The very fact that you’re thinking about changing the design of your website is enough to indicate that it’s time for an update.
Web design changes rapidly, and it’s important to incorporate new trends from time to time. Otherwise, you will end up with an outdated website that can negatively influence how visitors feel about your brand.
If you have an ecommerce site, then you have even more work cut out for you.
Not only do you have to make sure that your website is taking advantage of the latest trends in web design, but also it needs to provide users with an enjoyable shopping experience.
In this article, we’re going to discuss six of the newest trends in ecommerce that will help you take shopping to the next level.
Let’s begin.
1. Full Page Background Images
There’s something natural and subtle about including a full-page background on your ecommerce site.
It may be because it’s only one simple image as opposed to several, and this keeps the site clean and uncluttered. It can also be that a full-page background image sets the tone for your site right off the bat. Or it may be a combination of both.
Always choose your best photos. They should be high in quality, because users will spot negative details when the image is increased in size. The image should also be subtle and use contrasting colors from the typography. Too much noise in the background will only confuse users.
2. Flat and Material Design
Since 2014, flat design has been attracting major buzz. Its simple colors, shapes and lines fit well with the trend of being clean and minimal. Flat design also gravitates toward material design, which goes a step further to add some colorful elements into the design.
Of course, the focus is still on simplicity, so the vivid colors act more as accents rather than colorful graphics. Young brands, in particular, can benefit from the inclusion of color.
The same rules apply here in terms of color affecting emotion, so choose hues carefully. For instance, green is playful, yellow is happy and red prompts people to buy.
3. Parallax Scrolling
Parallax scrolling is impressive, but it can also distract users. This is why it’s important to use the design trend with caution, as you don’t want to lower conversions and sales.
When it comes to ecommerce, parallax scrolling is only recommended if it highlights your actual product. In other words, don’t use parallax scrolling if it doesn’t boost the sale of your product or service.
4. Minimalist Buttons
An example of minimalist buttons is ghost buttons. Ghost buttons have grown in popularity since 2014 to complement the components of flat design.
Ghost buttons can be used for just about any action:
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Browse
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Shop
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Learn more
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Sign up today
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Subscribe here
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View our gallery
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Buy today
The cool thing about ghost buttons is that they command the user’s attention without interfering with the design of the website.
5. Card Design
Card design offer tremendous benefits for ecommerce. Each card can contain any of the following: short text, an image, share buttons and relevant information about the product.
The design works on both ends: it’s an easy way to share product information, and shoppers get the most important information in a single glance. This way, they know right away if the product meets their needs.
6. Mobile Optimization
We had to include optimized mobile in our list because it’s incredibly important for ecommerce sites. More and more people are using their smartphones and tablets to browse for products and complete the purchase cycle. If your ecommerce site is not optimized for these devices, you can easily miss out on sales.
If you have a mobile optimized site, is it the best it can be? Chances are it could use some work, especially if you feel that your overall design is outdated.
A responsive design is the most straightforward way to optimizing your site for all screen sizes and devices. No matter how a person is accessing your site, they will be provided with the same seamless experience with responsive design.
If you don’t have a mobile optimized site, what are you waiting for? With mobile searches now surpassing desktop searches, you have no excuse not to have a website that is optimized for mobile devices.
Now is also a good time to think about developing an app. If you don’t have an optimized website, we recommend working on a responsive design first. But if you already have an optimized site, it’s worth looking into an app and what it could bring to your business.
More people are preferring apps to traditional websites because of their streamlined capabilities and offline functionalities. With integrated payment options, users can do everything from one interface, which also adds to the experience.
Conclusion
These six trends are just to get the wheels turning in your head. They are, by no means, a complete list of the current trends.
Each business is unique, so it’s important to strike a balance with what works for your audience. For example, not all ecommerce sites benefit from a card design or parallax scrolling, while others may not need an app.
Some design trends are attractive for all websites, such as flat design and minimalist buttons. And some, like full-page background images and material design, can breathe new life into the design of your site.
In the end, it’s all about what works for your audience and helps you take your shopping experience to the next level.
