Do you own a business, new or existing, in which you want to 
sell your products or services on your website? A recent Forrester Research study reported that Americans spent over 200 billion dollars online in 2011. They also projected that total would reach 327 billion dollars in 2016. Other significant details from the report include:
- 53% of Americans made an online purchase in 2011
- 58% expected to make an online purchase in 2016
- iPads and other tablets have greatly influenced online impulse buying
- Consumers feel they get the best deal by shopping online
With electronic commerce booming at an all-time high, do you have a plan of action to achieve your company’s e-commerce goals? What steps should you take to get your e-commerce website up and running?
In terms of web development, it is critical to start with a visually appealing site with robust shopping cart functionality. The navigation and purchasing process should be smooth and simple enough for customers to easily go from browsing to buying.
Like any professionally-designed website, an e-commerce site should accurately reflect your company’s branding and personality. It may be tempting to choose a free pre-designed template for your e-commerce site, but you must ensure that your customers feel comfortable and confident purchasing from your online store. Also, it is wise to avoid building an entirely Flash-based e-commerce site. While Flash does serve a useful purpose in some web designs, it can be notorious for slow load times (if your site is completely Flash driven) and is not compatible with iPhones or iPads. Given that tablets now influence buying decisions, why would you want to immediately reduce your potential customers?
Step one then, is to find the right web development team. The right team will fully understand your business, your vision, and how to properly promote your brand online. A strong development team wants you, the business owner, engaged during the entire process – from planning all the way through launch. The end result – a great online shopping experience for your customers – will be well worth the time and money invested.
To learn more about how Torx Media can help with your company’s e-commerce goals, just give us a call at 1-888-867-9633 or click here to contact us.