Designing an eCommerce website (Key features, platforms & examples)

Creating an eCommerce website isn't just about making a site that works. It’s about building an experience that feels right for your customers. Imagine shopping online, and every click seems to understand what you need. That’s the magic of AI eCommerce Personalization. It’s not just a trend; it’s how you make your online store stand out. In this article, you'll discover the key features, platforms, and examples to help you design an eCommerce site that’s both smart and stylish. Ready to make an impression?

Instant’s Shopify product page builder simplifies the process, helping you create pages that are as intuitive as attractive.

Table of Contents

• 10 Key functionalities to consider when designing an eCommerce website

• What are the different ways of building an eCommerce website

• 4 Best eCommerce website builders

• How much does designing an eCommerce website cost?

• 5 eCommerce website design examples

• Optimize your Shopify store for conversions without breaking the bank with Instant's Shopify product page builder

10 Key functionalities to consider when designing an eCommerce website

1. User-friendly, mobile-optimized design with effective search and navigation

A seamless shopping experience starts with a user-friendly interface. Did you know half of consumers say website design is crucial to a business’s brand? Poorly designed websites are a deal-breaker for 42% of visitors. For a smooth shopping journey, ensure your eCommerce site allows easy searching of products and categories, offers intuitive navigation, and uses tools like Google’s PageSpeed Insights to keep things zippy. 

Optimize the checkout process and let customers browse freely without mandatory registration. Don’t forget about mobile optimization—73% of eCommerce sales happen on mobile devices.

2. High-resolution visuals for an engaging shopping experience

Customers have to rely on images and videos in the online shopping world. High-quality visuals bridge the gap between virtual and reality. Showcase products from multiple angles, and consider AR or VR for an immersive experience. Optimize images to boost page load speeds, ensuring customers get a clear view of what they’re buying before it arrives.

3. Special offers and discounts to capture attention and increase conversions

Discounts are a powerful tool for grabbing attention and boosting conversions. Leverage promotional offers to attract new customers, increase sales, and clear out old inventory. Use strategies like free shipping, buy-one-get-one-free, and seasonal discounts. 

Identify the best stage of the buyer’s journey to offer discounts, such as when customers abandon their cart or show exit intent.

4. Product recommendations to personalize shopping experiences

Personalization is key to a successful customer experience strategy. Product recommendations use AI and machine learning to deliver relevant suggestions to customers. This significantly increases the likelihood of customers adding recommended products to their cart and boosts the average order value. 

Develop a recommendations framework to make the most of this feature, ensuring you have the resources and expertise to implement it effectively.

5. Intuitive checkout process with multiple payment options

The checkout stage is a make-or-break moment for online shoppers. A smooth, straightforward process is essential to prevent losing customers at this critical point. Modern payment gateways offer secure and efficient checkout experiences while supporting multiple payment and currency options. 

Choose a gateway like PayU, PayPal, or Razorpay to ensure a seamless transaction process for your customers, no matter where they are or how they’re paying.

6. Content authoring and management capabilities

Content is crucial for a successful eCommerce website. A well-structured content management system (CMS) can boost organic web traffic, provide valuable information to customers, and enhance the online shopping experience. 

A strong CMS can also be the backbone of your content marketing strategy, enabling you to create high-quality, timely content that drives engagement.

7. Analytics and reporting tools

You must measure performance and make data-driven decisions to grow your eCommerce business. Analytics and reporting tools help you track key metrics and gain insights into customer behavior. Use tools like Google Analytics and dashboards provided by payment gateways to monitor performance and identify areas for improvement.

8. Scalable application design with the ability to add and customize features

As your business grows, your eCommerce website needs to scale with it. Design your site to handle increased order volumes and traffic while maintaining reliable uptime. Ensure your application is flexible enough to add or remove features as needed, allowing you to adapt to changing business needs and customer demands.

9. Security features for eCommerce websites

Online transactions are vulnerable to cybercrime, making security a top priority for eCommerce websites. Implement features like SSL/TLS certificates, two-factor authentication, and digital firewalls to protect customer data and prevent unauthorized access. These security measures help build customer trust and protect your business from threats.

10. Store management features for eCommerce websites

Efficient store management is essential for a successful eCommerce site. Choose a platform with robust store management features, allowing you to easily:

• Manage products

• Process orders

• Handle returns

• Track inventory

Solutions like WooCommerce, Shopify, and Magento offer powerful tools to help you streamline operations and maximize revenue opportunities.

What are the different ways of building an eCommerce website

When you're gearing up to build an eCommerce website, the first big decision is picking the right platform and approach. It all depends on what your business needs, your budget, and how tech-savvy you are. Let's break it down into three main types: open source, SaaS, and headless commerce.

Open source: The DIY route

Open-source platforms let you have complete control over your online store. You can customize every little detail because the source code is open to developers. But this means you’ll need some coding skills or hire someone who does. While there are no licensing fees, you’ll still need to keep up with updates and security.

Pros

• Total customization freedom

• No licensing costs

• Loads of plugins and themes 

Cons

• Coding expertise required

• Higher maintenance bills

• Potential security issues

SaaS: Easy street

SaaS platforms are like a one-stop shop for building an online store. They handle the hosting, security, and updates, so you don’t have to sweat the small stuff. This makes them a great choice if you’re looking for something straightforward. Just keep in mind that there are monthly fees and sometimes transaction costs.

Pros

• Simple to use

• Scalable and secure

• Regular updates 

Cons

• Subscription fees

• Less customization

• Some branding limits

Headless commerce: The flexible friend

Headless commerce is all about splitting the front-end and back-end. This allows you to create unique shopping experiences by mixing and matching different tools. It’s great for businesses that need flexibility, but you’ll need some technical know-how, which can get pricey.

Pros

• Creative control

• Quick site updates

• Flexibility with tools 

Cons

• Technical skills needed

• Potentially costly

Take control of your store with Instant

If you’re using Shopify, Instant is a game-changer. It’s a user-friendly Shopify product page builder that lets you create advanced pages without coding. With its drag-and-drop interface, you can quickly design and publish landing pages, blog posts, and product pages while staying true to your brand. 

Plus, it integrates seamlessly with other eCommerce tools. Try Instant’s Shopify product page builder today!

4 Best eCommerce website builders

1. Quick and easy: Shopify for small to medium businesses

Shopify is a powerhouse for launching an online store with minimal hassle. Its user-friendly interface and extensive app marketplace make it a favorite among small to medium-sized businesses. You can quickly set up shop and add features as your business grows. 

Need personalized product recommendations? There’s an app for that. The downside? Costs can sneak up on you with subscription fees and third-party app integrations. But for many, the convenience and scalability make it worthwhile.

2. Flexibility and scalability: BigCommerce for growing businesses

BigCommerce offers a robust platform with more built-in eCommerce features than Shopify, reducing the need for additional plug-ins. It also supports headless commerce, which is a fancy way of saying you can separate the front end of your site from the back end for more flexibility. 

This makes BigCommerce a solid choice for businesses that are scaling up and need a platform to grow with them. Just be prepared for a learning curve if you’re new to eCommerce.

3. Power and customization: Magento for large enterprises

Magento is worth considering if you’re running a large business with complex eCommerce needs. This open-source platform offers complete control over your online store, allowing for deep customization. Nevertheless, you’ll need advanced coding skills or a development team to manage it. 

Adobe also offers a SaaS version called Adobe Commerce if you prefer a managed solution. The trade-off for all this power is complexity, but for many large enterprises, it’s a fair price to pay.

4. Integrate with ease: WooCommerce for WordPress users

WooCommerce is an open-source eCommerce plugin for WordPress, making it an excellent choice for businesses with a WordPress site. It’s highly customizable and can be modified, offering much flexibility. Nevertheless, you’ll need to manage hosting, security, and maintenance, which can be a bit of a hassle. But if you’re comfortable with WordPress, WooCommerce offers a seamless way to add eCommerce functionality to your site.

How much does designing an eCommerce website cost?

When you think about launching an eCommerce site, the first thing that comes to mind is the price tag. Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Prices can vary significantly, from $5,000 to $250,000 or more. The final cost depends on several factors, from your platform choice to the complexity of your project.

Choosing the right platform for your eCommerce site

The platform you select is a significant factor in your website’s costs. If you want something simple and easy to use, try a SaaS platform like Shopify or BigCommerce. These platforms charge a monthly fee but come with hosting and various features. 

Consider an open-source platform like WooCommerce or Magento if you want more control and flexibility. These options require more setup and customization but can be tailored to your needs.

Complexity and size: How these factors impact costs

Its complexity and size are other significant factors in determining your website’s costs. Your costs will increase if you offer a wide range of products, sophisticated search filters, complex shipping rules, or multilingual capabilities. Additionally, the more complex your site is, the more time and resources it will take to develop.

Design matters: How your choice of design affects costs

Your website’s design is another factor that affects costs. If you want a custom design created by professional designers, be prepared to pay more. Nevertheless, this investment can significantly enhance your site’s user experience and boost conversion rates. On the other hand, if you’re on a tight budget, you can opt for a pre-existing template.

Additional features and integrations: What you need to know

Any additional features or integrations you need will impact your website’s costs. These include CRM integrations, email marketing tools, advanced SEO features, and social media plugins. These elements can enhance your website’s performance and increase overall pricing.

5 eCommerce website design examples

1. Spotify: Streamlined and striking

Spotify’s website design is a lesson in simplicity and effectiveness. The clean black and white theme, punctuated by vibrant images, creates a visually appealing layout that’s easy on the eyes. A bright green call-to-action button draws attention and invites interaction without overwhelming the user. 

Spotify's user-focused approach

The “Why go Premium” section uses icons to convey the benefits of the premium service, making complex information digestible. The minimalistic approach ensures users can navigate effortlessly and focus on their primary goal—exploring music. Check it out at Spotify.

2. Apple: Sleek and user-centric

Apple’s website exemplifies modern design with a touch of elegance. Their signature black and light gray theme and generous white space offer a clean and sophisticated look that’s inviting rather than intimidating. The intuitive navigation guides users seamlessly to their desired products, whether they’re in the market for a Mac or an Apple Watch. 

This design prioritizes user experience, ensuring that browsing is as enjoyable as it is functional. Visit Apple to see for yourself.

3. Lush: Simple yet bold

Lush’s eCommerce site is simple and bold, using a monochrome palette to let their colorful products shine. The straightforward and intuitive navigation helps users find what they’re looking for without fuss. Icons and unique fonts highlight the unique selling points of their products, such as being cruelty-free and 100% vegetarian. 

It’s a design that respects the user’s time and attention while showcasing the brand’s personality. Explore the site at Lush.

4. Allbirds: Functional and engaging

Allbirds’ website design is functional and engaging, with a hero image that covers the screen regardless of device. Navigation is straightforward with categories like “Men,” “Women,” and “Kids” clearly visible. The “Shop men” and “Shop women” buttons guide users quickly to their desired section. 

Hover effects and conversion-oriented features, such as size charts and customer reviews, enhance the user experience and encourage purchases. Check it out at Allbirds.

5. Highway robery: Quirky and straightforward

Highway Robery’s website is a masterclass in the “keep it simple” design principle. Creative and engaging copy complements the straightforward layout, reducing cognitive load for visitors. Short texts, beautiful images, and intuitive navigation make the site easy to scan. The witty copywriting, including succinct product descriptions, adds a touch of personality without overwhelming the user. Visit Highway Robery for a look.

Optimize your Shopify store for conversions without breaking the bank with Instant's Shopify product page builder

Imagine a world where you don’t need to know a single line of code to create stunning, high-converting product pages. That’s the reality with Instant, a Shopify product page builder that’s as intuitive as powerful. Forget the tech jargon and heavy lifting. Instead, you can drag and drop your way to a fully customized eCommerce experience. 

Whether it’s landing pages or blog posts, Instant lets you design and publish easily while controlling your store's look and feel. It’s the perfect tool for eCommerce teams and agencies looking to up their game without getting bogged down in technical details.

Seamless integration: Figma and beyond

Designing an eCommerce website often means juggling multiple tools. Instant gets that, and it plays nice with others. One of its standout features is seamless integration with Figma, a favorite among design pros. This means you can take your designs from concept to reality without a hitch. But it doesn’t stop with Figma. 

Instant connects with other eCommerce tools to ensure a smooth, efficient workflow. This versatility makes it a go-to choice for enhancing online store performance.

Boosting conversions like a pro

In the world of eCommerce, conversions are king. Instant is designed with this in mind. Its user-friendly interface lets you create pages optimized for conversion without needing a degree in marketing. Want to try out a new layout or test different messaging? Instant makes it easy to experiment and iterate so you can find what works best for your business. 

With Instant, you’re not just building pages; you’re building a better customer shopping experience.

Get started with Instant today!

Jumping in with Instant is as easy as it gets. You don’t need to be a tech whiz or spend hours watching tutorials. Start playing with the drag-and-drop interface, and you’ll see how quickly you can bring your ideas to life. And because Instant is built for Shopify, you know it will work seamlessly with your store. So why wait? Dive into the future of eCommerce design and see what Instant can do for you.