Build an eCommerce Website from Scratch Like a PRO [2024]

According to survey reports, the growth of online businesses worldwide is significantly faster and higher than traditional businesses. The success of eCommerce businesses has been so impacting that even established business houses have started online selling as a complementary effort. However, first things first, in eCommerce, it is mandatory to create an eCommerce website at the outset. Choosing an impressive design for your website is crucial. It has been observed that the design of your website impacts the credibility of your store by almost 75%. Your design should be attractive enough to capture the attention of the readers instantly as you have less than a second to create an impression and prompt them to stop by.

There is a definite way of going about the process of creating and operating an eCommerce website. Though professional involvement is always solicited for such efforts, fair knowledge could also help initiate an online business. In this blog, you will learn the importance of building an eCommerce website, the steps to create it from scratch, and best practices for web designing.

Why Should You Invest in an eCommerce Website?

Let us start by understanding why you should invest in an eCommerce website. Here are the top reasons:

1. Enter New Markets

You can spread your business in new geographical areas and sell your products in new markets by investing in an eCommerce portal. 52% of online customers reportedly order from local as well as international eCommerce sites. By starting an online store, you can take your business to places you only dreamt of and create a large customer base. 

2. Establish Your Name

By creating an eCommerce website that does not only sell goods but also provides informative content about them you can create a good impression. By offering interesting information about your products and giving insights about your industry, you can draw the attention of your potential clients. It is a brilliant way to gain popularity and establish a name in the market.

3. Convenient Shopping Experience

These days, people prefer shopping online because of the convenience it offers. It enables them to compare and contrast the products being offered by different businesses and choose the best among them. Research shows that the global eCommerce market is anticipated to reach $6.3 trillion this year. By offering a convenient shopping experience through your online store, you can win over more customers.

Step-by-Step Procedure to Create an eCommerce Website 

Statistics reveal that 23% of the total retail purchases are likely to happen online by 2027. Thus, if you haven’t started selling online yet then it is time to consider the option. Follow these steps to build your eCommerce store from scratch:

Step 1: Decide The Product You Want to Sell

While browsing the internet, you must have noticed the existence of multiple eCommerce websites selling varied items. Certain websites are dedicated to selling a particular line of products or services such as garments, travel plans, fashion items, etc. Also, some other eCommerce websites sell multiple items like mobile phones, laptops, household appliances, books, CDs, home theatres, handy cams, sports goods, etc. The latter is like a huge departmental store selling everything under the same roof.

At the outset, it is thus important to decide on the product or service that you would like to sell through your website. While deciding on the item of trade, it is essential to estimate the local demand. Buyers would always prefer to buy items from a local vendor, irrespective of being online or offline. The local supplier would always ensure faster deliveries, easier payment terms, and earlier replacements in case of wrong or defective shipments.

Step 2: Choose Your Business Model

As an eCommerce business owner, you can choose your business model as per your requirement. Either you can sell only through your online store, or you can sell your products on marketplaces like Amazon, Flipkart, eBay, etc. You can also sell your products on both platforms at the same time.

Step 3: Choose a Business and Domain Name

Once you have decided on your range of items and business model, the next step would be to choose a business name and create a domain. A business name should be relevant to your products and easy to remember for your target audience. A domain gives an identity and makes it easier for online buyers to recognize you. However, for companies with limited financial resources, it would be desirable to get a shared domain. Sharing a domain with an established name makes it easier to reach out to your target buyers. As the business grows, it would be wise to have a dedicated domain as it helps in search engine optimization and easier recognition.

Step 4: Select An eCommerce Website Builder

Nowadays, it’s straightforward to build your online store with the help of eCommerce website builders. These software’s creates websites in few seconds where you can start selling products instantly.

Step 5: Designing Your eCommerce Store

Your eCommerce website is your store, and it needs to be designed for the convenience of your buyers. Your website should contain details about your saleable products and services. Images, descriptions, prices, users’ comments, and ratings should be included on your web page to guide prospective buyers. You must make certain that your web page showcases your products perfectly so that buyers are never misled. You must make your web pages and website attractive as it’s your brand’s representation to buyers online.

Step 6: Set Up The Payment Gateway

As an online business, one must have multiple payment options available for the customers. The eStore builders come with tools to automatically set up these functionalities for your website. The customer should make payments via credit card, debit card, online wallets, net banking, COD, etc.

Step 7: Secure Your Website By Installing SSL Certificate

For all the websites that transfer data online, one must ensure that their connection is protected by a Secured Security Layer (SSL). The SSL certificate keeps your website secure and builds trust among your customers. Nowadays, even Google recommends having an SSL certificate for every single website.

Step 8: Select Your Shipping Partner

Once you start selling products through your eCommerce website, you need to ship those products to your customers with the help of courier services. eCommerce logistics aggregator services like Shiprocket are the best options to go for. They give you multiple courier agency options to ship your product with the lowest available shipping charges so that you may have maximum profit value in your share.

Step 9: Preview and Test Your Website

Before you launch your eCommerce website and start selling, it is necessary to preview and test if it is working fine. Among other things, you must check if the payments are processing, the site is adapting to different screens and offering smooth navigation. To enable a seamless browsing and shopping experience, you must check each tab, function, and link on your website and fix any issues before going live. It is recommended to test your site on different browsers as well as devices. A lack of these parts can drive the customers away and hinder sales.

eCommerce Website Design Best Practices

Here is a look at some eCommerce website design best practices:

Use Attractive Images and Vibrant Colours

The use of attractive images and vibrant colours add life to the website and draws a positive response. It is recommended to use stock images to enhance the aesthetic appeal of your eCommerce website. You can get good-quality stock images at a reasonable price. Making this small investment can increase your chances of attracting potential customers.

Incorporate a Simple Checkout Procedure

The checkout procedure on your eCommerce website should be straightforward so that your customers can make the purchase swiftly. Use bright buttons and catchy typography to draw attention to the checkout tab and prompt the customers to purchase the item with a click. Do not forget to provide multiple payment methods. It has been observed that 25% of online buyers abandon their cart as the eCommerce site asks them to create an account. So, avoid this mistake.

Add Trust Signals

Add trust signals on your site to render an authentic touch and build credibility. Adding images of your team briefings, office space, and company events can be a good idea. Likewise, add your contact information and certificates or awards achieved in the industry. Sharing links to your policies also helps in building trust.

Include White Space on your Web Pages

White space is the space between the content and design elements on your page. It has been observed that websites that have white spaces tend to perform better. This is because these spaces improve the readability factor which is necessary to process information easily.

Share Customer Reviews

Sharing customer reviews on your eCommerce website is highly recommended as it helps build credibility and boost sales. Research shows that customer reviews help in improving the conversion rate by 270%. You must display reviews in a place where they are easily visible to your visitors.

Adapt to the Changing Trends

It is important to stay updated with the latest trends in the eCommerce industry and modify your website accordingly from time to time. This is necessary to rank high in search results and drive traffic. It also helps in creating effective marketing strategies to attract more customers.

Conclusion

Building a website has become easy with the availability of new-age tools and techniques. While hiring a professional web developer to develop your site is the best bet, it is still important to learn how to do so on your own. After all, it is only when you know the procedure, you will be able to assess their work and provide valuable input. The step-by-step procedure shared above will help develop a clear understanding of the same. These are the basic steps in creating an eCommerce website for your product or service and start selling instantly. Do not forget to follow web design best practices such as displaying customer reviews, including white space, and using vibrant images.