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UploadsEcommerce websites are one of the fastest-growing business platforms of the last 5 years. Whether these are start-ups or existing businesses diversifying their offerings, they’re one of the most effective ways for businesses to grow revenue, reach new audiences, and scale operations. However, for many companies, the process raises numerous questions. Considerations have to be made from platform choice and design to SEO, security, and budgeting.
As a digital agency that specialises in ecommerce website development, we’ve gathered the most frequently asked questions business owners ask before launching or upgrading their online store. Here are the answers you need to make informed decisions and set your ecommerce project up for long-term success.
What is an ecommerce website?
An ecommerce website is a digital storefront where customers can browse products, add items to a cart, and complete purchases online. It includes essential features such as product listings, search tools, secure checkout, payment processing, stock management, and customer accounts.
Modern ecommerce sites often integrate marketing automation, personalisation engines, AI-powered recommendations, and analytics dashboards to help businesses optimise sales performance.
Which platform should I choose for my ecommerce website?
There is no “one-size-fits-all” solution. The right platform depends on your goals, budget, integrations, and long-term growth plans.
Most popular ecommerce platforms include:
- Shopify – fast to set up, and easy to manage
- Woo (WordPress) – flexible, customisable, great for content-driven brands, with a wide library of plugins and straightforward to integrate with, easy to manage CMS and scalable.
- Magento / Adobe Commerce – enterprise-level, powerful custom solutions, more complex backend with training or platform specialists required.
- BigCommerce – mid-enterprise SaaS platform with strong B2B features
- Custom-built ecommerce – perfect for bespoke functionality and unique user experiences, takes more time and can increase budget considerably.
We’re a Woo Partner agency and have expertise in this particular platform. In our experience, the platform produces the best results for your business and gives the most flexibility in terms of technical requirements, inventory size, design, integrations, and long-term scalability.
How much does an ecommerce website cost?
Ecommerce pricing varies depending on complexity, features, integrations, and design requirements.
Typical cost ranges:
- Start-up ecommerce site: £5,000 – £15,000
- Professional ecommerce site with custom design: £15,000 – £30,000
- Enterprise or custom-built ecommerce: £30,000+
Ongoing costs include hosting, maintenance, security updates, apps/plugins, and marketing. We create tailored proposals based on your exact needs so you only pay for what you truly require.
What features should an ecommerce website include?
Successful ecommerce sites need more than just product listings. Core features typically include:
- Mobile-first responsive design
- Secure checkout (SSL, PCI compliance)
- Multiple payment options (Apple Pay, PayPal, Klarna, Stripe)
- Product search & filtering
- Inventory and order management
- Customer accounts & purchase history
- Reviews and social proof
- Built-in SEO optimisation
- Fast page loading
- Marketing integrations (email, CRM, automation, ads)
We design ecommerce websites that convert, prioritising speed, user experience, and clear purchase journeys.
How long does it take to build an ecommerce website?
This depends on the size and complexity of your store.
Approximate timelines:
- Small ecommerce site: 4–6 weeks
- Medium ecommerce site: 8–12 weeks
- Large or custom ecommerce site: 12–20+ weeks
We can confirm exact timings for you once we’ve reviewed your brief. We’ll guide you through every stage from strategy and design to development, testing, and launch. This helps you to understand what goes into each stage of the process and ensure you’re happy before moving on to the next phase of development.
How do I get traffic to my ecommerce website?
Traffic generation is essential for ecommerce success. Effective channels include:
- SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)
- Paid search & shopping ads (Google Ads, Bing Ads)
- Social media advertising
- Email marketing & automation
- Influencer partnerships
- Content marketing & blogging
- AI-generated product recommendations
We build SEO-ready ecommerce websites and offer ongoing marketing to help clients grow sustainably.
How can I improve my ecommerce conversion rate?
Conversion rate optimisation (CRO) is the process of improving the percentage of visitors who make a purchase.
Effective CRO strategies include:
- Simplifying checkout
- Offering guest checkout
- Clear product photography & descriptions
- Adding trust signals (reviews, badges, returns policy)
- Using live chat or AI chatbots
- Providing free shipping thresholds
- Retargeting abandoned carts
We can look into the user journey of your website and give you some initial ideas to help you increase sales without needing more traffic.
How secure does an ecommerce website need to be?
Security is vital for protecting customer data and maintaining trust.
Must-have ecommerce security measures:
- SSL certificate
- PCI-compliant payment gateways
- Regular software updates
- Firewall protection
- Malware and vulnerability scanning
- Backup systems
- Strong password policies
- GDPR compliance
We implement industry-standard security protocols on all ecommerce projects.
Can I integrate my ecommerce website with other business systems?
Absolutely. Most ecommerce platforms support a wide range of integrations.
Popular integrations include:
- CRM systems (HubSpot, Salesforce)
- Inventory & stock management
- EPOS systems
- Accounting tools (Xero, QuickBooks)
- Email marketing platforms
- ERP systems
- Delivery & fulfilment services
- AI analytics and recommendation engines
Our team ensures all integrations work seamlessly and scale as your business grows.
Do ecommerce websites need ongoing maintenance?
Yes. An ecommerce website is a living system that needs continuous updates to stay secure and up to date.
Ongoing maintenance includes:
- Platform updates
- Security patching
- Website optimisations
- Plugin/app updates
- Content updates
- Backup and uptime monitoring
- Performance improvements
We offer monthly maintenance plans so your ecommerce store continues running smoothly.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re launching your first online store or upgrading an existing ecommerce platform, understanding the fundamentals helps you make smarter decisions and avoid costly mistakes.
We specialise in ecommerce design, development, and optimisation that helps businesses build high-performance online stores that convert and scale.
If you’d like help planning your ecommerce project, we’re ready to support you.
