product descriptions are essential for informing customers and influencing their purchasing decisions.
Include detailed and accurate information such as:
- Product specifications
- Size guide
- Materials
- Care instructions
Highlight the benefits and features of your products accurately to reduce the likelihood of returns due to misrepresentation.
Engaging Design Elements
While it’s important to engage users, it’s equally important not to overwhelm them.
Use engaging design elements such as banners, sliders, and videos to showcase promotions, new arrivals, or top-selling products.
However, these should be used judiciously and should neither slow down the site nor distract users from the main shopping experience.
White Space
White space refers to the empty or blank areas on a web page. When used effectively, it can help avoid clutter and enhance readability and focus.
White space can also make your eCommerce website more visually appealing, guiding users’ attention to the most important elements, like your products.
Search Functionality
A robust eCommerce site search bar is a must-have for eCommerce websites. It provides users with a quick and efficient way to find the products they’re looking for.
Implementing autocomplete suggestions can further enhance the user experience by helping users discover products even before they finish typing.
Accessibility
Ensure your eCommerce website is accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities.
Accessibility features such as screen reader compatibility and keyboard navigation can make your site inclusive and user-friendly.
By adhering to accessibility guidelines like WCAG, you expand your potential customer base and demonstrate social responsibility.
Fast Loading Speed
Slow-loading eCommerce websites can be a major turn-off for shoppers.
Users expect quick and responsive experiences. To achieve this, optimize images and reduce unnecessary scripts that may slow down your site’s performance.
Consider using a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to distribute content efficiently and reduce the site’s loading times.
Trust Signals
Building trust with your customers is essential in ecommerce.
Displaying trust signals, such as security badges, customer reviews, and testimonials, helps establish your website’s credibility.
Trust signals also reassure visitors about the safety of their transactions and the quality of your products. This ultimately increases their confidence and willingness to buy from you.
Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)
Your call-to-action buttons, like “Buy Now†or “Add to Cart,†should be both persuasive and prominently placed.
Ensure your CTAs are placed where they are easy to find and engage with.
Well-designed CTAs guide users toward taking desired actions, such as making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter.
Intuitive Cart Design
An intuitive shopping cart design is also crucial for keeping customers engaged and satisfied.
It should allow users to easily view their selected items, update quantities, and remove items as needed. This gives your customers a smooth shopping experience and ultimately builds loyalty.
Simple Checkout Process
Finally, ensure your eCommerce website provides a smooth checkout process.
Checkout process optimization involves minimizing the number of steps required to complete a purchase and offering guest checkout options for users who don’t want to create an account.
You should also provide clear indications of the user’s progress through the checkout process. This will give customers a seamless checkout experience and reduce cart abandonment rates.
What Are the Essential Features Every Online Store Should Have?
Every online store should have certain mandatory features for it to work effectively.
Here are 10 of the most essential features of every online store:
| Essential Online Store Features | Description |
| Well-organized product categorization improves user navigation and simplifies the shopping process. |
| Allows customers to manage selections before checkout, providing a summary of chosen items and total costs. |
| A robust eCommerce search bar helps users quickly find products, with features like autocomplete and filters. |
| Streamlined and user-friendly checkout minimizes steps, offers guest checkout, and provides secure payment methods. |
| Customer reviews and ratings build trust, provide social proof, and help buyers make informed decisions. |
| Transparent shipping costs, delivery times, and tracking information enhance the understanding of logistics. |
| Clearly displayed contact details and support options make it easy for customers to seek assistance. |
| A well-defined and customer-friendly policy reduces hesitation in making purchases. |
| Integrating trusted payment gateways ensures secure transactions and offers various payment options. |
| Integrating with social media platforms enhances online presence, enables product sharing, and engages with customers. |
How Does Responsive Design Impact Online Shopping?
Responsive web design for online stores enables the sites to adapt to the screen size and device being used, whether it’s a desktop computer, tablet, or smartphone.
With the widespread use of smartphones and tablets, a significant portion of online shopping occurs on mobile devices. Responsive design accommodates this mobile traffic, allowing your eCommerce website to capture more potential customers.
- Can contribute to higher conversion rates as it makes the shopping process more convenient and user-friendly.
- Ensures low bounce rates. When visitors can easily interact with your site on their chosen device, they are more likely to stay, explore, and make purchases.
- Mobile-friendly eCommerce designs also make eCommerce stores accessible to a wider range of users, including those with disabilities.
What Are the Latest Trends in eCommerce Website Design?
Here are some of the latest design trends for online shops that every designer needs to be on the lookout for in 2023:
Mobile-First Design
Mobile-first design is a design approach that prioritizes the mobile eCommerce UX best practices.
It involves prioritizing the mobile experience before adapting it to larger screens like laptops and tablets.
This trend focuses on creating mobile-friendly eCommerce designs, which help improve the shopping experience for users who prefer shopping on their smartphones.
Personalization
Ecommerce websites are increasingly using data-driven techniques to provide customized product recommendations and personalized marketing messages.
This creates a more personalized experience for users by showing them products that align with their preferences, browsing history, and purchase behavior.
Minimalism
Minimalism in ecommerce web design involves creating clean and clutter-free interfaces with a focus on essential elements.
Minimalist designs often feature a simplified color palette and straightforward navigation, which improves the visual appeal of your website.
This makes it easier for users to navigate, find products, and complete purchases.
Voice Search and Voice Commerce
With the rise of voice-activated devices, eCommerce websites are optimizing for voice search.
This includes implementing voice search functionality and developing voice commerce capabilities so customers can make purchases via voice commands.
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Try-On
eCommerce websites are increasingly integrating AR features, allowing customers to virtually try on products like clothing, accessories, or even furniture before making a purchase.
This immersive experience enhances user confidence and reduces returns.
19 Examples of Amazing eCommerce Website Designs
Here are 19 eCommerce website examples with impressive and effective designs that can inspire you when creating your online store:
Wayfair
Wayfair is a popular eCommerce website that sells a range of household products.
Its design emphasizes a user-friendly online store layout with a vast product catalog.
They feature high-quality images, customer reviews, and detailed search and filter options to help customers find the right home products without a hassle.
Apple
Apple’s eCommerce design is synonymous with sleek minimalism.
The site relies on clean, uncluttered eCommerce store layouts with high-resolution product images, enabling visitors to explore devices in detail.
Its navigation is also straightforward and consistently reflects Apple’s elegant brand identity.
Tesla
Tesla’s eCommerce website is minimalistic and embodies modern aesthetics that mirror its forward-thinking electric vehicle approach.
It engages visitors through an interactive car customization and testing tool that emphasizes the brand’s initiatives.
Product pages are streamlined, featuring comprehensive details about Tesla cars.
Nike
Nike’s eCommerce website design bursts with bold, high-energy visuals that align with its athletic brand.
The website offers customization options, clear navigation, and comprehensive product information.
It uses sporty imagery and promotions to engage customers effectively and entice them into buying.
Etsy
Etsy’s eCommerce design exudes charm and homeliness, underscoring its commitment to unique, handmade, and vintage products.
Sellers can personalize their shop pages, and the site frequently employs artistic imagery to showcase products. The design fosters a sense of elegance and class.
Allbirds
Allbirds‘ website mirrors the brand’s commitment to sustainability and simplicity.
It uses eco-friendly visuals and straightforward design to highlight their comfortable apparel. The design is simple and highly appealing to eco-conscious shoppers.
Dollar Shave Club
Dollar Shave Club’s eCommerce website design mirrors its humorous and approachable brand image.
It uses animations and a straightforward eCommerce store layout to promote grooming products. The site is simple, user-friendly, and guides customers through a seamless purchase journey.
Bliss
Bliss’s eCommerce website design strikes a balance between clean and fun.
It exudes a playful and lively vibe that utilizes vibrant colors to create a cheerful atmosphere. Furthermore, it displays large images on the homepage, establishing the overall aesthetic of the website.
Magic Spoon
Magic Spoon, a breakfast-oriented brand, effectively conveys the texture of its products through its eCommerce website.
The site’s design resembles a magazine layout, featuring a vibrant color scheme and offering intricate details to explore with every click and scroll.
A soothing light blue backdrop serves as the canvas for the vivid pink and purple palettes, harmonizing beautifully with the top-notch product imagery.
Ratio
Ratio is an eCommerce store that sells premium coffee machines and accessories.
Its eCommerce website design conveys a message of class to its customers. Each coffee product is showcased on dedicated pages that elaborate on its exceptional qualities.
The website’s design skillfully uses photography, color, and judicious white space to give customers a visually appealing online shopping experience.
Dress Up
Dress Up specializes in offering stylish women’s clothing.
The eCommerce website employs contrasting colors and text to draw attention to new arrivals, sales, and seasonal promotions.
Notably, the “Chat with us†feature on the site is intriguing, as it’s not commonly found in online fashion stores, making it a valuable addition.
Bohemian Traders
For those seeking inspiration for designing a clothing website, Bohemian Traders serves as an excellent starting point.
Infused with a hint of Bohemian flair, this eCommerce website offers visitors seamless navigation options for exploring clothing items categorized by their latest arrivals, occasions, accessories, or sale items.
Grovemade
Grovemade places a strong emphasis on lifestyle photography to showcase its products.
The website features stunning images of its wooden accessories elegantly arranged on desks and tables, with exceptional composition.
You may also have noticed their playful, rounded font, which sets their eCommerce website design apart from other typical choices.
Azteca Soccer
Azteca Soccer’s design takes an unconventional approach.
Instead of opting for a traditional online store ambiance, they provide their visitors with a boutique-like experience.
One key aspect of this approach is the use of lifestyle shots rather than solely relying on product images.
Cutter & Buck
Cutter & Buck’s eCommerce website design is an excellent illustration of user-friendly navigation.
It also demonstrates how effective design can highlight the diversity of their product range.
The simplicity of the site is a key factor that gives customers a seamless shopping experience on the site.
Fronks
For a unique eCommerce design approach, explore Fronks’ website.
The site spotlights the brand’s identity and products with a clean, modern, and simple design that mirrors its product categories.
The homepage only teases rather than revealing the entire product. It also unveils interactive elements that encourage visitors to click.
Physiq Apparel
Physiq Apparel’s eCommerce website offers a good demonstration of the effective use of lifestyle photography.
It displays the photos in a product grid, which maintains the primary focus on the product.
The photo grid also ensures a seamless browsing experience for visitors to explore and purchase the items.
Welly
Welly has established itself as a playful first-aid brand.
On their eCommerce site, they offer cute and convenient packaging along with kid-friendly bandage designs.
The website is vibrant and colorful, featuring engaging copy and a prominent “Shop Now†call to action. Welly’s homepage exudes a bold and dynamic feel without looking cluttered.
Pure Cycles
Pure Cycles employs an uncomplicated layout that effectively conveys the brand’s appeal and highlights its top-selling bikes.
The product pages are thoughtfully designed to provide an immersive online shopping experience.
They reveal close-up images of individual components and detailed specifications to help customers make well-informed purchasing choices.
How Can I Optimize eCommerce Product Pages for Better Conversions?
Optimizing your eCommerce product pages is essential for improving conversions and increasing sales.
Here are some product page design principles to help you create effective product pages:
- High-Quality Product Images: Use high-resolution images that showcase the product from various angles. Include zoom and 360-degree view features for a closer look.
- Detailed Product Descriptions: Provide comprehensive and clear product descriptions that highlight key features and benefits. Include specifications, sizes, colors, materials, and any other relevant details.
- Persuasive Product Titles: Create descriptive yet concise product titles that include important keywords and mention the product’s unique selling points.
- Customer Reviews and Ratings: Display genuine customer reviews and ratings to build trust. Encourage customers to leave reviews after their purchase and address negative reviews professionally.
- Pricing Transparency: Clearly display the product’s price, any discounts, and shipping costs. Use clear and compelling pricing strategies like “sale†or “limited-time offer.â€
- Add to Cart Button: Make the “Add to Cart†button prominent and easily clickable. Consider using contrasting colors to make it stand out.
- Cross-selling and Upselling: Suggest related products or complementary items and highlight the value of bundled deals or upgrades.
- Product Videos: Create product videos to demonstrate how the item is used or assembled. Videos can be especially effective for complex or high-value products.
How Can I Integrate Social Media into My eCommerce Design?
Social media is inevitable when it comes to promoting your eCommerce site.
To integrate social media into your eCommerce website design effectively, you can implement the following strategies.
- Add social sharing buttons on your product pages to allow customers to easily share their favorite products with their social network.
- Offer social login options to simplify the registration process for your customers.
- Display live social media feeds on your website to keep your content fresh and relevant.
- Use social media widgets and plugins to display your latest social media posts or interactions on your website.
- Highlight social proof by showcasing your follower counts, likes, shares, or reviews to indicate brand popularity.
- Add social media links and icons to your header, footer, and contact page for easy connections with your audience.
- Run social contests and giveaways to encourage user engagement and promote your products on social media.
- Utilize social media analytics tools to assess the effectiveness of your social media integration efforts and adapt your strategy accordingly.
What Tools or Platforms Are Best for eCommerce Website Design?
When designing an eCommerce website, there are several tools and platforms you can choose from depending on your specific needs, technical expertise, and budget.
Here are eight of the best options:
Shopify
Shopify is one of the most popular eCommerce platforms. It offers a wide range of customizable website template, a user-friendly interface, and a robust set of eCommerce features.
It’s excellent for small to medium-sized eCommerce businesses and requires minimal technical expertise.
WooCommerce
If you’re using WordPress, Woocommerce is a powerful and customizable eCommerce plugin. It integrates seamlessly with your WordPress site, allowing for a high degree of control and flexibility.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce is a scalable eCommerce platform that can grow with your business. It offers numerous built-in features, including hosting and payment processing, making it a suitable choice for businesses of various sizes.
Magento
Magento is a highly customizable eCommerce platform known for its flexibility and extensive feature set.
It’s best suited for larger businesses and those with complex needs, but it can be resource-intensive.
Wix
Wix is an all-in-one website builder that includes eCommerce capabilities. It’s user-friendly and a good option for small businesses with basic eCommerce needs.
Squarespace
Squarespace is a website builder that offers elegant and visually appealing templates. While it’s primarily used for content-based websites, it includes eCommerce features for smaller online businesses.
Volusion
Volusion is a hosted eCommerce platform known for its ease of use and built-in tools for eCommerce store management.
It’s well-suited for small and medium-sized businesses.
OpenCart
OpenCart is an open-source eCommerce platform that provides a lot of customization options.
It’s suitable for those with some technical expertise and a desire for complete control over their eCommerce site.
Conclusion
eCommerce web design is a key factor to consider when building your eCommerce store. It significantly impacts customer experience, conversion rates, and, ultimately, your revenue flow.
Remember, your online journey starts with finding a reliable web hosting provider and the best website builder on which to build your site.
Choose from the best website builders for eCommerce and start building your eCommerce business today!
Next Steps: What Now?
Here are the next steps you can take from this guide:
- Check out what are the types & features of eCommerce website builders
- Find the best eCommerce website builders of 2023
- Find the best web hosting providers of 2023
- Learn how to build an eCommerce website from idea to launch
