5 Tips to Building a Successful Ecommerce Site
- By Mathew Blaine
- Published 12/11/2011
- Marketing
- Unrated
To build a profitable and successful ecommerce site there are several things you will need to keep in mind while designing the user interface of your site as well as considerations for the backend database and programs.
Most people coming online and wanting to build ecommerce site already know how to run a business successfully. Notice I said “most”…
If you’ve never run a business before, things are going to be tougher starting out and over the next few months as you learn those skills “on the job” but that should be no reason for you to avoid jumping into the world of ecommerce with both feet.
However, if you are not really be aware of what it takes to build ecommerce site that both appeals to potential customers as well as the search engines, here are some important things to keep in mind before and during the process of trying to build out your ecommerce site.
Tips to build ecommerce site:
Tip 1: Decide on your project scope and the exact services you want to provide.
Building an ecommerce site requires a lots and lots of preplanning and forethought. You must anticipate the needs of the customer and then work to meet those needs and expectations.
You can use a shopping cart software that you install on your own web site, or what’s called a “hosted ecommerce solution”.
There are advantages to both, but honestly you are better off going with a hosted solution.
Yes, it’s going to cost a bit more, but keep in mind that it’s well worth the added expense as companies that provide these types of services have already thought of everything you are going to need and planned for that. Plus, you won’t have to worry about PCI compliance or security.
Tip 2: Keep the user interface simple and direct. Avoid complicated terminology. If you want to say ‘Check Cut’ then say ‘Check Out’. But don’t say something like ‘Exit’ or ‘Pay here’.
Online buyers have grown accustomed to certain terminology while shopping online. One of the keys to building ecommerce site that is easy to use, is that you need to stick with familiar terminology instead of introducing some new terms and t.
Tip 3: Use great product images. Do NOT compromise on the quality of your images. This is a basic requirement to building an ecommerce site that stands out from the rest and on which is often forgotten or ignored. How often have you seen an ecommerce web site with cheesy pictures and thought to yourself – “Man, I’m not going to spend my money here. That (insert product) looks terrible!”
Remember, your potential customers cannot see or feel the products you are trying to sell, like they can in a brick and mortar store.
Tip 4: Design or use a robust and scalable system. Your ecommerce web site needs to be open 24/7 because competitors are just a click away. Reliability is the key to build ecommerce site.
Again this is where the hosted ecommerce shopping cart really shines. Remember these companies have full time staff sitting on the servers. If there’s a problem they will know about it well before you do. Chances are that they are already working on it by the time you report a problem.
Tip 5: Don’t do something that’s not your forte. Go with the best and choose a solution provider who gives you a complete ecommerce solution.
Most people coming online and wanting to build ecommerce site already know how to run a business successfully. Notice I said “most”…
If you’ve never run a business before, things are going to be tougher starting out and over the next few months as you learn those skills “on the job” but that should be no reason for you to avoid jumping into the world of ecommerce with both feet.
However, if you are not really be aware of what it takes to build ecommerce site that both appeals to potential customers as well as the search engines, here are some important things to keep in mind before and during the process of trying to build out your ecommerce site.
Tips to build ecommerce site:
Tip 1: Decide on your project scope and the exact services you want to provide.
Building an ecommerce site requires a lots and lots of preplanning and forethought. You must anticipate the needs of the customer and then work to meet those needs and expectations.
You can use a shopping cart software that you install on your own web site, or what’s called a “hosted ecommerce solution”.
There are advantages to both, but honestly you are better off going with a hosted solution.
Yes, it’s going to cost a bit more, but keep in mind that it’s well worth the added expense as companies that provide these types of services have already thought of everything you are going to need and planned for that. Plus, you won’t have to worry about PCI compliance or security.
Tip 2: Keep the user interface simple and direct. Avoid complicated terminology. If you want to say ‘Check Cut’ then say ‘Check Out’. But don’t say something like ‘Exit’ or ‘Pay here’.
Online buyers have grown accustomed to certain terminology while shopping online. One of the keys to building ecommerce site that is easy to use, is that you need to stick with familiar terminology instead of introducing some new terms and t.
Tip 3: Use great product images. Do NOT compromise on the quality of your images. This is a basic requirement to building an ecommerce site that stands out from the rest and on which is often forgotten or ignored. How often have you seen an ecommerce web site with cheesy pictures and thought to yourself – “Man, I’m not going to spend my money here. That (insert product) looks terrible!”
Remember, your potential customers cannot see or feel the products you are trying to sell, like they can in a brick and mortar store.
Tip 4: Design or use a robust and scalable system. Your ecommerce web site needs to be open 24/7 because competitors are just a click away. Reliability is the key to build ecommerce site.
Again this is where the hosted ecommerce shopping cart really shines. Remember these companies have full time staff sitting on the servers. If there’s a problem they will know about it well before you do. Chances are that they are already working on it by the time you report a problem.
Tip 5: Don’t do something that’s not your forte. Go with the best and choose a solution provider who gives you a complete ecommerce solution.
Mathew Blaine
Find out more about running your own ecommece business and how easy it can be with the right ecommece software like http://www.1automationwiz.com or http://www.youtube.com/1automationwiz
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