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5 Online Shopping Features That Customers Demand

Author: Manoj Upadhyay
by Manoj Upadhyay
Posted: Dec 12, 2020

The pandemic and the consequent lockdown may have brought the world and its economy down to its knees, but it also offered a silver lining with the emergence of a new era for online shopping. E-commerce and online shopping have evolved and how!

These days, almost everything can be found online and live online shopping has changed the dynamics of purchasing online. You know it’s true – the internet has simplified all aspects of life and online shopping is one area where convenience shines. In a world where many seem to value saving time and money, shoppers are starting to do most of their purchasing online.

However, e-commerce isn’t the only thing that has evolved. Customers’ demands have evolved as well. Consumers rely on their online shopping experience and are the best judge when it comes to improving the features of an online shopping store or website.

Roughly 27 per cent of the world’s consumers shop via the internet. This means that almost 2 billion people in the world regularly visit one of 24 million online stores. It is evident that in these circumstances, the competition is immense. That’s why being aware of consumers’ expectations is so crucial.

Trends in e-commerce website design can only take you this far. Today, customers want more. There are certain elements that every e-commerce site should have in order to stay relevant and competitive. We have curated a list of 5 such features which online stores should have. Check it out!

  • A Mobile-friendly Website Option
  • Online shoppers need to be offered convenience and instant ease-of-access to your online store, no matter what device they’re using. Your online store should be responsive and its features need to accessible to all users at all times and from anywhere. All features and functions should work flawlessly, giving your browsers a fluid mobile experience that compliments their overall opinion of your brand.

  • Superior Image and Video Options
  • The famous quote, ‘A picture is worth a thousand words’ holds true in this case and when it comes to e-commerce, it may be worth more. Your product images will influence shoppers in a massive way – they will either drive them away or draw them in. Similarly, a video shopping feature attracts consumers and potential customers since they can’t physically see, touch or try the products that they’re interested in. Product images and video quality should be crystal clear and taken with cameras that have a high resolution and the photographs should be taken from different points of view to give them a clearer idea of the product.

  • A Detailed Product Description
  • Every single product tells a story. If it is a beauty product, tell the customers what ingredients were used to make it, how it should be used and most importantly, something about the product – a message that reflects your brand identity and something your customers can relate to. Live online shopping does the work well, in such a situation. Customers who want your product can see it being used and explained by your brand representative on a live streaming platform, which helps them make an informed decision. Based on the product you’re selling, facts such as the expiration date, size dimensions, weight, manufacturers date, and practical uses must be included in a good product description. The availability of a warranty, where applicable, also has to be referred to in the description.

  • Customer Reviews
  • Consumers have faith in the experience of others who have used a particular product. While some people don’t want to invest in something unless they’re sure about it, others want to avoid the feeling of disappointment in case the product they’ve ordered turns out to have issues. Customer reviews now take the place of your friendly, neighbourly recommendation and are an effective selling tactic for online businesses. Such reviews are vital when it comes to virtual shopping. If possible, include video reviews in the customer reviews, with detailed personal experiences and how-to-use tutorials.

  • Payment Methods
  • Individual consumers have a different perception of which payment methods are the best and the most secure. By not providing the possibility to choose the option that suits consumer best, you risk losing them. While credit/debit card and CoD options are the usual element, make sure you partner with e-wallet companies as well for a faster, easier more convenient customer check-out.

    About the Author

    A digital marketer & content creator with an extensive experience of 7 years working with my passion.

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    Author: Manoj Upadhyay

    Manoj Upadhyay

    Member since: Nov 02, 2020
    Published articles: 28

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