The growing trend of online shopping is creating favorable conditions for businesses in the e-commerce sector to develop and expand their market reach. Building an e-commerce website is a crucial factor in enhancing business efficiency and reducing advertising costs. Follow Optimal Agency’s article to learn the steps to build an e-commerce website.
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What is an E-commerce website?
According to Clause 8, Article 3 of the Government’s Decree 52/2013/ND-CP on e-commerce, an e-commerce website is an electronic information page used for the process of buying and selling goods and providing services. This includes everything from displaying and introducing products to contracting, payment, and after-sales services.
Simply put, an e-commerce website is a business’s online store where products and services are introduced. It also allows customers and businesses to buy, sell, and exchange goods and services with each other. Today, e-commerce websites have become tools for businesses to promote their brands and products, reach target customers, and increase sales.
Many people often confuse e-commerce websites with sales websites. In reality, there is a significant difference, and a sales website is just one of the two types of e-commerce websites. While an e-commerce website focuses on selling a specific type of goods provided by the seller, a sales website is established by an organization or individual to sell or provide their own goods or services without selling products or services from other suppliers.
Benefits of building an E-commerce website
By following the steps to build an e-commerce website, businesses will have a platform to facilitate online shopping and service provision. The specific benefits that an e-commerce website offers to businesses include:
Cost savings
Owning a website allows a business to save on costs associated with renting space or a store for displaying and selling goods. Additionally, businesses can save on hiring sales staff. Conducting business online through an e-commerce website can lead to greater cost savings compared to traditional store operations or selling on any other platform. Moreover, businesses can more easily expand their operations and market reach.
Customers’ accessibility
Designing an e-commerce website enables a business to overcome barriers to customer access at any time and from any place, without limitations. Not only can businesses reach a large customer base, but an e-commerce website also helps build trust and customer loyalty. E-commerce websites save time for buyers and allow sellers to operate 24/7, maximizing revenue.
Build brand credibility
Creating an e-commerce website allows businesses to provide useful information about products and services and highlight the unique value they offer. A professionally designed, user-friendly website enhances the customer experience, fostering greater trust and satisfaction with the business. Additionally, it helps businesses build their brand credibility compared to competitors. You can also register your website with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to elevate your brand’s value, leading to higher revenue.
Boost marketing and promotion efforts
By providing comprehensive information about products and services along with positive customer reviews, businesses can effectively promote their brand. A website that earns customer trust and offers many promotions will attract more new customers. This contributes to enhancing marketing and promotion efforts on the internet, increasing conversion rates, sales, and profits.
Besides, readers should refer to other related articles such as 10 e-commerce trends most popular today.
Key features of an E-commerce website
Before applying the steps to build a professional e-commerce website, businesses need to identify the necessary features of such a website. By creating a website with all these features, businesses can operate more efficiently, achieve higher performance, and offer great customer experiences, thereby increasing customer loyalty.
User and mobile-friendly
Research shows that to achieve a high conversion rate, a website must be easy to use and support quick, convenient purchases, ensuring that the user experience is not disrupted. Furthermore, most shopping transactions occur on mobile devices. Therefore, when designing an e-commerce website, it is essential to ensure a user-friendly interface compatible with mobile devices. You should also add features such as product search, intuitive navigation, and a comparison filter.
Display Cross-sell and Up-sell products
Most of a business’s revenue comes from returning customers rather than new ones. To tap into the potential for additional purchases from returning customers and boost sales and profits, take advantage of Cross-sell and Up-sell features. Display cross-sell and up-sell products at critical moments, such as when a customer adds items to their cart or clicks the checkout button, to maximize sales.
Add a wishlist feature
The wishlist feature allows customers to save their favorite products that they are not yet ready to purchase. When they revisit the website later with the motivation and means to buy, they can easily complete their purchase. The wishlist feature increases the likelihood of repeat visits and purchases on your e-commerce website.
Display user reviews
When making purchasing decisions, users often read reviews and feedback from previous customers. About 57% of users are more likely to complete a purchase when a product or service is rated 4/5 stars or higher. Therefore, businesses should implement support services for gathering authentic reviews to encourage customers to make quick purchasing decisions.
Provide advanced payment options
To complete a transaction, customers must pay for their orders. When designing an e-commerce website, businesses should offer various payment methods to make it easy for customers to complete their purchases. This enhances the user experience and encourages them to return for future shopping. Common payment methods include credit cards, mobile banking, e-wallets,…
Provide shipping information
Another essential feature for an e-commerce website is offering detailed shipping information for customers, including estimated delivery times and tracking the progress of their orders.
Steps to build an e-commerce website
Understand the karket and define the design goals
Before starting the detailed implementation of an e-commerce website, a business needs to understand the current market conditions and the website design strategies of competitors. It’s essential to research shopping trends, customer needs, and desires within the e-commerce sector. Then, clearly define the goals of your e-commerce website design and the benefits it will bring.
By understanding the market, a business can develop a business strategy and design an e-commerce website that stands out and appeals to the target customer base. Defining design goals ensures that the final product meets the requirements and delivers the highest effectiveness.
Choose a domain name that fits your business
When starting an e-commerce business, choose a domain name that aligns with your company, products, and services. Opt for a short, memorable domain name that includes your business name or reflects your products or services. Once chosen, the domain name will be permanently associated with your website, so it’s crucial to select wisely.
Plan the development of your E-commerce website
After selecting a suitable domain name, the next step is to plan the creation of your e-commerce website. Consider factors such as the number of products to be sold on the site, necessary features, the shopping journey on the website, and more. This planning process will help create a clear blueprint that ensures the website design aligns with your set goals.
Select a logo and website interface
Next, choose a logo and website interface that suits your e-commerce website. The logo should be unique and impressive, helping your business stand out from competitors and making it easier for customers to remember. A well-chosen logo enhances brand recognition. Regarding the website interface, focus on modern, attractive, and eye-catching designs that differentiate your site while optimizing the user experience.
Choose a reputable website design company
This is one of the crucial factors that determine whether you have a high-quality e-commerce website. You can design it in-house or collaborate with a professional design firm. Choose a reputable, professional design partner based on criteria such as portfolio, project completion time, design experience, and costs that fit within your budget.
Register and complete required legal documents
According to current regulations by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, every e-commerce website must be registered or notified according to the law. Ensure that your business has all the necessary legal documents if the website is owned by a business. The process of handling legal procedures can be time-consuming, so it might be advisable to have your legal department handle it or hire legal services.
Test website features
Before launching, thoroughly check all the information on the website to avoid errors. Also, ensure that the features intended for customers are functioning correctly to provide the best possible experience.
Operate and optimize the website
Once everything is ready, launch your e-commerce website. To increase awareness of your website, consider promoting it through social media campaigns, Google ads,… After some time in operation, regularly check for errors, make necessary corrections, and upgrade the site to attract more target customers and retain existing ones.
By following this article on the steps to build an e-commerce website, businesses can successfully apply them in practice. This will help you create the desired website for selling products, promoting services, and reaching target customers more effectively.
You may want to know:
- Things to pay attention to when developing a website
- How to optimize sales website effectively
- How to effectively optimize EEAT for your website to Increase SEO Rankings
FAQ
The cost depends on your budget and the service package you choose. Currently, there are many companies offering e-commerce website design services with varying packages and costs. Therefore, the price of designing an e-commerce website will vary. Businesses can choose between a full-package design or custom design according to specific requirements. Generally, full-package design costs are more economical than custom designs.
Common payment methods used on e-commerce websites include credit card payments, cash on delivery, e-wallet payments, bank transfers, and PayPal. Depending on the purpose of the website and the business’s needs, you can choose the most suitable payment methods. Businesses can also combine multiple payment methods on their e-commerce websites.
