You’ve built your online store and now you’re ready to set about designing it to meet your particular needs and specifications.

There are several design considerations to think about when putting together your site:

1. Fast Downloads
When it comes to web design, it’s imperative that your site downloads quickly in order to keep shoppers from clicking off. Any online catalog images should be small both in dimensions and file size. If you are not a graphic designer with web design experience, invest in hiring one to make sure your graphics are strong and effective.

Products should be photographed against plain background and in bright lighting so that consumers can get a clear visual idea of what the product looks like.

Most online catalogs use "thumbnail" images to display their products on a Web page then allow the shopper to click on the small image to view a much larger image to see the product in detail. Thumbnails files should be under 10k and larger images should be under 75k.

2. Clarity and Detail
A clear statement about the store and products should be placed at the top of the home page. Too many companies fail to specify their focus or specialty, which confuses and alienates shoppers. Product descriptions should be detailed and clear. What are the dimensions of the product? How much does it weigh? From where does it originate? Any information you provide will help consumers make informed decisions and prevent customers from purchasing the wrong item.

3. Search Engine Specificity
How searchable is your store? If you’re a retail clothing store, for instance, consumers should be able to search for products for a variety of characteristics, including color, style and brand.

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