An eCommerce website refers to a virtual platform for selling physical goods and services. It takes the shopping experience to a new height where your shop is not restricted to a brick-and-mortar structure. As of now, there are 24+ million eCommerce websites worldwide. Even, a famous shopping web development platform –Shopify has registered 21% of sales online in 2022 and this number is still counting on & on.
Why are now merchants more interested in eCommerce websites?
This blog will help you understand the role of a website inthe eCommerce industry. What leverages, benefits, cutting edges, and a ton ofmore things you can do with this site-you would find these all below.
Significance of a Website in the eCommerce Industry
The role of a website in the eCommerce industry is an online shop to buy & sell physical goods. However, it sounded hypothetical before the 1990s. But today, an e-Store is a reality. This is all because of having ease in online transactions, purchases, window shopping, inventory management, shipping, and hosting all resources and things that are essential for enabling a sale & purchase.
Sell & MakeProfit via e-Commerce-How?
You can sell any physical product to services, digitalproducts, and intelligence also. The range of products is wide online. Anon-site store can hardly sell these varieties of products, services, andexpertise.
- Physical Goods/Commodities
These products can be anything that is tangible and has ashape. These things are visibly available on virtual displays. This is the mostcommon role of an eCommerce website. Once placed the order, the product isdelivered to the site of users/ customers.
- Services
Things that are intangible, but in-demand expertise anduseful can be purchased and sold. These can be particularly any information,data, leads, contact lists, consulting, or expertise. These are particularlycalled a marketplace where professional services are considered as something tosell and draw money.
- Digital Products
These products can be an online book, courses, software, podcasts, music, applications, or anything that are extremely popular and necessary to get for leveraging.
Make Money via an eCommerce Website
Setting up an e-Storefront is like storming into cut-throat competition. This battle can be won by researching, figuring out customer intent, making wise decisions, and hooking people to convert into consumers.
All of these things can be possible through Search EngineOptimization (SEO) and Pay Per Click (PPC) marketing in a cost-effectivemanner. Let’s get through some unique ways where the role of your eCommercewebsite is to make money and build a reputation.
- Get Subscribers
This is an alternative for getting users registered with theeCommerce site, paying out a fixed rate of subscription. These rates may varyas per the reputation of sellers.
- Commissionfor Referrals
These commissions are based on the number of subscriptionsone brings through references. Considering the product category, the web ownermay charge a certain percentage as a commission on the sold value of theproduct. This commission may fall between 5% and 20%. It would be an additionto revenues.
- Dropshipping& Logistics
There are a number of logistics and shipping companies that incorporate eCommerce brands, such as Amazon, Walmart, and pay out fees for offering the delivery services to customers securely. This can be an additional income via web selling.
- OfferingDiscounts to Retailers
Also called deep discounts, this revenue-generatingpossibility is offered to registered resellers, retailers, distributors, or wholesalers.With the help of AI-powered web & data analytics tools, these online storeowners offer them ultra-advanced technologies to use for researching,comparing, & monitoring the price of similar kinds of products in theniche. On that basis, these sellers can estimate and decide the price of theirproducts & peg discounts to make them the most-selling products. In return,the sellers are compensated by the e-store owners via leverages.
- Discoverthe Right Niche
The role of the internet and web in eCommerce is crucial. Discovering a niche of what to sell and how to source are the core practices that are carried out initially here. The main role of these e-stores is defined through the niche. So, focus on electronics, aesthetic products, groceries, or anything that you have in your catalog. Then, market them well on social media like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube by integrating the right-fit content marketing strategies. It can populate your website with limitless traffic and sales.
- LeveragingSocial Media
The success of an e-store or website is defined by itsvisibility, traffic, and engagement. These metrics help in converting visitorsinto consumers. So, emphasize strategizing how to create brand awareness, andharnessing the popularity of social media. Then, take it to the next level withaccurate content marketing, commenting, and responding to customers’ queries.
- Targetthe Right Audience
You cannot sell clothes to those who are hungry. To discoverwho your right audience is, you should focus on competitor analysis. It can besuccessfully done with the assistance of an SEO expert or digital marketer.They can discover the intent of end-users also by understanding their behavior,web experience, location, purchase history, age, and many other factors.SEMrush and Ahrefs are most helpful in this matter, revealing the rightcustomers to reach out to.
- PaidMarketing to Drive Traffic
Generating relevant traffic is challenging. With digitalmarketing, you can amplify the voice of your brand to new users. It can happenthrough brand narrative in a PPC ad, which should resonate with customers’ painpoints like “Grocery Home Delivery in 2 Hours” (as a tagline of the groceryad). The end customer wants commodities immediately. So, the mention of time canmake it easier. It can easily attract those who struggle to go out physicallyfor purchasing groceries and spend hours on buying. This role of eCommerce website can make anye-store popular overnight or within a few days.
- MultichannelProduct Distribution Methods
You might have seen Levi’s shoes on Amazon, Flipkart,Snapdeal, and other websites. Likewise, there are multiple sellers who getregistered with multiple websites to promote their products and multiply sales.They make it easier and possible by optimizing and listing products on multiplechannels. Having a registered trademark and warranty is a plus for them, whichlet them hook resellers. The crystal distribution agreement with retailers anddistributors can also control quality, measures to sell, and preventdiversions. It can help with limitless growth for your eCommerce brand.
- Automate Processes
Automation breathes a new life into any e-store because all integrated systems handle repeated tasks by themselves while swiftly channelizing the workflow automatically. From order fulfillment to accounting and marketing, automation can boost your efficiency, revenues, and profit margins. Even, you can route email and also follow up automatically as per customer behavior and profiles.
Must-have Elements
These elements take a normal shopping experience to exceptions.
- Leverages for Users
- Cart & wish-lists
- Authentic users’ reviews
- Crystal clear return policy
- Complementary products
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- High-resolution images & videos
- Advance payment options, even for EMIs
- Real-time step-by-step shipping information
- Special offers via social media, emails, feeds, and other practices
- Ability to have multiple touchpoints via the contact us, chatbot, & form
- Social proofs via how-to video tutorials, inspirational ideas in visuals
- Secure data & usage via an SSL certificate, firewall, privacy policy, and two-factor authentication
- Mobile-friendliness & responsiveness (which delivers an excellent shopping experience on all smart devices)
- User-friendly Web Architecture (navigation, images, social media platforms, filters, comparisons, recommendations, & more)
- Leverages for Merchants
- Promotion & discount code tools
- An easy-to-use checkout system
- Google Console setup or integration
- SEO-friendly code, tags, meta, and layout
- Advanced eCommerce SEO features
- Reporting tools & custom report features
- An integrated blog or articles section
- Email marketing features or integration
- Content management capabilities via CMS
- Customer Relationship Management via CRM
- Order, shipping, & stock management system
- The ability to scale & add new eCommerce features
With these features, the role of eCommerce sites has now reached the next level where engaging customers & conversions become way easier with Virtual Reality, Augment Reality, and 3D photographs. It’s obvious that the ultimate aim of any retailer or distributor is to make a profit, which these exceptional technologies are fulfilling in no time. The substantial point is that the sales multiply with minimal investment (which can be one-time) for long-time benefits. However, this investment can be minimized by wisely outsourcing web development services in India, where the charges are indeed affordable (which start from INR 60K and may exceed INR 1.5 Lakhs)
Advanced eCommerce Featuresto Get More Sales
- AR orAugmented Reality
Snapchat users are aware of this technology, which iscapable of placing virtual products within real-world environments. Now, this feature is commonly used ineCommerce websites, like Amazon Salon where hair colouring is virtually visibleto make a sale in no time. Gucci is also enabling users to pick up the rightpair of shoes via virtual sneakers.
- VR orVirtual Reality
Virtual reality applications can replace a real environmentwith an artificial one. You can check All Nippon Airways-“The ROOM” VR Tour forexperiencing how VR lets you experience the comfort of a new business classcabin. Oreo is not just a cookie, but also a flavor-filled cupcake. Watching itall live in a virtual environment is not less than great fun.
- 3D or3-Dimensional Images
These are also common for presenting a productphotorealistic. Amazon, Walmart, & many other eCommerce websites have beenusing it for delivering an engaging experience to users and more conversions tomerchants.
Types of e-Commerce Sites
Electronic commerce or eCommerce is stretched to different domains of sale and purchase, which can be retailing, distribution, and more.
Let’s get through what these eCommerce types are.
- Business-to-consumer(B2C)
It shows a deal between a seller and a customer. Buying groceries or T-shirts or anything directly from a shop is a perfect example of Business-to-Consumer eCommerce.
- Business-to-business(B2B)
This platform ensures a deal between two or more businesses,which can be considered as buying things from a manufacturer or distributor, orwholesaler.
- Business-to-administration(B2A)
These sites ensure transactions or corporate agreementsbetween an organization and a public institution, such as Amul (a society)selling products to retailers and distributors.
- Consumer-to-consumer(C2C)
It’s a marketplace like Etsy & eBay where consumersexchange goods with end-users to ensure consumption.
- Consumer-to-business(C2B)
These sites offer a platform to connect with individuals forproducts by an entrepreneur. Upwork, and Fiverr represent this concept wellwhere the freelancing professionals are available to sell their expertise.
- Consumer-to-administration(C2A)
This type of website allows a consumer to offer what he sells (be it information, goods, or services) to public administration and governmental institutions. It’s like getting a ticket of OPT online for treatment from a specific hospital or clinic.
