A smooth and satisfying customer journey is crucial for the success of any website, and printer websites are no exception. A well thought out and designed customer journey not only heightens user satisfaction but also improves the likelihood of conversions and helps repeat business. There are some very industry specific ways that printer websites can improve their customer journey, such as printing quotation software or printer ecommerce, as well as more general methods. Take a look at our top 10 tips to ensure your printer website stands out from the competition and leaves a positive lasting impression on your visitors.
-
Make sure your website design is responsive
For those not in the know, a responsive website means one that works as seamlessly on a phone or tablet as it does on a desktop computer. Today, the majority of customers who are searching online for something, will be doing so from a phone with an astonishing 94% admitting that they judge a website by how responsive it is. So, it should be a number one priority to ensure your printer website is responsive and adapts effortlessly to various devices. A responsive design ensures a consistent and user-friendly experience across all platforms.
-
Website navigation should be intuitive and easy
Any customer visiting a website will want it to be effortless to find what they need. Implement a clear and intuitive navigation menu that categorises products logically. Use simple and descriptive labels to guide users and avoid overwhelming them with too many choices. Additionally, include a search bar prominently to allow users to find specific printer models or features quickly.
-
Optimise the speed of your website
Don’t be fooled into thinking that just because you have a well-designed, easy to use website that the speed of it won’t matter. Visitors expect websites to load swiftly, and a slow-loading web page can frustrate potential customers, seeing them clicking away to your competitors, faster than you would imagine. Make sure you regularly optimise your website’s performance by compressing images, leveraging browser caching, and using content delivery networks (CDNs) to ensure faster page load times. A web hosting company can be a good investment here as they will monitor and guarantee the performance and speed of your website as part of their service.
-
Invest in software to enhance the user journey
Investing in the development of turning your website into an ecommerce print shop enables your customers to buy their print, directly online, in one seamless transaction. This type of upgrade employs the use of advanced web to print software, taking your website from a simple product catalogue to a sophisticated platform for your customers to have the choice of how they want to purchase your products from. Even if you don’t opt to invest in this level of web development, the addition of such things as printer quotation software or artwork proofing software can greatly improve the user journey and has many benefits for the operation of your print business too.
-
Fill your website with engaging and helpful content
In order to keep customers on your website, it’s essential that your content educates and empowers your customers. Create comprehensive product and category descriptions, informative blog posts, and engaging videos that highlight the features and benefits of your print products. This content should address common customer questions and concerns, making it easier for them to make informed purchasing decisions and deter them from looking elsewhere for what they need.
-
Create a smooth checkout process
When it comes to the checkout process, it should be utterly straightforward for customers. Minimise the number of steps required to complete a purchase, and offer guest checkout options for those who don’t want to create an account. Make sure that payment options are as varied as possible and include PayPal, Apple and Google pay options so that people aren’t forced to have card details to hand. Clearly display shipping costs and delivery times before the final payment step to avoid any surprises that might lead to cart abandonment.
-
A strong customer support offering
Prompt and effective customer support is essential for building trust and confidence. Think about incorporating a live chat feature to provide real-time assistance to customers who have questions or encounter issues during their journey. Offer multiple contact channels, such as email and phone, to accommodate various customer preferences. Always include links to social channels in case they are your customers preferred method of communication. If customers don’t feel supported during their visit to your website, you run the risk of them going elsewhere for their printing needs.
-
Let people know what your customers think
You might be surprised to learn that 92% of customers read reviews and testimonials before going ahead with a purchase. So, make sure yours have a prominent place on your website. Positive feedback from satisfied customers can significantly influence potential buyers’ decisions. It helps build credibility and trust in your brand and products.
-
Educate yourself about the importance of SEO
It’s a wise move to arm yourself with knowledge about digital marketing and SEO. At the very least, research about why it is so important for the success of any business’ website today. Implementing Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) best practices will improve your website’s visibility in search engine results, over time. By targeting relevant keywords, optimising meta tags and meta descriptions, creating valuable content, and encouraging your customers to connect with you via social channels, you can attract more organic traffic to your printer website.
-
Evolve and improve your website all the time
It’s important to remember that the customer journey on your website is not a one-time endeavour; it requires constant monitoring and improvement. Think of your website as a living arm of your business, one that can create a huge amount of revenue for you, if done well. Utilise web analytics tools to track user behaviour, identify pain points, and gather feedback. Encourage your customers to give feedback about their experience on your website, buying your products and dealing with you as a business. Regularly update and enhance your website based on the data you collect to continually evolve your website and improve the customer experience.
Flex4 OPS – Specialist web development for the print industry
At Flex4 OPS, we understand that printer businesses have unique requirements and our offering caters to the direct needs of those businesses. From simple printer website design to full spectrum printer ecommerce websites and Print MIS, we have the knowledge to create websites that are tailored to the individual requirements of each of our clients. Contact us today to find out how we could help elevate your business or website.