In this article, largely quoted from Web 2.0 how-to design style guide I will talk about how your Zen-Cart can free itself from its old, lame skin and wearing the new web 2.0 style outfits, and how it can help you to increase your sales in the end.
The article I pointed above is a very good resource to learn by itself. In this article I will just connecting it with several Shopping cart styles you can pick from out there.
You can make your Zen-Cart™ sites to look like any kind of shopping-cart out there, if only you can stop from limiting yourself from the possibilities (and if you have the skill limitation to do so, that is when you need a Web Extreme Customiser...).
Web 2.0?
The article in this section is quoted from Web 2.0 how-to design style guide, taken 28 December 2007.
Many people use the term "Web 2.0" to describe:
- a resurgence in the web economy
- a new level of technological interactivity between web sites and services
- or social phenomena deriving from new types of online communities and social networks
Many others also use the term in reference to a recent school of web design. I'm comfortable with using it in that context here.
In sociological terms, movements impact people on many levels: economic, cultural, political, etc. Is skate-punk about entertainment and sport, music and the music industry, fashion, or the breakdown of society?
Web 2.0 Shopping Cart Styles
There are two categories here:
- Things every Web 2.0 shopping cart sites must have
- Styles you can select from
You can start by ticking the list in point 1, then select a shopping cart style from point 2.
I. Things Every Web 2.0 Shopping Cart Sites Must Have.
1. A purposeWill you use your shopping cart site only to simply sell items or teach your visitors as well? Maybe you want to show some company events? Make a fine line of what your shopping cart website does an does not.
2. Design for functionality, not for the design itselfWeb 2.0 designs are designs for a purpose, not only "because it looks cool". For an example, Apple's website has multiple areas, and each area has its own use.
Check out another good example from Endless.com, they are using a very interesting widget to show when you will get your orders if you order them in a period of time.
If there are requests I might post up a collection of modules I found useful for any Zen-Cart™ sites and specific ones, along with my module plans.
3. Provide Clear Navigation Scheme Do not assume your visitors would understand where and how to reach any link to your site. Provide them with a clear, structured navigation scheme so they can find what they expect to find on your site real estate.
Take an example of this site. I divided the navigation into three parts:
- Left, Fixed Navigation for important links, you can get one for your site here.
- Top menu for FAQ article links. I want to make sure my visitors know what I do and how they can benefit from this site, so I put these links as my top priority.
- Right part for branding area and dynamic contents. It is unusual, but that what make this site looks interesting to see.
4. Don't irritate your visitors
By showing them persistent unimportant areas / links / images / ads that have no value for them. When possible, give them an option to hide them.
One thing I found irritating when browsing is when I browse a website that has a permanent area (like Fixed Navigation on this site) that cannot be hidden. It devours my precious screen area, and I couldn't do nothing about it, makes me feel weak and useless, which lead me to an action I know I would win over it ~ close the screen.
5. Avoid the patchy look
Even if you split your home and store site to different domains, please make them to still look like one site. The Apple's website is a very good website to take example from. Another good example would be from the Oakley website.
Another tips I can give for Zen-Cart™ or other especially Open Source Shopping Cart software is after you download a module that change your site appearance, do not just use it as it is. Edit the files, change the design, make it "blends in" with your site design.
II. Shopping Cart Styles You Can Select From.
1. Simply Sell
Shopping Cart site in its simplest form. In this type, you only sell your products, no frills, no grills. This is good for most sites, since it is straightforward.
I recommend you to use this style if you are selling general products (that most normal people could understand their uses and such).
Examples:
2. Teach and Sell
If your products contains a lot of technical details, you might want to provide your visitors with articles telling them about your products, service, or company.
The articles I mentioned in this point are mostly static articles not having any timestamps, unlike blog. Another thing is they don't necessarily have comments area where people can give their suggestion.
If you are targeting niche market for your products and you don't expect to update the site regularly, this style is perfect for you.
Examples:
3. Communicate and Sell
This shopping cart style is taking style number 2 to the next level. This style is the Web 2.0 style, in terms of its sense of community, and the allowance for your customers to shape your site.
The characteristics you may want your site to have if you prefer to adopt this style are:
- Company Blog. This could contain anything from your organisation's newest products or events to its owner's rants and ideas.
- Customer rating & review. But it is no secret that this doesn't always work, not that many customers are willing to give reviews after they bought them.
- Forum. NOT a good idea if you don't have anybody to watch the forum. I have had a baad experience with this, this website used to have a forum, before people start posting up porns and 1 post about a poor guy from USA asking for money, and well, I removed it.
- Live Chat. It is good if you have people to actually stay and answering the requests.
- There are a lot of other things you can do, be creative. eg. competition, voting area, user profile.
Examples:
Conclusions
Now that you have see some examples you may decide which style you want to adopt for your website. There are no right or wrong decision in this.
One simple guideline is the more your customers can do to your website, the more time and effort you would need to maintain the site, so if you are not sure the actions they can do can boost the sales, then better not do it and use a more straightforward method.
More Sources To Learn From
If you have the required design skills, you might want to look at these links:
