6 Tips in Building An eCommerce Website From Scratch

In today’s digital age, the number of online shoppers is rising rapidly. Globally, over two billion people are digital buyers, making eCommerce one of the fastest-growing industries. 

Almost anything can be at your doorstep with just a few clicks on your phone. Convenient shopping experiences draw people to transact over eCommerce sites than in physical stores. 

Getting to Know eCommerce

eCommerce is a business model that facilitates buying and selling products and services over the internet. This platform allows individuals and companies to transfer data or money to finalize sales. eCommerce transactions can transpire over smartphones, tablets, computers, and other smart devices. 

Millions of businesses around the world have eCommerce sites. It’s their way of keeping up with the times and the consumers’ fast-paced lifestyle. If you already have a business or plan to create one, you may consider having an eCommerce site. It’s an essential tool to compete in today’s digital business landscape. 

At first, building an eCommerce website from scratch may seem to be a daunting task. However, several platforms and tools can help you easily create a site that fits your needs. 

When your website is already running, it’s best to get the services of an eCommerce enabler. It can support daily online business operations, including channel creation, content production, fulfillment, and warehousing.  

5 Things to Consider Before Creating Your eCommerce Website

SEO before and after eCommerce site creation

Ensure that your site has optimal loading speed so shoppers will be encouraged to stay and eventually buy from your site. Optimization allows your online shop to provide the best user experience. SEO can boost sales by utilizing various techniques and strategies to rank your site higher on search engines.

Website security and safety

Your eCommerce site will store tons of data from your business and its clientele, making it a security risk. A data breach will affect your information and your users’ privacy. A website with an SSL certificate and HTTP protocol can provide a layer of data protection and Google’s nod of approval. 

Payment options

The 2020 report reveals that 6% of potential buyers abandon their shopping carts because there aren’t enough payment choices. Providing several payment options, such as credit cards and cryptocurrency, open up many possibilities for your business.  

Digital marketing strategies

Developing digital marketing strategies alongside your website can help define its structure and supporting elements. They allow you to identify features like social media sharing options matching your business needs. Some strategies you can implement are SEO, Email or SMS Marketing, and Social Media.

Website design that represents your business

Matching your products or services with your site’s overall look is the best course of action. The website’s color scheme, font, layout, and graphics should complement your business philosophy. The moment a customer lands on your site, they should easily associate it with the look and feel of your products. 

6 Steps to Building Your eCommerce Website from Scratch

Choose a domain name 

Decide on a domain name that’s simple, short, and easy to remember. Your customers should easily connect your name with your products or services. It’s best to avoid words similar to other domains since it can lead to lost revenue or web traffic. You may use domain checker tools to check the availability of the name you’re eyeing. 

Select a site builder

There’s a wide array of platform options for your website. A site builder with user-friendly navigation, analytical tools, CMS features, and great reviews would be a great choice. You can try free demos of various site builders to see which one fits your goals and needs. 

Pick a theme

A theme allows your store to have a professional and consistent look. You may consider the following factors as a guide in choosing the best template for your site:

• Fast loading speed
• Mobile compatible
• Matches your products and services
• User-friendly
• Cost-efficient
• Has good reviews

Some site builders will allow you to tweak some of the theme’s elements, such as fonts and colors.  

Include product descriptions and photos

Clear product photos and concise descriptions are one of the foundations of your online shop. Ensure you give descriptions such as dimensions, weight, and unique features. Since potential buyers can’t check out your products personally, providing them with high-quality photos and detailed captions are vital. 

Develop other pages

The shop may be the website’s star, but you need to add supporting pages to make it more legitimate and professional. Remember to include the following pages: 

• Contact us
• About us
• Terms and conditions
• Shipping and returns
• Blog 
• FAQ page
• Sizing guide (for clothing and shoe stores)

You can boost engagement and conversions through well-written copies that speak to your target audience.

Set up a payment processing portal 

To finalize a sale, you must provide your customers with ways to pay you. You can connect payment methods such as Shopify Payments, Stripe, or Paypal. 

Make a test payment before officially launching your shop to identify any problems or glitches. When you’re sure your store can seamlessly accept payments, it’s time to let the world know about your eCommerce site. 

Create an eCommerce Site from Scratch

Putting up an eCommerce website from scratch can be pretty overwhelming. However, many online tools and platforms can make your job easier. It’s about choosing the best name, site builder, and theme that best reflects your products and services. 

Before proceeding with the actual site creation, remember to consider the following elements. They can help you have a clearer vision and organized structure for your website.

• Search engine optimization
• Website security and safety
• Payment options
• Digital marketing strategies
• Website design 

It’s essential to know that building an eCommerce site doesn’t entail high levels of coding skills. User-friendly eCommerce tools and site builders can help you bring your business to the digital world, even if you’re starting from scratch. Before you know it, you’ll be able to showcase your products and services on the world wide web.