42244

econsultancy_xml

1. Use of drop down menus While drop down menus do have the benefit of freeing up more space on the webpage, they can be cumbersome to use: <img alt="M&S drop down menu" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2122/2360300657_931328aeb4_o.jpg" /> 2. Enclose the checkout The M&S checkout process is pretty smooth, and features many best practice recommendations: there are few steps to get from A to B and there's a useful bar that indicates progress through the checkout. All good. However, M&S has failed to enclose the checkout, so customers can easily - or accidentally - click the logo to go back to the homepage and leave the process. Enclosing the checkout means removing all links to any parts of the site other than the other stages of the process, to focus the customer's mind. Once in the checkout there should be only one place customers can go - purchase confirmation. <img alt="M&S checkout" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3025/2363107339_56f8261720_o.jpg" /> 3. Add a link to the checkout The link to the basket is prominent enough, and consistently in the same place across the site, which is what users would expect. However, there is no clear link to the checkout. Most customers will realise that clicking on the basket link will take them to the checkout, but others may not be so sure, sowhy risk losing out on sales for the sake of adding a checkout link? <img alt="M&S checkout link" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2002/2363526209_21fc2975da_o.jpg" /> 4. Add user reviews User reviews are something that web shoppers are increasingly coming to expect, as they offer valuable help in making a purchase decision and can increase conversion rates for etailers. M&S, like some other major retailers such as <a href="/blog/2270-10-things-tesco-can-do-better-online">Tesco</a>, has yet to take advantage of user reviews, but they would be wise to add this feature. Surely it's only a matter of time? It is in a great position to harvest customer evangelists. 5. Add some descriptive URLs M&S has a large product range, and this can mean some <a href="http://www.marksandspencer.com/gp/product/B000YHZSEC/sr=1-4/qid=1206445226/ref=sr_1_4/026-5502579-4283616?ie=UTF8&node=44001030&m=A2BO0OYVBKIQJM&keywords=&mnSBrand=core&size=9&rh=&page=">lengthy URLs</a> that have no connection to the product displayed on the webpage. Adding related keywords to product page URLs can help SEO, as well as making them more understandable (and guessable) to the site's users. 6. Provide clear details of delivery times and charges These are among the most important factors in a consumer’s purchase decision, so customers shouldn't have to search around for this information. The information is available on Marks & Spencer's product pages, but the link is right at the bottom of the page, which is hardly a prominent position: <img alt="M&S product search" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2207/2363954080_bfd98996ef_o.jpg" /> 7. Reinforce customer trust M&S does not currently display any kitemarks or third party verification logos, to convey trust and respectability. These logos can ease the mind of the prospective buyer. These should ideally be displayed during the checkout process, but M&S does not do this. It is a very well-known brand, so this may not deter many people from buying, but less well known e-commerce sites should seek to reinforce customer trust. 8. Provide visible contact details If a customer wants to get in touch about something, why make them hunt around for a contact number? They may be on the verge of making a purchase, but need to ask a question, so don't frustrate them. M&S does have a range of contact options on the site, but they are at the bottom of each page. Why not provide a visible contact number on the product pages? 9. Don't make customers register before purchase Before you can make a purchase on the site, M&S requires you to register by adding your address details, email address as well as choosing a password. This is placing unnecessary obstacles in front of prospective customers, who will have to enter their address details for delivery anyway. It makes no sense to do it this way around. <img alt="M&S registration" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3209/2363157835_b9447b9d7a_o.jpg" /> Far better to give them the option of heading straight for the purchase without registering first. 10. Make the free delivery offer simple M&S is currently running a promotion offering free delivery for any orders over £30. This is an excellent idea, as <a href="/blog/2163-free-shipping-lots-of-sales">free delivery can help drive sales</a>, but M&S has <a href="http://www.marksandspencer.com/gp/node/n/43694031/026-5502579-4283616?ie=UTF8&mnSBrand=core">made this offer too complicated.</a> Customers wishing to take advantage of this offer need to enter the code 'FREEDELV' at the checkout, while items like furniture, appliances and wine are excluded from the offer. This, in a nut, is RIDICULOUS. Why would you make a relatively simple offer - which customers can easily understand - into a complicated process. Why not just offer free delivery on ALL orders over a specified amount? What did we miss? What do you love and hate about the M&S site? Leave your comments below... Related research: <a href="http://econsultancy.com/reports/online-retail-2007-checkout-special">Online Retail 2007: Checkout Special</a> <a href="http://econsultancy.com/reports/web-design-best-practice-guide">Web Design Best Practice Guide</a> Related stories: <a href="/blog/974-m-s-launches-new-amazon-powered-website">M&S launches new Amazon-powered website </a> <a href="../../../news-blog/365198/ten-things-amazon-can-do-better-online.html?keywords=amazon">Ten things Amazon can do better online</a>

<FormattedContent xmlns="http://www.e-consultancy.com/schema/formattedContent/"> <Paragraph> <Emphasis>1. Use of drop down menus</Emphasis> </Paragraph> <Paragraph>While drop down menus do have the benefit of freeing up more space on the webpage, they can be cumbersome to use:</Paragraph> <Paragraph Align="Center"> <Image AlternateText="M&S drop down menu" Source="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2122/2360300657_931328aeb4_o.jpg"> </Image> </Paragraph> <Paragraph> <Emphasis>2. Enclose the checkout<LineBreak /><LineBreak /></Emphasis>The M&S checkout process is pretty smooth, and features many best practice recommendations: there are few steps to get from A to B and there's a useful bar that indicates progress through the checkout. All good.</Paragraph> <Paragraph>However, <Emphasis>M&S has failed to enclose the checkout</Emphasis>, so customers can easily - or accidentally - click the logo to go back to the homepage and leave the process.</Paragraph> <Paragraph>Enclosing the checkout means <Emphasis>removing all links</Emphasis> to any parts of the site other than the other stages of the process, to focus the customer's mind. Once in the checkout there should be only one place customers can go - purchase confirmation.</Paragraph> <Paragraph Align="Center"> <Image AlternateText="M&S checkout" Source="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3025/2363107339_56f8261720_o.jpg"> </Image> </Paragraph> <Paragraph> <Emphasis>3. Add a link to the checkout</Emphasis> </Paragraph> <Paragraph>The link to the basket is prominent enough, and consistently in the same place across the site, which is what users would expect. However, there is no clear link to the checkout.</Paragraph> <Paragraph>Most customers will realise that clicking on the basket link will take them to the checkout, but others may not be so sure, sowhy risk losing out on sales for the sake of adding a checkout link?</Paragraph> <Paragraph> <Image AlternateText="M&S checkout link" Source="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2002/2363526209_21fc2975da_o.jpg"> </Image> </Paragraph> <Paragraph> <Emphasis>4. Add user reviews</Emphasis> </Paragraph> <Paragraph>User reviews are something that web shoppers are increasingly coming to expect, as they offer valuable help in making a purchase decision and can increase conversion rates for etailers.</Paragraph> <Paragraph>M&S, like some other major retailers such as <Link URL="/blog/2270-10-things-tesco-can-do-better-online" Window="Self">Tesco</Link>, has yet to take advantage of user reviews, but they would be wise to add this feature. Surely it's only a matter of time? It is in a great position to harvest customer evangelists.</Paragraph> <Paragraph> <Emphasis>5. Add some descriptive URLs</Emphasis> </Paragraph> <Paragraph>M&S has a large product range, and this can mean some <Link URL="http://www.marksandspencer.com/gp/product/B000YHZSEC/sr=1-4/qid=1206445226/ref=sr_1_4/026-5502579-4283616?ie=UTF8&node=44001030&m=A2BO0OYVBKIQJM&keywords=&mnSBrand=core&size=9&rh=&page=" Window="Self">lengthy URLs</Link> that have no connection to the product displayed on the webpage.</Paragraph> <Paragraph>Adding related keywords to product page URLs can help SEO, as well as making them more understandable (and guessable) to the site's users. </Paragraph> <Paragraph> <Emphasis>6. Provide clear details of delivery times and charges</Emphasis> <LineBreak /> <LineBreak /> These are <Emphasis>among the </Emphasis><Emphasis>most important factors</Emphasis> in a consumer’s purchase decision, so customers shouldn't have to search around for this information.</Paragraph> <Paragraph>The information is available on Marks & Spencer's product pages, but the link is right at the bottom of the page, which is hardly a prominent position:</Paragraph> <Paragraph Align="Center"> <Image AlternateText="M&S product search" Source="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2207/2363954080_bfd98996ef_o.jpg"> </Image> </Paragraph> <Paragraph> <Emphasis>7. Reinforce customer trust</Emphasis> <LineBreak /> <LineBreak /> M&S does not currently display any kitemarks or third party verification logos, to convey trust and respectability. These logos can ease the mind of the prospective buyer.</Paragraph> <Paragraph>These should ideally be displayed during the checkout process, but M&S does not do this. It is a very well-known brand, so this may not deter many people from buying, but less well known e-commerce sites should seek to reinforce customer trust.</Paragraph> <Paragraph> <Emphasis>8. Provide visible contact details</Emphasis> </Paragraph> <Paragraph>If a customer wants to get in touch about something, why make them hunt around for a contact number? They may be on the verge of making a purchase, but need to ask a question, so don't frustrate them.</Paragraph> <Paragraph>M&S does have a range of contact options on the site, but they are at the bottom of each page. Why not provide a visible contact number on the product pages?</Paragraph> <Paragraph> <Emphasis>9. Don't make customers register before purchase</Emphasis> </Paragraph> <Paragraph>Before you can make a purchase on the site, M&S requires you to register by adding your address details, email address as well as choosing a password.</Paragraph> <Paragraph>This is <Emphasis>placing unnecessary obstacles in front of prospective customers</Emphasis>, who will have to enter their address details for delivery anyway. It makes no sense to do it this way around.</Paragraph> <Paragraph Align="Center"> <Image AlternateText="M&S registration" Source="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3209/2363157835_b9447b9d7a_o.jpg"> </Image> </Paragraph> <Paragraph>Far better to give them the option of heading straight for the purchase without registering first.</Paragraph> <Paragraph> <Emphasis>10. Make the free delivery offer simple<LineBreak /><LineBreak /></Emphasis>M&S is currently running a promotion offering free delivery for any orders over £30. This is an excellent idea, as <Link URL="/blog/2163-free-shipping-lots-of-sales" Window="Self">free delivery can help drive sales</Link>, but M&S has <Link URL="http://www.marksandspencer.com/gp/node/n/43694031/026-5502579-4283616?ie=UTF8&mnSBrand=core" Window="Self">made this offer too complicated.</Link></Paragraph> <Paragraph>Customers wishing to take advantage of this offer need to enter the code 'FREEDELV' at the checkout, while items like furniture, appliances and wine are excluded from the offer. This, in a nut, is RIDICULOUS.</Paragraph> <Paragraph>Why would you make a relatively simple offer - which customers can easily understand - into a complicated process. Why not just offer free delivery on ALL orders over a specified amount?</Paragraph> <Paragraph> <Quote>What did we miss? What do you love and hate about the M&S site? Leave your comments below... </Quote> </Paragraph> <Paragraph> <Emphasis>Related research:</Emphasis> <LineBreak /> <Link URL="http://econsultancy.com/reports/online-retail-2007-checkout-special" Window="Self">Online Retail 2007: Checkout Special</Link> <LineBreak /> <Link URL="http://econsultancy.com/reports/web-design-best-practice-guide" Window="Self">Web Design Best Practice Guide</Link> </Paragraph> <Paragraph> <Emphasis>Related stories:</Emphasis> <LineBreak /> <Link URL="/blog/974-m-s-launches-new-amazon-powered-website" Window="Self">M&S launches new Amazon-powered website<LineBreak /></Link> <Link URL="../../../news-blog/365198/ten-things-amazon-can-do-better-online.html?keywords=amazon" Window="Self">Ten things Amazon can do better online</Link> </Paragraph> </FormattedContent>

2008-03-19T10:58:00+00:00

econsultancy_xml

Marks & Spencer revamped its website last year, and enjoyed a successful Christmas online, <a href="/blog/2053-xmas-etail-stats-round-up">increasing its web sales</a> by 78% in the 13 weeks to the end of December. The M&S website <a href="/blog/1853-study-finds-fall-in-etailers-usability-standards">scored badly in a usability study</a> last year though, so there may still be room for improvement to the user experience. We've identified 10 areas of the site that <a href="http://www.marksandspencer.com/gp/node/n/42966030/026-0637900-1906832">M&S</a> may want to take a look at... <img alt="M&S homepage" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3210/2344539403_b5f19cf5cb_o.jpg" />

<FormattedContent xmlns="http://www.e-consultancy.com/schema/formattedContent/"> <Paragraph> <Emphasis>Marks & Spencer revamped its website last year, and enjoyed a successful Christmas online, <Link URL="/blog/2053-xmas-etail-stats-round-up" Window="Self">increasing its web sales</Link> by 78% in the 13 weeks to the end of December.</Emphasis> </Paragraph> <Paragraph>The M&S website <Link URL="/blog/1853-study-finds-fall-in-etailers-usability-standards" Window="Self">scored badly in a usability study</Link> last year though, so there may still be room for improvement to the user experience.<LineBreak /> </Paragraph> <Paragraph>We've identified 10 areas of the site that <Link URL="http://www.marksandspencer.com/gp/node/n/42966030/026-0637900-1906832" Window="Self">M&S</Link> may want to take a look at...</Paragraph> <Paragraph Align="Center"> <Image AlternateText="M&S homepage" Source="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3210/2344539403_b5f19cf5cb_o.jpg"> </Image> </Paragraph> </FormattedContent>

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Refer also to Econsultancy's <a href="http://econsultancy.com/reports/user-experience-buyers-guide">User Experience Buyer's Guide</a> and <a href="http://econsultancy.com/reports/effective-web-design-best-practice-guide">Effective Web Design Guide</a> for more information about best practice in these areas.

365290

10 things M&S can do better online false

2008-04-04T12:58:00+01:00

10-things-m-s-can-do-better-online

2009-04-30T04:36:36+01:00

2009-10-13T09:35:56+01:00

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