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Features & Functions

In the early days of web retailing, many merchants focused on designing product pages with flashy images and limited functionality. But as the Internet and online retailing have evolved, better features and functions planning has emerged as a cornerstone of a superior site design. Today most established online retailers have about two dozen basic web site features that visitors can use to find merchandise and complete a purchase. As the market changes, retailers also are responding to consumers' greater sophistication about online shopping by adding more advanced tools such as product reviews or ratings, videocasts, wikis, widgets and mash-ups. In this section, readers will be able to compare the specific features and functions of the Internet Retailer Top 500 retail web sites. Each listing includes a breakdown of the main site features, the name of the executive in charge of making design and usability decisions and two exclusive measurements provided by Gomez Inc. and Hitwise.

View Top 500 Companies List | View Features/Functions Glossary | View Sample Features/Functions Page