No Guidance, No Interaction, No Sale: Improving Internet Shopping Usability
A good friend recently told me a story about how a company built a web site that needed user instructions to use it. The only page that was allowed to put a link to those instructions was the homepage. Therefore, should a visitor arrive via a search engine to a landing page within the web site, they were out of luck. No guidance, no interaction, no sale. I went Christmas shopping online for a computer armoire. I knew exactly what I wanted because I had done previous research on the manufacturer...
Read MoreTen Ways to Improve Product Images
If your web site contains images of products, what is the best way to present those pictures? Is “click to enlarge” the only step to take for an alternative view? Here are some ideas to jazz up your product images: 1. Get close up shots. If you sell boots, offer a way to see the tread. If you sell handmade jewelry, show the types of clasps. 2. If you sell earrings, do you offer it in a variety of hooks? What does it look like with different ones? Are there safety features for...
Read MoreUsability and SEO are Worth Paying Well For
I get all excited when I write up free quotes and proposals. It takes a chunk of time to put together a plan, estimate the hours, plan for sub-contractors if needed and their fees, figure their project into my timeline and review their web site to make sure I allow enough time to meet their needs. So when an RFQ is ignored or refused, that time is gone forever and I have nothing to show for it. I have a friend who spent literally weeks and her vacation trying to come up with a proposal for a...
Read MoreSimple Tips for Selling Womens Gifts Online
With Mother’s Day coming, as well as the April hot weather wake-up call for summer here in the East coast of the USA, where we hit over 90 degree weather, I thought I’d address web sites that sell beauty products and/or target women. Women are big gift givers. Case in point is myself and my recent attempts to surprise a generous friend with a gift for her birthday. She’s inspired me over the years with her energy, humor, ability to pull me out of my shell, and most...
Read MoreCre8pc Usability Tip: Avoid Losing This Customer
Here is a tip for e-commerce web sites with shopping carts that indicate “Out of Stock” for items that are sold out. You may avoid cart abandonment by answering this question: “Are you getting in any more?” When testing shopping carts, I’m always happy to see a back-end that communicates product availability. It’s too frustrating to get to the end of the purchase process, submit the order and then receive an email that the item is unavailable. Using the...
Read MoreInternet Shopping Usability Means Let Them Buy It Online
For my next installment for Just Behave, at Search Engine Land, I described an online shopping experience that ended in no sale, even after checking out 10 web sites for the same product. Internet Shopping Usability: No Guidance, No Interaction, No Sale is how my search for a product I already owned and wanted to buy again for my son, ended in no sale. If you are a re-seller, this is a must read if your web site isn’t ranking well or selling. If you are an ecommerce web site owner,...
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