Optimize your E-commerce Site for Mobile Users

The “ka-ching” of the cash register is music to the ears of merchants. And with the advent of e-commerce, merchants can grab opportunities to let the digital rings of the cash register going. The opportunities are ever increasing, as people no longer have to wait to get into a store or get in front of the computer to make their purchases. The convenience brought about by mobile devices and the fast Internet speeds mean that more and more people are shopping while waiting in line at the bank, commuting to work or relaxing in the couch at home.

However, with the opportunities comes the challenge of staying on top of the game. It is important that you make it easy for your mobile shoppers to buy from your store. An e-commerce site that puts no thought into mobile-friendliness may pay for it in terms of lost sales and lost customers. Your e-commerce site may also suffer from the penalty Google imposes on websites that have a low mobile-friendliness index.

Here are some ways to make your e-commerce site more mobile-friendly:

• Design with the user in mind. Because you are targeting users with mobile devices, the overall look and feel of the website should be sleek yet simple and easy to read. The graphics should be optimized for both viewing and loading speed. The text should avoid using superfluous words and should also be big enough to read without the user needing to zoom into the text or to scroll across the page. The call-to-action buttons should also be big enough to press using the fingers or the pages should navigate with ease using the swipe motion.
• Seriously consider using a separate mobile e-commerce site or app. This can allow you to customize the website based on the unique requirements of mobile users. This way, you can simplify and streamline with ease and provide an engaging (and even fun) experience for your mobile shoppers. This can seem like twice the amount of work as compared to building and maintaining a single website, but the dividends that can be provided by a mobile-friendly e-commerce will pay off as more and more people switch from desktops to mobile devices.
• Concentrate on simplifying the user interface. Make sure that your navigation paths are direct and straight to the point. Streamline the process so that the user only needs a minimal number of taps from start to check-out. One example of a strategy to minimize the number of taps would be enabling users to enter the zip code, so that the city and state are automatically entered. You can also simplify check-out by providing a single page for users to review their shopping cart. You can also enable one-click purchase.
• Test your site. Do regular tests on your e-commerce site using a variety of mobile devices. Look at a number of factors – responsiveness (how does the site automatically change the layout to respond to the screen size?), load speed (how quickly does the website load under standard Internet speed?) and ease of use.
• Act quickly to fix any bugs. If your website has gone live and you find any problems, be quick to act to provide a solution. Otherwise, the bug may cause confusion and frustration with your users and you will lose customers.
• Provide a consistent customer experience all throughout. If you have separate e-commerce sites for desktops and mobile devices, the look and feel for both should be consistent. Based on statistics, a user may browse for potential purchases using his mobile device and then make the final purchase using a desktop. For users, the desktop provides easier access to purchasing information – such as product comparisons, reviews and more detailed product specifications. Conversely, a customer may browse and compare potential purchases using his desktop computer and then finalize the purchase using a mobile device. With these instances, you can avoid annoying your users if you provide them with the same look and feel if they use both desktop and mobile device.

About Adaptivity Pro

Minimize mistakes and issues with your e-commerce website and ensure that it is mobile friendly with the help of an experienced provider. Adaptivity Pro is your Utah website design and mobile e-commerce design specialists. It has a team of web designers, programmers, copywriters and SLC SEO experts at your disposal.