What is an e-commerce website and why do you need one?

1. What is an e-commerce website and why do you need one?

An e-commerce website is an online platform that allows you to sell your products or services directly to customers. This site is actually your online store that is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and has no geographical restrictions. Unlike a corporate website whose main purpose is to provide information, the main purpose of an e-commerce website is to conduct transactions. These websites are equipped with the necessary tools to manage products (such as adding, editing and categorizing products), process orders, manage inventory and, most importantly, receive online payments through banking portals. Buying an e-commerce website means building the main engine of your online business that can transform your sales.

1. Main Options for “Buying” an E-Commerce Website

There are several solutions to having an e-commerce website, with different costs and levels of control:

SaaS platforms like Shopify: In this model, you “rent” a store on a monthly or annual basis. It’s very quick and easy to set up, but your control is limited and you’ll always be tied to that platform. (This option is less popular in Iran due to the limited Iranian payment gateways).(خريد سايت فروشگاهي)
Using Open-Source Content Management Systems: This is the most popular and standard solution in Iran. You build a complete and powerful e-commerce website using WordPress and the WooCommerce store builder plugin. In this method, you are the full owner of your site and have a lot of flexibility for customization and development. The initial cost includes design and setup, and ongoing costs are limited to hosting and domain.
Custom coding: For very large stores with unique processes, the site is programmed from scratch. This method offers the highest level of performance, security, and flexibility, but is much more expensive and time-consuming, and is usually recommended for large-scale businesses.

1. Vital and essential components of a successful e-commerce site

A functional e-commerce site is not just a gallery of products, but must have a set of key features to make the shopping experience enjoyable and easy for the customer:

Full product management: Ability to add products with full details (price, image, description, features, availability).
Shopping cart and secure checkout: A simple and smooth process to finalize the purchase and connect to reliable bank payment gateways.
Responsive design: Perfect display of the site on mobile, because a large part of online purchases are made through smartphones.
Advanced search and filter: The ability to easily search for products and filter them based on price, brand, color, etc.
User panel: A space for customers to view their previous orders, manage addresses, and track the status of the current order.
High speed and security: A slow or insecure site quickly destroys customer trust. Having an SSL (HTTPS) certificate is an absolute must.

1. Beyond the purchase: Costs and investment perspective

The cost of “buying a store website” is not the only initial cost. You should also consider a budget for the following: annual hosting and domain costs, technical support and maintenance costs to ensure the proper functioning of the site, and most importantly, the cost of digital marketing. Remember that building a store is just the first step; the real step is driving customers to it through SEO, online advertising, and social media. Ultimately, look at your storefront as a vital investment, not an expense. A professional and efficient online storefront can become your primary source of income and provide a tremendous return on investment, while a cheap and weak site will only waste your money and time.