SET YOUR WEBSITE UP FOR SUCCESS
Ever noticed how some online stores just feel effortless to shop from, while others make you want to close the tab immediately? We certainly have. At WEBITMD, we're obsessed with what makes the difference between an "okay" e-commerce website and a great one.
After helping dozens of businesses boost their online sales, we've learned that creating a great e-commerce site isn't rocket science – but it does require knowing a few insider tricks that can be easy to miss. We'd love to share some of our favorite tips that can transform your online store from "meh" to "must shop" and turn those website visitors into happy customers who keep coming back.
Before you set up your website, you need to figure out what type of e-commerce store model fits your business.
Individual brand: An individual brand e-commerce store sells its own products on its website, and may also be referred to as a direct-to-consumer (DTC) store. It's a great option if you want to create a unique shopping experience for your customers. You also have complete ownership of all the data collected on your site, including customer information, which can give you a competitive advantage over larger e-commerce stores.
Online retailer: Online retailers are e-commerce stores that sell other companies’ products on their websites - for example, Dick’s Sporting Goods sells products from many brands, including Nike, Adidas, Converse, and more. This type of e-commerce platform is good for businesses that want to start selling products quickly and easily without having to set up a store.
Once you've determined your model, it's time to make sure your website is optimized for the best ROI:
Choose the right platform: There are a lot of options out there - Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce - but in our experience, Shopify is the best platform for D2C e-commerce businesses looking to grow, thanks to its user-friendly design tools, robust marketing features, and seamless third-party integrations that enable businesses of all sizes to create professional online stores without technical expertise. Shopify includes built-in payment processing, an extensive app marketplace, and exceptional customer support as well.
Optimize for mobile: The vast majority of e-commerce traffic comes from smartphones, so you need to make sure that your website is usable and easy to navigate on mobile browsers.
Drive traffic with SEO and paid ads: Finally, make sure you're taking advantage of SEO best practices to boost your website's ranking, and implement a paid ad strategy to get more eyes - and ideally more customers - on your website.
Once you have an e-commerce like Shopify that can grow with you and website optimized for smartphone traffic, you can think about leveraging AI for personalized shopping and automated inventory as well as selling across multiple channels.
👀 TLDR: Want to take your e-commerce website from basic to outstanding? Consider the store model that works best for your business, make sure you've optimized your website for mobile viewing, and be sure to choose an e-commerce website platform that can scale as you grow.
Best Regards,
WEBITMD TEAM