A Smart Guide to eCommerce Website Development in 2024

The number of people shopping online has only increased, with 2.64 billion online shoppers worldwide in 2024.

In the US alone, the estimate for this year is 283 million. Just think about that number for a minute. It’s a ton of people. I mean, that’s not a scientific measurement, but billions?

Website development encompasses every area of the online experience, from a web host to your site design, security, and usability. If your site fails in any of the above areas, you’ll hinder those who want to learn more about your eCommerce brand and prohibit sales.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss why eCommerce website development matters so much in the digital marketplace and the technologies and trends shaping it in 2024.

So, let’s get right into it.

Table of Contents

Essential Components of eCommerce Website Development

Example of eCommerce website development in action — *Image courtesy of Mage Solution*

Now that you’ve been acquainted with the basics of eCommerce website development, I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for a deep dive into all the parts that make up a winning website. Here we go.

Website design

Imagine if yours was a brick-and-mortar retail store and you were hosting a grand opening. You wouldn’t leave the façade falling apart, the front lawn overrun with weeds, the floors dusty, and the lighting dingy, would you?

Of course, you wouldn’t! So why would you let your eCommerce website look any different? Data from Hostinger reports that more than 93% of first impressions are driven by your website design alone.

It’s the digital version of your storefront. You must put significant time, money, and effort into it. Don’t bankrupt yourself, as you can build a professional website for cheap these days, but don’t make it a slapdash effort, either.

So, what goes into good website design?

Here’s an overview:

Headers: All great websites have headers atop the page. The header is where you include your brand logo, page title, search function, login/logout button, user accounts, shopping cart, and navigation.
Footers: Next is your website footer, which goes at the bottom of the page. There is yet more information that only makes sense when placed here, including secondary site navigation menus, disclaimers, social media links, copyright notices, contact forms, maps or addresses, newsletter signups, popular blogs, and CTAs.
Navigation: All websites worth their salt must have navigation, whether a simple menu or more complex. One type of navigation menu you can explore is the hamburger menu. No, not that kind of hamburger menu. This one keeps the navigation links from clouding up the homepage or main page.
Hero Images: The main image on a webpage is referred to as the hero image. It’s larger than the others and usually positioned above the fold, so it’s even harder to miss. As an eCommerce brand, your hero image should be your main product.
Whitespace: One of the most important elements of any good website design is nothing. Well, it has a name, and it’s whitespace. This refers to the empty space around images, headers and footers, and other website elements. Giving the elements breathing room helps them stand out more and keeps the site decluttered.
Content: Of course, your website must have content, from your homepage greeting to an about page and landing pages, product pages, return and data privacy policies, and your blog.
CTAs: A call to action or CTA is another must-have element. Most websites use buttons. One CTA should always go above the fold, while the others can go toward the middle of the page and even on the bottom.
Branding: Your website must be branded, as that’s what makes it uniquely yours rather than any other eCommerce brand’s. Besides adding your logo to the header, you should incorporate your brand colors into the site’s color scheme and use your tone in the copy.

User experience

UX, short for user experience, is one of the most important elements of eCommerce website design and development. I can’t stress that enough, but just in case you need it stressed a little further, here are some stats about the importance of UX.

Toptal Designers reports that mobile users are more likely to leave a website if it isn’t mobile-optimized, 5x more likely. Additionally, 40% of people will leave a site that doesn’t load within three seconds.

So, what kinds of UX elements must you pay attention to? They are:

Visual design
Website loading speed
Site consistency
Navigation
Usability
Readability
Website structure
Accessibility
Responsiveness
Mobile optimization

Hosting and platform selection

You also need a web host. Their primary purpose is to keep your website storage data secure on a web server so your new and old users can access your site anytime and use it without trouble.

A shoddy or low-quality web host that crashes often will leave your audience in the lurch. Your customers may begin choosing your competitors because they have a more reliable eCommerce site.

Some of the biggest names in web hosting include GreenGeeks, Ionos Web Hosting, Liquid Web, Hostinger, ScalaHosting, WP Engine, HostGator, Hostwinds, InMotion Hosting, AccuWeb, DreamHost, and Bluehost.

So, with that many options, how do you select one? Well, you have to do your homework, researching areas like:

Brand history and reputation
Rate of dedicated support
Features
Technology
Uptime and downtime
Reviews

Security measures

I don’t think it’s any secret that browsing the web can be a scary place. I’m not referring to the dark web, just your old-fashioned web surfing. Part of the issue is that scammers, phishers, and other nefarious cybercriminals are lurking around every digital corner.

We’ve all heard of significant brands getting their data leaked and putting their customers at risk. Sometimes, the leak is minor and includes a customer’s name and phone number. At the same time, in other cases, their transaction history, business or personal address, and sensitive financial information like a credit or debit card get out there.

This puts these consumers at risk of identity theft and fraud because they entrusted their personal information to a website.

Your eCommerce brand must have safeguards to protect consumers from these costly breaches.

Advanced Features to Enhance eCommerce Sites

Besides the fundamentals I’ve discussed, you can go above and beyond with your eCommerce website development and institute a few advancements.

You could get a leg up on the competition by making the following improvements:

AI and machine learning

Embracing AI in eCommerce website development can help you get to the top. AI has a lot of purposes you should know of as you create your site:

Personalization: AI can help you discover new ways to personalize your customer communications to build a stronger relationship and drive more conversions. Your audience will feel like the content they receive is finetuned to them and their needs.
Auto-generated content: You don’t have to write 100% of your website content if you don’t want to. You can rely on AI to provide a basic outline for site content or even write it all for you. Then, you can play editor and modify the content to suit you as required.
Financial predictions: AI can comb through your legions of financial data and then use your sales figures to predict your next sales period. You can then make financial plans based on this data.
Audience segmentation: Segmenting your audience data is essential. These days, you can rely on AI to do it for you by inputting a few criteria and filters you want.
Email and social scheduling: Once your emails or social media posts are ready to promote your new eCommerce website, you can count on AI to automatically post for you whenever you want. No more sitting in front of the computer and waiting.
Fraud detection: AI algorithms are so intuitive that they’re becoming a valued part of fraud detection measures. AI can review several parameters, everything from transaction values and patterns to past user behavior, to dictate whether the customer might have made their most recent purchase.
Dynamic pricing: Setting your prices according to demand is an excellent way to ensure a fair profit for your eCommerce products. AI can recommend dynamic prices for your sales, customer size, and popular products.
Customer support: One of AI’s most significant uses is as a customer service rep. AI chatbots can respond to customers anytime, even after business hours, filling in the gaps when your reps can’t do it.

AI uses the power of machine learning to understand your brand, your audience, your products, and your data. Machine learning allows it to improve continually.

Augmented reality

Another advanced tool to add to your kit is augmented reality or AR. Augmented reality is a combination of 3D graphics and real life. Pokémon Go is the example I always think of first, as it lets you see Pokémon in a natural environment.

So, how do eCommerce websites use AR? In a type of “try before you buy” style. Customers can see what the product looks like in their homes or bodies without purchasing it and hope for the best.

AR can increase consumer trust and satisfaction, ensuring they get a product that improves their lives. Besides that, you can also lower your rate of returns and increase your conversions through the power of AR.

Voice search optimization

Did you know that over 58% of Americans have used voice search once or more? For millions more, it’s way more than once.

Voice searching makes looking up information online even more convenient, as you don’t have to worry about typos or putting your fingers on a touchscreen. You can just let your voice do all the hard work for you.

So, what do people want when they use voice search? Over 70% of searchers seek local results.

Bearing this information in mind, your eCommerce brand must be willing to incorporate voice search all over your website. You can start by using more conversational keywords that refer to the natural way someone searches by voice instead of typing.

Also, focus on local SEO strategies, using location-centric keywords and producing content specific to various locales.

Leveraging eCommerce Trends for Growth

In addition to all the recommendations for better eCommerce website development, you should also pay attention to emerging trends that could pave the way for a more fruitful business. Here are some of the top ones to internalize.

Social commerce

I’ve touched on social commerce extensively in my eCommerce posts, but I’ll also provide an overview here.

Social commerce is a new shopping phenomenon. Rather than require consumers to visit a third-party website (such as yours), they can research and purchase products from their social media feeds.

This year alone, social commerce sales will dominate approximately 6.6% of all US eCommerce sales. That’s a huge market cut for a relatively new form of commerce.

If your eCommerce website doesn’t enable social commerce, you might consider changing that this year. After all, you can reach a much larger audience through social commerce, and it’s a lot easier to drive conversions.

If you’re looking for one platform to begin implementing social commerce, make it Facebook. It should achieve 64.6 million social commerce shoppers this year, followed by Instagram with 46.8 million and TikTok with 35.3 million.

Sustainable practices

I’m sure you’re well aware that Mother Earth is not in the best shape right now, and with the alarms blaring as loudly as they ever have, more consumers have become conscious of their habits.

Beyond recycling, turning the lights off when leaving a room, and walking instead of driving, consumers have extended the examination of their habits to their shopping behaviors. Indeed, in the US alone, 80% of today’s consumers have begun making greener moves within the last five years.

Moreover, 65% of consumers consider the environmental impact of their purchase before they place an order, and another 83% said sustainability is a significant factor in their brand preferences, with brands that are more sustainable winning their business.

You can make your eCommerce business practices sustainable in plenty of ways, such as:

Use sustainable packaging: Embrace compostable, biodegradable materials from cellulose to starch-based PLA, or use green options like paper and recyclable HDPE or PET plastics.
Offer carbon-neutral shipping: Carbon-neutral shipping means offsetting the carbon you generate and reducing emissions simultaneously.
Do a supply chain audit: Now is an excellent time to evaluate your partners within the supply chain and determine how sustainable their practices are. You might seek more eco-friendly partners instead.
Manufacture more sustainable products: The next time you’re ready to make a new product for your eCommerce audience, focus on its sustainability. This will undoubtedly appeal to a greener crowd.
Optimize your shipping: Cut out extraneous shipping practices that increase your company’s carbon footprint.

Subscription models

Can customers get enough of your products? If you said no, why not consider implementing a subscription service?

You’ll see lots of eCommerce brands that follow this model, from Amazon to pet supply store Chewy. You can purchase a product once or subscribe and get it sent incrementally. Better yet, the consumer can choose how often they receive the product.

Subscription models ensure your customers never run out of their favorite product, which boosts their loyalty. You also have a steadier revenue stream.

Overcoming Challenges in eCommerce Development

eCommerce website development example from Storm Creek — *Image courtesy of SG Web Partners*

Of course, if eCommerce website development was so easy, everyone would have a blemish-free website, but that’s not exactly the case. Building a website and a following in the eCommerce world can be difficult.

Here are some pitfalls to be aware of as you broaden your internet presence and strategies to mitigate risks.

Rapid changes in technology

Technology stops for no one, including your eCommerce business. Rather than resist its flow, you have to go with it, like being caught in an ocean wave.

That doesn’t mean you must adopt every new technology related to eCommerce. Instead, get to know the trend, determine how it would apply to your business, see how it plays out in your competitors, and implement it as necessary.

Customer retention challenges

Holding onto long-term customers can be difficult, even for more experienced businesses. You might worry that your most loyal customers are getting bored, so how do you keep them buying?

You have plenty of solutions!

Subscription-based services will keep your eCommerce business top-of-mind to your longer-term audience.
Start a referral program to incentivize your customers to recommend new prospective customers to you in exchange for discounts, freebies, or prizes.
Strive to create new products as regularly as time allows so there’s always something engaging for your long-term audience.
Change your email, social media, advertising, and content marketing to connect more meaningfully with your customers.

Cybersecurity

The looming threat of cybersecurity breaches is always there, but you don’t have to live with it like a specter sitting over your shoulder.

As I discussed earlier, implementing cybersecurity protection for your eCommerce website will do a world of good in putting your customers’ minds at ease.

However, that’s not enough. Once or twice a year, sit down with other stakeholders to review the efficacy of your cybersecurity and look for gaps in your protection. Amend and update your protections as required.

Logistics management

Growing is great, but scaling up can cause logistics nightmares if you don’t do any preplanning. You must have allocated warehouse space and manpower to handle the influx of products you need to manufacture, pick, pack, and ship out.

On that note, use logistics management software or tools to track which items are in stock, which are gone, and which are running low.

Maintaining customer support

Keeping your customers happy must remain Priority #1, but it gets harder with more customers. Now is a great time to bolster your customer support team by hiring more reps or expanding AI’s functionality and using it as a chatbot.

Increasingly crowded market

eCommerce is the future. While brick-and-mortar stores will never disappear entirely, it’s clear that the average consumer’s preference for online shopping will continue to take eCommerce to new heights.

That means an increase in competition. There’s nothing you can do to slow or stem the flow of competitors, but you don’t have to stand idly by and let your established eCommerce business get usurped.

Instead, be proactive. Perform competitor analyses once or twice a year to determine what kind of competition is entering the marketplace and where they have advantages over you. Stay abreast of eCommerce trends so nothing catches you off-guard.

In the meantime, continue innovating your products and exploring new niches to gain vaster audience segments.

Conclusion

The future outlook for the eCommerce industry is bright, making now an excellent opportunity to capitalize on your website development. Remember to focus on design, mobile optimization, and branding. You should also broaden your business to encompass social commerce and sustainability.

You’re ready to advance your eCommerce business through website development and design.

EngageBay is an all-in-one marketing, sales, and customer support software for small businesses, startups, and solopreneurs. You get email marketing, marketing automation, landing page and email templates, segmentation and personalization, sales pipelines, live chat, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What are the first steps in starting an eCommerce website?

Translating your eCommerce presence to a website requires knowing your audience and niche. Next, select a web host and some products to host online. You can then begin planning your website design.

2. How can I ensure my eCommerce site is optimized for mobile users?

The best way to be sure your eCommerce website is mobile-optimized is to use A/B testing. You can also enhance the loading speed, make the navigation easy-to-use on mobile devices, and implement custom CSS code.

3. What are the best security practices for eCommerce sites?

There are many best practices to implement to maintain your eCommerce website security, including:

Use two-factor authentication
Back up data regularly
Prioritize secure payment gateways
Utilize SSL certificates
Always update the required software
Recommend your customers create hard-to-crack passwords

4. How can AI and AR be used to improve eCommerce sales?

AI benefits your eCommerce sales by personalizing marketing and sales materials and helping you gain more audience insights. AR pushes more conversions and sales with its “try before you buy” model that blends real life and 3D.