Though there is no need to answer this question in 2024, we will still discuss why an online business needs a website for entrepreneurs who are still on the traditional marketing route. The importance of an eCommerce website for an online business is apparent with the rising trend of online buying. It won't be wrong to say that surviving without a website is impossible in this intense competition.

NO WEBSITE = NO BUSINESS

A business without a website today is like a shop with awesome stuff to sell but no signage board. It could be a video game shop with a fantastic stock of games, a clothing store with trendy clothes, or a business like yours. People are searching for the stuff that exactly you sell, passing by your shop, but can't see you. That's what exactly happens when you don't have a website.

NO WEBSITE = NO VISIBILITY

Your competitors are winning business through their websites, but you are not because you don't have one. It's like trying to win a race on foot while everyone else is in high-performance vehicles. The more tuned your vehicle is, the higher the chances of winning. So, if you want to win the race of business, get your business a high-end website by connecting with an eCommerce website development company in India.

What is an eCommerce Website?

An e-commerce (electronic commerce) website is an online store. It's a digital platform where businesses can sell products or services directly to consumers over the Internet. Just like a physical store, but instead of shelves and aisles, it uses webpages to showcase products. It allows customers to add them to a virtual shopping cart and then securely checkout with a payment method. Here are the key features of an eCommerce Website:

• Product Listings & Catalog: E-commerce websites display detailed information about the products or services offered by the business.
• Shopping Cart Functionality: Customers can browse products, add them to a virtual cart, and easily modify their selections before checkout.
• Secure Payment Processing: The website securely processes payments through integrated payment gateways, ensuring safe transactions for customers and the business.
• Order Management System: The website tracks and manages customer orders, including processing, fulfillment, and shipping.

Types of eCommerce Website Models

Before we delve deep into the importance of an eCommerce website, let's determine what types of eCommerce website models exist in this business world:

Business-to-Consumer (B2C)

It is one of the most common types of eCommerce where a business sells its products directly to consumers. Here are some examples of B2C eCommerce business:

• Nike
• Apple
• Samsung

Business-to-Business (B2B)

In this business model, businesses sell their products to other businesses. Here are some examples of a B2B eCommerce business:

• Salesforce
• Zoom
• Alibaba

Consumer-to-Consumer (C2C)

Consumers sell products to other consumers in a C2C business model. Here are some examples of a C2C eCommerce business:

• eBay
• Etsy
• Decluttr

5 Reasons Why an eCommerce Website is Important

You must invest in an eCommerce website if you want to grow your business in today's cut-throat competition. Here are some other reasons for why an eCommerce website is essential for your growth:

Reach a Global Audience

With a physical store, you can only attract local customers or people from nearby locations. However, an online store allows you to entice customers globally. It means that if you are based out of California, you can get customers from Hawaii, too. An eCommerce website removes geographical barriers and lets you deal with customers from all locations. Your online store will be accessible to your customers, irrespective of location; all they need is a mobile and a stable internet connection.

Always Open for Business

Is your physical open 24*7 for your valued customers? Most will answer no to this question because doing so requires extra workforce and permissions in some regions. But with an online store, you get rid of this issue and stop losing customers as an eCommerce store is open for business 24/7, 365 days a year. This means that your customers can browse your products and make purchases any time, day or night, which can lead to increased sales.

Convenience for Customers

Will you go to the store if you can get the food delivered to your doorstep? No one wants to leave their home today unless it is necessary. An eCommerce store allows customers to browse products without restrictions, spend time researching and comparing prices, and purchase without guilt. That's what all your customers want, and you are not providing them if you don't have an eCommerce website. So, what are you waiting for? Invest in an eCommerce website, deliver items to doorsteps and be everyone's favourite brand.

Enhanced Brand Control

There are a lot of businesses that are selling their own products on other eCommerce websites. That's a good start if you have just started shifting to modern ways of marketing. However, you should consider building your eCommerce store where you have full control over how your brand is presented. You can get a website for your brand that reflects your brand identity and values. It can also be customized as required or preferred; make it aesthetically appealing by adding animations or other functionality, or keep it minimalistic if it suits your niche and brand.

Valuable Customer Data

Imagine you are a fitness freak and buy athletic wear regularly. You go on a website and search for a product, and it suggests some items you might be interested in, and you like some of them. You add those items to your cart and buy them; you spend $1,000 instead of $100. That's the power of data! If you also want to leverage this to your benefit and increase your sales significantly, get an eCommerce website for your online business today!

eCommerce Website Development Cost

Are you worried about the cost of eCommerce website design and development? Don't worry; it won't cost you a fortune. To ensure your eCommerce website gets ready and becomes functional quickly and affordably, you should hire the best eCommerce website development company in India.

The average cost of eCommerce website development is between $10,000 and $250,000. The cost varies depending on the project complexity, the platform you select (Shopify, WordPress, etc), design specifications, and additional functionalities you may want in your eCommerce website.

If you want a detailed breakdown of the cost of eCommerce website development for your business, here are the key components of an eCommerce website and how much they cost:

Domain Registration and Hosting	$10-$50 per year
Website Design and User Experience	$5000-$30,000
Website Development and CMS	$30,000 or more
3rd Party Intergrations	$1,000-$50,000
Security Features (SSL and more)	$50-$200 per year
Maintenance and Support	$50-$300 per hour
SEO and Digital Marketing	$12,000-$120,000/year

Note: These are all estimates about the cost of an eCommerce website development for your business. For more detailed and accurate information, contact an eCommerce website development agency.

On the Final Note

Running a successful business in today's fierce competition without an eCommerce website seems next to impossible. You will not get much leads or exposure in the market if you do not have a website. An eCommerce website opens doors for potential customers all across the globe, and over time, you can accumulate data to improve their shopping experience, increasing repeat customers. The cost of eCommerce website development is much lower when compared to the benefits it provides to the business. If you are looking for an eCommerce website development company in India, contact Netmente, a result-driven web development and digital marketing company helping businesses grow with leaps and bounds.