How to Build an E-Commerce Website (Guide) – Forbes Advisor UK

According to the Department for International Trade, around 82% of the UK population – around 54 million people – shop online.And according to an exclusive survey by Forbes Advisor, over 83% of UK small business owners with a website say it has played a “huge role” in their success. In other words, businesses without an online e-commerce presence are likely missing out on huge sales and lead generation potential.

How to Build an E-Commerce Website (Step-by-Step Guide)

Learn how to build an e-commerce website in just seven steps.

Step 1. Choose a Content Management System (CMS)

The foundation of every website is a content management system (CMS). There are many content management systems to choose from, from open-source platforms like WordPress to beginner-friendly, all-in-one website builders like Shopify and Squarespace. According to a Forbes Advisor survey, nearly one in five businesses (18%) use a website builder service like Squarespace.

But which one is right for you and your online store or shop depends on your budget, experience, and unique ecommerce needs. Here are the most popular content management systems for ecommerce websites:

• WordPress: It is the world’s leading CMS and one of the most customizable CMS.
• Shopify: The ideal e-commerce solution for building your dropshipping business.
• Square Space: It is one of the best website builders for beginners who want to easily build a professional website, even if they have no previous experience in web design.
• Square Online: Perfect for existing retailers looking to sell in person and online.
• Wix: An easy to use, highly customizable, all-in-one website builder.

To decide which CMS is best for your e-commerce needs, learn more about the best e-commerce platforms.

Step 2. Create an account (or get web hosting)

Once you have decided which CMS you want to use, the next step is to create an account (if you don’t choose WordPress). If you plan to build an e-commerce site using WordPress, the next step is to get a web hosting plan. We believe that the best web hosting services should come with a free domain name, free SSL certificate, and one-click WordPress installation so you don’t have to manually connect your domain and hosting to WordPress.

If you use a website builder like Shopify, Squarespace, Square Online, Wix, etc., simply go to the provider's website and register an account. If your chosen CMS allows it, you can register your domain name through the CMS, which will avoid having to configure your domain manually.

If your chosen CMS doesn't offer the option to get a domain name, register your domain with a domain name registrar. For help choosing a domain name registrar, check out our article on the best domain name registrars.

Step 3. Choose an e-commerce theme or template

The first thing you need to consider is the theme of your website. A theme is a ready-made template that gives your website a consistent look and feel. Every subscription platform has a ton of templates to choose from, so whether you're building your ecommerce website with WordPress, Shopify, Wix, etc., you'll have ready-made templates and themes to choose from.

It's worth noting that while free templates are commonly available for most platforms, some offer paid (or premium) templates. For example, both WordPress and Shopify offer premium themes that range in price from around £30 to over £200. The upside is that many platforms offer more unique designs, allowing businesses looking for a particular look to spend less time customising their chosen theme.

Step 4. Customize your site and build web pages

Once you've found the perfect theme or template for your online store, the next step is to start customizing it. This is where you update your header and footer, configure your site navigation, and build out pages from your home page to your refund and return policy pages.

Step 5. Create a product list

An online store is more than just a list of products. Once you've built your website, the next step is to create a product catalog with all your individual product listings. In this process, make sure to organize and categorize your listings to make them easy to find and manage for future site visitors.

Once you've built your e-commerce website, there are several important aspects of building an e-commerce site to consider, from setting up your payment processor to adding inventory and tax tools.

Choose a payment gateway

When it comes to choosing and setting up a payment gateway, many online retailers choose third-party tools like Stripe or PayPal to make the process easier and more secure. If you're redirecting customers to other websites, you need to make sure that their data is fully encrypted before being transferred.

When choosing a payment integration, consider the following:

• How easy is it to integrate the tool into your platform?
• Is the tool safe?
• Are your tools PCI compliant?
• What fees will you and your customers have to pay?

For a detailed breakdown, check out our article on the best payment gateways.

Consolidate Shipping

If your platform allows, you should integrate shipping on your e-commerce website for a seamless experience. This also simplifies your operations and lets you focus on selling. But before you integrate shipping, decide on your shipping policies, such as free shipping, variable rates, or flat rates. While you're at it, also establish your refund and return policies.

Add a sales tax calculator (optional)

Additionally, consider adding a tax calculator that automatically calculates VAT, shipping, and other charges at checkout.

Step 7. Test and publish your e-commerce site

Before you open your e-commerce site to customers, you should check the site thoroughly. All the buttons and links on the site should be functional. Even the 404 error web page should be designed according to the theme.

Run a test to see if you can add products to your cart and process payment. Most platforms let you test payment processing without actually charging a credit card.

Make sure all emails are sent to the right inbox after a purchase has been made or declined. Finally, check how your site looks and functions on mobile devices. If possible, check how your site performs in different web browsers.

Once you've tested and double-checked everything from product descriptions to category pages, it's ready to go.

Announce the launch of your e-commerce store through your social media pages, guest posts on popular retail blogs in your niche, influencer marketing, and your email list. If you have the budget, you can also do paid advertising on Facebook, Google, and other platforms.

Benefits of selling online

Before you actually start building your e-commerce website, you need to be clear about your business needs for building a website. Here are some reasons why you should sell online:

More shoppers are moving online

Buying online is convenient as well as safe, and during the pandemic, e-commerce sales surged by 40% in 2020, the first pandemic year. The ready availability of smartphones means people can buy anytime, anywhere. So it's clear that people will keep buying even after the pandemic is over.

It's cheaper to set up an e-commerce store

It is much cheaper to set up an e-commerce store compared to a brick-and-mortar store, as the latter incurs multiple fixed costs such as rent, electricity bills, employee salaries, infrastructure maintenance, etc.

E-commerce websites can support offline sales

Online and offline stores don't have to be mutually exclusive – if you promote your brick-and-mortar store on your e-commerce website and have an app kiosk in-store, the two can complement each other nicely.

For example, Amazon is now opening physical stores following the massive success of its online e-commerce website.

Create a unique customer experience

According to data from web hosting service Hostinger, a staggering 89% of ecommerce businesses are investing in personalization. The good news is that it's much easier to personalize experiences and services online. Using a variety of mediums, including video, audio, stories, customer reviews, and personalized messaging, you can build an experience that your customers will cherish and want to share with others.

Start selling now

Once your website is ready, all you have to do is set up payment processing, list your products on your website and start selling. There's no need to wait for new employees, stock up on inventory or create enough marketing buzz – you can start doing business the moment your website goes live.

Cut costly expenses with drop shipping

When we think of retail business, the first thing that comes to mind is sourcing, maintaining, and handling inventory. But if you choose the drop shipping business model, you don't have to maintain and handle inventory yourself. Learn more about drop shipping here.

How much does it cost to build an e-commerce website?

This table gives you a benchmark of the price you can expect to pay depending on the size of your project.

Conclusion

Your e-commerce website is your online brand identity. It needs to be built in a way that makes it easy for your customers to experience your brand. And remember, it's impossible to get everything right the first time. Be prepared to keep learning from experience, experiment, and change as needed.

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