Over the new few months, we’re going to be discussing the different aspects of creating an ecommerce website and how search engine promotion can work as the perfect partner for driving customers to your online store.
This month, we will be discussing ‘You’ and the important part you play in the creation of your ecommerce website and it’s promotion.
So let’s begin with….
The Role You Play
Psychologist Peter Gollwitzer developed a hypothesis called ‘Implementation Intention’ which is the idea of planning goals in advance; adding as much detail as possible (how, when and where as well as solutions to any problems you may encounter) for greater success. Implementation Intention is something that very much applies to the creation of an online store.
Making the decision to create an ecommerce website is not something you should just pass over to your website designer, after all – no one knows your business as well as you, so you are perfectly placed to add input into how your store should function.
Before contacting an ecommerce specialist, spend some time putting together a list of things you want your website to do and include.
Things you may want to consider:
- How do you want the online shop to look and feel? E.g. clean and minimal or vibrant and young.
- What do you want your customers to be able to do on your website? E.g. Add items to wishlists, recommend products to a friend, leave client reviews for purchases.
- What do you want the website to do for you? E.g. Is your main focus to increase your turnover or are you looking for a better way of processing your orders and handling administration?
- How important is it for you to be able to update the website yourself? Is the system easy to use and will you receive training on how to update your website or would you prefer to pay the designer to complete updates for you?
- Do you have product information and images available to provide to your web designer to speed up the product import process?
- When do you expect your ecommerce store to launch? What are your timeframes for individual sections of the website to be completed i.e. designs, products added to the website, testing, launch.
- What will your role be in the creation of your online store? How much time will you need to invest in getting the site up and running?
- Will your website be built in an SEO friendly way? Is this included in the build costs or are there additional costs? How does this work link to a full search engine optimisation campaign once the website has launched?
- Where do you want your web designer to be based? If you are based in the UK, UK-based companies will be more accessible.
Once you have decided what you want for your online store, your web design team will be able to work with you and advise you of the best ways to not only achieve the things you have requested but recommend other options to enhance your store and achieve your overall goals.
By highlighting any problems you are looking to solve at this early stage, you can work with your ecommerce specialist to find the best possible solution. From experience, you are the best person to say how your business works and what you want your website to do; your ecommerce specialist is the best person to tell you how this can be achieved from a technical point of view (if you aren’t technical ask them to explain in a jargon free way!).
Be sure to check back next month when we will be discussing the importance of knowing your market.
Looking for an affordable ecommerce web designer?
Easy Internet offer a range of pay monthly web design packages, allowing start ups, micro businesses and SME’s to create an effective online presence. If you are looking for a web design service not included in our standard packages, please contact us for more information.
