Key Considerations Before Building an Ecommerce Site

This is not an article about how to set up a website. Rather, its purpose is to share some important fundamentals you need to think about prior to building an ecommerce site.

In other words, planning is key.

And the reason is because it helps you create a business strategy that, when combined with an excellent website, can greatly contribute to your overall success.

Know your products and market

Presumably you’ve already done research to find out if your product(s) is viable and if there is a niche market for it.

But if you haven’t done this yet, now’s the time, before building an ecommerce site. And if you already have a site, your research will give you a clearer picture of what needs to be tweaked.

You’ll also want to have a general understanding of your competition, including what sets your product apart from theirs; in other words, a marketing strategy.

Avoid information overload

The best way to do this is to plan an overall effect that is simple . . . and human.

At the same time, though, everything important should be conveyed within the first five seconds of landing on a page, and delivered in a clear, concise, and engaging way.

Sound difficult? It doesn’t have to be, especially if you’ve done the market research.

Simply figure out what your top products are and only showcase them. And then eliminate all other secondary and otherwise unrelated content.

Consider design and functionality

When you’re building an ecommerce site, it’s important to think about the end user experience.

And so your site should feel personable and reflect your brand’s values. This can be achieved in many ways, but it always begins with a customer-friendly intuitive design.

Also, don’t underestimate the value of optimizing for site search usability. This is, in effect, an ecommerce store’s sales assistant, there to point the way for visitors.

Ultimately, building an ecommerce site that is successful over the long run comes down to a seller’s understanding of their niche markets nuanced needs and desires.

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