Build an Ecommerce Website That Keeps Up With Evolving Customer Expectations | Warrior Forum

Every aspect of our lives are impacted by the internet. We use it for working, playing, socialising, and conducting research. We also shop there.

There is currently an adult generation that has only ever known a world with the internet, and as they and the generations behind them continue to spend more money, Ecommerce will only continue to expand. 43% of consumers currently use the internet and social media to research products before making a purchase, and by 2024, e-commerce sales in the United States will be valued at $476 billion.

How to Build an Ecommerce Website Step-by-Step 

Creating an Ecommerce website can be easier than you think. Even if most of the work is now done for you by Ecommerce solutions, you still need to be aware of what’s available and what your website needs. If you conduct enough research, you can make choices that result in a magnificent site that expands and changes alongside you over time.

Find Your Perfect Ecommerce Platform

The first step in your quest is choosing the best Ecommerce website builder. It’s critical to have one that can accommodate the demands of your business and products.

1. Types of Ecommerce platforms.

There are three primary Ecommerce platform options to choose from, each with a varied capability and suitability for various business models. What you need to know is as follows:

Free software

Open-source systems, as the name implies, make their source code available for use by anyone. It may be completely customised and is free to install. Open-source platforms, however, typically need sophisticated coding skills to operate efficiently. Another issue is security breaches, and customers frequently have to pay for specialised security personnel, which can be more expensive than paying for a membership to another kind of platform.

Given the monthly subscription charge, transaction fees, and costs for plug-in programmes associated with SaaS, pricing is a concern. Additionally, certain providers may have limited branding, which restricts your design flexibility. For instance, Wix-powered websites display “powered by Wix” at the bottom of the page, allowing you to share the spotlight with Wix while also promoting your company. With premium services, you typically have more freedom to design an atmosphere that exclusively represents your brand.

Headless business

2. Ecommerce Hosting.

Your data is kept on an e-commerce web host. Take the time to learn about your alternatives because it may affect security and prices.

Ecommerce websites that are hosted off-site are referred to as cloud hosting. Typically, SaaS or headless commerce businesses provide it. Updates, fixes, and upgrades that keep websites secure are managed by the platform, along with uptime. Open source solutions might also come with a cloud option that covers hosting fees, but the merchant will still be responsible for security upkeep.

Ecommerce sites that are hosted on company-owned servers and typically use open source software are referred to as on-premise sites. To keep the website up and secure, the business needs to provide room for the server, handle the installation, and employ staff to maintain it. Large corporations are typically better able to accomplish this.

3. Things to consider when choosing your Ecommerce solution.

For your clients to have the best possible e-commerce experience, several systems must operate without a hitch. To make sure it operates at its best both now and in the future, have a look at how your selected Ecommerce platform functions in the following areas.

Website functionality

To ensure that your website is accessible when clients want to shop, make sure the platform is reliable and has a great uptime record. For the best user experience, your website should have unlimited API calls and load pages quickly.

Can the platform handle the traffic you require right now? Does it have the potential to expand along with you as your company grows? Do major holidays like Black Friday and Cyber Monday get handled by it?

Optimising for mobile

Shopping on mobile devices is increasing, so it’s critical that your platform can optimise your website for a great mobile experience. Consider using mobile technology to improve the customer experience, such as geolocation, which directs customers to the closest store.

Secure payments and data

The platform must be able to safeguard both your data and the data of your clients. SaaS solutions’ monthly pricing include security features like SSL and PCI. Given the increased risk of attack, self-hosted and open-source solutions demand a deeper grasp of security.

4. Ecommerce website builders to use.

The base of your online store is your website builder. Compared to generic website builders with an Ecommerce add-on, alternatives specifically intended for Ecommerce provide you more options and capacity for expansion. Here are some to think about:

BigCommerce

BigCommerce is a SaaS product with a solid reputation for scalability. It offers priority support for large accounts and offers customer service around-the-clock. There are many integrated features. Data is kept secure by multiple layers of security, and international customers are attracted by local payment options. As long as BigCommerce is used as the commerce engine, brands can deliver API-driven experiences through a CMS, DXP, application, device, or custom front-end.

Shopify

Another completely hosted SaaS product with a reputation for being quick and simple to start up is Shopify. They offer a wide variety of plug-ins, but if you use them frequently, the cost may soon mount. Shopify can readily handle traffic spikes because of its high transaction volume per minute.

Magento

Since Magento is a self-hosted solution, you have complete creative control; however, to fully utilise the platform, you’ll need someone who knows how to code. There are many integration options, and it supports both instant purchases and product recommendations.

WooCommerce

Due to WooCommerce’s open-source nature, installing it costs nothing. Most people who already have a WordPress site use it. WooCommerce is adaptable, offers essentially endless customizability, and industry professionals check its secure code.

Purchase a Domain Name

You can transfer an existing domain name to your online store builder. If you don’t already have a domain name, check sure it complies with the recommendations listed below.

1. Avoid creative spellings.

Avoid using inventive spellings because a domain name should be simple to remember and type. Although it doesn’t absolutely need to pass a spelling test—after all, Google didn’t even invent the word “google”—it must be simple to spell. To encourage buyers to tell their friends about your product, make sure it is also simple to pronounce. A web address should not contain hyphens or digits as this makes it more difficult for individuals to readily share the URL.

2. Avoid generic names.

A generic name has two drawbacks: either customers will forget the name or they will choose a business with a similar name but higher search engine optimization (SEO) ranking. Make sure your domain name stands out since a brandable name is memorable.

3. The shorter, the better.

To make it simpler for your customers to remember, make your domain name 6 to 14 characters long. Even if people find you through a search engine, shorter names are easier for you to use in marketing, which results in an increase in customers.

Find a Developer

Even if you’re starting your company from scratch, hiring a developer can streamline the process of setting up an online store. They possess the technical know-how to quickly set you up, allowing you to begin selling more quickly. Ask potential developers about their timetable so you can schedule your launch. Get references from the companies they built websites for and request to see some of their prior work. Make sure the developer can provide what you want within your budget and that they share your vision.

Pick Your Templates: Find a Theme that Matches Your Ecommerce Website Vision

Templates, also known as themes, are pre-made pages that you can modify to fit your brand and improve the appearance of your website without having any design or coding expertise. When choosing a template, take into account the following factors::

1. Customer navigation.

For a great consumer experience, navigating must be seamless. A customer will hit the back button and shop elsewhere if they can’t find what they’re looking for. Customers read from left to right, so the navigation bar is on the left side of the page and is simple to read.

2. Style of the homepage.

Does the webpage of the template represent your brand? Are there sections where you may add pictures, slideshows, or videos? Is there a place where you can let site visitors know your story? Make sure the template clearly conveys what kind of business you are so a customer can understand it at a glance.

3. Customization options.

Which elements of the page can be modified? Is your branding represented by a font and colour scheme? How many pictures can you put in? Can the way products are shown be altered? Social media – can it be embedded? Consider how many apps you need to interact with the template because the majority of online store builders use apps to add features that aren’t built-in.

Add Your Products

Product pages are some of the most important pages on your website because they display your inventory to customers. Spend some time making sure your new products are presented in the best possible way by including optimised product descriptions, appealing images, and easily navigable categories.

1. Product descriptions.

• Your Ecommerce site’s product descriptions are vital. They allow bots to index your page for SEO and describe the use, colours, textures, measurements, and/or value of the goods to your customers. When crafting descriptions, stay clear of clichés, protracted sentences, and difficult wording. Also, make sure the descriptions respond to the following inquiries:

The product is for whom?

What are the key facts of the product?

Where could this product be used?

When should a person use the item?

2. Product images.

High-quality product photos are crucial because visual information engages website users more effectively. Take into account the following factors when taking photos:

Use photos of a high calibre.

The perceived value and quality of your product are represented by the images. Your products stand out when they are photographed well. Bright pictures also increase the appeal of the photographs, keeping viewers exploring.

The size of each image should be the same.

Each image must be the same size since different-sized images frequently cause your gallery to display incorrectly. To make each image the proper size, use an image editor.

Picture variations for the product

The majority of photographs ought to be of the product alone, showing it from all sides. A picture of the product being used in context should also be included. These can be used in social media to increase emotional engagement and are useful on product pages.

3. Product categories.

To make it easier for customers to locate what they’re looking for, you can add products to categories like apparel, books, and movies. Additionally, categories can be combined with filters to let users sort through particular brands or price points while staying inside their budget. And using featured items is a great way to guide customers down the path you want them to take.

Set up Payment Methods

To complete a sale, the appropriate payment method is necessary. Your customer might quit their cart and not buy from you again if the procedure is too hard or unreliable. Ensure that it satisfies your needs for payment processing as well.

1. Three types of Ecommerce payment gateways.

There are three different types of payment gateways, each of which has advantages and disadvantages. Consider the precautions you must take to keep payments and data secure when choosing a gateway.

Redirects

The buyer is redirected to another website to complete the payment. The most popular illustration is PayPal. This is a straightforward solution for retailers and transfers security concerns to the outside party, but it involves an additional step for customers, which might turn some of them off.

On-site checkout, off-site payment

The payment’s front end, which includes gathering information, is hosted by this gateway, but the payment is handled elsewhere. Popular company Stripe provides this service. Customers no longer have to take additional steps, but you must make sure your website is properly encrypted so that data can be sent to the payment processor securely.

In-person payments

On-site payments take place at your location, giving you total authority and accountability. It is appropriate for large corporations that handle a lot of payments because they can afford to maintain its functionality and security.

2. Tips for choosing your payment integrations.

Credit card information is securely transmitted to your payment processor through a payment gateway integration. Make sure you do your research and understand what you’re getting from your payment integration because it’s a crucial component of your Ecommerce website.

Assess integration’s simplicity.

Consider how simple it would be to implement the system on your website. Does it function with the e-commerce system you’ve chosen?

Consider client testimonials

Check out user testimonials from other websites.

Every stage of the procedure, including collecting payments and handling refunds, is subject to fees. Read the small print to ensure that you are aware of the system’s price and satisfied with it.

Sort out Your Shipping Settings

E-commerce depends heavily on shipping. Customers expect products quickly, so carefully consider your shipping options.

1. Determine your shipping policy.

Your shipping policy mentions costs and shipping companies. Are you charging a fixed, flat, or varying charge for shipping? With whom are you shipping? Consider whether you want to ship abroad as well, and if not, make sure that information is clear and accessible so that clients from other countries won’t be confused when they try to pay.

2. Select Ecommerce shipping solutions.

Choose your shipping strategy. Are you dropshipping or will you be doing the packing? You can automate that part of your business so you have more time for other things by using shipping software that integrates easily with the rest of your operation.

Preview and Publish Your Online Store

Your website must function properly for your launch to be successful. Customers may leave your site if a link doesn’t work, payments don’t go through, or the site doesn’t look good on mobile devices. This can cause delays while you correct errors. Before clicking the publish button, make sure everything has been tested.

1. Does checkout work?

Execute an order as a trial run. Can you add items to the shopping cart? Has the payment been handled? Have you gotten all the confirmation emails you anticipated?

2. Are the store’s functions working?

Click each button on your website and then link to it. Are the links and buttons functional? Do categories and filters work? Does your 404 page send visitors back to your site if a link doesn’t work?

3. Does the store work on mobile?

Utilise a mobile device to view the store. Are the measurements accurate? Are the buttons simple to press? On a smaller screen, are graphics clear?

4. Test your store on different browsers.

Try out Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, as well as as many other browsers as you can, to browse the store. Verify that it functions well in all browsers, and if you experience any issues, contact the developers to address them.

5. Set up the store’s settings.

Language, time zone, your address and contact information, tax, and measurement units are just a few of the settings available in the store. Before you launch, double-check that these have all been set properly.

Conclusion

A quality e-commerce website is more than just a storefront for goods. It’s where a company can design an encounter that builds brand equity, attracts new clients, and turns infrequent customers into ardent advocates. Making the appropriate e-commerce platform selections and developing a winning online shop marketing plan will put you ahead of the competition.