When it comes to eCommerce, first impressions matter. And in the very terms world of online shopping, your homepage is the very soul of your brand. It’s the first thing potential customers see when they visit your site, and according to the 50 milliseconds rule, that’s all it takes to have an opinion about your website. If done right, your online store can witness an increase in visitor engagement and conversions and, most importantly, be a talk-of-the-town. On the other hand, if such a glorious opportunity is missed, it could lead to losing customers. That’s why having a well-designed homepage is critical for any online business, especially for eCommerce.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the 10 proven homepage design tips for BigCommerce that can help you create an online store that sells with all the right elements for your customers to keep coming back for more.
#1 Keep it Simple
When it comes to designing your homepage, less is often more. A clean, simple design can help your customers focus on your products and make finding what they want easier. And this is something that has been observed for the biggest global online stores like Coach and Bloomingdale’s. Avoid cluttering your homepage with too much information or too many images. Instead, use a minimalist design that highlights your products and makes it easy for customers to navigate your site. The right balance between vibrant color pops, sleek aesthetics, and neat, crisp, and complete product descriptions can help your website look and feel friendly to the users. Larger images of particular products can add breathing space to your homepage. A good example of one such design can be Hebe, a lifestyle brand from New Zealand that is known for its unique design that adds a flair to this rapidly-growing business.
#2 Use High-Quality Images
You need to understand that the shoppers of your online store are restrained by their sense of touch to feel your product. But, they rely on their eyes to fully grasp the product’s appearance, so having high-quality product images is a must. Your photo should capture your product from all angles. If you have any wearable SKU, it’s best to have a gallery/carousel of images captured with different lighting/display/usage to help your customers weigh whether the product will fit them well. The quality of your product images can make a huge difference in whether or not a customer decides to purchase. Invest in high-quality product photography that showcases your products in the best possible light. Use large, high-resolution images that are optimized for web viewing. You can also opt for original, visually appealing, and professional videos of your products.
#3 Highlight Your Best Sellers
If you have products that are particularly popular or want to promote, feature them prominently on your homepage. Showcasing only the most popular items on your homepage helps your audience find what they need faster and segregate their needs efficiently. If you have a homepage categorized, you can always start with the bestselling ones in each category, which can help increase sales and encourage customers to explore your site further. You can also conduct A/B Testing to evaluate which featured products work the best on the homepage. Deciding to have a ‘Similar To This’/’Trending’ section on your website can also help you recommend relevant products to your customers.
#4 Make Easy Navigation Your First Priority
Your customers should be able to navigate your site easily and quickly find what they’re looking for. This could be a gamechanger to combat high bounce rates effectively. Ensure that your navigation has few options and comprises clear, easy-to-understand categories, subcategories, and a prominent search bar. Consider using a mega-menu with broad categories to help customers quickly access different areas of your site.
#5 Make Your Design Responsive
With a whopping 90% of mobile shoppers, having a website that works fast and looks good on mobile devices is essential for the success of your online store. While this step can start with choosing a responsive BigCommerce theme in the first place, you can also choose to hire BigCommerce web designers from reliable agencies like CodeClouds for those brownie points in having a bespoke website. Their global experts provide everything you need, from store setup to theme customization, and even more at affordable rates.
#6 Use Social Proof
Social proof can be a powerful motivator for customers, especially in our day and age. Make it a point to include as much customer validation as possible through social media reviews and ratings on your homepage and feature any awards or recognition your business has received. This helps in building trust with potential customers but also encourages them to make a purchase. The more you include your social media channels on your homepage, the more exposure your viewers get to your client base and explore all your deliverables indirectly.
#7 Add Clear Calls-to-Action (CTAs)
CTAs are an essential part of any eCommerce site. Clear, attention-grabbing CTAs encourage customers to take action, whether adding a product to their cart or signing up for your newsletter, which can make a lot of difference to your online store. Ensure your CTAs are prominently displayed and use colors that stand out. For example, Trello has a classic CTA, with a cool blue button and just the right text, ‘Sign Up-it’s Free’ that plays on the mind of the viewers to make the most of their time and resources by signing up for it, all the more, because it is free.
#8 Include White Space
White space, or the empty space around your design elements, can help give your homepage a clean, uncluttered look. Ensure to include white space strategically to draw attention to your products, add breathing space to your online store, and make your homepage easier to navigate for viewers.
#9 Use Color Strategically
Colors can be a powerful tool in eCommerce design. Use the right colors that complement your brand and evoke the right emotions in your customers. For example, having a cool blue CTA can be calming and trustworthy for users to click and engage with your brand, while colors like orange or red can invoke something energetic and exciting within your viewers to click through.
#10 Test and Iterate
Finally, don’t be afraid to experiment with different homepage designs and test them with your customers. Use A/B testing to see which design elements and CTAs work best and make changes accordingly. The more you test and iterate, the better your homepage will become.
Key Takeaway
Designing the right eCommerce homepage is about finding the sweet spot of aesthetics, intelligent elements, and the right intent. The ultimate goal is to give viewers a fulfilling shopping experience with great content and easy navigation. In conclusion, your homepage is your online storefront, and making a good first impression is essential. We hope by following these ten design tips; you can finally create your very own BigCommerce homepage that accomplishes your goal by showcasing your unique selling proposition clearly and consistently to your audience and ultimately converting into sales with time.