--- title: "The Online Retail Experience: Ecommerce Best Practices" description: What makes for an outstanding online retail experience? Here are several resources which offer sound eCommerce best practices advice. image: https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/hs-fs/file-2264176287-jpg/images/Shopping-Cart-twenty20_ig-529780269091198070_278140.jpg --- [![simple-marketing-now-logo.png](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/hs-fs/file-2223845170-png/Simple_Dec2014/logo/simple-marketing-now-logo.png?width=180&name=simple-marketing-now-logo.png "simple-marketing-now-logo.png")](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com) ![Simple Marketing Now is HubSpot Certified](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/hs-fs/file-2208007916-png/Simple_Dec2014/img/img-hubspot-certified-partner-badge.png?width=85&name=img-hubspot-certified-partner-badge.png "Simple Marketing Now is HubSpot Certified") - [Services](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/services) - [Services](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/services) - [>> Strategy & Direction](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/services/strategy) - [>> Systems & Tools](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/systems-tools-infrastructure) - [>> Execution, Content & Programs](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/execution-content-programs) - [Case Studies](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/case_studies) - [Case Studies](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/case_studies) - [Website Redesign](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/case_studies/website-redesign) - [Complete Redesign on HubSpot](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/case_studies/website-redesign/complete-overhaul) - [Business Blogging](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/blog) - [Blog](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/content-talks-business-blog) - [Content Talks Business](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/content-talks-business-blog) - [Flooring the Consumer](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/blog/flooring-the-consumer) - [Social Flooring Index](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/blog/social-flooring-index-blog) - [About](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/about) - [About Us](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/about) - [Meet the Simplifier](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/about_us/christine_b_whittemore) - [Testimonials](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/about_us/testimonials) - [News](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/news) - [Resource Library](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/resources) - [Customer Experience Articles](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/About_Us/Christine_B_Whittemore/customer-experience-articles) - [Contact](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/contact-us) - [Contact Us](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/contact-us) - [Subscribe to Newsletter](https://offers.simplemarketingnow.com/join-our-monthly-enewsletter-list) ![Flooring The Consumer Blog](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/hs-fs/file-2356801856-jpg/Simple_Dec2014/backgrounds/flooring-consumer-blog.jpg?width=1600&name=flooring-consumer-blog.jpg "Flooring The Consumer Blog") - [Content talks business blog](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/content-talks-business-blog) - [Flooring the consumer blog](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/blog/flooring-the-consumer) - [The social flooring index blog](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/blog/social-flooring-index-blog) # Flooring The Consumer Blog ## [The Online Retail Experience: Ecommerce Best Practices](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/blog/flooring-the-consumer/bid/125469/the-online-retail-experience-ecommerce-best-practices) Posted by [Christine B. Whittemore](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/blog/flooring-the-consumer/author/christine-b-whittemore) on May 7, 2012 **This is a 3 minute read.** [![e-Commerce Best Practices](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/hs-fs/file-2264176287-jpg/images/Shopping-Cart-twenty20_ig-529780269091198070_278140.jpg?width=320&name=Shopping-Cart-twenty20_ig-529780269091198070_278140.jpg "e-Commerce Best Practices")](http://www.flickr.com/photos/ecolabs/5693296198/)What makes for an outstanding online retail experience? There's finding a site that engages you from multiple perspectives, starting with content [see [Zappos' Online Retail Experience: Powered By Customers](http://simplemarketingnow.com/blog/flooring-the-consumer/bid/122641/Zappos-Online-Retail-Experience-Powered-By-Customers)]. But, what about the eCommerce angle? What are eCommerce best practices that truly create a memorable retail experience? I researched the matter and came across several articles which offer sound eCommerce best practices advice that I share with you here. What struck me as I read and explored the artices and best practice online retailers was how *the good ones don't make me think*! [For the authority on that check out [*Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability*](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0321344758/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=flooringtheco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0321344758) by Steve Krug.] Rather, they make the ecommerce process intuitively easy [think how easy it is to shop with Amazon or Zappos] because so much customer-focused thought and consideration has gone into the site design, the content, the flow and the process. These online retailers are fanatical about eliminating friction; they constantly test and improve. I encourage you to go experience them before you read anything and then afterwards! Once in the know, you'll become aware that their online retail experiences include best ecommerce practices such as: **Breadcrumb navigation** so you don't get lost in the site [see [Breadcrumb Navigation Examined: Best Practices & Examples](http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/breadcrumb-navigation-examined-best-practices-examples/)]. They pay attention to **shopping cart usability** [see [eCommerce & Shopping Cart Usability: 21 Best Practices](http://www.ecommerceoptimization.com/articles/ecommerce-shopping-cart-usability-21-best-practices/)]. Considerable attention to **product photos** [see [Improve Your E-Commerce Design With Brilliant Product Photos](http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/08/24/improve-your-e-commerce-design-with-brilliant-product-photos/)]. And the many practical tips detailed in these articles - e.g,. include your phone number in your site header, include trust marks and guarantees, eliminate roadblocks and figure out how best to stay in touch with visitors and customers...: - [5 Powerful Tactics For E-commerce](http://www.timberlineinteractive.com/205/5-powerful-tactics-for-e-commerce) - Best Practices Review | Practical eCommerce - [Usability Best Practices For eCommerce Websites](http://spyrestudios.com/usability-best-practices-for-ecommerce-websites/) - [E-Commerce Best Practices, Back to Basics - Yahoo! Merchant Summit](http://www.slideshare.net/mikeober/ecommerce-best-practices-back-to-basics-yahoo-merchant-summit) View more [presentations](http://www.slideshare.net/) from [Michael Ober](http://www.slideshare.net/mikeober) Two more resources for you to consider as you peruse e-Commerce best practices: - If you are a member of MarketingProfs, I recommend [Five Ways to Get Unique, Keyword-Relevant Content on Your E-Commerce Site](http://www.marketingprofs.com/articles/2010/3793/five-ways-to-get-unique-keyword-relevant-content-on-your-e-commerce-site). - For ongoing content relating to eCommerce, be sure to check out [AllTop for e-Commerce](http://ecommerce.alltop.com/). Added 2/2/15:   If you're involved in e-Commerce, what do you consider must-do best practices?  When you go online to shop, which are your favorite online retail examples? What about your least favorite?   [![Subscribe to Flooring The Consumer!](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/103148/e54e4944-0cf7-4d08-b564-54cee42ca87e.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/103148/e54e4944-0cf7-4d08-b564-54cee42ca87e) Topics: [customer experience](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/blog/flooring-the-consumer/topic/customer-experience), [Digital Marketing](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/blog/flooring-the-consumer/topic/digital-marketing), [email marketing](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/blog/flooring-the-consumer/topic/email-marketing) #### Leave a Comment: ### Subscribe to Email Updates [![Download our Content Marketing Guide](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/103148/eec864ba-58a5-4314-8319-dd1c9152edfc.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/103148/eec864ba-58a5-4314-8319-dd1c9152edfc) ### Recent Posts ### Most Read Articles ### Posts by Topic - [B2B Social Media (9)](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/blog/flooring-the-consumer/topic/b2b-social-media) - [brand marketing (4)](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/blog/flooring-the-consumer/topic/brand-marketing) - [customer experience (78)](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/blog/flooring-the-consumer/topic/customer-experience) - [customer loyalty (5)](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/blog/flooring-the-consumer/topic/customer-loyalty) - [Digital Marketing (12)](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/blog/flooring-the-consumer/topic/digital-marketing) - [email marketing (4)](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/blog/flooring-the-consumer/topic/email-marketing) - [FCW (4)](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/blog/flooring-the-consumer/topic/fcw) - [flooring blogs (2)](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/blog/flooring-the-consumer/topic/flooring-blogs) - [flooring industry (4)](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/blog/flooring-the-consumer/topic/flooring-industry) Search this Site - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. WHAT SIMPLE MARKETING NOW DOES ![img-sitefooter-hr.jpg](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/hs-fs/file-2286603520-jpg/Simple_Dec2014/img/img-sitefooter-hr-dark.jpg?width=90&name=img-sitefooter-hr-dark.jpg "img-sitefooter-hr.jpg") Services - [Inbound Marketing](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/services/inbound-marketing) - [Digital Marketing](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/services/digital-marketing) - [Content Marketing](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/services/content-marketing) - [Context Marketing](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/contextual-marketing) - [Social Media Marketing](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/services/social-media-marketing) - [Social Media Monitoring Analysis](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/services/social-media-monitoring-analysis) - [Business Blogging](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/services/blogging) - [Pricing Packages](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/pricing-packages-inbound-marketing) Case Studies - [Simple Marketing Now Case Studies](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/case_studies) - [Inbound Marketing Website Redesign](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/services/inbound-marketing) - [Complete Redesign on HubSpot](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/case_studies/website-redesign/complete-overhaul) - [Business Blog Examples](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/blog) INFORMATION RESOURCES ![img-sitefooter-hr.jpg](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/hs-fs/file-2286603520-jpg/Simple_Dec2014/img/img-sitefooter-hr-dark.jpg?width=90&name=img-sitefooter-hr-dark.jpg "img-sitefooter-hr.jpg") Simple Marketing Now Blogs - [Content Talks Business](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/content-talks-business-blog) - [Flooring The Consumer](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/blog/flooring-the-consumer) - [Social Flooring Index](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/blog/social-flooring-index-blog) Simple Marketing Now Resources - [Learn More About Getting Found Online](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/learn-more-about-getting-found-online) - [Resource Library](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/resources) - [Content Marketing Resources](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/resources/content-marketing-resources) - [Digital Marketing Resources](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/resources/digital-marketing-resources) - [Inbound Marketing Resources](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/resources/inbound-marketing-resources) - [Guide to Successful Inbound Marketing](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/how-to-do-inbound-marketing-guide) [![Simple Marketing Now is a Verified TrustSpot Company.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/trustspot-downloads/seal_horizontal.png)](https://www.trustspot.io/store/Simple-Marketing-Now-LLC) ABOUT SIMPLE MARKETING NOW ![img-sitefooter-hr.jpg](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/hs-fs/file-2286603520-jpg/Simple_Dec2014/img/img-sitefooter-hr-dark.jpg?width=90&name=img-sitefooter-hr-dark.jpg "img-sitefooter-hr.jpg") - [About Us](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/about_us) - [Meet the Simplifier](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/about_us/christine_b_whittemore) - [The Simplifier's Presentation History](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/about_us/christine_b_whittemore/presentation-history) - [Customer Experience Articles](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/About_Us/Christine_B_Whittemore/customer-experience-articles) - [Testimonials](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/about_us/testimonials) - [News](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/news) - [Press Releases](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/news/press-releases) - [Interviews](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/news/interviews) Connect With Us - [Contact Us](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/contact-us) - [Subscribe to the Newsletter](https://offers.simplemarketingnow.com/join-our-monthly-enewsletter-list) - [Get Started](https://offers.simplemarketingnow.com/free-inbound-marketing-assessment) Simple Marketing Now LLC 7354 Ridge Avenue #31 Philadelphia, PA  19128 973-283-2424 ![Simple Marketing Now is a Certified HubSpot Partner](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/hs-fs/hubfs/template/hubspot-partner.jpg?width=139&name=hubspot-partner.jpg "Simple Marketing Now is a Certified HubSpot Partner") [![CB Whittemore on Twitter](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/hs-fs/file-2219620899-png/Simple_Dec2014/icon/icon-twitter.png) ](https://twitter.com/CBWhittemore) [![Simple Marketing Now on Facebook](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/hs-fs/file-2220235172-png/Simple_Dec2014/icon/icon-facebook.png) ](https://www.facebook.com/SimpleMarketingNow) [![Simple Marketing Now on Pinterest](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/hs-fs/file-2219620894-png/Simple_Dec2014/icon/icon-pinterest.png) ](https://pinterest.com/cbwhittemore/) [![Simple Marketing Now on LinkedIn](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/hs-fs/file-2220235167-png/Simple_Dec2014/icon/con-linkedin.png) ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/simple-marketing-now) [![Simple Marketing Now Blog RSS](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/hs-fs/file-2220235162-png/Simple_Dec2014/icon/icon-rss.png) ](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/content-talks-business-blog/rss.xml) [![Simple Marketing Now](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/hs-fs/file-2223845170-png/Simple_Dec2014/logo/simple-marketing-now-logo.png?width=180&name=simple-marketing-now-logo.png "Simple Marketing Now")](https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/) © 2026 Simple Marketing Now LLC ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Christine B. Whittemore", "url" : "https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/blog/flooring-the-consumer/author/christine-b-whittemore" }, "datePublished" : "2012-05-07T13:45:00.000Z", "headline" : "The Online Retail Experience: Ecommerce Best Practices", "image" : [ "https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/hs-fs/file-2264176287-jpg/images/Shopping-Cart-twenty20_ig-529780269091198070_278140.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/blog/flooring-the-consumer/bid/125469/the-online-retail-experience-ecommerce-best-practices", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.simplemarketingnow.com/hs-fs/file-2223845170-png/Simple_Dec2014/logo/simple-marketing-now-logo.png" }, "name" : "Simple Marketing Now LLC" } } ```