You might be thinking, “Why do I need a guide to building the best ecommerce website? Isn’t it just a case of putting up a few product pages and a checkout system?” Well, yes and no. Any business, whether it’s selling physical goods or digital services, needs an ecommerce website that’s optimised for search engine ranking and conversion rate. In other words, your ecommerce website needs to be designed and built with your customers in mind, not just as an afterthought.
The different types of ecommerce website
Ecommerce website platforms come in all shapes and sizes. Before you start building your online store, you need to decide which type of ecommerce platform is right for you. To help you make that decision, we’ve created this guide to the different types of ecommerce platforms.
The first thing you need to know is that there are two main types of ecommerce platforms: hosted and self-hosted. Hosted ecommerce platforms are those that come with hosting included, such as Shopify and BigCommerce. Self-hosted ecommerce platforms are those that don’t include hosting, such as WooCommerce and Magento.
Now that you know the difference between hosted and self-hosted ecommerce platforms, it’s time to learn about the different types of ecommerce platforms within each category.
Hosted Ecommerce Platforms
Shopify: Shopify is a popular hosted ecommerce platform that comes with everything you need to create an online store, including hosting, a customizable theme, and support. Shopify plans start at $29 per month.
BigCommerce: BigCommerce is another popular hosted ecommerce platform with everything you need to create an online store. BigCommerce plans start at $29.95 per month.
Volusion: Volusion is a hosted ecommerce platform that includes features like product management, inventory control, and security. Volusion plans start at $15 per month.
The best ecommerce website platforms
There are many different ecommerce website platforms available on the market today. It can be difficult to determine which one is the best for your specific needs. However, there are some key factors that you should consider when making your decision.
The first factor is the ease of use. You want a platform that is easy to set up and use. It should also be easy to add products, create categories, and manage inventory.
The second factor is the features offered by the platform. Look for a platform that offers all the features you need to run your business effectively. This includes things like shopping carts, payment processing, shipping options, and customer management tools.
The third factor is price. You’ll find that there is a wide range of prices for different ecommerce platforms. It’s important to find one that fits within your budget while still offering all the features you need.
Once you’ve considered these factors, you’ll be able to narrow down your choices and select the best ecommerce website platform for your business.
How to set up an ecommerce website
Assuming you already have a domain name and hosting account set up, there are still a few steps required to get your ecommerce website up and running.
1. Choose your ecommerce platform. This is the software that will power your online store and allow you to manage products, inventory, payments, and more. Some popular options include Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, and BigCommerce.
2. Find a theme or template for your ecommerce platform. This will determine the overall design and layout of your website. Once you’ve found a theme you like, purchase it and install it on your platform of choice.
3. Set up important pages on your website such as the home page, product pages, cart page, checkout page, and contact page. Make sure to include relevant information and Calls-To-Action (CTAs) on each page.
4. Populate your website with products. Add high-quality photos and detailed descriptions for each product. Be sure to also set pricing, shipping rates, and any other relevant details.
5. Configure your payment methods so customers can purchase items from your store. If you’re using Shopify or BigCommerce, you can choose from many different built-in payment gateway options such as PayPal or Stripe. If you’re using WooCommerce or Magento, you’ll need to install a plugin for each respective gateway you want to use.
The benefits of having an ecommerce website
There are many benefits of having an ecommerce website. Perhaps the most obvious benefit is that it allows you to reach a larger audience with your products and services. An ecommerce website can also help you to build trust and credibility with potential customers, as well as establish yourself as a reliable source for information and products in your industry. Additionally, an ecommerce website can provide valuable insights into customer behavior and preferences that can help you to fine-tune your marketing efforts. Finally, an ecommerce website can generate leads and sales for your business 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The best ecommerce website features
An ecommerce website should be designed to make it easy for customers to find the products they want and make a purchase. The best ecommerce websites will have clear navigation, search functionality, and product pages that are easy to understand.
Some other great features that can make an ecommerce website stand out include:
– A well-designed home page that makes it easy for visitors to find what they’re looking for
– Clear and concise product pages with all the information a customer needs to know
– A user-friendly shopping cart and checkout process
– A responsive design that looks great on all devices
– Security features to keep customers’ personal and financial information safe
How to drive traffic to your ecommerce website
There are a number of ways to drive traffic to your ecommerce website. The most important thing is to make sure your website is optimised for search engine ranking. This means ensuring that your website content is keyword rich and that your website is linked to from other high-quality websites.
Another great way to drive traffic to your ecommerce website is through social media. Make sure you have a strong presence on all the major social networks and that you are regularly sharing interesting and engaging content. You should also consider running paid social media ads to promote your website and products.
Finally, you can also use traditional offline marketing methods to drive traffic to your ecommerce website. For example, you could include a link to your website on business cards, flyers, and other marketing materials. You could also run print or television ads that feature your website address.
Conclusion
eCommerce website success comes down to a few key factors. A good eCommerce website must be user-friendly, have a robust search function, offer customer support, and provide a great overall experience. In addition, a good eCommerce website should also have an easy-to-use checkout process and ship orders quickly and efficiently. We hope this guide has given you the information you need to create the best possible eCommerce website for your business.
