TulipTools Internet Business Owners and Online Sellers Community

Quote:21 Usability Best Practices:

01. Use Headlines, Subheadings and Breadcrumb navigation to show shoppers where they are....
02. Make sure contact information and a phone number are visible above the fold and easy for shoppers to see...
03. Keep the site search function above the fold and in plain view so shoppers can query the catalog anytime...
04. Consider adding a search by category refinement into the site search for easier access to site sections...
07. Show related products and cross sell before the checkout process and after items have been added to the cart...
08. Use product page copy that answers shoppers questions about products they may be interested in buying...
09. Allow shoppers to add items to their cart before making them register for an account...
10. Make sure shoppers can easily access their cart contents and that it can easily be modified or adjusted...

Quote:Since the "purchase" is the ultimate conversion, it is imperative that you remove as many obstacles from the customer's research-to-buy cycle as possible. Providing your visitors the key ingredients in their shopping experience creates a smooth and worry-free transaction process. The easier it is to shop and buy the more customers will overcome the natural hesitations that many feel before they commit by hitting the final "complete order" button...

Navigation paths

Create clear navigation paths from the moment a product is added to the shopping cart. This path should allow them to continue shopping, continue through the purchase process or get additional questions answered as needed.

Calls to action

Informational and product pages must consistently use clear calls to action encouraging shoppers to buy now, save for later or post a review. This not only gives your visitors options but compels them to continue moving forward in the process...