What to do before building your e-commerce website

Thinking of dipping your toe into the world of e-commerce?

What is the best platform for you? 

This one is super important. You'll need to choose the right platform and hosting provider. There are many, many options available, so consider your budget and the complexity of your products when making this decision. If you plan on maintaining and managing yourself, then options like Shopify or ECWID might be a great option. Other platforms might be more appropriate if you have big plans. Research, research, research!

User experience

Next up is design and user experience. You can map this out and plan before you DIY build or engage a website developer. Either way, it will make your life easier by having a clear design and framework mapped out. 

It’s a no brainer in 2023 that your website needs to be visually appealing, easy to navigate, and intuitive to use.  

Make sure it works well on both desktop and mobile devices and that it's secure with SSL certificates and encryption to protect customer data. Look online for inspiration and experiences you have admired … just remember that large companies have big development budgets, and it might be hard for you to replicate an experience you have seen online (think customisable features, code and integrations) within your budget.

The fine print

This one can be easily forgotten in all the excitement of trying to get your website online. An important aspect of an e-commerce website is having a clear set of terms and conditions. This outlines the rules and regulations that customers must follow when using the site. This should cover payment, delivery, returns, and refunds, as well as any legal disclaimers or limitations of liability. You know … all that fun stuff! 

While we are on the topic of returns, it's essential to have a fair and clear returns policy that outlines how customers can return products, the timeframe for doing so, and what conditions must be met for a refund or exchange. Remember they must be in line with Australian state and federal consumer laws. 

Privacy policies for e-commerce

To comply with relevant data and privacy protection laws, your website should have a privacy policy that explains how customer data is collected, used, and stored. This should be easy to find on your site and transparent in its language.

There are templates online, however if you are serious about your business, we would recommend working with a professional to draft up your privacy policy. It should also be revisited at least every 12 months to ensure it’s still relevant. 

Ongoing costs

Shipping costs can be a significant expense for e-commerce businesses. You need to decide how you'll handle shipping costs, whether that's offering free shipping over a certain threshold, charging a flat rate, or using a third-party provider for better rates. This one is also important when considering integration into your chosen e-commerce platform. 

Marketing after launch: Don’t forget to consider what costs will be involved in ongoing marketing support for your e-commerce website after launch. Paid digital advertising for e-commerce sites can be complex across social media channels, Google search and other channels. Carefully consider if you have the capacity (budget) to maintain the rage after launch! 

Ongoing support: Are you going to maintain the site yourself or are you going to require support from a developer or support team? It's important to value what your own time is worth ... while it might be tempting to 'save money' by doing it yourself, you may find that you sinking countless hours into managing the site where it can be more effective to outsource your support.

By taking a sober moment to consider the above, you can build an e-commerce website that works for your business. It will be effective, profitable, and legally compliant. It may seem like a lot of work, but it's worth it in the long run if you start with the right building blocks!