What to consider when starting an Online Business and hiring an E-commerce Website Professional

When you are looking for a website development company to help you sell products, services or gift cards online, it is imperative that you hire a professional. An "E-commerce website" Internet search will spit out countless do it yourself websites and cheap solutions to your dilemma. The first thing that you will want to look for is a website firm with an honest reputation and the ability to grow with your vision. The perfect quotation has been floating around on Linked-in lately that basically states: “If you think it’s expensive to hire an amateur, wait till you get the bill from a professional.” We like the fact that your company has the ability to save money by skipping the amateur and moving full throttle ahead into the care of a professional web developer.

Here are five basic areas to consider when starting an online business and hiring an E-commerce website development firm.


1. Security

   The security of your vital information and your customers payment information is the most important aspect of running an online business. Everyone remembers those recent reports where major department stores had problems keeping consumers credit card numbers secure. You need to make sure your E-commerce website is professionally designed and 100% secure. There are hundreds of website solutions on the market but the most secure way that we have found to build an E-commerce website is with the Adobe Business Catalyst platform. Not only does this platform automatically fix security and virus breaches on a daily basis, it works hand and hand with the world’s most sophisticated online payment gateways. We generally require our valued clients to work with secure gateways like Authorize.net or Pay Pal Pro.

2. Quality of your Product

   Anyone can order crap from China or buy an abandoned storage unit to find stuff to sell on E-bay. But we are guessing that your business makes a product that is unique in the marketplace. The quality and consistency of your product is going to be directly related to the price that you charge your customers. We advise companies to sell products, services and gift cards that you can’t find on Amazon or big sites and to take great pride in their brand. A professionally designed website with a clear cut brand and proper functionality can give your business instant web credibility.

3. Search engine visibility

   Now, notice that we didn’t use the term Search Engine Optimization or SEO. The rules on this crazy monster change every single day in some way or another. If your website is built the right way from the ground up (like a strong foundation on a house) then you are going to be half way there with the major search engines. This is provided that you have hired a professional to dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s for your site. The other aspect of search engine visibility is going to be valuable content. Quality content on your website and current blog postings are two certain ways to make search engines perk up and pay attention to the products that you are selling online.

4. Superior customer service

   This may be the most boring part of this article, but we believe that people are the most important part of any business. This means, the people on the other end of the computer dealing with your customers need to be spectacular. An E-commerce website can often have a product out of stock or a mix up with the shipping address. Your customers need to know that your employees truly care about them. A firm and simple return policy on your website can eliminate most customer concerns and questions. We also suggest working with a top notch delivery company that you and your customers will trust.


5. Making a profit

   Every business needs to make a profit to survive. Recent research has discovered that people actually feel safer spending anywhere from one hundred to two hundred dollars on the Internet than ever before. Why that seems to be the financial window of consumer’s safety? We don’t know. Your company can still sell great products for $19.99 or rare antiques for thousands of dollars and be extremely successful. You’ll just need to know your profit margin. The majority of all online businesses always make a few dollars on the shipping.

So, there’s a snap shot view of our take on E-commerce websites. Here at Sprout Creatives, we are always willing to speak with companies that build quality, homemade, crafty and unique products. We are constantly searching to create long term partnerships with companies that make their own products here in the United States of America. Americans have been responsible for some of the most life changing inventions known to mankind, but what do we make here? Call us old fashioned, but we believe that Americans need to start building products here again.


If you would like more information on how a Business Catalyst E-commerce website can help you sell your quality products, services or gift cards online, pick up the phone and call (301) 537 8500 or Start a Project here.

Sprout Creatives is based in the quiet town of Berlin, Maryland.