If you are thinking along the lines of establishing an eCommerce business, there has never been a better time to do so. Seriously pondering over how to create an eCommerce website from scratch, then you are in the right place. To build a successful eCommerce site, there are a lot of technical aspects involved, but you also need to take broad considerations into account.
Building eCommerce website from scratch
The first step when you build eCommerce website from scratch or start any online business is branding your business. You need a name for your business, a logo, or anything else that you can think of to enhance the presence of your brand.
Securing a domain name is the first thing you need to do for an eCommerce site once you have determined the fundamentals of your brand. Ideally, the business name will be the domain name, as this will make it simpler for the users.
If the business name sounds too generic, then you may face difficulties getting that domain name for your business. Suppose you do not get the exact domain name for your business; it would be better to go back and think of a new name for your business.
The other concern when you build eCommerce website from scratch is all about the products that you intend to sell. Mostly, you are likely to be selling products that have widespread demand, but you need to be careful, as the popular products will have intense competition.
Then also you need to think about which model your eCommerce website will follow. Any business model you choose is going to have an impact on some of the decisions that you make.
What to consider when creating an eCommerce website from scratch
The moment you are ready to build eCommerce website from scratch, there are a few things that you need to consider.
Products
Before you develop an eCommerce website, you will need products. The moment you determine what sort of products you will be selling in an online store, you will require the following things:
- Product descriptions
- Pictures
- Reviews
Since the eCommerce website is starting from scratch, you are not likely to have any product reviews. But when available, it is important to add product reviews to the existing catalogue of product pages. This develops a sense of trust in the customers and provides them with an understanding of how others perceive your product. Good-quality images play a critical role when it comes to the user experience.
User experience (UX)
Apart from product pages, user experience has a vital role to play. If users have trouble with your website, it will be hard to make sales and retain customers. If your website does not provide a quality user experience, then your customers will switch loyalties to your competitors.
A user-friendly design is equally important to an e-commerce website’s functionality as it is to its appearance. Of course, if you have a motivated buyer, nothing is going to stop them from purchasing your product, but it rarely works in this manner.
Payments
You must consider how you will handle payments on your eCommerce website before moving forward with the product launch.. It is better to use a payment gateway where there are a lot of options that you can choose from.
The choice of the right payment gateway would depend on a number of factors, like sales volume, processing fees, and more. Take time to research and choose the perfect payment gateway for your business. Make it a point that you are considering security during this process as well. The last thing you want is for the business to lose out on the financial details of the customers
Shipping
Shipping is a critical component of an eCommerce store. Since the business is online, your customers will be located all across the globe. You need to determine how you will ship your goods, what the charges are and whether you are going to charge your customers for shipping.
Most online customers expect free shipping. If they see that the shipping is free, they are likely to make a purchase. One way by which you can provide free shipping is to add the shipping costs to the price of the product. Though shipping in this case is not free, the customers are forced to think otherwise.
Policies
A major thing with your eCommerce website is the policies. An example is, will you accept returns? What is going to happen if a product is broken during shipping? Numerous issues are likely to emerge in an eCommerce business.
Taking the digital route would make some of the issues difficult to deal with, but if you have the right policies, things become easy. This is a time when you need to consider customer support. It may turn out to be a viable decision to hire customer support staff to handle customer queries.
The steps to build an eCommerce website from scratch
When you build eCommerce website from scratch it is not time-consuming or overly complicated. There are a few steps that you need to follow when it comes to building an eCommerce website from scratch.
Decide on the domain name.
Start with a domain that identifies your website to the customers. The name should be simple, short, and easy to type. It is better to avoid close similarities with existing domain names, which can lead to a decrease in traffic and a loss of revenue.
You can check the availability of the domain name using a service like Instant Domain Search. In the event that a particular domain name is not available, you can pick an alternative suggestion. From a domain register, you can purchase a domain name directly.
The choice of the site builder
Numerous options exist when it comes to the choice of platforms for your business website. You may try different demos for various website builders that align with your goals and needs.
Some of the CMS platforms offer e-commerce tools and extensions, or for e-commerce, you may choose a CMS. A budget is to be set and go through the reviews. The site builder that you are choosing should be easy to navigate.
Selecting a theme
When you build eCommerce website from scratch, you select a theme for your store. A theme is a template that gives your website a sleek and professional look. There are some factors that you need to consider when choosing a theme, like
- Quick loading times
- Mobile friendly
- Good fit for showcasing your products
- Cost
- Good reviews
In some cases, you may apply a theme to your website with a click or two. It all depends on the theme and site builder that you choose. You will be able to customize fonts, sizes, and other aspects of your online store.
Adding descriptions and product photos
Product photos and descriptions are crucial when it comes to building a successful online shop. Your web customers will not feel or touch the products before they purchase them online. Harness this experience as much as possible with detailed descriptions and high-resolution photos.
The photos need to be showcased from multiple angles and dimensions, along with special features. Demos and video tutorials can also be part of the show. The photos and descriptions should make the product shine and make it appealing to consumers.
Develop your other pages.
The store itself is the star of the show, but you still need to develop other pages. They include
- About us
- Terms and conditions
- Shipping and returns
- Contact us
You may also plan to include a FAQ page, a sizing guide for clothes and shoes, or even a blog. On every page that you create, include a meta description and an URL.
A well-written copy reflects your inner voice and establishes a connection with your target audience, boosting conversions. If you are sure, when you build an eCommerce website from scratch, start with the terms and conditions page.
Setting up payment processing
The final stage is to set up a gateway for payment processing. . You have the option of integrating Shopify Payments, Stripe, PayPal, or both with your website. Accept a test payment before you launch your website so you can verify that everything is operating as it should.
The moment you are ready to accept payments, you are all set to publish and go ahead with your website.
Final thoughts
Setting up an online business is an exciting task, as it provides a plethora of options for a budding entrepreneur. There is a lot of competition involved, and you need to build e-commerce website from scratch.
A lot of things have to be done precisely if you are looking to start an eCommerce business. If you are looking for professional help there are a lot of companies that will guide you. In return for their services, you will have to pay them some money. This is a much better approach rather than doing it yourself.
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