What Is Ecommerce Website and Why Start One

10 min read

As the retail industry moves further into the digital age, an ecommerce website could be a worthwhile investment for any budding entrepreneur or business-savvy innovator. You may be familiar with the term, but what does it mean exactly?

Today, we’ll be looking at some of the most important aspects of an ecommerce business, how you can both start one and stand out from the competition, and the things you can do to enhance your customer base. We’ll also be covering the factors that dictate whether or not an ecommerce business is a good move for you at the moment.

So, should you start an online store in 2021?

If you’d like to know more, check out the rest of the article below.

What is an Ecommerce Website?

An ecommerce website is a business model which involves selling products and goods over the internet. Basically, any online store where you purchase anything is considered an ecommerce platform.

In fact, you probably already use ecommerce regularly. Amazon and eBay are two of the biggest names in the ecommerce world, both setting an example for an easier way for customers to enjoy online shopping.

From clothes to food, you can find an ecommerce website that sells pretty much anything. As such, you can expect a crowded marketplace. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t carve out your own niche and make it an online store.

How do You Build an Ecommerce Website?

If you want to create a successful ecommerce site, you need two things: a comprehensive plan and an ecommerce development platform or website developer to help you build your site.

This is where Ecwid can help.

We are an ecommerce platform that makes creating an online store a piece of cake. Build your own website from the ground and instantly sync and sell products across your site, online marketplaces, social media, and more. We also help you grow your business with useful marketing tools, managing the entire enterprise from the Ecwid control panel.

Decide on your product

If you’re considering an ecommerce website, you should already have some idea of the products you will sell. You should research the market niche, understanding what your competitors are doing well (and not so well). You should factor in how hard it is to source (or hand-craft) your goods, as well as the best delivery methods.

This research into an ecommerce website should also help you identify a target demographic, what they are looking for, and how you can provide a service or product that fulfills their needs.

Once you’ve laid this groundwork, you can dive into what makes an ecommerce website truly click with customers.

What website content does an ecommerce platform need?

Every successful ecommerce store comes with a checklist regarding quality content that engages the target audience:

Photos: Any good ecommerce website will use professional-quality images to help customers decide whether they want to purchase your products. These photos should be well-lit, show the product from multiple angles, etc.

Description: As well as photos, an ecommerce website should also have detailed and accurate product descriptions that sell the item to potential customers. They’ll consider the product’s size, uses, and functions. The best ecommerce platforms will not usually have many “not as described” negative reviews if they have accurate product descriptions.

Policies: An ecommerce website should have comprehensive terms and conditions that cover the seller and buyer from scams and similar schemes. These terms should include a returns policy, payment options and be placed somewhere on the website that is easy to find. For example, many ecommerce platforms include their policies at the checkout before the customer completes their purchase.

Prices: There are laws in place to ensure retail businesses include the price for all their products. This includes ecommerce businesses as well. Not only does this help customers understand the product better, but it also increases transparency between business and audience.

Customer Service: If an ecommerce website wants to earn repeat custom, it should offer a robust customer service feature, such as a live chat, contact form, or helpline. Basically, a good ecommerce platform should be able to provide solutions and answers if their customers get stuck or have a query about the products.

Why Should You Start an Ecommerce Website?

So, whether you are a first-time investor or a plucky entrepreneur with a vision, there has never been a better time to get into the ecommerce industry.

Here are five reasons why an ecommerce platform could be a fruitful business venture.

Ecommerce is a rapidly growing industry

Current projections from Statista suggest that the ecommerce industry will be worth 6.3 trillion dollars by 2024, rising from 4.8 trillion in 2021.

In terms of a profitable business model, there has never been a better time to get into the ecommerce trade. As the stats show, the industry is on the rise, offering a lucrative landscape for entrepreneurs who may want to start a new venture of business owners looking to expand and diversify.

You can earn while you are not working

If you are working in a physical store, you need to put a lot of effort into picking the right location, working in the store, making the business look as appealing as possible to passers-by. However, ecommerce platforms simply require a domain name and a user-friendly web design. You can even ship globally without opening up additional businesses in other countries.

Essentially, ecommerce has a “passive” quality in that you do not have to be physically working to make money. As such, you could even make sales and earn serious money while you are asleep.

It’s easy to get started

As we have mentioned before, Ecwid makes it incredibly easy to get your ecommerce off the ground, thanks to things like marketing automation and an easy-to-use control panel. You do not even need a lot of money to get things up and running. Of course, the hardest aspect is sourcing your stock. Still, if you have enough passion and dedication, you can build positive relationships with manufacturers and distributors, which is key to building a profitable online store.

80% of online users have purchased an item from an ecommerce website

As you may have guessed from the rising popularity of the ecommerce site industry, that 80 percent figure is now much higher. The audience is obviously willing to purchase things online. As such, you need to establish some level of reliability and trust with your customers. From designing an attractive website to providing speedy customer service, you have a great opportunity to build a loyal customer base.

Remember — trust is one of the most important things for any ecommerce platform if they want to succeed.

You can reach more customers over time

The best way for an ecommerce business to entice new customers and keep their current audience is to reduce friction and ensure their sales process is seamless. In addition, you want to achieve maximum conversion as often as possible. Luckily, you can use many marketing tools and strategies to reach the right audience for your products.

Nowadays, many ecommerce businesses use content marketing to attract new customers effectively. They create relevant content for readers, sign them up as email subscribers, and send them notifications regarding sales, promotions, and new items.

Final Thoughts

If you are looking to get into ecommerce, we hope our article has given you some valuable information and food for thought. There are many reasons why you may want to get into selling products through your online store, but you should always be passionate about the items you sell. While the market is crowded, the right attitude and proper research could set you for a very lucrative business endeavor.

Good luck!

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May 18, 2021

About the author

Max has been working in the ecommerce industry for the last six years helping brands to establish and level-up content marketing and SEO. Despite that, he has experience with entrepreneurship. He is a fiction writer in his free time.