Design an Effective E-commerce WordPress Website

How do you design an effective e-commerce WordPress website? That’s a question many business owners ask, and the answer is not as easy as it may seem. It’s not just about having a website that looks good or sells products.

E-commerce WordPress websites are different from informational websites in several key ways. Here are three of the largest differences to consider when designing your online storefront:

  • Robust hosting
  • Trust badges
  • Automated systems

E-commerce WordPress websites need powerful hosting and security.

One of the most important things that every website and online store requires to get on the internet is a website host. Your site will be hosted on a server, giving it access to the internet and allowing people to visit it.

Unlike informational websites, e-commerce sites need more hosting resources. Your hosting must be both fast and reliable. Keep in mind that 57% of consumers will leave your site if load times are longer than 3 seconds, and 80% of them will never return.

Your online store will handle sensitive information such as credit card data and order details. To secure the data of your visitors, you’ll need an SSL certificate. Without an SSL certificate, attackers can see information passing through your website.

Looking for e-commerce WordPress hosting?

Check out the Studio Anansi WordPress hosting plans. Our hosting is engineered with SSL protection and improved performance specifically for WordPress. Plus, each plan includes access to premium, agency-level tools to improve your e-commerce site.

E-commerce websites should inspire confidence with trust badges and security seals.

Nobody wants to purchase items from a disreputable online store. It’s crucial that your e-commerce website inspire trust in your visitors with trust badges and security seals displaying your SSL certification.

In the world of e-commerce, trust badges such as “Secure Checkout” and “Money Back Guarantee” are powerful tools. These badges verify that your website is genuine by informing visitors that it is secure and that data they provide will be handled through reliable third-party service providers.

| studio anansi

Do these badges and seals really matter? Absolutely! Over 75% of consumers report that seals affect their trust in websites.

Read more — Social Proof 101: Why you NEED it and how to gather it for your website

Designing an effective WordPress e-commerce site isn’t just about the front-end design. You also need to think about your back-end systems.

E-commerce websites must use automatic systems — or you’ll be backlogged before you know it!

As a busy business owner, the last thing you want to do is make more work for yourself with your new e-commerce website.

An informational website is one thing. It displays information about your products and services, and can usually answer visitor questions with direct language and a clear FAQ.

On the other hand, an e-commerce website typically means tons of new questions and inquiries from customers.

If you’re selling a product that ships, you’ll have questions about shipping times, order status, and delivery.

If you’re selling a product that downloads, you can be sure that customers will have problems with the download and need assistance.

As a result, it’s easy for new e-commerce website owners to fall behind on responding to customer support questions. To avoid getting buried under a backlog, invest in a website strategy and ensure you’re using automated systems as much as possible. Create automatic emails that update customers about their order, contact forms that send helpful links right away, and other times saving measures.

E-commerce Website FAQ

What’s the difference between e-commerce, ecommerce, and eCommerce.

They’re all the same, just with slightly different spellings.

What are e-commerce websites?

E-commerce websites are online storefronts that sell physical or digital products and services. Unlike informational websites, e-commerce sites sell products and services directly to visitors.

How do I build an e-commerce website?

E-commerce websites can be built using many website platforms. Some platforms such as Shopify and Etsy are specifically for e-commerce. Others such as Squarespace and WordPress are primarily informational with e-commerce additions.

What is the best website for e-commerce?

If you are only interested in selling your products (and no other features such as blogging or scheduled), the fastest setup is with platforms such as Shopify or Etsy. However, these platforms can quickly become very expensive. I recommend WordPress as a flexible, scalable option that’s more sustainable.

Read more — Why WordPress? 5 Reasons You Should Use The World’s Most Popular CMS

What is e-commerce website design?

E-commerce website design is the process of designing an e-commerce store that will sell products or services online. A successful e-commerce site can be more complex than a simple informational site, and requires advanced functionalities such as shopping carts, user account management, product search filters, and more.

What makes a good e-commerce website?

A good e-commerce website is one that offers a user-friendly experience and helps visitors find the products they are looking for. E-commerce sites should also have an easy-to-use shopping cart, contact forms, social share buttons, forums or blogs if appropriate — and everything else you need to run a successful online store!

How much do e-commerce websites cost?

The price of an e-commerce website varies greatly, depending on the features and functionality desired. E-commerce websites can be built for under $1000 on Shopify, but these will often result in larger monthly fees to use the platform and features. I find that most business owners are better served investing in a WordPress site that gives them more control and doesn’t require expensive monthly fees.

Are you thinking of building your own online store? We would love to help you design and launch an effective e-commerce store that grows your sales and reaches new audiences online.

Get in touch for a quote and to inquire about our current availability.

Services & Pricing Guide

Download the guide now.

Join Us

Systems strategy & web tips straight to your inbox.