Internet sales today are an important part of business, regardless of their size. If you want to actively develop and successfully sell, it is crucial to pay attention to the choice of an eCommerce website development company when creating an online store.
A successful online store, even a very small and budget one, is a great start. In the future, you will be able to develop it and promote it in search engines to get more customers and profits. At the same time, mistakes at the start of eCommerce lead to a loss of money and time.
What You Need to Know for Successful eCommerce Website Development
An online store is always a complex project, and it should meet certain requirements:
- Convenient and understandable. Like in an offline store, eCommerce should make customers feel maximum comfort;
- Informative. Your customers should get maximum useful information without the help of consultants and sellers;
- Attractive. The list of eCommerce website development services always includes work on a unique design or adaptation of a ready-made solution;
- Optimized. The site should be adapted for the work of search engines to attract customers.
Different eCommerce website development companies offer a wide range of solutions, starting from setting up a store on an eCommerce SAAS platform and finishing with a unique web project development.
Choosing the Platform: Important Aspects of eCommerce
ECommerce website developers prefer to work with different platforms. Some are willing to let the client choose the solution. But the majority of firms specialize in working with one to three platforms. That's why it's better to understand your ideas before choosing an agency.
Shopify
This is one of the most popular eCommerce platforms in the world. The service works as a SAAS platform, which means that you do not need to separately pay for website hosting and worry about technical support. Payment is made on a monthly basis, and the price starts at 29 dollars.
If you wish, you can try to set up a store on this platform by yourself. But more often, business representatives prefer to seek help from eCommerce website development companies.
Experienced professionals will help:
- Quickly set up a store;
- Connect payment systems and other solutions;
- Choose and adapt the design template;
- Develop a competent structure and usability.
Also, if necessary, they will fill the store with products and other information.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce is another SAAS platform for eCommerce popular worldwide. The prices and features do not differ much from the previous solution. When comparing, pay special attention to the list of features that are available in different pricing packages. Choose the one that works best for you.
There are a lot of eCommerce website development companies working with this platform. They will also help you quickly develop a competent structure, choose and adapt an attractive design, and fill the site with content for a quick launch and further promotion.
Square Online
Square Online is another SAAS platform for eCommerce website development, which is gaining popularity. More and more eCommerce website development companies recommend paying attention to it.
Its functionality largely coincides with what the leaders in the eСommerce industry provide. Some limitations are mostly related to specific functions which are available only in the most expensive packages. At the same time, the cost is 2 times lower, which can be a competitive advantage for you.
WooCommerce
This is the most popular platform for development in the field of eСommerce based on WordPress. The solution itself is completely free, but additional features may be implemented by plugins, and you will have to pay for them.
Many top eCommerce website development companies and even freelancers work with this tool.
Advantages:
- Free open-source eCommerce solution;
- A big choice of ready-made solutions;
- You can place the site on any hosting.
Features:
1. You will get a full-fledged custom eCommerce website development. A platform is only a basic tool. It is not easy to cope with the development without the help of a web programmer.
2. Not all eCommerce website development companies provide ongoing technical support. Most likely, you will have to negotiate about it for a fee.
Magento
Magento is also a CMS option for online stores with open-source code. It is especially well-suited for retail. The service has external eCommerce channels, and therefore, allows you to conveniently trade, including on Amazon and eBay.
To create an online store on this platform, you will require the help of an eCommerce site developer because, without knowledge of web programming, it is extremely difficult to set it up.
Wix
Wix works as a SaaS platform, i.e. it provides ongoing support, hosting, and many useful tools for eCommerce. The built-in constructor allows you to create attractive pages and connect various features even without the help of a programmer. However, many businesses prefer to contact experienced eCommerce website development companies.
DRUPAL
DRUPAL is a powerful and also free CMS with open-source code and a wide list of features. It is suitable for eCommerce, corporate, entertainment sites, portals, and more. The creation of the site requires the obligatory participation of an eCommerce website developer.
DRUPAL is very popular in the field of B2B eCommerce website development, where you need a solution for creating a personal account for the user, integration with CRM, accounting system, and other special features.
Other CMS and Services
With custom eCommerce website development, you can be offered a platform that wasn't mentioned here. In the list above, there are examples of the most popular solutions in the world. Do not immediately reject the offered option. Study the benefits, and ask the developer why he or she suggests you should choose this particular tool.
There are many solutions for eCommerce. Perhaps, it will be more profitable and comfortable to use a platform adapted precisely to the specifics of the business.
Freelancers or ECommerce Website Development Companies
Freelancers provide eCommerce website development services cheaper than specialized agencies. It would seem that the benefit is obvious.
But in fact:
- Freelancers often prolong the deadlines, and that's why you lose profit;
- A freelancer is a specialist in one particular area, for example, a web developer. The company can offer a range of services in the field of eCommerce from design to content and promotion;
- Once your website is implemented, the freelancer completes the project, and most likely, you won’t be able to contact him/her for revision. The company will come to your assistance always.
It is important to understand that the best eCommerce website development is always a complex of services, and in this case, you should save very carefully.
How to Choose the Best eCommerce Website Development Company
There is a huge choice of eCommerce website development companies. That is why the representatives of the business do not know how to choose the right one. We have made a list of actions and important steps that will help you choose a contractor.
Make a budget
In the field of eCommerce, budget is often the most important factor. You should understand that the best eCommerce site developers’ services are usually relatively expensive. And inexpensive services are often even lower in quality than you will pay for them.
There are two solutions that can be used in this situation (separately or at the same time):
1. Limit the functionality to a basic list. Any site can be developed gradually, adding sections and services as possible.
2. Choose offshore eCommerce website development companies. The best developers in Eastern Europe or India are ready to provide services at a high level, and their prices are much lower than the world leaders and companies from the U.S.
Define Your Goals and Requirements
Before ordering eCommerce website development services, it is important to clearly define your goals and objectives. You have to understand why you need an eCommerce website, what and to whom you want to sell, what additional goals you strive to achieve. For example, in B2B, the online store is more often a means of automating sales and increasing customer loyalty through a convenient service. When working in B2C, the main goal is to increase sales by attracting new customers.
If you understand exactly what you need, any eCommerce website development company can offer you solutions, even if you do not know what functionality you need. Otherwise, the site will be what you ask, but will it solve the problem? This is an open question.
Choose a Region to Search for a Contractor
Above, we have already mentioned the difference in pricing of companies from different regions. But it also happens that an organization is required to choose an eCommerce website development company in its own country. For example, many countries have this requirement for state-owned companies. In other cases, the business owners prefer personal communication, which also introduces certain restrictions.
In addition, when ordering eCommerce website development services, think about the difference in time zones and the associated factor of limitations in communication with developers.
Decide on the Platform
This step is important when considering eCommerce website development. If you find the choice difficult, you can skip this point. Although for B2B eCommerce website development, the list of features and budget can be extremely important. A preliminary choice will help limit the list of potential contractors. But, in fact, you can always leave this decision to the developers.
Make a List of the Main Candidates
Practice shows that the best eCommerce site developers for your project can be found anywhere. Mostly, people use handy rankings or regional directories to do that. A direct search on Google can also help.
Select a small number of the most interesting options. Experts believe that it is best to stop at 5 or 6. But if you want, you can increase the list. The main thing is that the company should have experience in eCommerce, be suitable for your price and region, and demonstrate solutions you like in the portfolio.
Research ECommerce Website Development Companies’ Reviews
The best way to look for eCommerce website development company reviews is to visit independent websites. These may include social networking sites, ratings, and specialized review sites.
Better yet, find a way to communicate with companies who are already clients of your potential contractors. The heads of such eCommerce businesses are likely to share their impressions with you, talk about the specifics of their work, and share the challenges they have encountered in the development process.
Evaluate the Offers
Send the candidates requests describing your requirements for an eCommerce site. This can be done in any convenient form, but more often than not, it is sent in the form of electronic documents.
Study the description of the eCommerce website development services offered to you. Compare the budget of the project from different agencies. It is important that the list of services is also quite comparable.
For example, some eCommerce website development companies are willing to perform search engine optimization as part of the project, creating a unique design, filling your store. Others provide only a portion of the additional services. Others are only willing to do the development itself.
Check Communication
In custom eCommerce website development, it is important that you have a mutual understanding and comfortable communication with the developers. There are always two parties involved in working on a project.
Make sure that the company's manager responds to your requests promptly and that the experts are willing to go deep into the specifics of your brand and share your values. Only if you share the same understanding of the end goal and also communicate comfortably while working on the project, will you be successful.
Choose the Best eCommerce Website Development Company
Once you have checked everything you can and compared offers, there is only one thing left to do - choose an eCommerce website development company, sign a contract, and start working together.
Remember that the development process requires your participation in many stages. You have to approve the design and structure of the site, as you are an expert in your business and understand your customers better. You will be required to provide such information: descriptions of services, company features, an eCommerce catalog, access to IT systems, and more.
In some cases, your employees will also fill out the site themselves; in others, a developer will do it. But still, you need to train your employees to cope with the system. Otherwise, it will be extremely difficult to work with it in the future.
How Much Does an ECommerce Website Cost
You already understand that eCommerce website development can be different, accordingly, the price can range from $500 (for the simplest projects from freelancers) to $100 000 or even more. But in fact, the cost of an eCommerce website consists of more than just development. So for you to properly form a budget, it is worth understanding all aspects of the work.
The Domain
There are no unnamed sites on the Internet, except some services, where instead of a name, they use digital addresses. For eCommerce, this approach is definitely not applicable.
The price of your unique name depends on these parameters:
- Name Registrar (different companies have different prices);
- TLD of the domain (extension of the site, the most popular example is .com);
- Registering a new domain or buying it on the secondary market (in the latter case, there may be additional costs).
Often, eCommerce website development companies will help you register a domain, and they usually don’t charge for it. On average, you will pay from 10 to 20 dollars a year for a domain. Sometimes, when buying hosting, a domain is offered free of charge.
Hosting
If you have chosen a platform with a ready-made SaaS solution for your eCommerce site, hosting will be included in the plan. For CMS, which is offered during custom eCommerce website development, you will need to pay for hosting separately. The cost is relatively small: from 5 to 20 dollars a month.
When choosing a hosting provider, it is better to listen to the advice of developers. It is important that the service has a good defender from viruses, and has all the necessary features, including support for the correct version of PHP (the most common programming language), databases, etc.
Site Design
You can choose a ready-made template. Often, they are free or have a low price (5 to 20 dollars). This is the most common solution in eCommerce, as the design of the store should be simple, convenient, and not distract customers from the main thing - the products. But large companies want their trading platform to be remembered and executed in a corporate style.
In this case, they order the development of site design. Best eCommerce website development companies usually include this service, as large agencies tend to work in an integrated manner. Also, the design can be ordered separately.
Do not confuse the design and structure of the site! Design is a thorough study of the appearance of all pages, the structure is your catalog, menus, and so on.
The price of custom design can reach $10 000 and more.
Development of an ECommerce Website
The main part of the eCommerce website development company’s work is to create the functional part of the site:
- Administrative section;
- Theme of the site (the adaptation of design in the program code);
- Visitor functionality: catalog, site search, registration, feedback form, shopping cart, etc;
- Connection of external services: support chat, integration with an accounting system, connection of payment services, CRM system, etc.
Also, the list of services for eCommerce usually includes the technical optimization of the site and filling the directory and pages with information.
Setting up a Ready-made Solution
If you are using SAAS platforms that already have all the features, templates, a page builder, and all these only need to be adjusted, the work with the eCommerce site will be much cheaper. Usually, in such cases, business owners turn to the setup wizard. In most cases, his/her services will cost you from $ 500 to $ 1000, but if the site is complex or an expert will help you with content, the price can increase to $10-15 thousand.
Marketing and SEO
ECommerce website development companies are rarely engaged in the promotion of the project, but you can not do without this work. Any project requires visitors. The developers will make preparations for a promotion called optimization. And then, you need the help of marketing and SEO specialists.
It is extremely difficult to talk about the cost of promotion because it depends on a large number of factors. Consult specialists in advance to understand the approximate budget.
Payment Services
It’s hard to imagine modern eCommerce sites without payment automation. In order to make it possible for customers to pay by credit card, bitcoins, and various types of online money, developers connect payment gateways.
Their services of payment gateways are not free: the average price is 3% of the payment amount. You can take this factor into account when forming the price of the goods or put it in your budget as part of your expenses.
Buying Plugins and Extensions
Whether you'll need this expense item, you can find out from the offers provided by eCommerce website development companies. Some plugins are free, while others have to be purchased. On average, one plugin costs from $10 to $300.
Delivery of Goods
When working with electronic goods and services, delivery issues are not relevant. But if your eCommerce is associated with selling real goods, you need to think in advance about which services you will use and in what cases you are willing to pay for delivery.
Sales Department’s Work
Remember that any website is just a tool. For a successful eСommerce, you will also need the participation of people: online consultants, salespeople, customer service. More often than not, salespeople of the stores or a customer service department don't have time to effectively serve the eCommerce site as well. So plan to expand your staff soon or take a look at offers from call centers that are willing to take over your customers' communications.
Conclusion
As you can see, choosing the right eCommerce website development company is only a part of building an effective eCommerce. Almost everything depends on how exactly the developers do the work: the attractiveness, convenience, the quality of the online store, the effectiveness of promotion, the work of the mobile version.
In order to choose a reliable contractor, you need to consider not only the eCommerce website development company services’ cost but also other costs of starting an e-business. Therefore, we have tried to give you the maximum information regarding this issue, but the choice is yours.
FAQ
How much does it cost to build an eCommerce website?
The price of building an eCommerce website depends on the choice of platform, the complexity of the project itself, the number of additional services, and the pricing policy of the selected agency. The cost may vary from 500-1000 to $100000.
What Is the best platform for eCommerce development?
For eCommerce, there are different platforms. In some cases, the market leaders in ready-made eCommerce solutions such as Shopify or BigCommerce will be optimal. In others, it is more profitable to use Drupal or WooCommerce. Focus on the goals, the financial benefits, and the availability of all necessary features.
What is the best programming language to develop an eCommerce website?
For the development of any site, specialists traditionally use PHP, as it is one of the most popular languages in web programming. But they also use Python, Java, and other tools. Today, programmers often take a ready-made CMS and make the necessary modifications.
What is the best software for eCommerce?
For successful eCommerce, you need an online store site with connected payment gateways. It is desirable that orders are automatically sent to the CRM system or accounting system. There are other means of automation.
What is the most used eCommerce platform?
The most popular online platform in the world is considered to be Shopify, and the second one is BigCommerce. For online stores that are placed on their own hosting, the most popular is WooCommerce CMS.
