When it comes to developing a powerful e-commerce website, there is an extensive list of key elements to consider placing upon your retail business website. Breaking it down to the simplicity of a short list of key web pages, we find that there are a minimum of six pages to include with virtually every online store looking to seal the deal with a sale. First, there ought to be a CONTACT PAGE, an ABOUT US PAGE, a SITE MAP PAGE, a WHY BUY FROM US PAGE, a TESTIMONIALS PAGE and a LEGAL PAGE. Developing these website pages and making them key to your website development can help solidify your customer client base and serve as a solid platform for retail customer loyalty.

ABOUT US PAGE - There are millions of websites that represent billions of people. What makes your special is you. On an ABOUT US PAGE, you are provided with a sales opportunity to sale yourself - the collective individuals. You can do this by maintaining focus on building your company brand name and developing a concrete idea of what your company is about, the purpose it strives to serve, when it was established, the type of employees it employs and its mission. Sell the concept of your business. Build loyalty and a personable personality that forges a long-term relationship.

CONTACT US - The CONTACT PAGE can be considered relatively obvious for most websites but some of its most valuable components are not. First, make this page easy to find and accessible to all. At the very least, you need to place your company name, address, primary phone number, FAX number, email address (unless you are inundated with spam), contact form (in place of email) and a navigational map (especially if you have walk-in traffic). While the email address opens your company up to spam, it also provides other businesses the opportunity to simply grab your email address for future mailings and also provides those who are looking to apply attachments and other critical mailings to their correspondence with you. A navigational map, such as a Google Map, that includes a placemark of your company that is open or can be clicked upon to open a field to type directions is essential these days. Take a look at the ROLL DESIGN / IMS-ROLL SITE (http://rollx.rolldesign.com/contact/) for an example.

SITE MAP - This allows your potential customer to have easy access to a list of key pages within two to three page clicks. It ought to be well-structured and relatively easy on the eye. But most important of all, it ought to be a search engine's best friend and any search engine marketing specialist's (SEM) / search engine optimization specialist's (SEO) best friend. The SITE MAP PAGE provides a comprehensive list of well-tuned keywords and keyword phrases that is compiled to build a powerful page for a search engine to feed upon. The question here might be, though, why not make every page somewhat of a SITE MAP PAGE??? 

WHY BUY FROM US - Do you want to leave the customer with little to no reason to purchase products and services from you or do you want to leave them with the idea that there is more to purchasing from your e-commerce website than price or the relative chance of a search engine search result? You must include a list of compelling reasons to drive retail customers and their whims toward the sale. Comfort them. Compel them. Provide them with a reason to be loyal to your business. BE LOYAL TO THEM.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS PAGE - A legal nightmare and a means of informing the customer of the critical details of doing business with your company, the TERMS AND CONDITIONS PAGE is essential. Among a list of items to place upon this page are a return policy, shipping policy, transaction guideline and a myriad of other legal ease that not only covers your business in the event of a lawsuit but (MORE IMPORTANTLY) assists your potential customer in understanding exactly what to expect when conducting business with your company or corporation. We'll expound upon this at a later time.

TESTIMONIALS PAGE - Until now, have primarily and directly served your interest and come straight from no one other than you. Provide the customer an opportunity to meet their friends, their family of satisfied and compelling customers through a TESTIMONIALS PAGE. While there are numerous other pages that are similar to this web page's purpose, such as customer ride's page and the like, but this one is essential and must be a part of your web development's package.