In addition to serving as another channel for sales, the Internet offers valuable opportunities for retailers to spread the word about their stores and engage patrons. The nature of retailers' online presence can help shape the way customers view and trust their brand. That's why it's important for merchants to make sure shoppers have positive experiences on their websites, which should be supported by high-end ecommerce software.

According to a recent Peer 1 Hosting report, 76 percent of ecommerce marketers believe that website experiences have a direct impact on brand image and reputation. Because of this influence, merchants need to make sure their websites are designed to optimize the shopping process. The report explained that a user-centric approach can make a big difference in converting customers and earning revenue. The best websites have optimal shopping cart and check-out features, work well on mobile devices, load quickly, uphold top-end security and appear high in search results, the source added.

Promotion World indicated that security plays a significant role in earning patrons' trust and shaping their impressions. The source suggested bolstering retail websites with SSL (Secure Socket Layer), password protection, security icons, transparent privacy policies and fraud detection services. 

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Wednesday, March 5th, 2014 at 4:14 am .