Black Friday Sale! 50% Off All Access

Don't Build an Ecommerce Site If You Don't Have These 7 Things Covered If handled correctly, your ecommerce platform can provide a solid basis for success.

By Jayant Chaudhary

Entrepreneur+ Black Friday Sale

Our biggest sale — Get unlimited access to Entrepreneur.com at an unbeatable price. Use code SAVE50 at checkout.*

Claim Offer

*Offer only available to new subscribers

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Businesses are turning to ecommerce platforms to help them sell their products. These offer a clean, user-friendly interface, customer support and other features that make it easy for you to get your products in front of new customers.

It is not surprising that users who had a negative experience on a mobile website are 62% less likely to purchase from that business in the future. This statistic only shows how crucial the design of your website is. Thus, your website must be accessible and easy to navigate on all devices to increase customer retention.

For an ecommerce business to succeed, it is crucial to have a well-developed site. The following are some of the essential factors that you need to take into account when setting up your online store.

1. A strong ecommerce platform

The first factor you need to consider is the ecommerce platform you will be using. Not all platforms are created equal, so you will want to make sure you choose one suited for your needs. Some factors you may want to consider are the level of customization available, the number of products you can list and the level of customer support.

2. Secure payment processing

When setting up an ecommerce store, it is essential to have a secure payment processing system in place. This will help ensure that your customers feel safe shopping on your site and protect them from potential security threats.

Many different payment processing systems are available, so you will need to choose one right for your business.

3. A robust shopping cart system

A sound shopping cart system is essential for any ecommerce store. It should be easy to use and allow customers to find the products they are looking for quickly. It is also important that the shopping cart system handle multiple items, as many customers will likely be buying more than one product at a time.

4. A strong SEO strategy

For your ecommerce store to be successful, you will need to have a strong SEO strategy in place. It means optimizing your site for the search engines and ensuring your products are listed in the right places. It is also critical to create high-quality content that will help you rank higher in the search results.

Related: 6 Steps to Boost the Value of Your Ecommerce Business

5. A strong social media strategy

To reach a wider audience, it is essential to have a solid social media strategy. A solid social media strategy includes creating social media profiles for your business and actively promoting your products on them. It is also very important to participate in relevant discussions and build relationships with other online companies.

6. A well-designed website

Your website is the face of your business, so it is crucial to make sure it looks good. The design should be professional and easy to navigate, and it should also be responsive so that it looks good on all devices. You will also want to make sure the website is optimized for search engines, as this will help you rank higher on the results pages.

7. Excellent customer service

Finally, one of the most critical factors for any ecommerce business is excellent customer service. This means responding to customer inquiries quickly and providing helpful and informative answers.

It is also important to resolve any complaints as soon as possible. By providing excellent customer service, you can build trust with your customers and encourage them to come back again in the future.

Related: Why You Should Bet On the Future of Ecommerce

Advantages of an effective ecommerce site

There are many advantages to having an effective ecommerce site. By providing a great user experience, you can keep customers coming back and make more sales.

Here are some of those advantages.

Increased sales

A well-designed ecommerce site can lead to increased sales. If customers have a good experience on your site, they are more likely to return and make additional purchases. In addition, an effective ecommerce site can help you attract new customers who may not have otherwise discovered your business.

Improved customer loyalty

When customers have a good experience on your site, they are more likely to develop loyalty towards your brand. It can lead to increased sales and long-term customer relationships.

Higher competitiveness

A well-designed ecommerce site can help you stay competitive in your industry. If your competitors have a weak online presence, you can outpace them by providing a better user experience. Additionally, if your competitors have a strong online presence, you can still compete by offering superior customer service and product selection.

Greater visibility

An effective ecommerce site can help you achieve greater visibility online. By ranking high in search engine results, you can attract more customers to your site. In addition, an effective site will help you build a strong brand reputation that can influence customer decisions.

When designing your ecommerce site, be sure to focus on the user experience. By providing a great experience, you can keep customers coming back and make more sales.

Related: 3 Ways Entrepreneurs Can Tailor Their Ecommerce Strategy for Maximum Growth

Jayant Chaudhary

Effective Fractional CTO/COO For Mid-Sized Businesses

As a CTO/COO, Jayant Chaudhary guides rapidly scaling businesses by creating structure, systems, and processes. He helps businesses map a business plan to technology, operations, and teams, and gets them on a growth path that is sustainable. He also leverages jlbusa.com, his digital marketing firm.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Science & Technology

I've Spent 20 Years Studying Focus. Here's How I Use AI to Multiply My Time and Save 21 Weeks of Work a Year

AI is supposed to save time, but 77% of employees say it often costs more time due to all the editing it requires. Instead of helping, it can become a distraction. But don't worry — there's a better way.

Business News

The Two Richest People in the World Are Fighting on Social Media Again

Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk had a new, contentious exchange on X.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Starting a Business

Why Are So Many Course Creators Struggling if It's 'Such an Easy Business'? Here's the Truth Behind the $800 Billion Industry

Creating an online course is so easy — at least, that's what many "gurus" would like you to believe. There's a lot of potential in the $800 billion industry, but here's why so many course creators are struggling.

Business News

Barbara Corcoran Says This Is the Interest Rate Magic Number That Will Make the Market 'Go Ballistic'

Corcoran said she praying for lower interest rates and people are "tired of waiting."

Money & Finance

Why Donald Trump's Business-First Policies Trump Harris' Consumer-Centric Approach

President Donald Trump's pro-business agenda is packed with policy moves encouraging investment to drive economic growth. The next Congress has a unique opportunity to support entrepreneurship and innovation, improving U.S. competitiveness with the rest of the world.