Ecommerce Homepages

Question 1

What should an ecommerce homepage effectively introduce?

Answer 1

1. Explain what it sells
2. How it is different from competitors
3. Communicate who you are
4. Explose the main product offerings
5. Enable users to start shopping

Question 2

The homepage is to a website what a front window display is to a physical store: the more items crammed into the window, the lower the overall ______ _____.

Answer 2

perceived value (more clutter often means lower quality)

Question 3

How can you help users find what they need on the homepage?

Answer 3

1. Emphasize the site’s top high-priority tasks.
   Your homepage should offer users clear starting points for the main 1-4 tasks they’ll undertake when visiting your site.
2. Include a search input box
   (make the search box 27 characters wide)

Question 4

Why should you show examples of real site content?

Answer 4

Specifics beat abstractions. Don’t just describe what lies beneath the homepage. Show some of your best or most recent content.

Question 5

Why shouldn’t you over-format critical content, such as navigation areas?

Answer 5

Users often dismiss graphics as ads.