Web sites that feature products ? especially furniture or other large items ? require a careful balance of text and images to convey the value of each product.
Let's face it. Consumers like to see, feel, and "experience" a product before they make a purchase decision. If you can elicit the senses in your on-line presentation of an item, you will increase your chances of making a purchase tenfold.
In addition to the basics of an effective web presence, such as complete contact information, a successful furniture sales web site will convey the following:
* Credibility of the merchant to provide any product available through the site;
* Dimensions, an invigorating text description, and multiple images for each product;
* A replacement or repair policy in the event an item is damaged during shipping;
* Delivery or shipping options, with pricing;
* Customer testimonials from those who have shopped with the merchant;
* Full payment options, preferably with telephone, on-line, and invoice credit/debit options.
Style and Navigation
Again, developing a successful furniture sales site depends on the web designer's ability to elicit the senses through a careful combination of text and images. "Presentation" design elements, such as Flash and Java components, may be useful in establishing a professional, yet comfortable tone across the site.
Site navigation should be effortless and flow seamlessly throughout the entire web site, including on pages that do not relate specifically to products. Subconsciously, the site's ease of use will affect the prospect-customer's impression of the merchant.
Content Elements
As the saying goes, "a picture is worth a thousand words." This is certainly the case in on-line furniture sales.
Each product should include at least two unique photos, complete with thumbnail and enlarged versions, but may have as many as six. The goal here is to encourage the prospect-customer to become familiar with the product, to envision the furniture in their home from all angles in the room.
Product descriptions should vibrantly relate the texture, colors, size, and "feel" of each item. Choose words that connect directly to the senses. A throw pillow, for example, could be presented as "a soft burgundy compliment to any sofa pictured above." Of course, while it is appropriate to be vivid in your product descriptions, remember to remain true to each product's features.
Customer service options are a must. A hyperlink to the merchant's contact page or customer service area should be available on each page of the site, uniformly. The merchant's telephone number should also be listed on each page.
A shopping cart system is not required, but can certainly promote prospect-customer conversion based on convenience. For the product-based web presence, the next "action step" after selecting a product is to make a purchase decision. If a purchase requires picking up the telephone, the merchant risks losing the customer during this transition. Offering on-line payment with telephone support is the optimal way to promote an on-line sale.
Tweaks and Tips
* Offering financing options and/or incentive-based sales offers, such as no interest for a 6- or 12-month period, will increase your competitive edge and promote a quicker purchase decision.
* When developing content, be sure to include plenty of key terms and phrases in the site's general text. Search engines such as Google rely on content text, not meta tags, to determine search placement.
* Include key terms in image description tags and hyperlinks. Describe each image or link using terms and phrases relevant to the image, industry, and merchant.
If you are a furniture merchant attempting to develop your first web presence, seek the advice and support of a full-service small business web design firm. Professional, affordable web design is available. Creating a "do it yourself" site may appear cost effective, however this can quickly become a complicated and time consuming project. Stay focused in your profession, and recruit the wisdom of a web professional.
Jim D. Ray is a seasoned web developer and president of Web Presence, a web design firm serving the needs of small businesses nationwide. To learn more, or for a free quote for your own web site, visit the Web Presence at http://www.web-presence.net.
top rated cleaning service Deerfield ..Your home page is the most important page of your... Read More
A well designed web site is great to have, but... Read More
If you are reading this, I assume you either have... Read More
I've seen articles (and websites) that suggest you can buy... Read More
Everybody talks about the importance of testing your sales copy... Read More
Most NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) don't understand these important aspects of... Read More
A picture is worth a thousand words.And it still is... Read More
An ongoing challenge for webmasters today is to provide fresh... Read More
In today's age of fast food and high-speed Internet, a... Read More
A question we frequently get asked is, "how do we... Read More
Drop Capitals are frequently used in many newspapers, books and... Read More
About two years ago, I had a go at commercial... Read More
Are you using the best colors for your web site?... Read More
In this era of ultra-sophisticated internet marketing and web design,... Read More
Traffic to a site can be a blessing or a... Read More
The concept of web designing based on the nature and... Read More
I hate to imagine that in your web development project... Read More
You're almost set. The content of your website, e-book, or... Read More
1. Don't load your web site with a lot of... Read More
Are you looking for somebody to build you a website,... Read More
Chris, a new consulting client, asked me to help him... Read More
Seeing is believing.One trick to increase your visibility as well... Read More
Have you put a lot of effort, time, and money... Read More
You can create a website that attracts customers, not repels... Read More
Even after you've managed to bring traffic to your site... Read More
local house cleaners Highland Park ..If there's one thing that most web site developers can... Read More
CSS is a new option for website designers that have... Read More
I can't figure out people who have products or information... Read More
Sin #5Poor Spelling And GrammarWe all make mistakes when we... Read More
Navigation must be simple. Since it's the backbone of your... Read More
Your website is your tool for showing the online community... Read More
Your website design may be affecting your sales in ways... Read More
1. Don't load your web site with a lot of... Read More
Choosing a web designer can seem like a daunting task.... Read More
As part of your event planning you should seriously consider... Read More
When you develop a sales brochure, you have a mental... Read More
"Oh, my eyes, my eyes! What an eye sore. Quick,... Read More
The "Wow" factor that accompanied the introduction of streaming media... Read More
Are you thinking that it is about time your small... Read More
1. Use .gifs rather than .jpgs. GIFs are smaller in... Read More
Wether you design your business brochures, flyers, web page, or... Read More
One of the simplest things you can do to give... Read More
Before I discovered the concept of Web site templates, I... Read More
Your web site should always adhere to standards!A professional web... Read More
Novice and professional designers alike ? you may probably be... Read More
The importance of choosing your website keywords carefully is very... Read More
Building a website can be overwhelming, here are some design... Read More
Whether a business has just got off the ground or... Read More
You've thought about it and you're ready to go. You're... Read More
Since I'm a web designer, I have a tendency to... Read More
Web Design |