Studies show that 40% of users are likely to abandon your website if it takes more than 3 seconds to load. 

Slow websites are a no-brainer for the user. The increased loading time is a reason enough for the user to bounce back and visit another website.

In this case, if you own an e-commerce website, this means a lack of conversions which translates into a loss of revenue. 

But, a longer loading time isn’t the only e-commerce website performance issue that you might face. In today’s blog, we’ll address other performance issues in websites, and elaborate on the possible workarounds to help you eliminate them. 

Issues that Hampher Your E-Commerce Website’s Performance

Some common issues that may lead to a low e-commerce website performance include: 

1. Complicated checkout process.
2. Lack of mobile responsiveness.
3. Poor user experience.
4. Lack of product information. 
5. Broken features and bugs. 

1. Complicated checkout process

According to Smart Insights Digital Marketing, 87% of online shoppers abandon their carts during checkout, if the process is too long.  A complicated checkout process can prove to be frustrating for the user. 

It means that the user must go through multiple screens to finally reach the checkout button. Instead of enduring this terrible ordeal, the user would rather buy from a website with a one-click checkout option. Thus, you’ll lose customers for your business. 

2. Lack of mobile responsiveness

According to Hubspot, 53.8% of web designers cite mobile responsiveness as the reason for a website being redesigned. A lack of mobile responsiveness is also a major cause of low e-commerce website performance. In 2023, m-commerce retail sales accounted for almost 54% of the total product, which sets firm ground to improve the responsiveness of your e-commerce website. 

3. Poor user experience

A poor user experience means that the user is unable to navigate through your website with ease. Some signs of a poor user experience include: 

1. A cluttered UX.
2. A lack of product information.
3. Confusing navigation.

Because of these issues, the user is unable to find the right information/product that he/she is looking for, which lowers your e-commerce website performance. 

4. Lack of product information

When your user visits an e-commerce website, what they are looking for is information about the product. This helps them decide whether to buy or not. Incomplete product information means that the customer is unable to know what features your product has, and the materials that have been used. This is a major blow to your e-commerce website’s performance, as you are keeping users in the dark about your product. 

5. Broken features and bugs

A broken website is a useless website. When a customer visits, they are looking for peak functionality which ultimately leads them to the product of their choice. Thus, if your website has broken features and bugs, it means that the customer won’t be able to reach their destination. As a result, they won’t gain any information and buy any products, which means lost conversion/revenue for your business. 

So, these are five factors that hinder your e-commerce website’s performance. Now, we’ll look at what you can do to improve it. 

5 Tips to Improve Your E-Commerce Website’s Performance

Here are five tips to help you improve your e-commerce website’s performance in the long run: 

1. Focus on SEO and keyword research. 
2. Implement lazy loading.
3. Improve mobile responsiveness.
4. Reduce redirects. 
5. Write compelling product descriptions. 

1. Focus on SEO and keyword research

Focusing on SEO and keyword research greatly improves your e-commerce website’s performance, as it improves your website’s visibility. Statistics show that SEO leads have a 14.6% conversion rate. 

To work on your website’s SEO, research the right set of keywords to place at the right points. 

For example, if you’re writing a blog on your e-commerce website about the five best running shoes, then target the right keyword, such as “top running shoes” 

On the other hand, if you want the customer to buy a running shoe, then target keywords with transactional intent, such as “buy running shoes”. 

When you target the right keywords at the right place, you’ll have more customers coming to your website. 

2. Implement lazy loading

Earlier in our blog, we talked about working on loading speed to improve your e-commerce website’s performance. One way to do this is by implementing lazy loading. Lazy loading means that the images on your website will only load once they are to be viewed. 

WordPress already has a lazy loading feature. Thus, when you use WordPress WooCommerce to design your website, you’ll already have a built-in lazy loading feature within it. 

3. Improve mobile responsiveness

To improve the mobile responsiveness of your website, make sure that it has a responsive design, and use a content delivery network (CDN) for the content on your website.

Also, don’t use a complex menu design, but rather go for something a bit less complicated. 

4. Reduce redirects

Another way to improve your e-commerce website’s performance is by reducing redirects. Every time a redirect occurs, the user has to wait for the HTTP response cycle to complete. This is a big negative for the user experience. So first, analyze your redirect chain, and if long, shorten it. 

Moreover, regularly check your broken links and outdated redirects to improve website performance. Also, use permanent redirects (301) instead of temporary redirects (302). This indicates that the content has permanently moved to the new website. 

5. Write compelling product descriptions

Writing good product descriptions greatly improves your e-commerce website’s performance. It’s because users can understand what the product is about, which builds trust, and also helps them make a purchase decision for the future. 

So, these are five techniques to help you boost your e-commerce website performance. Now, let’s recap what we learned throughout the blog. 

The Ending Note

By prioritizing website speed, user experience, and clear product information, you can dramatically improve your e-commerce website’s performance. Implement SEO to attract more visitors, optimize mobile responsiveness for on-the-go shoppers, and craft compelling product descriptions to convert browsers into buyers. Remember, a smooth and informative buying journey is key to keeping customers happy and your business thriving.