The holiday season is here and in full swing, which means now is the time to start prepping your site to ensure a great user experience (UX). How do you do that, you might ask? Great question! Let’s dive right in.
First, a Few Facts
Did you know that it takes about 50 milliseconds (or 0.05 seconds) for users to form opinions about the websites they visit? That means you have 0.05 seconds to keep them on your pages or possibly lose them forever. The design choices you make could determine if visitors make purchases or leave entirely, so you need to focus on making sure your homepage makes a great first impression.
Also, 57% of internet users say they won’t recommend a business with a poorly designed website on mobile, so make sure your site is optimized for any type of device your potential customers might be using.
To help you get started, we’ve created a UX holiday checklist of our own, focusing on the idea of awesome user experiences.
How to Ensure Your Website is Optimized for the Best UX
Start with a Navigation Bar
Help visitors find where to go with familiar words for product categories. Don’t forget to include a search bar for those who know exactly what they want.
Include a Promo Banner
Are you offering something special for the holidays like discount promo codes or free shipping? Put this promo banner right below the navigation bar so it’s easy to spot as soon as visitors come onto the site.
Carefully Select Your Hero Image
Your hero image is your spotlight moment to show off any events, products, or promotions front and center.
Position Your Unique Value Propositions Next
This is where you state the benefits of your products in a clear, concise way to give consumers a hook that encourages them to shop.
Boast About Your Best Sellers
Put your best-selling products front and center with a dedicated section that drives visitors to product pages.
Showcase Bundles and Special Products
Bundled products lead to higher interest when savings are perceived. Make sure you show them off!
Don’t Bury Your Blog Content
Get more views on your blog content by spotlighting your latest and greatest entries.
Put Up Your Press
Are you getting a buzz on social media or other media outlets? Leverage your positive press mentions as a way to highlight your accolades while boosting credibility.
Spotlight Your Social Media Feed
Give visitors a taste of your social presence with real-time social media feeds and a call to action (CTA) to follow you.
Make Company Info Easy to Find
Your standard customer service links and contact information should be easy to spot on the homepage so customers can reach you when they’re ready to call or visit.
Include an Email Signup Form
Grow your email list by coupling discounts or exclusive opportunities to new subscribers.
How to Make the Most of Your Website This Holiday Season
Now that you have the design elements out of the way, let’s look at your strategy for success this holiday season.
1. Get Organized and Prep Early
Before the crowds start flooding cyberspace, be sure you have everything you need lined up. You’ll want to make sure your site is set up for:
- Analytics and pixel tracking
- Optimal site speed
- A smooth and easy checkout process
- Email sign-up forms that are synced with your customer relationship management (CRM) software
- Seamless mobile experiences
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO) link building
Of course, it’s also important to make sure your customer service and warehouse teams are ready for an influx of orders.
2. Finalize Your Promos
Decide early what promos you want to push, and which dates those promos will be offered. We anticipate deeper discounts this year, so make sure your pricing is competitive with the market. Consider creating unique product bundle offerings. Also, be sure to look at historical data and take a peek at any information available from your competitors to determine this year’s goals.
3. Have a Theme
Stand out against competitors and all of the marketing that’s going on with eye-catching creative content and animation.
4. Create a Gift Guide
Make your gift guide as curated as possible. Think about who your customer is shopping for and make your products easily shareable for those browsing for themselves. The earlier your gift guide is live, the better!
Be sure to build a designated holiday 2020 section into your main navigation and link to the new holiday products, gift guides, and timely sales so your customers can easily access all of the great offerings you’re touting this year.
5. Utilize Segmentation
Give special offers or early access to your VIP customers. Use past purchase behavior to show customers products you know they’ll love and will want to share with others.
6. Track, Pivot, Succeed!
Monitor your strategies and stock quantities. If something goes out of stock, be prepared to shift the attention to another product. Optimize the creative outlets that work best and pivot away from anything that isn’t working. Be ready for anything!
Do you need help making sure your website is optimized for the best user experience possible? Our team at Zero Gravity Marketing can help. Thanks to our staff of UX gurus, you can rest easy, knowing your customers will be in good hands. Let’s get started today!
Looking for help in reaching your full potential this holiday season? Check out CakeCommerce, the new extension of ZGM that specializes in all things eCommerce. Download our digital eCommerce strategy guide for a taste of what we can do for your online store.
