We live in an age where simply having an online presence for your retail business isn’t enough to separate you from the competition. Even as recently as ten years ago, having an online component to your storefront was still something of a novelty. Now, online apps for retail business are a dime a dozen. Simply having that app is no longer the answer – optimizing it and doing so better than the competition is what will really put you ahead of your rivals. A new way to think about online app optimization for retail business is something that you can do in a few key ways.

Online App Optimization for Retail Business: Ease of Use

One of the major factors that you need to think about when it comes to online app optimization for retail business has to do with ease of use. Simply put, your customers may not want a page filled with flashy graphics, video content that automatically plays or modal offers. If not executed properly, these will serve as distractions for what they’re really there for: the content that will help them to make a purchase. The layout of your online app should be rich with content but also organic and simple to navigate in order to facilitate conversion. It’s a balance that must be struck perfectly in today’s hyper-competitive online marketplace.

Content Automation Tools

One way to strike that balance is by using a service like Yottaa. For starters, our service focuses on performance: we aim to create a consistently fast and error-free user experience across all types of devices. We help you control the way that people are experiencing your app, making sure that it is always performing at peak efficiency with lightning fast load times regardless of variables like device type, Internet connection and more. This enables web app owners to leverage rich content without degrading user experience because of slower, error-prone pages.

Mobile Optimization

In today’s modern technological climate, one of the most important aspects of online app optimization for retail business is all about mobile optimization. More and more people aren’t experiencing your app on desktops or laptops – they’re logging on using their smartphone or tablet. If you don’t keep these people in mind, you risk leaving them behind. Your site needs to be friendly to devices with smaller screens and especially to those with a touch screen interface instead of a traditional keyboard or mouse.

Online app optimization for retail business is all about creating the best possible online environment for your users. If you’re able to successfully create an enjoyable, easy online shopping experience, you won’t have to worry about attracting new customers: they’ll come to you.

Key Takeaways

• Mobile app optimization is incredibly important. Failing to optimize for the mobile landscape could potentially alienate a huge amount of customers.
• Using a service like Yottaa’s can improve performance in a way that drives online business impact almost immediately.
• “Performance” should always be one of your top priorities. Slow load times, improperly loading apps and other performance factors are always one of the key things that will drive customers away from your app and into the waiting arms of your competitors.

If you’re ready to start optimizing your retail application, then our newest ebook, “5 Proven (& Often Ignored) Tactics That Increase Conversion Rates for eCommerce” is a must-read! We did some digging with Forrester Research into consumer behavior and eCommerce industry trends and put together a list of actionable tactics you can apply to your application to increase conversion rates. To get your free copy, click the image below!

Sources:

• McCarthy, John C., Ted Schadler, Christopher Mines, Michael Facemire, and Nathaniel Fleming. "Closing The Experience Gaps." Editorial. Forrester Research. 7 Aug. 2014: n. pag. Web.