subject: Key success factors for an ecommerce website [print this page] Key success factors for an ecommerce website
An ecommerce website can be a source of substantial financial return. Setting up a website to sell a specific product can be far more profitable than a website whose sole source of income is pay-per-click programs (such as Google AdSense) or selling on page advertising space. However, not every ecommerce website ends up making money similar to the statistics for offline businesses, most ecommerce sites fail.
There are a number of factors that increase the chances of an ecommerce website succeeding:
The interoperability of the website is important Today, there are several internet browser vendors. Simply because the website has worked perfectly on a particular browser does not necessarily mean it will work on all other browsers. Prior to launch, the website must be tested on all major browsers including Microsoft's Internet Explorer, Mozilla's Firefox, Google's Chrome, Safari and Opera. If the site does not work on a particular browser or if testing cannot be completed before the site is launched, such information should be made clear on the website's home page. Being well present in one platform and nonexistence in others will lead to a loss in sales.
A well thought out advertising and marketing plan Irrespective of how well designed a website is and how good the products on offer are, it will ultimately not do the ecommerce site any good if nobody knows about the site or visits it. An elaborate marketing plan must be set up that is geared towards achieving increased traffic. This can incorporate both offline methods (such as advertisement on print and electronic media) and online techniques (such as search engine optimization). Such marketing may require that the online entrepreneur hire a marketing expert.
Friendly design The design of the website must be centered on the customer. In other words, the site should not only meet the technical requirements for an ecommerce site, but it should also be easy on the eye and make navigation easier. With such intense competition for business on the web, customers may ultimately choose between websites because of the site's ease of use as opposed to technical functionality.
The site should use visuals such as pictures and videos that can reduce the amount of descriptive text required. Customers should also have an avenue to leave feedback such as a blog or a web form. A large ecommerce site should also have a search function that allows customers to quickly look for a product or service on the site without having to move from page to page.
Transparency Thanks to the huge number of ecommerce scams, internet users increasingly take a cautious approach to internet business if only to avoid falling victim. For that reason, ecommerce websites must strive to demonstrate transparency. This is by providing comprehensive contact details including physical address, names of all key company executives, partial or full money back guarantees and product maintenance warranties.
