The development of an eCommerce website allows you to do business on the Internet – today, companies are eagerly promoting and selling their products online. For this, B2C (business to client) and C2C (client to client) eCommerce websites are generally used, as well as B2B (business to business) eCommerce platforms.
Ecommerce websites are often built using WordPress, OpenCart, and Magento – these are the most popular CMSs used to develop both small and large eCommerce websites. Furthermore, there is a need to create frameworks (such as Laravel or Yii), completely customizing eCommerce websites specifically for your clients’ needs. It is more relevant for small businesses with only 100-1000 products to use website builders.
Frequently asked questions from SEO and new business owners:
- Why is Magento best for eCommerce website development?
- What % of the budget should be for website development for eCommerce?
- How is AI starting to make its way into eCommerce website development?
- How is an eCommerce website development different than a normal website development?
To make the eCommerce website development faster, builders are used – BigCommerce, Volusion, Shopify, and others – depending on the country. They add the necessary functionality and make online shopping more comfortable for the clients.
Among the latest trends that are taken into account in the eCommerce website development, the following are noteworthy:
- AR and VR technologies. Introducing these technologies at the development stage allows visualizing products in the real world (AR) and viewing them in virtual reality (VR). Thanks to this, the buyer learns more about the product and is more loyal to the seller.
- Transition to full-fledged mobile platforms. More than 70% of users use smartphones and tablets to work and shop on the Internet. A multi-platform site allows you to “capture” this segment of the consumer audience.
- Wide application of AI in the field of promotion. These processes become possible through the training of CNNs and the activation functions that determine whether the neural networks should activate neurons or not in your AI model. Artificial Intelligence generates smart product recommendations, improves customer service, and offers a powerful analysis of user actions. This increases the sales and effectiveness of the company’s marketing efforts.
Next, we’ll look at the main factors in custom eCommerce website development and the steps that have high micro and macro conversions.
Point Ecommerce Website Development Checklist
Many eCommerce websites are shutting down due to a lack of sales. To prevent this, it is necessary to analyze all services and functions – it is best to do this according to our optimized checklist.
Responsive Design
It is a tool that allows a website to display equally well on different devices (desktops, mobile phones, tablets) without switching to other versions.
Educate your audience
Make sure to have a blog on your website that will tell clients about the products, their use, and current industry trends. This step increases user loyalty and helps to convert them into customer status.
Prominent checkout button
On-site pages, a distinguishable order button, or “Add to cart” the button is a powerful magnet for customer attention and a trigger to complete a purchase.
Website Infrastructure
The infrastructure of the site provides ease of use. The first condition is a high speed of loading pages. It is also necessary to add a linking block to offer a product similar in characteristics to avoid confusing the client.
Prominent Calls-To-Action
All elements that call the user action should be prominently displayed. Make sure they get attention.
Categorize your products
As with an offline store, products on an eCommerce website need to be divided into types, subspecies, and segments. It will be difficult for the user to select items from the general assortment if there are no categories on the site.
Upselling
Additional sales increase your average check and grow your business. The effective option is the “You May Like” section in the order form, where the system selects similar products or accessories.
Craft your service page
Provide on your eCommerce site as much data as possible about products and their characteristics. The best option is grouping in separate blocks, to which high-quality photos will be added.
Product reviews
Encourage customers to write reviews and post them publicly. React to comments, answer questions. This will improve the quality of service and increase the trust of potential buyers.
Abandoned cart
This advice is implemented by default in most CSMs. You also need to configure the cart so that the product is not automatically deleted if the user returns to the page from the same browser. After all, it is convenient for customers to type a shopping list and return to it only when paying. Even if the user comes back later, the added products must be waiting.
Videos
The presence of video reviews or visual instructions will help convince the client to purchase. He will see the nuances of use and the product’s benefits, increasing the willingness to spend.
SEO for your site
Thanks to good SEO, customers will be more likely to find your site on Google for keywords. Check for master keys in the visible content and structure of the website. Create a sitemap for search engines and make extended position descriptions. Additionally, you need to check another 200+ factors.
One-Page Checkout
Focus on a short order form that fits on one page – users don’t like to spend a lot of time filling out fields. As a last resort, divide it into 2-3 steps to reduce frustration. The best option would be:
- / cart /
- / order /
- / thank-you /
You can create one page, cart and form with fields.
Accept all payment modes
Connect the maximum number of popular payment methods among users – this will increase the degree of convenience. The most popular are PayPal and card payments, but this varies by country.
Build customer confidence
Post company information, communication methods, and service policies in a prominent place. You can also make a Q& section to answer most of the more common questions.
Include the “recommended for you” feature
The specified function focuses on the user’s search history and products added to the favorites list. In addition, it raises the average bill through additional purchases.
Error reduction
Test your website thoroughly for future sales. Make sure the client does not encounter 404 errors and other system errors.
Link Analysis
Examine the links that lead to the product page to rule out a crash while loading. Also, take care of the good appearance of the links – they must be understandable for the client.
Add real-time feeds on social media
Customers will be aware of the latest news on the site, while the specified function will make it visually modern. As a result, such promotion will significantly increase brand awareness.
Storytelling
Add small stories to your site to let your customers know more about your company. At the same time, do not exaggerate and deceive consumers – if a lie is revealed, loyalty will be reduced.
7 Steps to the Ecommerce Website Development Process
To develop a really good eCommerce website, certain steps are involved. We have identified seven main steps that will allow you to achieve the best result.
Determine your eCommerce business model
Among the main types of doing business on the Internet, the most common are B2C and B2B. The first segment assumes retail or small wholesale sales to the end consumer while having a universal assortment. The B2B industry is focused on relationships between businesses – for example, in the framework of large wholesale transactions or the supply of goods of certain categories.
Know your audience
Be sure to research your potential audience to create a personal touch. Use a questionnaire, find out the age of potential buyers, their level of income, expectations from the product, and the field of activity. Based on the information received, work out the site’s content, its interface, and other elements.
Determine your branding
Be sure to develop branding, form a corporate color palette, and come up with a logo that sets you apart from other sellers. This enhances emotional response by shaping a unique user experience. Otherwise, you will be another anonymous brand that will not be remembered.
Find the right eCommerce platform
Choosing the platform on which an eCommerce website will be based is problematic. You can, of course, choose Magento or Shopify or create a marketplace with a WooCommerce (WordPress) plugin.
A good platform must have a responsive design, functionality for product management, CMS support, payment processing, and other important elements. The solution should be comprehensive – this will facilitate the launch and further support of an eCommerce website.
Do search engine optimization
Good optimization means your site will receive organic traffic from relevant content. Research keywords, use highly specialized terminology, but be guided by the readability of the content. In this case, the search engine will respond positively to your site.
Take detailed product photos
No serious investment is required to accomplish this point – good photos are obtained even on a smartphone, with minimal lighting. It is much more important to adjust the focus, create the optimal background, balance the colors, and work out different angles of the product.
Find the right shipping software
It doesn’t matter if you develop an eCommerce website for the B2B or B2C segment – you need convenient and efficient delivery. It is best to connect third-party software designed with user-friendliness in mind. Shippo is a good option. It supports carrier selection, label printing, and automatic shipping tracking. Also popular are FedEx, DHL, or other companies depending on the country.
10 eCommerce Website Development Companies
The first eCommerce websites could be homemade or ordered from small studios. But to reach the international level, you need to take care of the highest possible quality. That is why we have selected the ten biggest companies that specialize in high-load eCommerce websites – about 100 thousand people a day. Naturally, there may be other packages and prices for the eCommerce website development.
Magneto
The company offers comprehensive services, including development and strategy creation, design, and website promotion. The company has branches in Australia, India, and other countries, and it is led by Indian specialists Ronak Meghani, Bhargav Thakkar, Nitesh Nehani.
Among the main customers of the brand, we note:
- Ashrafs.
- Diamond Boutique.
- HayatMart.
- Eden Jones.
- Waders.
You can find out more about the terms of cooperation on the LinkedIn website.
Intellias
The Ukrainian-German company operates worldwide, employing more than 2000 specialists. The company offers software development services, including a unique approach to UX / UI design, adding support for AI and BigData, and creating a high level of security.
The company is more focused on corporate websites and practically does not fulfill orders for the eCommerce website development. Therefore, among the main clients of the studio:
- Nokia.
- Every Matrix.
- Siemens.
- Smava.
- Brainstorm.
The company’s CEO is Konstantin Besfamylnyi, with offices in the German Friedenweiler and Kyiv, UA. More information is presented on LinkedIn. You can always enquire about any details, including an individual order for the site.
Emizen Tech
The company specializes in trading applications, although it also develops full-fledged websites. As part of the service, the developer promotes websites and sets up chatbots with AI. The brand was born in India and was founded by Amit Samsukha. The company draws in customers from all over the world, including:
- Color Pops.
- Grooming.
- IPlumber.
- SPA.
- Buy Now Cars.
On LinkedIn, you will find more information about its customers and services.
Geomotiv
A distinctive feature of this Ukrainian-American company is its specialization in Big Data. This creates a targeted website, clearly positioned advertising, and the most automated platform. The firm also provides software testing and quality control, widely using AI.
The company works with eCommerce websites and other areas of Internet platforms. Most clients prefer anonymity – we will provide a general description of the developments:
Marketplace for selling NFT images.
WordPress web development services.
A medical assistant in chatbot format.
Service for automating advertising campaigns.
Management system for logistics processes and delivery control.
Managed by Andrei Tsibets, headquarters are located in Alexandria, US and Kyiv, UA. On its LinkedIn, the company publishes the latest news and looks for talent and offers to see successful projects.
Upside
In addition to development, the company conducts case studies, brings online shopping to an international level, and provides full control over all the processes. Born in Poland (headquartered in Kraków), the brand creates shopping sites and related systems. In the list of projects:
- Winderen.
- Yoona.
- XO.
- Samsung SDC.
- ING Belgium.
The company also maintains its own LinkedIn, where you will find more information about Daniel Hekman, the team of employees, and their services.
Logic
The company specializes in Magento and provides site maintenance services in addition to development. It is also possible to hire a separate developer for narrow tasks, and the number of projects includes:
- Wixon.
- Whole.
- Glassmania.
- Carbon38.
- Marimekko.
The company’s headquarters are located in Tallinn, and, on LinkedIn, the company is constantly talking about new partnerships and completed projects as well as about the search for employees.
VT Labs
It is a one-stop service provider that offers digital product development from scratch, platform migrations, version updates, app creation, and UX testing. The team is focused on an individual approach. This is evident from the examples of their work with:
- RPD Publications.
- Fig & Tyler.
- Greek Flavors.
- Sakura.
- White Label.
On the official LinkedIn of the Tallinn-based firm, you can learn more about its history and successes and contact their representatives directly.
Boldest
It is a unique company focused on developing websites’ external usability and internal functionality. From the development and analysis of the audience, specialists conduct the site to the release and accompany it during its work. Despite the small amount of work with eCommerce sites, this is a worthy option for collaboration. Among the clients:
- Amazon.
- Microsoft.
- UCF.
- Florida Beer Co.
- Tapa Toro.
Interestingly, the brand positions itself as a creative advertising agency, but its activities are much broader in reality. This is confirmed by the official LinkedIn of the company from Winter Park, FL, US.
Pivofy
The studio works on entire eCommerce ecosystems built with the potential to scale. It is a partner of the Shopify Plus platform, which experts have adapted to D2C and B2B formats. Among the ready-made sites are the following names:
- Pawstruck.
- Vosges Chocolate.
- Sanitaire.
- Shirley’s.
- East.
Privacy does not have LinkedIn, but you can go to the company’s website for the latest data on its activities.
Interactive Ecommerce
The Dutch company is fully specialized in Magento and creates websites with a simple yet functional design. Among the clients of the company are the following brands:
- Bonnets.
- Baba shop.
- Lamy.
- Posters.nl.
- Twinkles.
This company also does not have a LinkedIn profile – look for additional information about the services on the website or the official Facebook page.
As a result
Designing and building an eCommerce website is a multi-step and complex process that requires considering as many details as possible. You must create an eCommerce website that is convenient and informative for customers, fulfills the requirements for payment security, and ensures high-quality promotion. For the task to be completed, it is better to turn to professionals – it is almost impossible to achieve good results independently.
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