eCommerce product question

[AM2021]

What would be the best way to list products?
For example Acrow props come in 5 different sizes (0,1,2,3,4) should I create one listing with a variation drop down or should I list them individually?
Thanks

 

[fisicx]

One product with variations.

 

[AM2021]

Thanks Graham
Can I ask why that is the better way in your view?

 

[fisicx]

Because I can choose the size, add to cart then choose another size all without leaving the same page.

It will also make the path from homepage to product simpler (one less step to take).

 

[zomex]

I don't think there's a simple answer for this.

How many products do you sell on your site? What is the structure?

When it comes to building products I would side on separate listings because this the size is critical to the product and application (unlike a colour for example).

If you need a acro you're going to search Google for the size as it's critical to what it's being used for. As a separate listing I believe it will perform better.

Also look at what your competition are doing. That will give you a good idea of how to handle it. I believe almost all building companies list separately.

 

[fisicx]

How many products do you sell on your site?

Not that many but zillions of variants.

 

[zomex]

Not that many but zillions of variants.

Variants are not used by building companies from what I've seen. They all use seperate listings, I can think of a few reasons why this might be.

 

[fisicx]

Variants are not used by building companies from what I've seen. They all use seperate listings, I can think of a few reasons why this might be.

This isn’t a building company. It’s up to @AM2021 if they send you a link.

 

[zomex]

This isn’t a building company. It’s up to @AM2021 if they send you a link.

That's why I said it's not a simple answer. But a Acrow is used for construction so assumed it was a building tool supplier or rental company.

 

[AlanJ1]

We have sizing on one listing and colours on a seperate listing.

 

[AmazonGeek]

Generally the question is, will it make things easier for the customer or harder? And if it helps the customer it also tends to help the seller. Other benefits of variations:
1 - A customer may land on one listing but that product might not be quite what they are looking for. If one of the other variations is more suitable you have a better chance of getting a sale. If the listing stands on its own, the customer may decide not to buy it and go elsewhere
2 - you can get multiple orders. Customer lands on the green one but then decides they also want the blue and black one too
3 - On Amazon all the variations are totalled up and that total is visible for every variation.
4 - Again on Amazon, all the sales funnel into one BSR which is much better than each listing having its own.

 

[AM2021]

Thank you for the replies, most of our competitors do used individual listings for their products but I am still yet to decide what would be best for us. But thanks for the opinions.

 

[fisicx]

Do both. Then split test and see which performs best.

Just because your competitors do something doesn’t mean it’s the best way. They may just be incompetent.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

I would have said variations, however, I would also see what the competition do (the fact that they all do the same may not mean it is the best solution, but it is an indicator of what customers may be used to).

I thing the split test idea would be the way to fo, or just offer both approaches!

 

[fisicx]

Who are your target customers? Ask them what they prefer.

Do you get many repeat customers? Are acroprops something you buy every couple of years or do they last forever? Are you also selling spare parts, accessories and strong boys? Could you boost sales by offering deals?

There is a lot more to selling these sort of supplies than just the way you list the products.

 

[HFE Signs]

1 product with dropdown option, this makes it much easier for the user and also you drive your traffic to one page rather than a range of pages - you really don't need to split test this, it's basic

 

[AlanJ1]

1 product with dropdown option, this makes it much easier for the user and also you drive your traffic to one page rather than a range of pages - you really don't need to split test this, it's basic

No it isn't.

If you go look at let's say the top 10 fashion retailers in the UK.

They will all have sizing on the one page, however colours half of them will be on a seperate listing and half of them are on the same listing.

Having mulitple listings gains more exposure on things like SEO when customers are searching in Google, more shopping listings etc. However there are negatives, IE customer may think only one product avaliable, could clog up category pages on your site.

This question has been doing the rounds for years and I suppose it will always do the rounds as it seems what works for someone may not work for me.

 

[HFE Signs]

No it isn't.

If you go look at let's say the top 10 fashion retailers in the UK.

They will all have sizing on the one page, however colours half of them will be on a seperate listing and half of them are on the same listing.

Having mulitple listings gains more exposure on things like SEO when customers are searching in Google, more shopping listings etc. However there are negatives, IE customer may think only one product avaliable, could clog up category pages on your site.

This question has been doing the rounds for years and I suppose it will always do the rounds as it seems what works for someone may not work for me.

I agree, however you have to weigh up the seo advantage against the usability, seo will drive traffic, usability will drive sales. You don't want a site with a thousand pages all with a variation of the same pair of trousers, one page per style with options for colours and size

 

[fisicx]

I agree, however you have to weigh up the seo advantage against the usability, seo will drive traffic, usability will drive sales. You don't want a site with a thousand pages all with a variation of the same pair of trousers, one page per style with options for colours and size

Which is why you test. There are multiple ways you can list products. Try all of them and see which works best.

 

[AlanJ1]

I agree, however you have to weigh up the seo advantage against the usability, seo will drive traffic, usability will drive sales. You don't want a site with a thousand pages all with a variation of the same pair of trousers, one page per style with options for colours and size

I agree with the sizes 100% and I think this is almost universally done.
The colours is realy massivley split across all retailers.

 

[HFE Signs]

Which is why you test. There are multiple ways you can list products. Try all of them and see which works best.

But one will work better for seo and another will work better for sales, you could repeat the test and get a different answer, this is where common sense comes in. Making it user friendly outweighs SEO if the free traffic doesn't convert, but fair enough, try both but be sure to measure sales and traffic stats

 

[fisicx]

But one will work better for seo and another will work better for sales

Or you find a happy medium which works well for both. If the testing is done properly you will get consistent results.

It's not necessarily easy but well worth the time and investment to find out what works best for your business. Especially if your marketing plan doesn't rely on Google ranking.