Store Design 101
Editor’s note: The following guest blog post comes from Amber Miller, a graphic designer of more than 19 years.
Store Design 101
You have an online store, and—like any other store owner—you are responsible for how the space looks. You need to become an online display artist. But don’t let this intimidate you. The challenge will be rewarding to you and most of all your customers.
It’ll help you create a professional and inviting store that visitors will want to frequent regularly. Here are five tips to get you started.
Tip 1: Consider product placement. Product Placement is key when any store design. People need to see what you are selling before anything else. For this reason, it’s important to display products prominently and above the fold. Yes, it’s good to tell visitors about your store, but resist the temptation to bog down your home page with text. Instead, create an About Us page to tell shoppers how long you’ve been in business and what inspired you to create your online store. Let the home page be a showcase for your items.
Tip 2: Don’t just use any photo. Photos sell products. They show visitors what you offer and the condition of the items, so make sure the product images are professional looking and represent your items accurately. Also, ensure you save them in large enough sizes for the potential buyer to see all the details of your items, and offer multiple views of your products. You want buyers to feel as if they were holding the items right in their hands.
Tip 3: Keep it simple. There was an adage used frequently when I was getting my degree in fine art: “Less is more.” I have found this advice very helpful—and very true in many visual endeavors. Simple designs are beautiful, so keep your store uncluttered and really focus on what you want to feature. Your products should not compete with each other, and potential buyers shouldn’t feel overwhelmed, either, so use white space to let items breathe and don’t use lots of different fonts and colors on your site. Remember, less is more.
Tip 4: Put your best foot forward. Make sure your logo, product descriptions, storefront, font choices, etc. look professional and polished, and be sure that your design choices reflect the tone of the products you are selling. Don’t be overly formal if you offer kids’ toys, for example.
Tip 5: Be visually relevant. If you are going with design trends, make sure you stay current. A great option is to choose classic fonts and design elements that aren’t likely to fall out of style. This way, you won’t have to update your store every few weeks. However, don’t be shy about updating your site’s look from time to time, for instance during the holidays when more visitors are likely to stop by. Creating a holiday-themed design might be what visitors need to make that purchase you want them to make.
