Back in the day, the concept of a virtual store was nothing more than a dream. But over the past two decades, the paradigm has completely shifted. The business world has witnessed a massive revolution as the concept of online business has turned into a reality.
In an e-commerce business, you need to have a place to display your products to potential customers. You need to design an e-commerce website or an e-commerce store! Since the physical store is out of the picture, what do you need to sell online?
So if you are the one planning to take your business online and design an e-commerce website of your own but do not know its nitty-gritty, we have got your back.
In this blog, we will cover:
- What is the difference between an e-commerce website and a regular website?
- What are the major features of an e-commerce website or store?
- Decide how to get an e-commerce website designed?
Difference Between An Ecommerce website And A Regular Website
A regular or an informational website serves to provide information on various subjects. The main purpose of these websites is to provide informational tips or guide people to do a certain task.
Moreover, firms and people develop these websites to educate the audience, showcase their work, and describe their offerings.
Have you ever googled to find the best restaurants near you? Or have you ever searched for some productivity tips?
These are the regular websites.
However, on the contrary, we have e-commerce websites. An e-commerce website is a virtual store where the consumers can choose the products/services and buy them. Not to mention the consumer can also make the payment on the spot.
Ecommerce websites enable people to buy products and services while sitting in the comfort of their home.
Have you ever done online shopping? If yes, then you have already been on an e-commerce website.
Some of the major e-commerce websites are:
What Are The Major Features Of An eCommerce Website Or Store?
While designing an e-commerce website may seem easy, incorporating several features is one hell of a job.
What features an e-commerce website provides and how well it is marketed defines the fate of an e-commerce store. The must-have features of an e-commerce website are:
- Content Management
- Easy checkout process
- Multiple payment methods
- Discount code or promotions
- Order fulfillment dashboard
- The ability to add new features
- An FAQ section
- Chatbot
Moreover, you can also dig deeper and explore some premium features you want in your e-commerce site.
For instance, you can visit your competitors’ websites and find out what features they have included in their store to get an idea.
In short, to run a successful e-commerce business, you must not overlook these essential features.
Decide How To Get An Ecommerce Website Designed
You have two options to get your e-commerce website up and running. You can decide to design your store independently, or you can hire an expert to do the job for you.
Make Use Of Ecommerce Website Builders
Several e-commerce store builders like Shopify enable you to drag and drop features and functionalities you want to include in your store.
Moreover, using such websites or store builders is extremely easy, and no programming knowledge is required. All you need to do is to get your business enrolled by:
- Providing important contact information
- Choosing the industry that you will operate in
- Selecting your geographical location
After that, you can start customizing your e-commerce website according to your needs. Ecommerce website builders like Shopify provide their users with built-in features like:
- CRM tool
- Website themes
- Marketing tools
- Domain interfaces
- Live shipping rates
- SEO tools
- Tax management tools
You need to pay a certain fee to add a feature to your store.
Take An Expert On Board
As a business owner, you must have a lot on your plate. Therefore, designing your e-commerce website on your own may become challenging for you. But there is no need to worry because you can always hire an expert to do the job for you.
Further, by taking an e-commerce store expert on board, you will not only save your time. But you will also be tension-free about the feel and look of your store.
All you need to do is to state your requirements clearly to the expert. Rest assured, the expert will take it from there and transform your store completely.
Final Thoughts
In this day and age, the e-commerce industry is not only dominating. But it is likely to reach $4 trillion in the next few years.
So to make the most out of your e-commerce business, you need to pay serious attention to your e-commerce website. Ignoring it could cost you pretty pennies.
Want to get insight into the five things that you must know before stepping into the e-commerce business? Check out this blog.
