12 Checklist Features to Consider for a Personalised Online Store Launch
Customers should be able to easily navigate and find what they are looking for quickly. Custom eCommerce Website Development helps to get more conversions by improving the website's performance, providing better customer support, and creating a more efficient way for consumers to shop.
Personalised online store solutions consider factors like the business's branding, customer demographics, products or services offered, target market, and unique features or functionalities to create a user-friendly website. The aim is to give businesses a fully functional, effective, and efficient online store that accurately reflects the business and meets the needs of its customers.
1) Mobile-friendliness: Make your e-commerce site mobile-friendly. In brief, you should use responsive design to make your eCommerce site mobile-friendly. This means that the content on your website is optimised for various devices, such as smartphones and tablets. The main goal of responsive design is to ensure that your visitors have a good experience on your eCommerce website regardless of the device they are using to access it. With a responsive design, anyone can access any part of your online store from any device (as long as it's supported by that particular browser).
Responsive design makes sure all parts of your online store look great when viewed on desktop computers such as laptops, desktops, or even tablets. The best thing about this type of design is that it doesn't matter what screen size a visitor device has.
2) Boost your position in search engine results:
In summary, the first step in this process is to review the site’s content and identify any areas that are not meeting Google’s guidelines and search engine optimization. The second step is to update the site so that it meets those guidelines. The third step is to get links from other sites on which you have high authority, and use your new links as a way of improving search engine results for your own site.
3) Emphasize realistic product images:
In addition to the product images, your eCommerce site needs to be search engine friendly. In order to make sure that your online store is easy to find on Google and other search engines, you need to focus on realistic product images.
In fact, if you choose a high quality photo of a shirt or shoe that looks like it would look good in real life, then people will want to buy this item because they can actually see how it looks once they get it home. If you show them an image of a shirt or jacket with a blank face and no details about what it's made of, then they won't believe that the item is as nice as you are making it out to be and they may not buy it. Add the correct alt text to each image. When using HTML5, use a consistent set of CSS properties for all images. The best way to do this is through the use of modern web standards such as @font-face and @media queries. Avoid Flash-based animations.
4) Work with or hire an experienced developer:
It is recommended to use a web developer that has SEO skills and builds an SEO-friendly website. so that you can rank higher on Google's Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs). The best way to build a strong brand is to use marketing strategies like Google AdWords or Facebook Ads.
5) Add social media buttons to the top of your page.
This way, your visitors can easily share their experience with others through Twitter or Facebook.
6) Implement Google analytics:
So you can see exactly what works for your customers and which parts of your website need to be improved. Online stores need to have traffic analytics in order to get more information about their customers, which will help with their marketing, improve their conversion rates, and make more money by focusing on the right people.
7) Examine backlinks from other websites' pages that have been linked by blog posts or articles.
8) Simplify the user's buying experience:
In contrast to traditional e-commerce sites, you can use online forms to collect information from your customers. This will help you reduce costs and increase sales.
9) Personalize the appearance of your e-commerce site:
To make your e-commerce site stand out, try adding some unique features for both visitors and search engine spiders. For example, add a blog so that people may post comments on products, or include an online store locator so that customers can find stores near them by entering their address in the form.
10) Newsletter signup for special deals and promotions:
Start a newsletter. This will help you keep in touch with your customers and stay on top of trends that may affect your business.13) Create an account with Google Maps to include your store's location on the map.Add an online store locator so that customers can find stores near them by entering their address in the form.
11) The eCommerce website should be simple to use, particularly when purchasing products.A user interface (UI) is typically used for both desktop and mobile devices. The UI should have clearly defined buttons, links, and icons that are easily accessible at all times. You can display these items in a large font size for users who need it most, such as those using computers or smartphones to access your website.
12) The security of eCommerce is critical:
All customers' data is kept on the website. Furthermore, users must be able to pay online. This is a requirement when you are selling products and services online.Management of business processes:It helps in improving customer service, increasing sales conversion, and enhancing the profitability of the eCommerce site. The business process management software tracks all transactions that happen on the website, automatically generating reports and data for analysis. It also provides insights into how customers use your e-commerce site to make purchasing decisions.
Custom Web Development Functionality & How it Impacts Online Store Success
As your business grows, you may find that customized e-commerce solutions are required to keep your customers coming back and lower bounce rates. A business can take advantage of custom e-commerce systems and stay ahead of the competition by giving customers better branding, easier search navigation, faster loading pages, and a simple way to buy from the website. The latest technology adds to ERP systems, which can automate some important parts of the e-commerce business.
A custom online store builder can provide you with a number of tools that will help you quickly and easily develop a high-performing eCommerce site.
In 2022, R40 billion is expected to be spent on online retail in South Africa, which will account for 4% of all retail in the country. Customers expect to have a simple and easy online shopping experience from the moment they land on your homepage to when they finish their last purchase.
Product names, photos, pricing, availability, and an "add to cart" button streamline the shopping experience. Fast, reliable shipping is the last step in the process of a successful online store, and if all these functionality lists can be achieved, your business will grow and your website development budget will not be so costly in the future.
Custom Website Development Best Practices for Improved User Experience
If traffic data analytics and search engines are an important part of your business, it's crucial that your company can easily combine website modifications with other digital tools like email marketing and social media platforms, as well as employ data analytics to measure search activity.
Three best custom web design practices:
1. Pay attention to your target market:
If you're targeting younger generation customers, for example, your site should be colourful, exciting, and full of trendy things. If you want to appeal to professionals, your website should feature high-end items and services.
2. Select the proper colors for your website:
It's important to consider the tone and feel of your website when choosing a colour scheme.
Warmer colours like yellow or orange are more inviting and pleasant, whereas colder colours like blue or grey are more modern and professional.
3. Include images that are eye-catching:
Images help you make the best first impression. Images make your website come to life and make your visitors think about how they might use it. Images can benefit your indexing in search engines. Focus on realistic product images so that your online store is easy to found on Google and other search engines.
Types of Custom Ecommerce Development Solutions & Paid Business Models
An e-commerce website is a business that offers its products and services over the internet. There are many types of e-commerce websites; some are physical stores, while others focus on online marketing. E-commerce websites let people buy things and services without having to go out and buy them in person.
E-Retail: When a company sells a product directly to a client, there is no need for a middleman.
Wholesale: is the sale of goods in large quantities to a merchant who then sells them to customers directly.
Dropshipping is the sale of a product that is made by a third party and delivered to the customer.
In crowdfunding, people get money from customers before a product comes out so they can get money to put it on the market.
A subscription payment is when you buy a product or service again and again, which is called a subscription.
Physical goods are any tangible goods that need to be replenished in the store and shipped to customers in person.
Downloadable digital goods, templates, or materials that must be paid for usage are referred to as digital products. A digital product is an intangible asset or piece of media that may be sold and distributed multiple times online without the need for inventory replenishment. eBooks, PDFs, movies, plug-ins, and templates are common examples of digital files that may be downloaded or streamed.
One could also sell a service, is a skill or talent that is provided in exchange for a fee. An example of a service or skill could be an online training membership website.
What is a coupon web site?
Coupon sites help users save on products and services with cheaper deals or discounts.
A professional looking coupon website that can offer coupon codes, discounts, or vouchers. Advanced coupon features including expiration date settings.
Coupon submission and backend owner administration A coupon website makes money by charging a marketing fee for advertising and promoting offers. The owner collects a fee or percentage of the revenue generated by selling the voucher on the website. Read more about
Coupon Webdesign.
Website design for a business CMS platform:
A business website is a powerful online marketing tool for promoting your business online and could become the backbone of your business's marketing strategy.
The advantage of a professional business or corporate website is that users can simultaneously post content via the CMS to the website. CMS, or Content Management System, enables you to control and manage the content on your website without requiring technical knowledge.
Affiliate website: Earn a commission by selling products:
Examples of affiliate websites that promote affiliate products or services "The Amazon Associates" programme helps website owners, web developers, and Amazon sellers make money by advertising millions of new and used products from Amazon.com.
Because of a tracking cookie, when website owners create an eCommerce website with affiliate products and customers click through product links to buy products from the affiliate website, you can earn up to 10% of the referral fees.
Video membership websites:
It allows you to sell online memberships and restrict access to posts and pages on your website.
Create unlimited online membership plans (e.g., Gold Membership, Silver Membership, etc.) -Add or remove members manually from the easy-to-use admin control panel.
Directory websites for which a membership fee is charged:
Planning on creating an online directory? We supply the perfect set of tools to build a professional online directory. Search engine-friendly directory website manages listing packages, memberships, recurring payments, claiming listing tools and more. Whether you want to list local businesses, tourist attractions, events, or classified ads. The directory can include a geographical Google Maps integration. Users submit their content after payment, which streamlines administration of the user-generated content. Membership subscription payment that is per time period or reoccurring automatic payments.
Dating Site with a Membership Subscription Payment?
Considering starting a dating/matchmaking website or looking to launch a niche or local meeting place? Generate income from reoccurring memberships or have different paid levels providing access to restricted content. The dating and matchmaking provides dating profiles with pictures and information about the people. The design is completely responsive for viewing on tablets and phones, and it has custom post types for modules with video, audio, and even quotes.
Niche Content Subscription Blog:
Content Subscription Membership Websites allow users to access the content on-demand.
A membership subscription niche website provides paid members with a library of information on a specific topic of interest. This could be eBooks, documents, or content information. Payments from members could be pay per view, pay per download, or term-based memberships.
Website For Paid Classified Advertising:
Paid classified advertising provides more exposure; ads run for longer periods of time; have more content; and use rich media. Paid classified ads get 12 times more exposure than free ads. Paid advertising gives the advertiser more control over targeting. For instance, target specific demographics, industries, and geographical areas.
Event registration, ticket sales, and online booking:
Post an event like festivals, fundraisers, conferences, parties, retreats, or workshops. Collect payments with credit card processing via a payment gateway. Track payments and manage refunds all from one control panel. Read more
Online Event CalendarA booking system for a hotel or a booking system for a rental vehicle:
Our
online reservation, rental, and booking software will integrate with most payment gateways.
Integration of cloud-based apps such as Google Calendar and Analytics, auto responder mailing list, CRM and accounting systems.
Job posting with recurring subscription payment system:
Create a subscription service for job seekers or create free public access and charge the job/employment agency to list their job positions on a recurring payment system. Provide value to the public users. Resume Subscriptions let a user post X number of resumes before expiring.
Directory of paid listings for real estate:
Create a global or local property directory that provides media-rich listings for a specific geographical area, including a detailed video gallery, a media gallery, and more details like house plans and site plans.
Auction Membership:
Built-in bidding system allowing members to bid their highest bids or the system will automatically bid for membership users. Members set shipping costs, "reserve price," and "buy now" auction prices.
With adaptive Payment Gateway Integration, similar to Etsy.com: Assign existing products to vendors, or vendors can add and edit their products. Vendors have their own shopfront within the marketplace, like a shopping mall. There is a dedicated shop page on the site where vendors list all of their products. They have control over how much commission each vendor receives for a sale and can manually add new commissions and edit existing ones. You’ll be able to see how much your vendors are earning and how much revenue they are generating for you.
Crowdfunding website:
Crowdfunding is a way to raise money from a large group of people.
Pool small individual investments together to provide the capital needed to get a company or project off the ground. Allow individuals to obtain funds for their ideas with the power of the crowd. Platforms, for example websites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo.
User-Submitted Projects:
Visitors can easily register for creator accounts and start submitting projects. Project Fees must be charged. Charge flat or percentage-based fees. Offer project submitter's the choice of fixed funding, flexible funding, or both.
A membership website for music downloads:
Distribute and sell your music yourself, or sell background and theme music. Alternatively, you can sell your music on iTunes or another marketplace by simply pasting in the link in your music store to track the sale. As an affiliate from other third-party stores, you can sell your products.
Car Dealer Membership Subscription:
Car Dealer & Marketplace eCommerce directory membership website. Users can purchase submission packages to submit vehicles for sale on your website. Users can register, login, edit their profile, and submit listings.
Mobile app development for the Android and iOS platforms:
It can be built from any existing website or special application website. Push notifications, which resemble SMS text messages and mobile alerts, can be sent to users who have loaded your application. Read more
Mobile App DevelopmentPrint on demand eCommerce:
Let your customers design their own products like T-shirts, Muggs, posters, and any prints before placing the order. Microjobs are small jobs that help users do work for themselves, such as designing a logo, competing in a spreadsheet, or more technical jobs.
Nonprofit Organization website:
Integration of an NGO (Nonprofit Organization) website to accept online donations.
Accept donations online with PayPal nonprofit credit card processing options and other payment gateways.
Online Fashion Store:
Start by creating a website or blog that reflects your personal style and interests. This will allow you to create content that is specific to what you like, which will keep readers coming back for more! Think about turning your blog into an e-commerce site where readers can buy clothes directly from an e-commerce shop embedded within your website. Read more about starting an
online fashion store.
Turnkey AliExpress Store Dropshipping Store:
All the designs are responsive and look great in any browser, device, or operating system.
100% ownership eCommerce solution in its entirety. Automated management systems. All the necessary features for creating and managing your products, including importation of AliExpress items, auto-updating of product information, and pricing automation, are included.
Dropshipping is a way to fill an order in which the goods go straight from the supplier to the customer without ever going through the seller.
When a customer places an order, the store asks its supplier to send the item from the manufacturer's or wholesaler's warehouse straight to the customer. Most of the time, dropshipping is used for physical products.
A photography website:
Products and services (photo tours, workshops, portrait sessions, photo shoot deposits)
Prints can be purchased in physical form or as digital picture downloads.
Grow your photography business with real and virtual items (calendars, wallpapers, T-shirts, etc.)
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) marketplace:
Sell your images as non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which may be sold and bought in the same manner that photographic print editions are sold and bought in the traditional market. The main difference from the traditional art market is that everything is done digitally via the Ethereum blockchain, from transactions to ownership.
Marketplaces website:
A marketplace is another sort of eCommerce website.
A marketplace is a website that offers products from multiple suppliers and links consumers and sellers. Amazon and Etsy are two of the most well-known examples. Vendors can post and sell their items on Etsy and Amazon, which are both online marketplaces.
The different types of eCommerce websites include:
An eCommerce website's core business is to sell products, services, or information online.
These sites have multiple versions and types.
Here is a better understanding of how different types of transactions work on an online website.
The 6 types of market an eCommerce store trades in could be defined as:
1) B2C-Business-to-Customer:
This is the normal online business selling to customers. The business owns the eCommerce site or it sells its products on a marketplace. The number of transactions and customers would be higher than in the B2B business. Sell all kinds of consumer goods, such as computers, software, books, shoes, cars, food, financial products, digital publications, etc.
2) B2B-Business-to-Business:
B2B eCommerce sites are businesses that sell services and products to other businesses. A computer part manufacturer, for example, might sell to a computer manufacturing company.Such websites have comparatively fewer visitors as they sell mainly to other businesses. An example would be Alibaba.com, which is a B2B online marketplace.
3) C2C-Customer-to-Customer:
Customers sell products, services, or information to each other. The type of the product isn’t restricted to only manufactured products. Such a market could have a wide range of goods, from new and used goods to home-made goods.
4) C2A-Consumer-to-Administration:
The Consumer-to-Administration model includes online transactions between individuals and public administration.
Examples include: education, the dissemination of information, knowledge, or distance learning, submitting tax returns, or making tax payments.
5) C2B-Consumer to Business eCommerce:
A C2B eCommerce business model is a type of commerce where a consumer or end-user provides a product or service to a business or organization. It is the reverse type of the B2C eCommerce, or business-to-consumer model, where businesses produce products and services for consumer consumption.
6) B2A-Business to Administration:
B2A eCommerce, or business to administration, is also referred to as business to government (B2G) commerce. In this type of eCommerce, the businesses’ sole clients are governments or other types of public administration. An example of a B2A model is Accela, a software company that provides government software solutions and public access to government services for permitting, planning, licensing, and public health.
South Africa's top eCommerce companies:
GumTree.com Limited
Makro
Mr. D's Food
OLX Inc.
Pick n Pay Stores Ltd.
Shein
Superbalist Pty Ltd.
Takealot Online (Pty) Ltd.
Wish
Woolworths Holdings Limited
As an e-commerce development company with years of experience solving complex business needs, we can help.
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