Key Differences Between an Ecommerce and a Regular Website

A website primarily aims to promote and sell products or services online. However, some websites like eCommerce sites are designed to do more than promote products. For example, Amazon, Zappos, iTunes and eBay are all popular eCommerce sites that not only promote products but also sell them.

An eCommerce website is designed to allow customers to purchase products or services directly from your business. This type of website is different from a regular website in terms of both purpose and function. 

eCommerce websites are distinguished by the types of products they offer and the types of participants, including:

This distinction is important because it can give insights into a brand’s business and financial model.

There are six main types of eCommerce websites, each of which is influenced by the nature of the businesses, consumers, and administrators involved. These six types are:

Here are five main distinctions between a regular and an eCommerce website:

The design of the website is mainly based on who the target audience is. For B2B or B2C sites, the web design needs to be both visually appealing and functional. It must have a user-friendly interface that is easy to use.

Since customers often use their mobile devices when browsing through eCommerce sites, the website must also be responsive. This means that the website must be able to adjust its layout and content to fit the user’s device, whether it be a phone, tablet, or computer. 

Meanwhile, responsiveness is a low priority on a regular website. However, take note that it’s still recommended to make your site responsive in this day and age. 

eCommerce website owners’ primary concern is making sales, improving conversions, and increasing profits. On the other hand, a regular website’s design goal is to generate leads and produce traffic, which leads to differing styles in website design.

Regular websites require separate hosting. It also functions as a sales and marketing tool. 

On the other hand, eCommerce sites are self-hosted. They need to be optimal for buying, selling, and accepting payment.

Due to the nature of eCommerce websites, security is a high priority when designing one. Transactions involve payments and customer information, so integrating secured payment gateways is a must. Meanwhile, regular sites do not require payment transactions and inputting of credit card information.

The design of a regular website should be easy to use. If the website is difficult to navigate, customers will not want to use it. Navigation and interface are essential in a regular web design. Contact forms are also necessary for a regular web design because they help generate leads.

eCommerce websites need to provide some information and reviews of the products they have for sale without compromising the speed and ease of navigation. The design should be both easy and informative to offer the best possible user experience.

Regular and eCommerce websites are quite different from one another, and it’s essential to know what these differences are to come up with the perfect site for your company. Whether you need a regular or eCommerce site, always work with a professional web design company to give your site the look and function it needs.

Are you searching for the best web design company? Trust EB Pearls, a digital agency that creates award-winning eCommerce web design in Sydney. Book your free consultation today!