With e-commerce sites, the objective is much clearer and more measurable – Sales.

Design, navigation, visibility in search engines, purchase process, customer engagement and product selection, all become vitally important and contribute to the success of the business.

If this is the engine for your business, then it is vitally important you get it right. Here are some points to consider:

Usability

Make the experience a good one. Provide multiple ways customers can find what they are looking for. Make the purchase process as easy as possible.

Optimisation

An essential element for any e-commerce site. If the site is not found, you will not have any sales. Make sure that you can control the optimisation elements such as meta tags, down to product level. Have an area for useful articles and information – Google loves content.

Online feature

Make sure that you can offer the full range of shopping incentives to help people purchase. Features such as special offers, discount codes, people who bought this products also bought these products, etc.

Management backend

This has two elements to it. Firstly, the content management system - make sure you can manage your products and categories easily and effectively.  Secondly, make sure you can manage your orders effectively when people purchase. 

Site Processes

Deliver what you promise if you want customers to return and to recommend your site. Be upfront with elements like delivery charges. Make sure you have an effective payment gateway.