ASOS User Experience

ASOS is UK's biggest online fashion and beauty retailer, it steadily increasing its market share in the international market, also it constantly improving its user experience. Let's take a look at the interface of ASOS websit.

1. Interface design

Their interface offers very clear and visible guidance which facilitate the navigation process. Global navigation, shopping bag and log-in area are clear and with good visibility.
ASOS allow users to find products easily, they use a simple primary navigation which separates the audiences in two core group which are women and men and then use a mouse rollover on the mega drop down to clearly show all the product categories. With one click from the homepage you are into the list of products.

2. Provide an effective search

ASOS offers a precisely categorized content structure for user to easily access desired information. all items can be found through sub-menu links, search box and its comprehensive search refine options. Also ASOS use a faceted search to refine products, means that user are able to browse information by choosing from pre-determined categories, rather than displaying long lists of facets.








3. Listing layout that suits your product

ASOS provide personalized information, the application constantly learns from user's behavior thorough recording and analyzing each action and preference, then deliver the relevant contents such as "we recommend" "complete the look" button.










4. Invest quality imagery

ASOS has several high quality images for every product on their website, most products have a 360 degree tour and increasingly more include a video catwalk. Because users want to see the product clearly, All uses have to rely on the product image to make online shopping, so ASOS allow users to have this great experience.




5. Shopping bag works so well
ASOS make absolutely clear to the visitor that the product has been added to their bag, and they have an intuitive link to view their bag if they wish. It is constantly accessible through the browsing journey, users can safely assume that when they decide to view their full shopping bag, and easy to check what they are choose to check out.


6. Easy to check out 

Most eCommerce website forcing shoppers to register to make a purchase. ASOS actually do force all users to register before they make a purchase, but they do it very smart, because it realists that two additional fields required between a guest checkout and a registration is the one that asks for a password and another to confirm the password. Also ASOS remove any barriers and distractions in their checkout process, their forms are seamless, free of clutter and make good use of white space to remove any complexity and possible confusion.

At the end, I think ASOS has received huge success with their website by focusing on the user and their requirements.

Alipay Vs. Paypal

A few years ago, I pay for utilities-water, electricity, and home internet bill by separate banks, handed cash to a teller. And today, I uses the Alipay app which is China's most popular online payment service on my smartphone to transfer money directly to account, and pay for utilities as well. Even I can keep savings in my Alipay Yu'ebao money market account, it can be accrues higher interest than in a traditional bank account.

 

The Alipay payment system works much like Paypal, but Alipay invades Paypal turf with offering for U.S. retailers right now. It is launching a service for U.S. retailers called ePass, Alipay has alreday been working in beta mode with retailers such as luxury deal site Gilt.com, The Gap and H&M.

                           

Otherwise, Alipay and Paypal user's experience is quite different. Paypal is best known as a payment option, a screen you may reach at the end of a transaction on a retail website, but with Alipay, customers can go directly to its app and website to make payments, check their investments, or buy movie or plane tickets. Alipay is for people who have quickly gotten used to using their mobile phone for everything.

Go back to see Paypal, Paypal is battling for a space dominated by the massive Chinese e-commerce firm Alibaba group. Paypal currently handles cross-border sales between Chinese merchants and foreign consumers, but is not in the more lucrative business of handling transactions between buyers and sellers within China. 

SEO Optimizing Your Site

Find Keywords 

Firstly I think collect keywords from target customers would like to reference the website, or  product. If the keywords match it, then use it on your homepage or use it describe your product. After that, you can find your competitor to see what keywords they use it. You should know what kind of keywords that your customer search when they intend to buy the product. Also you need to use different keywords between information keywords and buying attract customer keywords as well.

Otherwise, keyword is not only important , but should extend to other platforms, these multi-channel platforms include: Facebook, Twitter, Linkedln, Email, radio, Tv ads

Answer questions 

Google's purpose is to provide their customers with relevant and useful search results. So the most important thing I think SEO is create massively useful content that solves our problem. If I found any sites solving problems that I searching I would like to get shared on social media and ranked in Google. 

Photography: Get on Flickr or Photobucket and use original images 

Videos: Make tutorials or do video posts . This builds links and traffic from Youtube and does well on mobile devices.

Podcasts: iTunes is growing fast as people get better smart phones and spend more time plugged in. 

Meta

Sometimes, meta description can discourage people to click through to your website or attract them visit your website. If you put lots of image on your website, search engine can't help you. Meta keyword are pretty much ignored by search engines , if you still use it just make sure it talks specifically to that page. Also meta description should be unique .Because  meta descriptions from page to page will not get anywhere.

Tips To Avoid Shopping Cart Abandonment

Clearly shopping cart abandonment is a big problom to retails. According to Statistia there are 14 main resons why shoppers abandon their cars.

Based on my online shopping experiences, presented with unexpected costs is main reason for me to leave without chekcout. 

Sometimes I've just spent the half an hour at online store picking up my clothes. When I approach the checkout the system announces my total, followed by tax, extra hidden will let me down,  I might think about other steore without these hidden fees or cancle my order if free shipping is not offered. 

Another reason is website crashed or was too slow. 

When I was trying to buy my shoes, I got through the ordering process, clicked submit and I came up with a little screen that said 'sorry there's been aliggle glithch in our system,", I have to choose another online store bought the sames shoes instead. 

So here is some tips to avoid shopping cart abandonment: 

(1) Show Images to customer 

Some websites display a tiny photo image in the cart, and shows me  a stock photo rather than only text to describe what I am buying, I may wonder if my order is correct. Show me images can confidently quickly to check out. 

(2) offer free shipping and avoid registrations

I more likely to shopping with online retails who offer free shipping. So provide  free shipping service would be better. Otherwise, cut down the difficult process such as being foced to register when I want to check out as easy way. 

(3)Email Recovery

 Another way to get me back to the online store to complete my order is throug email. They setup personalized emails that sent to me if I don't complete my purchase. 

(4)Ad Retargeting

Retargeting works by keeping track of my visit site and displaying their ads to me. That is a useful way to retarget me to go back shopping , when I saw my previous interesting itesm as ads on another webiste, I would like to accept the ads and might be go back to purchase. 

I Like Uber In NYC

I lived in New York for one year, many times I stand on a street corner and raise my hand , wait long time but no taxi pick me up. And one day, my friend recommend me Uber apps to call a Uber driver. I can't live without Uber now.



In my opinion, Uber thrown out the traditional methods of ordering a taxi and provide a conveient process that save my time and money. I don't even need cash or card, because I can pay for it by my phone.










I've waited around 20-30 mins for a cab that never show up, but Uber thrives on those problems. When I order an Uber, not only it will show up, but I can see how far away the car is, and how to contact with the driver directly. If the driver can't come to my way, they will call me directly and say sorry to me. I feel peace of mind and comfortable.








I've met cab driver who was rude, not nice person. But Uber drivers are alway nice, and smileing to me. And we can write a review to the Uber driver, and other people can share and see the reviews when they call this Uber driver.
Moreover, the traditional taxi has a government-run pricing plan that must be followed. Then it is up to the rider to figure out the tip. But Uber takes car of all that is still less expensive, it is cheaper than the regular taxi when I paid, and that includes tips.









And I heard that Uber is dabbling with ecommerce with a test offering called Corner Store in Washington, that lets customer order toothpaste allergy medicine and more than 100 other items via its app, then get them delivered by Uber drivers. I would like to use this service as soon as possible in new york.

4 Ecommerce Business Models

Business-to-Consumer
Ecommerce is  a business selling something through an online platform to a consumer, also known as business-to-consumer (B2C). The most widely known ecommerce businesses, such as Wal-Mart.com, Target.com, etc., are ones where a retailer sells directly to a consumer.

For example, Twitter provide online environment where people with similar interests can transact, share content and communicate. And they get revenue from typically hybrid, combining advertising, subscriptions, sales, transaction fees, and affiliate fees. 

Business to Business

Business-to-business (B2B) refers to a business selling directly to another business the goods or services that are used by the recipient to power their business. Wholesalers, such as parts of AliBaba’s model or manufacturers of original products, will typically sell B2B. 

Alibaba provides to people everywhere access to the Chinese supply chain. It opens up the world of international suppliers to people. And Alibaba has so many world’s manufacturing assets. The majority of Alibaba’s revenue comes from its consumer, such as AliExpress, Tmall, and Taobao. 

Consumer-to-Business

In a consumer-to-business (C2B) model, consumers sell products and services to businesses, instead of the other way around. For example, the consumers could list jobs or products they want and businesses compete. Or, a business could have a site where consumers can sell them things that they need.

Priceline.com is an example of a C2B e-business model. The website allows customers to bid for tickets and offer their own prices. 

Consumer-to-Consumer
In a consumer-to-consumer (C2C) model, the ecommerce website serves to facilitate the transaction between two consumers. 

Auction sites such as eBay,specifically when items are sold by individuals, rather than businesses listing products for auction 

Amazon Ecommerce

I've been using Amazon since 2007. I have bought a lot of items form Amazon. Because Amazon knows how to optimization E-Commerce. As consumers, we want more personalized shopping experience, and Amazon delivers. Their on-site recommendations get better and every product recommended that interests me. Also there are the personalized emails based on items you have looked it. For example, I went online to scope out some books, Amazon showed me some similar products or discount with one of the product. They know what I want and give me respond very quickly. 

Buying product is quick and simple, if I already logged in and using 1-click ordering. Amazon speed wins other sites which slow and complex shopping carts. And whenever you log in your Amazon account, your cart with any items you previously added are there, it is convince to consumers comac back later check out.

Amazon offer Prime on the site and Amazon Prime members will receive the FREE Two-Day Shipping they've come to love. It's a great way to build brand loyalty and help increase conversion.
And they start to offer ONE-HOUR Delivery for Prime members in most Manhattan.

Amazon is fantastic on the cross-sell, it is very important E-commerce strategy for increasing average order value. On Amazon site we can see each product for sale includes customers who bought this items also bought section or customers who bought this also viewed section. They providing images of relevant products is helpful.