Hire the Top 3% of Freelance E-commerce Website Designers
Toptal is an elite marketplace for E-Commerce website designers and Shopify experts. Each Toptal E-Commerce website freelancer is thoroughly vetted and trusted by top companies for their most critical design projects.
Erin has over 10 years of experience in product design and agile product management, leading various responsive web and native app projects for eCommerce, B2C, and B2B organizations. She works with US and global organizations ranging from startups to large Fortune 500 companies to create inspired and innovative products. She also enjoys helping build new, agile product teams and is well-versed in Agile, Scrum, and Kanban.
With almost two decades of product design experience working with clients from within media, telecom, and online retail, Bill has designed a wide range of product types, such as eCommerce sites and streaming media apps for mobile and connected devices. He's led his teams' UI/UX efforts, taking his products from conception to production. Bill has also worked extensively with remote product teams using both Waterfall and Agile methodologies.
Sérgio is a UI/UX designer with over 15 years of experience crafting intuitive interfaces across diverse industries, including AI, enterprise, finance, education, eCommerce, and automotive. His background in graphic design, front-end development, and team leadership ensures a comprehensive approach to user-centered solutions. As a tech enthusiast and digital nomad with experience in 50+ countries, Sérgio brings a unique global perspective to his design approach.
Lauri is an accomplished senior UX/UI designer with an impressive decade-long track record. His passion is crafting remarkable digital experiences, digital products, and high-converting eCommerce websites. He won the European Design Awards (Silver), three German Design Awards, and several others. He's worked on design projects from 25+ countries and has been hired by Google seven times to train thousands at the Grow with Google series. Lauri is a collaborative team member and a positive thinker.
Light is an experienced UI/UX and product designer and branding expert with over six years of proven end-to-end experience in banking, fintech, eCommerce, travel, edtech, and social networks. She prides herself in delivering detailed and highly creative digital products from initial concept to completion. Light focuses on creating human-centered experiences, which increase brand loyalty, sales and profit margins, customer retention, and knowledge of products and services.
Arthur, a senior product designer, boasts over eight years of crafting captivating designs for numerous domains—from eCommerce to SaaS platforms. His architectural acumen bolsters problem-solving skills, delivering user-centric designs for luxury giants like Mercedes-Benz, Babbel with 10+ million users, and Fortune 500 logistic leader C.H. Robinson. Rooted in empathy, Arthur strives to decipher user needs, funnel them into intuitive designs, and seamlessly collaborate with development teams.
Akis is a seasoned lead product designer and UX designer with 24 years of experience, specializing in fintech, AI/ML, healthtech, dashboard design, SaaS, and eCommerce. With an extensive background in creating design systems for enterprises based on the Atomic Design methodology, his clients include companies such as the Harvard Kennedy School, Sony Pictures, WeWork, Pfizer, Cigna, and Unilever. He is a Certified AI Consultant (CAIC) from the US Artificial Intelligence Institute.
Tatiana has 17+ years of design experience, including UX/UI design of digital products for the luxury travel sector, healthcare, B2C eCommerce, and airline industries. Past clients include Samsung, SLH, Six Senses, iconic London hotels, and private member clubs. For the past two years, Tatiana has consulted and created MVPs for digital startups. She has a master's degree in UX design and uses a structured, user-centered approach to design and problem solving.
Dobs is an entrepreneur and lead UI/UX designer specializing in iOS apps and responsive web products with expertise in the eCommerce, luxury and lifestyle, hospitality, social networks, and travel industries. He has helped multi-million dollar clients increase reach, engagement, and profits. Dobs has in-depth knowledge of product lifecycles—from research, concept, and planning through design and validation to live releases and team collaboration.
With a decade of experience designing for small and big companies and a background in project management, Nina is the type of designer who likes to work with the whole team. Nina excels at making unique, simple designs that are pleasing to the eye yet functional, and her work ranges from brand development to UX design. Nina has been a digital product manager and product owner for B2B at On AG, as a UI/UX designer, and as an interim product manager in the eCommerce team at Laerdal Medical.
Lauren worked on creating interaction guidelines for Samsung Electronics and the transparent, flexible display UX through the Korea Institute of Science and Technology for 8+ years. She's provided eCommerce solutions for fast-growing startups and augmented reality UX solutions for a top-ranked, global construction technology company. Lauren specializes in the digital transformation of work, specific-domain matters, and the translation of business requirements to new UXs and clear USPs.
E-commerce website designers focus on creating, designing, and optimizing online shopping platforms, providing an engaging and intuitive shopping experience for customers. This guide to hiring e-commerce website designers offers insights into the essential skills, tips for crafting a clear job description, and critical interview questions and answers to help you find candidates suited to your brand's online strategies.
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Testimonials
Michael is an incredible designer, and has been a great fit for our project. He just gets it in a way that can’t be taught. My goal was to pay Toptal to find me a high quality designer for my project, and that is exactly what happened. It was easy. Being able to see the portfolio work on Toptal’s platform is what gave me the infomation I needed to choose Michael. I have nothing but good things to say about Toptal and am looking forward to using Toptal for other projects in the future.
Edward Daniel
Co-Founder
I've worked very closely with Martina for over a year and have to say she is one of the best people I have ever worked with. Instead of simply following instructions blindly, she thinks through the task at hand, becoming a thought partner to help with whatever the project may be. Besides being super talented at design, she possesses specific qualities that make her exceptional to work with given the fast paced nature of being a startup. I would definitely recommend her to anyone looking for a talented, professional designer who doesn't need much direction to hit the ground running.
Sahil Khanna
Sr. Manager, Marketing
Darko did a great job figuring out the user architecture for our concept, which led him to produce terrific wireframes. His knowledge of usability and design was a perfect match for the outside voice we needed to help jumpstart our project. We would certainly recommend him and work with him again in the future.
Rich Danker
Founder
Carlos has the unique talent of blending both quantitative and qualitative research to keenly identify UX challenges and opportunities. He thinks methodically, emphatically, and holistically to produce data-driven strategies and well-executed designs. Over the past 8 years of working with fully or partially distributed teams, Carlos manages working remotely far better than anyone I've encountered because of his strong communication and presentation skills. He is the first on my list the next time I need a UX designer.
Michelle Krogmeier
Project Manager
Rafael is an amazing designer. His aesthetic sense is spot on, and he seems to be able to anticipate our needs before we even know what they are. He's taken the time to understand both our company and our clientele, and his solutions are consistently in-line with our values, interests, and our customers' needs. He delivers on time (if not earlier), works quickly, is well organized, and very effective. He's a pleasure to work with, and we're very happy to have found him through Toptal.
Ethan Brooks
CTO
How to Hire E-commerce Website Designers Through Toptal
1
Talk to One of Our Industry Experts
A Toptal director of design will work with you to understand your goals, technical needs, and team dynamics.
2
Work With Hand-Selected Talent
Within days, we'll introduce you to the right E-commerce website designer for your project. Average time to match is under 24 hours.
3
The Right Fit, Guaranteed
Work with your new E-commerce website designer for a trial period (pay only if satisfied), ensuring they're the right fit before starting the engagement.
Find Experts With Related Skills
Access a vast pool of skilled designers in our talent network and hire the top 3% within just 48 hours.
Typically, you can hire an E-commerce website designer with Toptal in about 48 hours. For larger teams of talent or Managed Delivery, timelines may vary. Our talent matchers are highly skilled in the same fields they’re matching in—they’re not recruiters or HR reps. They’ll work with you to understand your goals, technical needs, and team dynamics, and match you with ideal candidates from our vetted global talent network.
Once you select your E-commerce website designer, you’ll have a no-risk trial period to ensure they’re the perfect fit. Our matching process has a 98% trial-to-hire rate, so you can rest assured that you’re getting the best fit every time.
How do I hire an E-commerce website designer?
To hire the right E-commerce website designer, it’s important to evaluate a candidate’s experience, technical skills, and communication skills. You’ll also want to consider the fit with your particular industry, company, and project. Toptal’s rigorous screening process ensures that every member of our network has excellent experience and skills, and our team will match you with the perfect E-commerce website designers for your project.
How are Toptal E-commerce website designers different?
At Toptal, we thoroughly screen our E-commerce website designers to ensure we only match you with the highest caliber of talent. Of the more than 200,000 people who apply to join the Toptal network each year, fewer than 3% make the cut.
In addition to screening for industry-leading expertise, we also assess candidates’ language and interpersonal skills to ensure that you have a smooth working relationship.
When you hire with Toptal, you’ll always work with world-class, custom-matched E-commerce website designers ready to help you achieve your goals.
Can you hire E-commerce website designers on an hourly basis or for project-based tasks?
You can hire E-commerce website designers on an hourly, part-time, or full-time basis. Toptal can also manage the entire project from end-to-end with our Managed Delivery offering. Whether you hire an expert for a full- or part-time position, you’ll have the control and flexibility to scale your team up or down as your needs evolve. Our E-commerce website designers can fully integrate into your existing team for a seamless working experience.
What is the no-risk trial period for Toptal E-commerce website designers?
We make sure that each engagement between you and your E-commerce website designer begins with a trial period of up to two weeks. This means that you have time to confirm the engagement will be successful. If you’re completely satisfied with the results, we’ll bill you for the time and continue the engagement for as long as you’d like. If you’re not completely satisfied, you won’t be billed. From there, we can either part ways, or we can provide you with another expert who may be a better fit and with whom we will begin a second, no-risk trial.
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How to Hire E-commerce Website Designers
Demand for E-commerce Website Designers Continues to Expand
US e-commerce sales for the second quarter of 2024 were $291.6 billion, up 6.7% from the second quarter of 2023. Furthermore, the e-commerce market in the US has been forecasted to continuously increase between 2024 and 2029 by a total of $657.8 billion (up 53.79%). This significant growth in online retail sales underscores the need to hire skilled e-commerce website designers who can craft exceptional user experiences and ensure online customer retention.
Hiring an e-commerce website designer benefits all types of companies advantageously, from startups and small businesses to midsize and large corporations—but it’s not always easy to find the ideal candidate for your project. This hiring guide provides an overview of how to hire high-quality e-commerce website designers, as well as an in-depth guide for designing e-commerce sites because understanding the key principles of successful e-commerce design is instrumental in identifying candidates with the right expertise to drive sustained success for your online marketplace.
Hiring Talented E-commerce Website Designers
Quality e-commerce website designers create intuitive and enjoyable online shopping experiences that seamlessly connect consumers with digital storefronts. By closely examining shopping behaviors, e-commerce trends, and customer feedback, skilled e-commerce designers can elevate online stores’ aesthetic appeal and enhance their usability and functionality.
When looking for the perfect candidate to join your team, prioritize those who take a comprehensive view of the design journey. From conducting initial market research to delivering refined user-centric digital shopping solutions, the best designers prioritize aligning the goals and visions of the business with its customer base. High-quality e-commerce website designers apply their knowledge of visual design, web development, user experience (UX) principles, and shopper psychology to devise solutions that stand out in a crowded online marketplace.
During the hiring process, consider designers who demonstrate a passion for their craft and exhibit creativity, user empathy, technical proficiency, and a strong understanding of e-commerce business strategies. The ideal candidate will also have expertise in the following areas:
UX Principles
Good e-commerce website designers possess a deep understanding of UX principles. They craft interfaces that simplify the shopping experience and make navigation intuitive for all users. They pay close attention to the user’s journey through the site, ensuring that key information is easily accessible. Strong candidates will focus on user-friendly navigation, aesthetically pleasing layouts, and personalized touches that resonate with users, ultimately creating an intuitive and satisfying online shopping experience. Their designs will involve extensive user testing to validate and refine the UX, leading to a polished end product that resonates with the target audience.
Responsive Design
The ideal candidate will design with a mobile-first mentality, recognizing the growing trend of shopping on smartphones and tablets. They should ensure that all design elements function seamlessly on different screen sizes, providing consistent shopping experiences across desktops, laptops, tablets, and phones. Their work reflects a commitment to responsive design principles, leading to visually appealing websites that perform excellently on any device.
Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)
Skilled e-commerce website designers are adept in CRO, continuously testing and tweaking design elements like calls to action (CTAs), layouts, and product presentations to encourage users to make a purchase. They understand how to leverage design to reduce shopping cart abandonment and how to streamline the checkout process to maximize sales. Engaging in data-driven design, these experts use analytics to inform design decisions that boost conversion rates.
SEO Awareness
The right candidate will be equipped with an understanding of how design choices can affect a website’s search engine rankings. They collaborate closely with SEO teams to ensure designs are optimized for page load speed, provide a superior user experience, and include SEO-friendly elements that enhance the site’s visibility, such as proper use of headings and structured data for rich results. Their process involves structuring an information hierarchy, optimizing images, and ensuring that all visual content contributes to a website’s overall SEO strategy.
E-commerce Platform Experience
Professional e-commerce website designers have comprehensive experience with various e-commerce platforms such as Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento. They are skilled at customizing these platforms to fit a brand’s specific needs, utilizing specific features and extensions to create a unique online presence.
How Can You Identify the Ideal E-commerce Website Designer for You?
Identifying the ideal e-commerce website design candidate requires a thorough portfolio review and strategic interview questions. A portfolio is visual proof of a designer’s skills and creativity, while targeted interview questions reveal their problem-solving abilities and how they might support your company’s vision and goals.
Portfolio Review
Examine the candidates’ past projects for the quality and creativity of their e-commerce designs. Look for clean, user-friendly layouts and innovative features. A superior portfolio demonstrates a designer’s range, showing visually appealing sites and interfaces that provide an enjoyable shopping experience and seamlessly navigate shoppers from browsing to purchase.
Interview Questions
In order to hold productive conversations and make well-informed decisions during the hiring process, consider asking the following questions:
Describe a successful e-commerce project you worked on, and what role you played in its design.
The candidate should detail a specific e-commerce project, including the objectives and target audience. They should describe their direct contributions to the website’s design, including how they crafted the user experience, tackled unique design challenges, such as optimizing navigation or creating a more engaging product display, and overcame them with innovative design solutions. Additionally, look for candidates to share measurable results that their work contributed to, such as a percentage increase in conversion rates or a reduction in bounce rates, supported by data and user feedback demonstrating their design strategies’ impact.
How do you approach designing for different devices and platforms to ensure a seamless shopping experience?
Look for answers referencing a mobile-first design philosophy and experience with responsive and adaptive design for optimal viewing and interaction.
Additionally, candidates should discuss their familiarity with specific design and testing tools, such as BrowserStack, to test and refine shopping experiences across multiple platforms. They might mention progressive enhancement strategies to ensure basic functionality for all users while providing advanced features for capable devices.
A strong response will be supported by examples from their past work highlighting challenges they’ve overcome, such as dealing with varying load times or implementing touch versus click interactions. These examples should demonstrate their capacity to create seamless and engaging e-commerce experiences across all devices.
What strategies do you employ to improve the conversion rates of the e-commerce websites you design?
The best candidates will discuss specific design elements—such as clear calls to action, streamlined checkout flows, and persuasive product displays—that they’ve implemented to boost conversions, supported by data or results from A/B testing.
Look for designers who will share examples of how they utilized customer journey mapping to eliminate friction points, or how various design iterations based on testing data led to measurable improvements in conversion rates. They should also discuss incorporating social proof, urgency, and trust-building elements, such as user reviews and security badges, which can significantly increase conversions. Additionally, look for a holistic understanding of how diverse design aspects—from information architecture and load times to payment options and mobile responsiveness—converge to create a compelling and conversion-optimized user experience.
How do you integrate SEO principles into your e-commerce designs?
Expect the candidate to talk about SEO from a design perspective: optimizing image use, such as image size and alt text, improving page load speeds and search engine rankings, and structuring information for easy indexing and crawlability by search engines. This will show that they understand the symbiosis between design and search visibility.
Additionally, they should emphasize the importance of mobile responsiveness, given its impact on search rankings, and discuss how they collaborate with content creators to ensure that headings, titles, and metadata meet SEO best practices. The depth of their answer should demonstrate a comprehensive grasp of not only how design elements affect SEO, but also how SEO considerations can influence design decisions, ultimately leading to an optimized e-commerce site for both users and search engines.
How do you stay updated with the latest e-commerce design trends and technologies?
Candidates should cite specific resources, such as leading industry publications, prominent design blogs, or reputable conferences they have attended. They should also discuss their methodology for staying informed—whether through continuous learning platforms, networking with other professionals, or participating in ongoing web design workshops and webinars.
Look for answers that show an ongoing commitment to professional development and an understanding of how to merge innovative trends with the practicalities of user behavior and business objectives. For example, quality designers might discuss how new technologies enhance the user experience and ultimately drive conversion rates.
Pitfalls to Avoid When Hiring an E-commerce Website Designer
Recruiting a skilled e-commerce website designer can significantly elevate your online presence, but awareness of common hiring pitfalls will ensure a smoother path to a successful project.
Lack of E-commerce Experience
When reviewing candidates, verify that they have hands-on experience with e-commerce projects. Look for a portfolio featuring successful online stores and ask them to describe their strategy for tackling common e-commerce design challenges. Designers must understand the nuances of e-commerce user behaviors and sales funnels, as this experience directly informs the effectiveness of their designs.
Overemphasis on Aesthetics
While a visually striking website is essential, it should not come at the expense of the user experience or site performance. The candidate should be able to provide a track record of work that is both aesthetically pleasing and optimized for efficiency, user navigation, and conversion.
Poor Communication
Observe how candidates describe their design process and respond to your queries. Effective communication skills ensure that project requirements, feedback, and revisions are understood and implemented correctly. A good designer should be able to express design concepts clearly to both team members and nontechnical stakeholders.
Characteristics of an Exceptional E-commerce Website
In addition to getting informed about how to hire a stellar e-commerce website designer, it’s crucial to understand what constitutes good e-commerce design to identify candidates whose expertise and creative vision will drive the success and longevity of your online marketplace. Here is a comprehensive guide to designing great e-commerce websites, complete with examples.
Creating a Credible E-commerce Design
First and foremost, it is essential to design a website that shoppers can trust. Most shoppers are concerned about privacy and whether the site will protect their personal data by providing a secure transaction. If a website does not feel trustworthy, they will simply choose to shop elsewhere.
Here are some approaches that will communicate trustworthiness:
Including an overview of the business:
General information
Photographs of team members
Contact information
Links to social media
An FAQ page
Publishing store policies and making sure they are not too difficult to find:
Shipping and return policies
Outline of the return process and what products can be returned
An easy-to-access privacy policy that covers shoppers’ personal and financial information (this is crucial)
Write in plain language and avoid legal or internal policy jargon:
Share product reviews. Provide product reviews to help shoppers understand more about the product, alleviating any concerns they may have. Take it a step further by offering product reviews along with additional information about the reviewers or summaries of reviews. This step can help make it easier for shoppers to benefit from others’ opinions.
Use a secure server. Shoppers expect their personal information to stay secure while purchasing online. SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates authenticate a website’s identity and encrypt information that needs to remain safe. They are an essential sign that checkouts are secure. Assure shoppers that their data is protected by implementing SSL and displaying SSL certificate badges.
Add recognized trust seals: A trust seal verifies a website’s legitimacy and security. Some trust companies even add an extra layer of protection by offering insurance if the transaction is fraudulent. Using recognized trust seals convinces potential shoppers of a secure transaction process, increasing sales.
Show attention to detail: Make the website look legitimate and professional by avoiding typos, missing images, broken links, 404 errors, and other mistakes.
Interface Aesthetics
The look and feel of a website is the primary driver of first impressions. Research concludes that people will determine whether they like a website in just 50 milliseconds.
Here are some essential user interface design tips:
Follow the brand identity. The branding should be apparent throughout the website. Choose colors that reflect the brand and set the style. Ensure that the brand experience is consistent across all channels, whether online, in-store, or on a mobile device. This will help build a robust brand-customer relationship.
Adopt a visual hierarchy. The most critical content should be displayed above the fold. Sometimes, using less whitespace to bring items closer together is better than pushing critical content below the fold.
Do not overdesign. Limit font formats such as font faces, sizes, and colors. Text that looks too much like graphics will be mistaken for an ad. Use high-contrast text and background colors to make the content clear.
Stick to known symbols. Use icons or symbols that are easy to identify. Unfamiliar icons will only confuse shoppers. Providing labels for icons is a good way to avoid any possible confusion.
Avoid pop-up windows. Pop-up windows are a distraction. Even if they contain valuable information, users will likely dismiss them immediately. Once gone, it’s hard for shoppers to find the information again even if they want to.
Navigation
Navigation is about how easy it is for people to move around the website and finally take action. The e-commerce shopping experience should be seamless so shoppers do not drop off halfway through the process. Some key aspects of e-commerce website design for easy navigation include:
Categories
The top level of navigation should show the set of categories the site offers. Group products into categories and subcategories that make sense. Category labels work best as single words describing the range of products so shoppers can scan through them and instantly understand what they represent.
Search
If shoppers cannot find the product, they cannot buy the product—build a search function that helps them quickly find what they are looking for:
Make search omnipresent. Place the search box on every page and in familiar locations. The box should be visible, quickly recognizable, and easy to use. The top right, top center, or main menu are standard positions for the search box.
Support all kinds of queries. Searches need to support all types of queries, such as product names, categories, and product attributes, as well as customer-service-related information. It’s a good idea to include a sample search query in the search box to suggest to shoppers how to use the various functions.
Use auto-complete functionality. This functionality makes it easier for shoppers to find what they are looking for, and increases sales potential by suggesting things within the area they are already searching.
Allow sorting and filtering of results. Let shoppers sort search results based on various criteria (best sellers, highest or lowest price, product rating, newest item, etc.) and eliminate items that do not fit a specific category.
Filters
The more choices shoppers are given, the harder it is to choose. Implement filters to help shoppers find the right products. This will help them narrow their choices and go directly to their desired product range.
Quick View
A quick view reduces the time it takes for shoppers to find the right product by eliminating unnecessary page loads. The product details are typically displayed in a modal window over the viewed page. Do not try to show all the product details; instead, include a link to the full product page to view complete details, and include a prominently positioned Add to Cart button and a Save to Wishlist functionality.
Special Offers
Shoppers are always looking for special offers, discounts, or best deals. Make exclusive offers visible so shoppers know about them. Even if the price differences aren’t that great, the psychological sense of saving some money creates an illusion of having the upper hand.
Product Page Design
When shoppers successfully find the product they want, let them learn about it. Design a product page that creates an experience as similar as possible to an in-person shopping experience by including lots of images, detailed descriptions, and any other useful and related information about the product. Let’s take an in-depth look at what this means.
Product Images
With e-commerce, shoppers cannot touch, feel, or try out the product. Instead, everything depends exclusively on what they see online. This is why providing product images that exhibit all aspects of the product is critical. Here is a checklist for perfect product images:
Use a white background. The background for product images should not distract or conflict with the product. A white background works best because it makes the product stand out and works with almost any style or color scheme.
Use large, high-quality images. Good images sell the product. High-quality images catch shoppers’ interest and show them exactly what they are buying. Large images let shoppers zoom in and examine a product in detail.
Use various images. Display the product from several angles and include close-ups to provide a more complete sense of it. A 360-degree view, where users can move the product around, is an excellent way to deliver an experience similar to physically going into the store and trying something on. VR e-commerce is the next wave of this experience.
Include video. Videos can deliver a lot of information in a short amount of time. Use a video to show the product in use and provide as much functional information as possible.
Be consistent. Use images that are consistent across multiple pages and in line with the look and feel of the rest of the website. This will keep everything looking clean and uncluttered. The main product image should be the same across all areas of the site (product highlights or the featured items section).
Product Information
Give shoppers detailed information about the product to make an informed purchase decision. Show availability, options for different sizes or colors, dimensions, a size chart, materials used, total cost, warranties, and more. The fewer remaining questions shoppers have about a product, the more likely they are to make a purchase.
Product Scarcity
According to the scarcity principle, humans place a higher value on an object that is scarce and a lower value on those that are abundant. Use the principle of scarcity to create a sense of urgency, such as displaying how many products are left, graying out sizes that are out of stock, or showing sale deadlines. Scarcity will motivate potential buyers to take action.
Increasingly, companies are using advanced psychological research to drive more engagement and purchases, turning what used to be an art into a science. Persuasive design in e-commerce is a very effective way to facilitate more purchases.
Related and Recommended Products
Display similar products that shoppers might also like that work well with the current item or products that others purchased. These can be displayed on a product detail page or in the shopping cart; these displays will help guide shoppers to the products that meet their needs and potentially encourage them to continue shopping—a great way to cross-sell related products.
Shopping Cart
The shopping cart is essential, as it is where shoppers review their selected products, make their final decisions, and proceed to checkout. The primary goal of the shopping cart is to lead shoppers to checkout. Below are tips on designing a user-friendly shopping cart that will encourage shoppers to purchase—and come to your site again. Implement these shopping cart best practices:
Use clear CTAs. The primary call to action on the shopping cart page should be the checkout button. Use bright colors, plenty of clickable areas, and simple language to make the checkout button visible, straightforward, and easy to use.
Provide adequate feedback. When a product is added to the shopping cart, it should be immediately and clearly confirmed. Shoppers need clarification on inadequate feedback, such as showing inconspicuous confirmation text. Using animations can help, as movement attracts the human eye.
Use a mini cart widget. A mini cart allows shoppers to add products to their cart without leaving the page they are on. It also allows them to navigate, discover, and add more products. Mini cart widgets should always link to the full-page shopping cart.
Display product details. Including details like product names, images, sizes, colors, and prices in the shopping cart helps shoppers remember each product and compare products. Link products in the cart back to their full product pages so shoppers can review more details when necessary.
Make the cart easily editable. It should be easy to access and remove items, save them for later, or change details like size, color, or quantity.
Avoid the surprise of unexpected shipping costs and taxes. Unexpected shipping costs are among the leading reasons shoppers abandon shopping carts. Place shipping options and taxes up front, with precise calculations of the costs and expected delivery date.
Checkout Design
A stylish and trendy design does not determine a successful e-commerce website. Success is measured by the number of completed purchases. Here are a few ways to build a well-designed checkout page that will contribute to a successful conversion:
Offer various payment options. Different shoppers have different preferences when making payments. Cater to as many payment options as possible (contingent on the target audience) to expand your customer base and make it easy for shoppers to complete their orders.
Keep it simple. Minimize the number of fields and steps to complete the purchase. Using the shipping address as the billing address by default is a good way to minimize the number of fields. Ideally, design a single-page checkout where shoppers can view their cart and enter delivery and payment information.
Make registration optional. Forcing shoppers to create an account before their first purchase will drive customers away. Give them an option to register after the purchase is complete, and highlight the benefits of registration when asking them to register. Point out that benefits can include faster checkout thanks to personal information like saved shipping addresses or payment information, and access to exclusive offers that are only available to registered members.
Use clear error indications. There is nothing more frustrating than not being able to make a purchase and having to guess why it isn’t processing. Instead of showing the errors after a form is submitted, create error notifications that come up in real time. Place clear and concise error messages directly above or next to the item that requires correction so shoppers will notice them immediately.
Keep shoppers on track. When using a multipage checkout, include a progress bar that shows how many more steps are left to complete the purchase. This will eliminate ambiguity and assure shoppers they are on the right track. When the purchase is complete, display an order confirmation and order status with shipment tracking.
Offer support. Include a live chat or contact number throughout the checkout process so that when shoppers have questions, they can quickly get answers rather than having to leave the site and go elsewhere.
Building Great E-commerce Websites Requires Talented Designers
Designing an e-commerce site involves more than building a website; it also involves creating an online shopping experience that will convert passive shoppers into paying customers. In an ever-expanding digital marketplace, the importance of e-commerce cannot be overstated, nor can the value of securing highly skilled designers who can elevate your platform and enrich the customer journey time after time.
Use this guide to hire quality e-commerce website designers who can craft professional, attractive, user-friendly websites that will keep shoppers coming back for more.
Featured Toptal E-commerce Website Design Publications
