5 Ways You Can Improve Your Online Store

Posted on 2:45pm Tuesday 11th Feb 2025

Running an online store is an exciting way to make money, but it comes with challenges. With so many e-commerce businesses competing for attention, you need to ensure your store stands out, attracts the right audience, and converts visitors into paying customers.

If you're looking for ways to improve your online store, boost sales, and create a seamless shopping experience, these five essential tips will help. Whether you're just starting out or looking for ways to improve your online shopping experience for customers, these strategies can make a big difference.

1. Make It Beautiful (& Improve Your Website Design for a Better User Experience)

This is the first step towards a successful online store. Your online store's design is the first thing visitors notice. A cluttered, outdated, or confusing website can drive potential customers away before they even browse your products. A well-designed store enhances the shopping experience and builds trust.

How to Improve Your Online Store’s Design:

Use a clean and modern layout – A simple, visually appealing design makes it easier for customers to find what they need.
Ensure mobile-friendliness – More people shop on mobile devices than ever before, so your store must be responsive.
Speed up your site – Slow-loading pages can frustrate visitors and hurt your rankings. Compress images, use caching, and choose a reliable hosting provider.
Organise product categories effectively – Make navigation intuitive so customers can easily browse and find products.

💡 Did you know? Studies show that 38% of users will leave a website if they find the layout unattractive or difficult to navigate!

WordPress and Create.net Discounts and Credits:

You don’t have to be a web design wizard to create an online store that’s both beautiful and functional. There are plenty of platforms out there, such as Wordpress or Wix or Shopify, that come loaded with free templates for you to use.

I personally love and use both the WordPress and Create platforms across my website portfolio. And I have a discount for both if you want to try them out!

Click here for free WordPress credits.

Click here to grab a discount code for Create.

2. Write Epic Content (& Enhance Your Product Pages with SEO and High-Quality Content)

There are two reasons why you should fill your online store with epic content. The first is that it’s great for customers to get a feel for who you are and what your vibe is. The second is because Google loves it!

While it can be extremely hard to rank on Google in most industries, constantly updating your site with helpful and engaging content will undoubtedly work in your favour.

There are plenty of free guides on search engine optimisation that will back up what I’m saying - and show you how to utilise this for your online store.

Great content can help your online store rank better on search engines and encourage more conversions. If your store lacks detailed descriptions, engaging product pages, or optimised content, you could be missing out on potential customers.

Ways to Improve Your Product Pages:

Write compelling product descriptions – Use clear, informative, and persuasive copy that highlights key benefits and features.
Optimise for SEO – Use relevant keywords like "ways to improve your online store" and "suggestions to improve online shopping" in product descriptions and meta titles.
Include high-quality images and videos – Show multiple angles of your products and include demo videos if possible.
Use customer reviews and testimonials – Positive feedback builds trust and can significantly boost conversions.

📢 Tip: Google prioritises fresh, valuable content, so regularly update product descriptions and add blog posts relevant to your niche!

3. Make the Checkout Process Fast and Simple (So it's Easy for People to Pay!)

One of the biggest reasons people abandon their shopping carts is a complicated checkout process. The easier it is for customers to complete their purchase, the better your conversion rate will be.

Also, thanks to sites like Amazon and their ‘one-click pay’, people don’t want to have to go through pages and pages when they’re trying to check out. Customers also want a variety of payment options, so that they can choose the one that suits them best.

Some platforms have their own payment gateways that will allow customers to use their credit or debit card - this is well worth having!

You should also consider adding PayPal, as it’s yet another trusted payment gateway that people know and are happy to use. Many people don't realise that you don't actually need a PayPal account to pay via a website's PayPal button - you can simply choose to checkout as a guest and enter your card details. This makes PayPal accessible to everyone as a payment option.

How to Improve Your Checkout Process:

Offer multiple payment options – Accept credit/debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, and even Buy Now, Pay Later options.
Use a guest checkout option – Forcing users to create an account can deter them from completing their purchase.
Reduce the number of steps – A one-page or minimal-step checkout process improves user experience.
Be transparent about shipping costs – Unexpected fees at checkout can lead to abandoned carts. Display costs upfront.

📊 Fact: The average cart abandonment rate is 69.8%, but simplifying checkout can significantly reduce this!

4. Offer Excellent Customer Service to Build Trust

Customer service is key to running a successful online store. Happy customers are more likely to return and recommend your store to others.

No matter what kind of business you run, the customer should always come first! This is certainly no different when it comes to running an online store. Consider things like your shipping and returns policies, along with how you handle customer complaints.

Not every sale is going to be plain sailing, so ensure you know how you’ll handle any obstacles in your way in a professional manner.

Ways to Improve Customer Service for Your Online Store:

Provide multiple contact options – Offer live chat, email, and phone support for easy communication.
Create a clear returns policy – Customers feel more confident purchasing when they know they can easily return items.
Respond quickly to queries and complaints – Fast and helpful responses improve customer satisfaction.
Use chatbots or automated FAQs – This helps answer common questions instantly, improving the user experience.
Showcase positive reviews – Feature customer testimonials on product pages to build trust.

💬 Pro tip: Follow up with customers after their purchase to ensure satisfaction and encourage repeat business!

5. Invest in Marketing and Promotion to Drive More Traffic

Even the best online stores won’t make sales if people don’t know about them. If you want to improve your e-commerce site, then you’re going to want to go hard on the promotion. A strong marketing strategy will increase visibility and bring in more potential customers.

Writing regular content, as mentioned above, will help, but what other marketing methods could you utilise?

Social media is a huge marketing platform that will promote your products to a wider audience. You can use it for free or reach your target audience quicker with paid ads.

Many online store owners now invest in Facebook or Instagram adverts, to help spread the word about their product, or they hire a decent Shopify CRO services to do the work for them. Remember, sometimes you have to spend money to make money.

Another great way to build links to your store and get reviews is to use influencers and check out bloggers blogging services. This is a great way to build your domain authority and/or get your products in front of a wider audience quicker than you might be able to yourself.

Want more marketing ideas for your small business? Here are 44 ways to market your small business to get you started!

How to Promote Your Online Store:

Use content marketing – Blogging about industry trends, product guides, and customer stories can improve SEO and engagement.
Leverage social media – Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok are great for showcasing products and running ads.
Start an email marketing campaign – Send exclusive offers, product updates, and abandoned cart reminders.
Work with influencers – Partner with bloggers and social media influencers to reach a wider audience.
Run paid ads – Facebook, Google, and Instagram ads can target specific demographics to drive traffic.

📈 Statistic: 81% of online shoppers research before making a purchase. A strong online presence will help your store get noticed!

Final Thoughts...

Improving your online store takes time and effort, but by focusing on website design, SEO content, an easy checkout process, excellent customer service, and effective marketing, you can increase sales and build a successful e-commerce business.

By implementing these five strategies, you'll create a seamless shopping experience that encourages customers to return and recommend your store.

Checklist: 5 Ways to Improve Your Online Store

✔️ Improve website design for a user-friendly experience
✔️ Optimise product pages with SEO and high-quality content
✔️ Simplify the checkout process for better conversions
✔️ Offer excellent customer service to build trust
✔️ Use effective marketing strategies to drive traffic and sales

More Resources

These are just five of the many ways you can improve your online store. Check out some more of my ecommerce and business blog posts for more tips and tricks: