The Ultimate Ecommerce Store Optimization Checklist: Boost Sales by 100%

Introduction

Optimizing an eCommerce store is the key to success in today’s highly competitive market. After the pandemic, people all around the world are using digital media to do business and implementing different strategies to compete with other eCommerce brands. Therefore, you must consider optimization a pillar of your e-commerce business. When we say optimization of an e-commerce store, we talk about multiple things, like optimizing product page, streamlining the checkout process, improving site speed and mobile responsiveness, enhancing site navigation and search functionality, using high-quality images and videos, optimizing your site for search engines, and of course, paid advertising. Below are some steps and the ultimate checklist you should follow to better perform in digital business.

Optimize product pages

Product pages are the first thing you need to optimize, as this is where you get your leads or customers. When you optimize product pages, you will open the door for multiple opportunities, like search engine traffic, better user experience, and trust. These are the main points you should consider while working on product pages.

• High-Quality Product Images
• Detailed Product descriptions
• Customer Reviews and Testimonials
• SEO-optimized content
• Offer multiple payment options
• Use compelling calls to action
• Use relevant and proper headings
• Add related products

Consider applying the above steps to your eCommerce store and you will feel the difference in your product pages.

Streamline the checkout process

The checkout process is the first and most important thing after you have acquired a visitor to your product page. If your checkout process is not as seamless and efficient as possible, then there is a high chance that your visitor will abandon your website and will go to your competitor’s site.

• Keep the checkout page short and simple.
• Provide multiple payment options.
• Optimize your checkout page for mobile.
• Use A/B testing to determine effective elements on the checkout page.
• Offer guest checkout.
• Display a progress bar on your checkout page.

More often, you cannot optimize your checkout pages with default settings, so you need to do it with the code, or you can use any checkout fields editor plugin to make your page seamless and effortless.

Improve site speed and mobile responsiveness

Site speed and mobile responsiveness are both important factors in eCommerce because they can impact the user experience and the likelihood of conversions.
Site speed is important because customers expect websites to load quickly, and a slow-loading site can lead to frustration and abandoned purchases. In addition, search engines like Google use site speed as a ranking factor, so a slow-loading site can negatively impact your search engine ranking.
Mobile responsiveness is also important because more and more customers are using their phones to shop online. A site that is not optimized for mobile devices can be difficult to navigate and use, leading to a poor user experience and potentially lost sales. In addition, Google uses mobile-friendliness as a ranking factor, so a site that is not optimized for mobile could negatively impact your search engine ranking.

While doing ecommerce store optimization for site speed and mobile friendliness, keep these things in mind:

• Use a content delivery network (CDN)
• Optimize images (Use webp format)
• Reduce the number of plugins
• Optimize the fonts you are using on the site

Enhance site navigation and search functionality

It is very important for your website to have a user-friendly and intuitive site navigation and search function. Well-designed navigation and the search function makes it easier for your customer to find what they are looking for on your website which probably will lead them toward a sale. Further, it will enhance user engagement and search engine ranking as search engines like google consider these as their ranking algorithm factor. Moreover, these factors will give you more advantages than your competitors in the digital world.

• Use Clear and Descriptive headings
• Offer filters and Sorting options
• Display search suggestions
• Use Drop down menus
• Use Breadcrumb Navigation

Utilize customer reviews and ratings

Utilizing customer reviews and ratings on your site can be hugely beneficial for your ecommerce store as they increase trust and credibility, improve conversion rates, provide valuable feedback, and improve search engine ranking. Here are some tips to collect and display customer reviews effectively.

• Make it easy for customers to leave reviews
• Encourage your customers to leave reviews on your products
• Always try to respond to reviews
• Display reviews prominently
• Use ratings and stars
• Use Rich Snippets to display reviews
• Monitor, moderate and analyze review data.

Optimize for search engines

This is where you can stand out from your competitors and get a competitive advantage because if you are optimizing your website for search engines, your ranking will increase leading to a high number of traffic and ultimately, sales. Follow these steps in search engine optimization.

• Conduct proper keyword research
• Optimize product titles and description
• Use Header tags effectively
• Use alt tags for images
• Use Meta tags and Descriptions
• Create a Sitemap
• Create a Robots.txt file
• Study search engine ranking algorithms
• Optimize website loading speed

Also read, why email marketing is important?

Consider paid advertising for ecommerce store optimization

Paid advertising can play a significant role while optimizing your ecommerce store as it can help you reach a larger audience, increase brand awareness and increase sales. You can use multiple options while considering paid advertising, like search engine marketing, and social media marketing. Keep these things in mind while creating and implementing a paid advertising campaigns.

• Set a goal
• Set a maximum budget
• Identify target audience
• Identify target keywords
• Create a good ad copy and graphics

Conclusion

Ultimately, Ecommerce Store Optimization is a key to success in digital business, we have discussed all the aspects of optimizing your ecommerce shop including product pages, checkout forms, paid advertising, SEO, reviews and ratings, and enhancing site navigation and search functions. We encourage you to start implementing these strategies to optimize your ecommerce stores.