Web Designer Miami

While many smaller e-commerce stores try to copy the look and feel of big giant online merchants like Amazon.com and Overstock.com, smaller websites should try to create a look and feel that is unique to them and their own story.

Yes, you need to have a website that is usable and SEO-friendly but that doesn’t necessarily mean that your e-commerce store has to be the usual stark white / grid pattern with a small logo on the top left corner.

Create a look that is unique to your business – if your product is hand made cards, you can introduce some details in the logo, the color and the borders that suggest a ‘hand made, recycled paper’ effect. The details don’t have to be big like you might expect on a brochure website but they can be part of the header of your website or integrated into the navigation.

Choose some good quality photos – invest some money and get some good quality photos. They’ll make a huge difference to your site. Stock photo sites like istockphoto.com have some very reasonable options so there’s no excuse that stock photos cost too much. A photo can take a website from poor to professional with just the addition of just the right shot.

Get inspired - Finally, if you need some inspiration, take a look at some other websites that have a distinctive look and feel to their e-commerce stores. Vandalay Design has a great post about 50 Inspirational E-Commerce Website Designs. Me & Mommy to be as well as Habitat Shoes are a good example of having a style that complements your product line.