eCommerce Web Design Trends
eCommerce businesses are forced to keep innovating if they wish to stay on top. If your ecommerce storefront lacks the latest ecommerce web design trends, your business is falling behind.
The first interaction a site visitor has with your ecommerce business is the storefront design. The appearance of your storefront can create trust, enhance the shopping experience, and increase sales based on fluid interaction. Failing to incorporate these trends to your ecommerce store may create the opposite effect, encouraging customers to leave the site.
These 7 design trends may help improve your ecommerce business by keeping new visitors and returning customers engaged:
1. Large “hero” images
This is your site’s introduction; it needs to be eye-catching and enticing for people to click through. The days of having a slider on your homepage are going the way of dial-up Internet; there are better options available. Large, front-page images should be original photos or illustrations and optimized to convey exactly what you want it to. Don’t shy away from enhancements (think Instagram) to drive home your message from the start.
2. Minimalism
Get to the point and get there quickly. People are constantly on the go; your web design should reflect that. Make icons easy to find on your ecommerce store, simplify navigation, and provide a seamless experience. Flat UI is becoming increasingly popular because of the simplicity. Gradients and drop shadows are on the way out. A flat UI creates a cleaner look and cuts down on loading times.
3. Animations
Videos and GIFs let users interact with your products. Many ecommerce stores are including instructional and product description videos to replace texts. Customers are able to see how products work, how they’ll look, and get a better idea of how they’ll use what they’re purchasing.
However, avoid providing an excess amount of animations. Don’t bombard the customer with animations and provide options for them to stop the videos. Forcing customers to watch animations will direct them away from your site.
4. Stand Alone Typography
Something as simple as using multiple fonts can have a profound impact. You can highlight certain things without being tacky or overt- it creates a more enjoyable experience for the user, and shows some personality. Using a more dynamic font will draw the eye and encourage the customer to continue reading. Your website will look more like a travel brochure, instead of a term paper.
5. Grid Navigation
Pinterest is popular partly because it shows users small pictures they can easily scroll through. It’s easier to find what you’re looking for when you’re not reading line after line of text. This approach can make your customers feel like they’re window shopping instead of browsing an ecommerce store. Plus, having multiple images side-by-side makes comparing similar items easier. Rather than having to click back and forth or opening new tabs, users can see products next to each other then make their choice. This is more convenient and decreases the amount of time spent waiting.
6. Long Scrolling Sites
Think about the most popular social media sites, you don’t have to click a “next” button to navigate through them. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram all make use of infinite scrolling, which is why many ecommerce stores are incorporating this concept to their shops. When you get to the bottom of the page it automatically loads new content. This eliminates the time spent waiting for a new page to load and eases the stress of finding something you may have missed or want to see again. Infinite scrolling keeps people interested and engaged- not to mention it’s great for mobile users.
7. Responsive Web Design
Speaking of mobile users, they’re becoming the driving force in ecommerce. As previously mentioned, we’re constantly on the go. As such, your site needs to be accessible from mobile devices. According to a 2012 study by Google, “Two-thirds of smartphone users say a mobile-friendly site makes them more likely to buy a company’s product or service, and 74% say they’re more likely to return to the site later.”
Not catering to mobile users is a surefire way to get them to ignore your business. Navigation needs to be easy, buttons need to be responsive, and loading times need to be short. Responsive design is necessary for all ecommerce businesses. If you’re interested in learning more about the topic, check out our free white paper on the subject.
