In today’s internet era, creating a website for your business has become a necessity. Websites help you introduce your brand to more people, make a name for yourself, and drive more customers overall. A website should be at the heart of every business’s digital marketing strategy, since it can do wonders for bringing in new business and customers.  

How does it work, you might ask? In this day and age, people are connected to the internet more than ever before. We became too attached to the comfort the internet brings us, and the speed at which it provides us with the information we need. As a result of this, we turn to the internet to solve the most basic ones of our tasks such as: where should I go to brunch today? Where do I buy new furniture for my office? Or, is “X” brand good or bad?  

These were just a few of the many ways in which people use the internet that can have an impact on you and your business. Surely, you want people to be able to find you on this vast web that they use daily, right? If your answer was yes, then you are already on the right path. 

When it comes to creating a website for your business, keep this in mind: websites come in all shapes and forms, quite literally. They can offer different features according to your brand’s own image, and the idea you want to portray to customers. Being completely customizable and up to your liking, they are be a great way to make your brand stand out from the pool of competition.  

One of the most widely used types of websites by a large variety of businesses is an e-commerce website. Depending on the type of business you run, and the features you want out of your website, an e-commerce website can be the perfect fit for you. Keep on reading to find out more about e-commerce websites and how they run.  

What is an e-commerce website?

The concept of an e-commerce website is pretty straight-forward: it is an online platform where you can present goods for sale, with customers having the ability to purchase them online. For a little bit of history, the internet was available to the general public starting from the late 80s, which makes it about 32 years old today. E-Commerce is even younger than that, with the first ever e-commerce transaction taking place in 1994 (it was a sting CD!). In the year 2020, e-commerce sales worldwide accumulated to 4.28 trillion US Dollars. Can you grasp how huge of a number that is?  

This goes to say that e-commerce is a huge, booming industry that brands should not be turning a blind eye to. In fact, many retail businesses today exist solely online, with no physical brick and mortar store to operate. This phenomenon is made possible thanks to the internet, and to e-commerce websites.  

The best way to describe an e-commerce website would be to compare it to a physical retail store, where you can browse different items, look at their price tag, put them in your cart if you like them, and purchase them, all on a digital, online market place. It is similar to the real-life shopping experience, but with so many added features that make the process easier for the customers. Websites like Amazon, EBay, and Alibaba are some of the oldest and most notable e-commerce websites we know today. 

The purpose of an e-commerce website

As explained above, an e-commerce website serves to sell goods and services online. This means that this type of websites is specifically convenient for commercial business who specialize in this business model. If your brand is retail focused and you wish to have an online platform where you can make sales and generate revenue, then an e-commerce website is the answer for you. An e-commerce website is a portal that facilitates the online transactions by offering means of transfer of information and funds over the internet. 

Back in the day, people were more hesitant to use e-commerce websites since there was a chance of getting scammed. Fraudulent activity and scamming through e-commerce websites has become less of a prominent issue today, thanks to solutions that developers of these websites came up with. Today, people can leave reviews on items that they’ve purchased online, and online payment is more secure and safer than ever. These solutions allow customers to feel more comfortable while shopping online, therefore having more trust in e-commerce websites. As a result, businesses are seriously benefiting from the online market and driving up their sales.  

Your brand’s ecommerce website can be either its main and only source of business, or a way to back up your brick and mortar store. Either way, it is a great opportunity for your business to expand and level up. 

Things your e-commerce website should include

 Information about your brand

The first thing your customers should be able to see when they open your e-commerce website is an introduction to you brand. Your brand name, slogan, logo, specialty, unique features… these are all things that should be included in your home page.

A catalogue for the goods and services provided

Customers need to see the commerce in your e-commerce website. A comprehensive list of all products you have in stock or services that you provide, alongside pictures, price tags, and specifications should be easily found on your website.

A user friendly check-out feature

Your website wouldn’t be an e-commerce website without customers having the ability to buy from you online. Whether your payment methods are through PayPal, credit card, or even cash on delivery, you need an easy to use checkout section in your website.

User generated reviews

What makes the difference between a business and another is their customer satisfaction rate. Let the world know that people have used and loved your products by including a customer reviews feature.

Wish lists

Online shopping today has become a hobby for some people, so you want them to have as much fun while using your e-commerce website as possible. Allowing users to create wish lists on your website will make them keep coming back for more.

Shipping details

With online shopping comes the need for shipping. Let your customers know everything about your shipping process to encourage them to shop from you with no worries.

Overall, an e-commerce website is a great option you can go for when choosing a website type for your brand. It will give you a platform to run your business smoothly while driving more sales, and it will introduce your goods and services to more potential customers than ever before. If you are interested in creating an e-commerce website for your brand, don’t hesitate to contact us to get a quote, or check out our packs here.