Building Product Item Web Pages
Product(Item) PagesÂ
The layout of item or product pages should present the product to the customer and give them the information needed to buy the item. Look at some of www.patiostore.com item pages to see the different layouts that were used. Remember your web site pages are your salesman.
Your software will dictate how you modify your page layouts
or it may create the category pages automatically.
The information needs to be presented in a logical manner. For example, on our patio furniture category pages, we have separated the furniture by types, such as cushion sets or sling sets.
Related Items It is advisable to put the accessory items in first then the main products so that you can link to your accessory items. For example: for umbrellas you would put the umbrella stands and covers in the data base first, then the umbrellas so that a stand and cover appears on the umbrella pageas suggested additional items.
Item Picture and Product Information; We scanned the pictures of the products in two sizes so that a small picture appears on the product page and a pop up large picture is available to show more detail.
You need to provide enough information for the customer to decide to buy your product from you. Start by making a list of all the possible questions the customers might ask. Now answer the questions in your copy about the item or use a bullet list of product features and benifits. Some features or options have obvious benefits such as colors, size, selection, warranties, etc. Some features have benefits to the buyer that are not obvious and you list them in a feature benefit format. This is not as hard as it might at first appear, as you can start with the manufactures brochures and follow their lead.Â
For Example: Your new Summer Sun pool is a huge 6.5' W x 10' L x 2.5' Deep, (large enough for the kids and mommy too). You new pool sets up in under fifteen minutes, no tools required, a truly portable pool for many years of summer enjoyment. The strong painted steel and resign frame, supports a heavy nylon reinforced liner that will stand up to the most rambunctious children. Your new Summer Sun Pool holds 1100 gallons (less then a dollars worth) of water, a convenient drain plug is provided. Ships by UPS, it will be at your home in a matter of days.Â
We use many different layouts for presenting the products to the buyer. Review some of our web pages to see how we handled the different items.
META tags
Add META tags; words a customer might use to search for a web page containing the information on your products. Search engines use meta tags and the pages copy (text) to classify your offerings.
Page Review
Your Product Category Pages will need all of the following. Some of the information is generated by your software from information you specified earlier. As customers can enter your web site from any page all the needed information needs to be accessible from every page.
1. Header (logo).
7. Stock Number & Price.
2. Title area and Sale information.
8. Discounts if any or sale price information.
3. Site navigation .
9. Related items or links to them
4. Links for that product line or it's accessories.
10. Copyright & how to contact you.
5. Item Photos (larger is better).
11. Links to order form or shopping cart link
6. Descriptive information about the products features, benefits.
12. META tags entered.
13 Related links, shipping info, instalation instructions
etc.
Well crafted page example: Go to www.homeimprovementkits.com
Note the clean layout and what the designer included on the page. Three different navagation methods are used to get to any one page, top links, side links and product category picture links. Now click on patio covers; you are now on a product category page, complete with a brief sales pitch and three choices of product categories. Choose one, you are now on a selection page that gives the customer size choices. Note the graphic picture of a patio set used to visually indicate the patio covers size in relationship to it's intended use, as well as the vover's size notations in numbers. The regular price is shown and a sale price so the customer has a savings bases for comparison. Now click on any one of the covers. You have arrived in just three clicks at the work horse of web pages, the product detail and purchase page. The item information is presented in detail along with a brief sales pitch. Study this page as a lot of what we have been talking about has been included. Note the drop down list for add ons and color choices. Note also the help section taking the customer to pages that will help them decide to buy from you.
I talked to the designer of the pages and he has more he will add time permitting, such as installation videos, related Items for suggestive add on sales to name just two.
NextÂ
After you have completed the item pages you will add the pages such as, order form, site index, help pages etc. Next is other pages.
"Good luck comes to the man who earns it" Unknown