15 Things Essential for Success

Don’t let your brilliant eCommerce business idea go to waste. With a robust eCommerce checklist to guide you all the way, you can stay on track and achieve your business goals in no time.

Let’s face it: Launching a successful e-commerce site is not easy, let alone sustaining one. There are a lot of tasks, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or disorganized, which can affect your business in the long run.

And with almost 200 million active websites globally, competition in the online space has never been more challenging.

But don’t worry, as there are a lot of proven ways to increase your chances of making it big in the eCommerce field. In this blog, we’ll walk you through the essential checklist every eCommerce business needs to succeed.

1. Secure a Domain and Hosting Service

When building your e-commerce website, you need to secure your own domain and hosting services.

A unique and memorable domain name is crucial for building your brand’s identity and making it easier for customers to find you online. It acts as the address for your eCommerce website, appearing on marketing materials, email addresses, and business cards.

To start, think of at least ten domain names for your website and check if your desired domain name is available. If it’s not, you can explore other options. You can experiment with different top-level domains (TLDs), which are the endings of web addresses, like .com, .net, or newer ones like .store or .shop.

Moreover, a strong domain name can positively affect your SEO. Including relevant keywords that reflect your industry can make it easier for search engines to understand your website content.

Choose a Reliable Hosting Provider

Slow-loading websites can frustrate visitors. According to statistics, 64% of online shoppers who have a negative experience on a website will switch to another store. 

For eCommerce websites, performance is critical because it directly impacts user experience, SEO, and conversion rates. Fast websites encourage visitors to stay longer, navigate more pages, and make purchases. 

So it’s very important to choose a reliable hosting provider to maintain fast loading times and consistent uptime on your website.

GreenGeeks, known for its eco-friendly approach, provides reliable hosting that ensures your website stays online with minimal interruptions. It offers various hosting options, including shared hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated servers, all of which are optimized for performance. 

Additionally, GreenGeeks’ services include built-in caching, SSD storage, and a content delivery network (CDN), all of which enhance your site’s speed and reliability.

2. Design a User-Friendly Website

A user-friendly website is definitely part of your eCommerce checklist.

In designing your eCommerce website, there are several principles worth considering. First, you should know the purpose of your website. You should accommodate the needs of your users and at the same time have a clear intention on all your pages that shows what you offer.

When it comes to your website’s user experience and usability, simplicity is key. A simple design makes it easier for customers to find what they need quickly. It reduces frustration and helps them make purchases more smoothly.

Moreover, clear navigation, such as well-labeled menus and intuitive layout, ensures that visitors can browse products without getting lost or overwhelmed. 

According to eye-tracking studies, the majority of what people see occurs in the top and left areas of the screen. With this, use the F-based pattern which is the most common way that visitors scan text on websites (left to right and top to bottom). 

Mobile First Approach

Around 96% of the global population uses a mobile device to access the internet, so you need a mobile-responsive website that adjusts to different screen sizes.

This adaptability not only helps improve your site’s SEO but also increases user engagement and reduces bounce rates. People are more likely to stay on and use a site that works well on their devices.

A clean layout and easy-to-use interface make the user experience even better by keeping things simple and visually appealing. Less clutter helps users focus on browsing and making purchases, which can increase the chances of conversions.

3. Set Up Essential Pages 

Well-structured and detailed pages build trust with customers. They provide clear, organized, and accurate information that makes your business appear professional and transparent.

As part of your eCommerce checklist, the key pages you should have in your website include:

Home Page

This page is the gateway to your site, and it sets the tone for your overall branding. It should be visually appealing and guide visitors to other key pages like products, services, and contact info. 

The homepage is crucial for ranking and often acts as the hub for linking to other important pages.

About Page

This page helps humanize your brand by sharing your company’s story, mission, and values. A well-written About Page allows customers to connect emotionally with your brand, which can build trust and loyalty. You should also provide keyword-rich content about your business.​

Contact Page

This page makes it easy for customers to reach you. Clear contact details, such as email, phone number, and address, build credibility. A well-optimized Contact Page can also improve local search rankings, especially when integrated with external links like local business directories.​

FAQ Page

A FAQ page addresses common customer questions, reducing uncertainty and boosting confidence in your business. FAQs are great for targeting long-tail keywords, which can improve search visibility while also enhancing user engagement by providing instant answers.

Terms & Conditions

This page outlines the legal aspects of your website, including your policies on returns, refunds, and privacy. Having a clear Terms & Conditions Page demonstrates professionalism and helps protect both your business and customers from misunderstandings. It also contributes to trust by setting clear expectations.

4. Optimize Product Listings

The next step in our eCommerce checklist is to optimize product listings. Having clear, accurate, and engaging product descriptions gives your potential buyers the information they need to make those purchase decisions.

To effectively optimize your product listings, especially on an e-commerce site, follow these key steps:

Write Clear, Engaging, and SEO-Friendly Descriptions

• Focus on Benefits: Explain how the product solves a problem for the customer, not just what it does. Highlight the benefits, not just the features.
• Use Keywords: Add relevant keywords that customers are likely to use when searching for your product. Tools like Google Keyword Planner or SEMrush can help you find and integrate these keywords naturally into titles, descriptions, and metadata.
• Avoid Duplicate Content: Each product should have a unique description. Duplicate content can hurt your rankings in search engines, so make sure every product listing is original.

Use High-Quality Images and Videos

High-quality images and videos improve the shopping experience by showing the product from different angles, helping customers visualize it in real life. Videos are especially useful when they show how the product is used.

Features like zoom functionality or 360-degree views add more detail and make the product feel more tangible online.

Clear Categorization and Tags

Good categorization and tagging make it easier for shoppers to find what they’re looking for. A well-organized catalog lets users filter products by attributes like size, color, or price, which makes searching seamless and reduces frustration.

Proper use of categories and tags also improves SEO by helping search engines understand and rank your products better.

Customer Reviews and Strong Calls-to-Action

About 93% of online shoppers read reviews first before deciding to buy a product, so effectively displaying customer reviews and ratings on your product listing is a must.

In addition, use strong, action-focused calls-to-action (CTAs) like “Buy Now” or “Get Yours Today” to guide users toward completing their purchase.

5. Streamline the Checkout Process

You’ve already hooked your potential customers into buying your product, and they are ready to checkout. As part of your eCommerce checklist, you have to make sure that the checkout process is all good and that customers will complete their purchases smoothly.

Long or complicated checkouts often cause people to give up on their purchase before finishing. Nearly 70% of shoppers abandon their carts during checkout, mostly due to slow or complex steps. By making the process easier, you reduce customer frustration and lower the chance of losing sales.

A fast and easy checkout prevents customers from getting frustrated or second-guessing their purchase. The fewer clicks and forms, the better. Offering a guest checkout option and reducing the number of required fields are effective ways to make the process simpler and increase the chances of a successful sale.

Have Multiple Payment Options

People like different payment methods, so providing choices like credit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, and other digital wallets helps meet customer preferences. Some may find digital wallets more convenient, while others prefer traditional cards.

Offering multiple options makes it easier for a wider range of customers to complete their purchase.

6. Implement Security Measures

Security is crucial in e-commerce because customers should be willing to trust your site with sensitive information like credit card details and personal data.

A lack of security can result in data breaches, which lead to financial loss, damaged customer trust, and serious legal consequences.

With cyberattacks like phishing, malware, and data breaches on the rise, your business needs to prioritize security to safeguard both its operations and its customers’ information​.

Therefore, robust security measures should be on top of your eCommerce checklist.

SSL Certificates and Data Protection

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates encrypt data transferred between your website and customers, making it difficult for hackers to intercept sensitive information like payment details. 

SSL is also required to comply with the PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard), which is a set of rules designed to protect cardholder data during online transactions. 

Without SSL, websites are vulnerable to attacks, and customers can lose confidence in making transactions on your site.

PCI Compliance for Secure Transactions

PCI compliance ensures that any business handling credit card payments meet specific security standards. These include encrypting cardholder data, maintaining firewalls, and regularly updating antivirus software to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access. 

Non-compliance can result in hefty fines and loss of payment privileges, which makes following PCI guidelines essential for your e-commerce website.

Have Visible Security Badges

Displaying visible security badges (like SSL or PCI compliance logos) on your website boosts customer confidence. Seeing these trust indicators can lower bounce rates and encourage more visitors to complete their purchases, as they feel reassured that their information is protected.

7. Choose the Sales Channel

Your website is the backbone of your online business. It serves as your storefront and represents your business in the online world. 

But aside from your website, more people are discovering and purchasing products through unconventional search channels such as TikTok and Instagram. That’s why choosing other avenues for selling your products should be part of your eCommerce checklist.

Almost 80% of customers prefer omnichannel strategies that simplify their purchasing experience. Selecting the right sales channels is important for your company’s success because each channel serves a different purpose and audience.

Now let’s take a look at some of the best sales channels that will best complement your e-commerce website.

Social Media Platforms

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are designed to be easy to use. They offer built-in tools to create posts or ads that users can shop directly from. Many of these platforms also integrate smoothly with your eCommerce store, making it easier to manage sales.

And as your follower count grows, social media can also scale with your business.

What makes social media powerful for businesses is the direct interaction it allows with your audience. You can even utilize influencers to help boost your brand and generate viral sales.

Online Marketplaces

Setting up your business on online marketplaces like eBay and Amazon is simple, but it involves managing inventory, product listings, and many more. 

Other than that, the high fees and strong competition of these marketplaces can reduce your profit margins. So it’s very important to strategize your marketing plan accordingly.

Which Channels Should You Focus On?

There’s no definite answer to this question, as it will ultimately depend on your target audience. Your sales channel should align with where your potential customers spend their time. Research which platforms your target audience prefers and how they like to shop. 

For example, younger customers may favor social media channels like Instagram or TikTok, while more traditional shoppers may prefer marketplaces like Amazon or eBay​. 

8. Set Up Shipping and Fulfillment 

In an e-commerce business, having a great product is one thing. Shipping it safely and quickly to your customer is another.

Setting up an efficient shipping and fulfillment process is a key part of your eCommerce checklist and has a big impact on customer satisfaction, repeat business, and reviews.

In-House vs. Third-Party Logistics (3PL)

You have two main choices for shipping: handling it yourself or using a third-party logistics provider (3PL). 

In-house fulfillment means you store, pack, and ship products yourself. This can be a cheaper option for small businesses with fewer orders. It’s also ideal if your customer base is local, and you can handle shipping effectively on your own.

But as your business grows, managing in-house fulfillment can become costly and harder to scale.

Third-party logistics providers (3PL) handle everything for you, from storage to shipping. This option is great for businesses with large or changing order volumes because it’s scalable and uses advanced technology for tracking orders.

It’s also a good choice if you want to streamline operations and focus on other aspects of your business while ensuring that fulfillment is handled efficiently by experts.

However, using a 3PL means less control over the entire shipping process and additional service fees.

In the end, choosing between the two shipping options will depend on where your business is currently positioned and where you see it moving forward.

Importance of Clear Shipping Rates, Timeframes, and Tracking

Customers seeing hidden fees or unclear delivery times at the end of their checkout process can cause them to abandon their carts.

To manage customer expectations, you need to provide them with clear shipping costs and delivery times. Providing order tracking also helps customers see where their order is, reducing anxiety and increasing confidence.

Overall, fulfilling orders correctly and on time is key to keeping customers happy. When orders arrive as expected, customers are more likely to leave positive reviews and shop with you again.

On the other hand, mistakes like late deliveries or wrong items can lead to bad reviews and lost customers. 

9. Develop a Marketing Plan 

A marketing plan for an e-commerce website is a strategy that outlines how to attract customers, increase sales, and build your brand. It involves integrating multiple marketing channels including:

• Social Media Marketing:  This helps you engage with your audience, build brand awareness, and attract new customers. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok are great for creating direct connections and running ads that target specific groups of people.
• Email marketing: This involves sending targeted emails to a list of subscribers. Businesses use email marketing to share product updates, promotions, newsletters, and personalized offers with their audience.
• Paid advertising: Allows you to target specific customer demographics, helping you reach people who are already interested in your products. You pay each time someone clicks on your ad.
• Content marketing: Focuses on creating valuable and informative content (like blogs, videos, or infographics) to engage potential customers. High-quality content builds trust and helps position your brand as an authority in your niche.
• Influencer partnerships: Leverage the credibility and reach of influencers to promote your products to their followers. This form of marketing is effective because it feels more authentic, and people trust the recommendations of influencers they follow.

Come Up with a Prelaunch Marketing Plan

If you want to create buzz and drive early interest in your e-commerce business, a prelaunch marketing plan is crucial. Here’s how you can do it: 

Develop Your Brand Story: Create a compelling story that highlights what sets your business apart from competitors. This includes your mission, values, and how your product solves a problem for your target audience.

Build a Prelaunch Landing Page: Set up a landing page on your website where visitors can learn about your upcoming business launch. This page should include teaser information and an email sign-up form.

Start Collecting Email Subscribers: Building an email list is crucial for marketing your e-commerce store. With email marketing, you can offer incentives like exclusive prelaunch discounts, freebies, or access to limited-edition products.

Create a Drip Email Campaign: Automate a sequence of emails to keep your subscribers engaged leading up to the launch. Share behind-the-scenes content, updates, and sneak peek.

Host Giveaways and Contests: Create excitement by offering a prelaunch giveaway or contest that encourages users to engage with your brand.

Promote on Social Media: Ask participants to follow your account, share your content, or tag friends to increase your reach.

Lastly, focus on building long-term relationships with your customers through consistent engagement on social media, email follow-ups, and loyalty programs. Retaining existing customers is more cost-effective than acquiring new ones, so be sure to invest in strategies that keep your audience engaged.​

10. Leverage Analytics and Data

A data-driven approach is important in getting a clear picture of how visitors interact with your website. So to boost your online business further, leveraging data and analytics should be part of your eCommerce checklist.

First, data allows you to fine-tune your marketing efforts and operational processes. For example, by analyzing customer behavior, you can personalize marketing campaigns, recommend products, and send targeted promotions. 

Data also helps with inventory management by predicting demand and ensuring popular products are in stock. Additionally, analyzing sales and traffic trends helps you allocate resources more efficiently, leading to better marketing results and smoother operations​.

Tools To Use

You can track important metrics like customer demographics, purchasing behavior, cart abandonment rates, and conversion rates with the use of different tools.

• Google Analytics: One of the most popular tools. It tracks website traffic, conversion rates, and user behavior to give you a comprehensive view of how your site is performing.
• Hotjar: This tool provides heatmaps and behavior insights, helping you see where visitors are clicking, how far they scroll, and which elements of your site may need improvement​.
• Adobe Analytics: A more advanced platform that provides deeper insights into customer journeys and helps you track key performance indicators (KPIs) like customer lifetime value and conversion rates.

11. Automate Customer Support

I bet everyone who owns a business would like to automate their customer support to some degree. Doing so is a strategic move and is a key part of your eCommerce checklist.

When you automate customer support, you save time and money by handling routine inquiries and repetitive tasks that don’t require human intervention. This allows your team to focus on more complex customer issues that need personal attention. 

Automating these processes also ensures consistent responses, reduces human error, and offers support 24/7.

Chatbots

These AI-driven tools can manage common inquiries such as order status, product details, and returns. They provide instant responses to help reduce customer frustration from long wait times. Chatbots can also collect customer feedback or direct users to human agents for more complex issues.​

Automated Email Responses

Setting up automated email sequences allows you to acknowledge customer actions immediately. It saves you time and creates a smooth communication flow.

Here are some key automated emails that you can set up for your e-commerce business:

• Order Confirmations: These emails reassure customers that their purchase has been successful. They typically include order details, payment confirmation, and expected delivery dates.
• Shipping Updates: Keep customers informed about their order’s shipping status, including tracking numbers and delivery timeframes.
• Abandoned Cart Emails: These are automated reminders sent to customers who leave items in their cart without completing the purchase. You can offer discounts or incentives to encourage customers to return and complete their orders​.

12. Obtain a business license

Obtaining a business license for your e-commerce site is similar to getting one for any traditional business, but this list has some specific e-commerce requirements. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the process:

Step 1: Determine the Legal Structure of Your Business

Before applying for a business license, decide on the legal structure of your business. Common structures include:

• Sole Proprietorship
• Limited Liability Company (LLC)
• Corporation

This decision impacts your taxes, liability, and registration needs. If you’re unsure, consult with a business attorney or accountant.

Step 2: Register Your Business Name

If your business operates under a name different from its legal name (a ‘Doing Business As‘ or DBA), you’ll need to register that name with your local or state government. This allows you to legally use the name on licenses and permits.

Step 3: Apply for a Federal EIN (Employer Identification Number)

In the U.S., you’ll need a Federal EIN from the IRS if you plan to hire employees or if your business is structured as an LLC, corporation, or partnership. The EIN functions like a social security number for your business, and you can apply for one online via the IRS website.

Step 4: Check Local, State, and Federal Requirements

Depending on your location and the nature of your e-commerce business, you may need licenses or permits from your local, state, or federal government:

• Local Business License: Most cities or counties require a general business license, even for online businesses, to operate legally in their jurisdiction.
• State Business License: Some states require specific licenses or permits, especially if you’re selling goods subject to regulations (e.g., alcohol, tobacco).
• Sales Tax Permit: If you’re selling physical goods, you may need a sales tax permit to collect taxes from your customers. You can usually obtain this permit from your state’s Department of Revenue.

Step 5: Complete Your Business License Application

Once you’ve determined the types of licenses you need, visit the relevant government websites to complete the application forms. You’ll likely need to provide:

• Business name and structure
• EIN or Social Security Number
• Business address
• Description of your business activities
• Estimated revenue and employee count (if applicable)

Step 6: Pay Required Fees

There is usually a fee associated with obtaining a business license. Fees vary by location and type of business but generally range from $50 to a few hundred dollars.

13. Regularly Update Product Listings

For customers, having the most accurate and current information improves their shopping experience and reduces returns.

Accurate listings ensure that customers have the right information about your products, reducing confusion and disappointment. If your descriptions, images, or stock levels are outdated, customers might buy items that no longer match the information, which can lead to returns or bad reviews.

Frequent updates also boost your site’s SEO. Search engines like Google prefer fresh, relevant content, so regularly updating product pages with new keywords and descriptions can help improve your search rankings. Using alt text for images also makes them more likely to appear in search results, bringing more traffic to your site.

Lastly, updating product listings for seasonal promotions or new product launches keeps your store exciting and fresh.

Featuring new arrivals or limited-time offers can encourage customers to make quick decisions and keep returning to your site for future purchases. It also keeps your store relevant and engaging for repeat visitors.

14. Install Helpful Plugins and Apps

As part of your eCommerce checklist, installing plugins and apps allows you to extend the capabilities of your online store without needing custom coding. 

Here are some of the most useful tools you should consider for your e-commerce site:

• WooCommerce (for WordPress): A must-have plugin for any WordPress-based e-commerce store, WooCommerce provides a robust platform for managing both digital and physical products. It integrates well with payment gateways, shipping providers, and marketing tools, making it highly customizable and scalable.
• Yoast SEO: For search engine optimization, Yoast helps optimize product pages for better rankings on Google. It offers guidance on meta descriptions, keywords, readability, and many more.
• OptinMonster: A lead-generation app that helps you capture emails through exit-intent popups and other forms. It’s perfect for growing your email list and reducing cart abandonment by offering discounts or special offers.
• Judge.Me: This app allows you to collect and display customer reviews and ratings on your product pages.
• Sucuri Security: Protect your website from security threats with this app. It offers real-time malware scanning, security alerts, and a firewall to safeguard your online store from cyberattacks.

15. Continuously Improve Your Store

To keep your store performing at its best, regularly testing its features and making improvements should be on your e-commerce requirements list.

Regularly testing your website features, from page speed to new layout elements, ensures that your site is always optimized for the best user experience. Testing helps identify issues like broken pages and slow-loading times early so you can fix them before they impact your business.

A/B Testing for Better Results

A/B testing allows you to compare two versions of a webpage or product listing to see which one performs better. Small changes like adjusting the color of a button or the placement of product details can make a big difference in how users interact with your store.

With A/B testing, you can try different layouts, product images, or call-to-action buttons to find out what works best when it comes to conversion.

The Role of Customer Feedback

Your customers are the backbone of your business, so it’s important to pay attention to their feedback.

Gathering customer feedback through surveys, reviews, or user testing helps you understand what customers like and where they encounter problems. Using this information to guide updates ensures that your site meets customer needs and expectations.

FAQs About Your eCommerce Website Requirements

Nail Every Step of Your eCommerce Checklist

Now that you’ve completed your eCommerce checklist, you’re all set to launch your website and start attracting customers.

Following a clear and structured eCommerce checklist is crucial for handling the challenges of running an online business. By implementing these steps, you’ll boost customer satisfaction, streamline your processes, and set your store up for long-term success.

Remember, things can always change. So stay open to new trends, fresh business ideas, and ways to improve your website to keep delivering a better experience for your customers.