Does Ecommerce site has to be fancy?

Please share your views

[Habtom]

Hello,

I am designing an ecommerce and want to know your views on few things:

1. Does Ecommerce site has to be fancy? Does it need to have interesting images?

2. How do you call for actions? Which terms are better? Am I calling for enough actions [URL in my profile].

Thanks,
Habtom

[webboy1]

I think it depends solely on what your objective is for your e-commerce site - and of course what you define fancy as.

I would think your page has to look nice, but most importantly, if you are selling stuff, your page has to be very user friendly i.e. clear, easy to use, reasonably fast loading etc.

No matter how fancy you make it - if the user can't find their way around then you won't sell anything.

So yes, make it nice, but make user friendliness the priority.

[SlyGuy]

Does Ecommerce site has to be fancy?

No. It should be professional and clean. I find the best way to discover what is working for Ecomm sites is to visit the ones who do it best..Amazon, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble..etc. Nothing fancy, but they all have a similar feel and layout to them, that instills a feeling of confidence.

Does it need to have interesting images?

Again..not really. The most interesting images on your website should be those of the products you are selling.

How do you call for actions?

Don't be overbearing. If the site is working, there really isn't much need to have 20 "Buy Now!" buttons splattered on every page. As pointed out by webboy1, make the products easy to find. The most important factor in persuading visitors to buy your product....simple to use navigation.

HTH

Sly.

[AAnnAArchy]

The site doesn't need to be fancy, it can be straightforward and just show you the products. I prefer tidy over gaudy Flash. One thing that is most important for me, spelling. ;)

[sun818]

I think before you design the graphical aspects of a site, having a clear idea of how you will organize the site, navigation scheme, and content will make the design process easier.

In terms of "fancy", I like having features that automate frequent questions buyers ask over the phone or e-mail. For example, if an item is out of stock and the buyer wants to know when the product will in stock, build a web site feature that will automate this.

[timchuma]

It would depend on a lot of things including what you are selling.

Many onlines stores sell similar products so the pages are generated from a template. The advantage of this is that you can spend as long as you want getting the original template to your liking and the pages will look after themselves.

Thanks.

[treeline]

Fancy, no. It is nice to have images of each product.

I like being able to click on the image of the product to get to its description. Your site would be improved by this.

[trees]

A very quick visit to your development website has shown:

Cart is 2CO and looks very different to site

Site content is "densely laid out" in general (visually difficult)

Product thumbnails not clickable

Every item has the same big ADD TO CART graphic (visually tiresome)

Items which are out of stock display same big ADD TO CART graphic (disabled)

No "full catalog" or "text only catalog" evident

Site contact form does not check for email address if "response" option is selected

Site has English grammar and spelling errors

Site has English idiom and colloquialism errors

Site gives no address or telephone or fax contact (big customer confidence problem)

Although your website is apparently focussed on sales to/from Asmara, Diaspora, Massawa, Keren, Mendefera and Dekemhare (Eritrea, East Africa), there are no guides, text or links provided for Tigrinya, Arabic, Italian or any native language visitors.

Hope these subjective constructive criticisms are helpful

[edited by: engine at 11:15 am (utc) on Jan. 14, 2005]
[edit reason] formatting [/edit]