Every E-Commerce website needs to have some basic elements which are global on every page of the site. These elements make your site easier to navigate, easier to order from and show your customers that your store is safe and secure. Here are 9 essential elements that every Miva store owner should have in their global header or global footer.

1. 1-800 Number – Customer service is a very important factor when it comes to selling online. You need an 800 number posted on every page of your website. This is for two reasons. First, you will amazed of how many people want to talk to you before they place an order, or they just feel more comfortable placing an order over the phone. If you do not have an 800 number you are missing out on a lot of easy sales. The second reason you need an 800 in your global header is because it gives your business credibility. Even though you might be a one man shop, selling products out of you home, having an 800 number instantly gives your company credibility. People will feel more comfortable ordering from you knowing that there is always a number to call to get help. A great place to start when looking for an 800 number is a website called Ring Central. Here you can get an 800 number and a fax line for as little as $25 a month. And the best part about it is everything is done through your computer. You don’t even need a phone line. I personally use this service and it works perfectly. You even get virtual extensions and company voicemail. Click here to visit their website

Oh yeah, one last tip – answer the phone during business hours. Don’t make it difficult for people to get a hold of you – your customer service has a big impact on your sales.

2. My Account / My Cart / Checkout Links – These three links need to be in your global header. They allow your customers to easily check their basket items and also checkout from any page on your site. You would be very surprised to see the number of customers who abandon their carts because they don’t know how to checkout. You need to make things as easy as possible for all of your customers.

3. Credit Card Logos – You don’t want your customer to get all the way to the end of your checkout process to realize that your website does not take American Express. Just like a brick and mortar store you need to display the forms of payment you accept. The easiest and best way to do this is to display the credit card logos in your global header next your 1800 number and checkout buttons. Having the credit card logos also gives your site a very e-commerce feel and signifies to your customers that your website sells products and accepts credit cards online.

4. Global Search Box – If a customer already knows a specific item they are looking for, most likely they will just type it in to your search box. Having a search box on every page makes your products much easier to find. This helps a lot for repeat customers who are looking for something they have purchased in the past. A global search box is a must for any e-commerce store.

5. Navigation Menu – If you are not using the standard Miva Category Tree, then you need to put your navigation menu in your global header. This allows your customers to access the rest of your store without having to hit the back button, which can be redundant and confusing to less savvy internet users. Again, having easy navigation greatly increases your customer conversion rates. Keep it simple.

6. Newsletter Signup – If you are not collecting your email addresses from your website visitors you are making a big mistake. You need to have an email signup form globally on your site. This allows your visitors to get news and special discounts on your products and also gives you a powerful email list to market to.

7. SSL Security Seal – Every SSL certificate has a security seal that you can place on your site. This is a small logo which your customers can click on to verify that your site really is protected and secure. This builds your customer confidence and increases your conversion rates. You can easily get your seal from the company who issues you your SSL certificate.

8. Email Address – Never try to hide you contact information or email address. You want to make sure it can be easily found. A great place for you email address is in the global footer of your website. This allows your customers to easily email you with any questions or concerns.

9. Return Policy / Shipping Policy / Privacy Policy – Always make your company policies clear and easy to find. Putting them in your global footer is a great way to make sure your customers know your shipping rates and return policy before they make a purchase. This will give them peace of mind and make them more likely to make a purchase.

Below is a sample website which demonstrates all 9 of these elements. Each is numbered 1 through 9 which corresponds to them numbers above.

Click Here to View the PDF

About the Author: Brennan Heyde is an e-commerce consultant working in San Diego, Ca. He specializes in online marketing and SEO for e-commerce. Have a struggling e-commerce website? – Contact Brennan today for a site analysis.