{"id":4730,"date":"2021-12-14T10:56:50","date_gmt":"2021-12-14T10:56:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mydukaan.io\/blog\/?p=4730"},"modified":"2022-11-21T12:37:25","modified_gmt":"2022-11-21T12:37:25","slug":"ecommerce-website","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mydukaan.io\/blog\/ecommerce-website\/","title":{"rendered":"What is an eCommerce Website and How Does it Work?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The eCommerce industry is booming! Get this\u2026 the total amount of global retail eCommerce sales in 2020 amounted to USD 4.8 trillion<\/a>. Plus, this number is expected to blow up to USD 5.4 trillion by 2022.<\/p>\n

What does this mean?<\/p>\n

It might be a sign to start your own eCommerce business. With the right tools, you can definitely kick off your own eCommerce website and start managing your very own business.<\/p>\n

Of course, starting an eCommerce business<\/a> involves specific action steps, do\u2019s and don\u2019ts. But don\u2019t worry. We\u2019ve compiled everything you need in just one comprehensive guide.<\/p>\n

Now, if you\u2019re already sure of starting your own eCommerce website but don\u2019t know where to start, then this is also the right guide for you.<\/p>\n

So keep on reading!<\/p>\n

What is eCommerce?<\/h2>\n

Ecommerce is selling products and services over the internet.<\/p>\n

Buying clothes? Lipstick? Shoes? Instead of going to a mall or a store, you can buy these over the internet\u2014thanks to eCommerce.<\/p>\n

Shoppers and potential customers visit an online marketplace, buy products, and pay using online payment gateways. Then, the seller ships out the products or provides the service.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s easy and convenient. Plus, the eCommerce landscape creates additional opportunities for business owners to keep engaging with their customers.<\/p>\n

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the eCommerce industry was already growing. But when the pandemic rolled in, consumer behavior radically transformed. This led to the skyrocketing growth of the industry as a whole<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What is an eCommerce Website?<\/h2>\n

Today, the number of eCommerce websites around the world is somewhere around 12 million to 24 million<\/a>. Essentially, an eCommerce website serves as the home base of eCommerce activities.<\/p>\n

Think of a physical store. You walk in and look at the different products. You see something you like and you pay the cashier for it. It\u2019s exactly like that, except everything is done online.<\/p>\n

When you have an eCommerce website, you have an online portal that manages all these transactions between you and your customers.<\/p>\n

Browsing products, placing orders, paying for the order, receiving payments, managing deliveries, and even providing customer service?<\/p>\n

All of these can be accessed via an eCommerce website. So if you\u2019re set on having a thriving eCommerce business, a website is non-negotiable.<\/p>\n

You have to have one.<\/p>\n

4 Types of eCommerce Websites<\/h2>\n

Now that you know you need a website, the next question is\u2026<\/p>\n

What type of eCommerce website should you create?<\/p>\n

This would actually depend on a number of factors like your product and the types of interactions you want to oversee.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a quick guide to help you zero in on the different types of eCommerce businesses.<\/p>\n

\"types<\/p>\n

1. Business-to-Consumer (B2C)<\/h3>\n

These types of eCommerce websites are probably the most familiar to you and the average online user. B2C websites allow an easy exchange of products or services between the business and the consumer.<\/p>\n

Example: If you\u2019re planning to sell sneakers to sneakerheads, you\u2019re headed towards creating a B2C website.<\/p>\n

2. Business-to-Business (B2B)<\/h3>\n

B2B websites oversee transactions between businesses. Basically if you, as a business owner, need to buy something from another business \u2014 or vice versa. Learn more about B2B eCommerce here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Example: Let\u2019s say you\u2019re planning to sell shirts or jeans. You might be buying them in bulk from an online wholesale supplier, right? You will need to go to a B2B website to do this.<\/p>\n

3. Consumer-to-Consumer (C2C)<\/h3>\n

There are now a lot of websites that make it easier for consumers to sell to fellow consumers. This is super useful for consumers who want to sell pre-loved items or consumers who are moving and need to get rid of their stuff.<\/p>\n

Example: You\u2019re selling your old mobile phone to another consumer using eBay (old school) or Carousell. Or custom paintings or jewelry using Etsy.<\/p>\n

4. Consumer-to-Business (C2B)<\/h3>\n

Yes, it\u2019s just the opposite of B2C. With C2B eCommerce websites, shoppers or consumers can offer products or services to businesses or companies.<\/p>\n

Example: An Instagram influencer offers brand exposure to a business in exchange for freebies or talent fees. Affiliate marketing sites also fall under the C2B umbrella.<\/p>\n

How Does eCommerce Work?<\/h2>\n

Here\u2019s the quick answer: it works just like how brick-and-mortar stores work. After all, eCommerce is just under the commerce umbrella.<\/p>\n

But again, instead of physical stores, everything happens online.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s an overview of how eCommerce works.<\/p>\n

\"how<\/p>\n

The visit \ud83d\udc81\ud83c\udffb<\/h3>\n

Potential customers drop by the online store, just like how they would enter any store. Usually, online shoppers find an eCommerce website through paid ads, social media, or word of mouth.<\/p>\n

Virtual window-shopping and browsing \ud83d\udcf1<\/h3>\n

Shoppers love to go window-shopping. In the eCommerce industry, online shoppers usually browse through the different products displayed on the site. Most products would have photos, specifications, the price, and other details about the product.<\/p>\n

In a physical store, a salesperson will answer all the questions shoppers have. But on an eCommerce website, everything should be laid out for the customers.<\/p>\n

Of course, if you\u2019re selling clothes or shoes, the shoppers won\u2019t be able to try them on. So eCommerce sites make up for it by also including size charts.<\/p>\n

Learning to write killer production descriptions<\/a> that sell is a worthy skill to have in this industry.<\/p>\n

Customers add items to their virtual cart and check out \ud83d\uded2<\/h3>\n

If your eCommerce website visitors want to buy a product, they can simply click on the \u201cBUY NOW\u201d CTA buttons.<\/p>\n

Then, they will be prompted to fill out a form on the website where they will have to key in their contact details, shipping details, and payment method.<\/p>\n

Payment is finalized \ud83d\udcb3<\/h3>\n

Online shoppers can pay for their orders via payment gateways like PayPal, or they can also just use their credit cards.<\/p>\n

Recently, cash-on-delivery or COD, has seen an upward trend. In India alone, around 83% of consumers<\/a> prefer using COD as their mode of payment.<\/p>\n

Here's a tip. \ud83d\udc81\u200d\u2642\ufe0f<\/div>
Make sure that you have various payment methods available. Make it easier for your consumers. They will keep coming back and you\u2019ll experience recurring revenue and sustainable income from your eCommerce website.<\/div><\/div>\n

The seller fulfills the order \u2705<\/h3>\n

Finally, the online store owner takes care of making sure that the order reaches the buyer. Logistics and shipping are other major factors of business operations, but they should be tied into the customer experience.<\/p>\n

For example, customers must be updated on the status of their products. Plus, make sure you have guidelines and policies on returns and refunds.<\/p>\n

3 Best Examples Of Top eCommerce Websites<\/h2>\n

To give you more context on what a top-performing eCommerce website looks like, here’s examples.<\/p>\n

1. Vu Televisions<\/a> (Built with Dukaan)<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Vu Televisions specializes in 4K and TVs with large screens. Products are sold across India. Though they are already known to be innovators in the industry, their eCommerce site also contributes to their success.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s great about their site:<\/p>\n

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