If you’re an online business, you understand the importance of a fully-functioning website.
It needs to be efficient, engaging and lead users on a journey. But that journey needs to end with a purchase.
Luckily, if you have the help of a full-time designer and developer, you won't miss out on trends and functionalities that could help you increase sales and secure new customers.
That’s where award-winning e-commerce web design and development firms come in.
What Is An eCommerce Website Development Company?
An e-commerce design and development agency works exclusively on e-commerce web design.
These teams create captivating and engaging web pages that attract customers and lead users on a journey to the purchase page.
They understand the e-commerce market and know how to leverage web design trends and features to make the process more fluid for your consumers.
Their goals are to increase sales and conversions, driving more people to your brand and business to make a purchase.
It is more specific and more robust than a general web design agency because these experts work in affecting consumer behaviors and using design to do so.
What Does A Top eCommerce Agency Do?
Your website is one of the most important branding elements you have. As an e-commerce business, it’s also the sales engine that powers your business.
Your e-commerce website has to make a powerful, positive, and memorable first impression on users. And it has to work hard to turn visitors from casual browsers to engaged shoppers.
eCommerce Companies Build Responsive Platforms That Work On Mobile Devices & Desktops Alike
85% of consumers start a purchase on one device and finish it on another.
That means that consumers are interacting with your brand on a variety of mediums.
Plus, if they’re engaging with your brand on different platforms, you need to make sure your agency keeps branding consistent and responsive throughout.
Plus, 88% of people agree that having a mobile device makes them more spontaneous to new things and purchases.
Therefore, if your brand isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re missing out on massive amounts of opportunity.
In 2017, mobile commerce revenue reached $156.28 billion.
This will continue to rise, reaching $420.17 billion by 2020 and proving that eCommerce businesses who hope to achieve long-term success need to be mobile friendly, too.
The Best eCommerce Development Companies Value Functional Web Design
For the best e-commerce web design companies, design is more than a pretty site. It’s about creating something so engaging and intuitive that visitors feel compelled to engage with it.
The best web designers know that every element of an e-commerce website must serve a purpose. At every stage, the site should be ushering the user closer to a purchase.
They’re also on the cutting edge of their field. Talented eCommerce website marketing companies have a keen interest in pushing the boundaries of what’s considered good user experience.
E-commerce design companies use examples of their work and case studies to demonstrate their design chops to prospective clients.
The quality of the work — which includes both form and function — is the most important differentiator of them all.
The best e-commerce web design agencies know that functionality should be the foremost focus of any e-commerce design.
If a website doesn’t function intuitively, and users find navigation confusing or frustrating, the odds of them making a purchase are extremely slim.
Always work with an agency that understands which features and functionalities are most important to e-commerce shoppers.
They will bring that knowledge to bear on their projects, designing end products that encourage conversions and lifetime customers.
Top Web Design Firms Create Custom eCommerce Stores
There’s a reason template websites are cheap — because they’re a one-size-fits-most solution that’s easy to replicate.
There’s nothing wrong with a template per se, but they’re only really appropriate for businesses or individuals who require a very basic web presence.
For companies with complex requirements, and those that really need to stand out online, custom e-commerce website design is absolutely the way to go.
The top e-commerce design companies build custom sites that are tailored to the client’s exact specifications and needs.
An eCommerce Development Company Focuses On Achieving Results
An e-commerce website is a business tool whose ultimate purpose is to drive sales.
That’s why many top e-commerce design companies position themselves based on their ability not just to build beautiful sites, but to achieve results for their clients.
They’re committed to building sites that will convert.
When an agency positions itself on its ability to drive measurable results, clients can take this as a strong indicator that the agency will be almost as committed to the bottom line as they are.
The best e-commerce web design agencies will be comfortable sharing the metrics they focus on when monitoring performance and measuring results. Regular reporting and analysis should be a consistent feature of any relationship between an agency and a client.
Key performance indicators should be determined and agreed ahead of site launch.
A full accounting of past performance must also be done to ensure that a clear baseline is established before the new site goes live.
In the case of the redesign of an existing site, these metrics will be essential to comparing performance before and after the implementation of the new site.
Top Agencies Have A Proven Track Record Of Custom eCommerce Development
Any top e-commerce web design agency will gladly share examples of previous client work as a means of demonstrating a proven track record of success.
Viewing portfolio examples of past eCommerce web design inspiration gives the client an understanding of where the agencies strengths and capabilities lie.
Additionally, clients get insight into how they’ve achieved results for other clients.
When interviewing agencies, ask them to share case studies that include performance metrics, as well as live examples or functioning prototypes.
These will help paint a picture of the strengths and expertise of each e-commerce design agency interviewed.
When it comes to web design, experience matters. You want a team of talented and experienced experts working on your content and creating a website that is exciting, engaging and user-friendly.
E-commerce web design agencies come with the knowledge and experience that’s vital for a great web design.
They know that it takes 50 milliseconds for users to form an opinion about your website — and they can build accordingly thanks to this experience.
When you turn to an agency to build a great professional website for your brand, you’re getting a team of dedicated professionals who eat, sleep and breathe all things e-commerce web design and development.
They innately understand the tactics and elements that capture consumers and increase conversions and revenue.
In addition to that, they have a strong knowledge of analytics involved — what bounce rates mean and how to improve them, how SEO rankings determine traffic, and which calls to action (CTA) will be the most effective.
eCommerce Development Companies Establish Brand Identity And Brand Strategy
This includes a brand identity for new businesses, re-brands for existing business, and logo design or refresh work including multiple iterations.
And these are all common services of top e-commerce design agencies.
The world’s best e-commerce web design firms identify value propositions, positioning, key messaging, and target audiences.
Consistent branding has been shown to increase revenue by 23%.
It’s important for brands to work with the world’s best e-commerce web design agencies that understand not only the value of branding in web design.
However, they should also know their clients’ brands like the back of their hand.
After all, when you partner with an agency, they then represent your company. Make it clear from the start what your brand truly encompasses and stands for.
A lot goes into branding when it comes to web design. It’s not just the color scheme and images used, although those are important as well.
Branding also encompasses the overall user experience that people encounter. It’s the tone and voice that they’re interacting with, the ease of navigation, and (perhaps most importantly) the overall buyer’s journey that your website leads them on.
Therefore, it is vital that an agency takes the necessary steps to infuse your brand identity into your website in order to keep existing customers and capture new ones.
Top e-commerce web design agencies can infuse the heart of your brand through imagery and organization. This creates a customer journey that is intimately linked to your brand and its persona.
The Best eCommerce Developers Focus On User Experience Design & Overall Web Development
Web design services offered by the best e-commerce agencies include start to finish custom responsive web design.
On top of this, these agencies specialize in strategy, user experience, and visual design.
Development is just as important as aesthetics — and these B2C and B2B e-commerce agencies understand this.
Development includes front and back-end development, CMS integration and development, and post-launch support.
These leading e-commerce web design companies are innately intuned with the market and can craft a website from start to finish with ease.
28 Questions To Ask The Best eCommerce Companies Before You Hire One
If you run an online store, you need an eCommerce web design that caters to securing new customers and selling products.
This means that you need the help of professionals who are well-versed at creating these platforms and establishing these experiences.
But that doesn’t mean the process is easy. Finding the right e-commerce marketing company for you can be challenging and frustrating.
Keep these questions in mind when you start your search. It will ensure you find the partner agency company that’s right for you.
- Does your web design have room for growth depending on product bandwidth?
- Depending on design trends, can this web design grow and adapt?
- How can you implement new additions to the website?
- How will you keep branding consistent through design changes?
- Can you identify new trends in the market and make those edits to the web design?
- How often will my brand receive data reports?
- Can I see your portfolio of past work?
- What tools do you use to track conversions and website traffic?
- How many team members will be working on my project?
- How much time will be dedicated to my project?
- What types of website design templates do you utilize?
- Do you believe in mobile-friendly web design or app design? Which do you recommend for our brand?
- Can you ensure consumers will be able to view my content on all platforms?
- How will you keep my brand identity consistent across platforms?
- Does a mobile-friendly design cost more?
- How many other clients are you working with at a time?
- How frequently can we have Skype or phone meetings?
- How often can we meet face to face?
- Is there a point person I should be dealing directly with?
- Will we be meeting with your team as a group or individually?
- How much do your services cost?
- Do you want to be paid per project or on retainer?
- What payment type do you accept?
- Will I be charged for ongoing maintenance?
- Do you have a contract template or do I need to provide one?
- Are you willing to sign a non-disclosure agreement?
- Will additional meetings add to our expected cost?
- What results are guaranteed with this project?
Top Ecommerce Companies
How To Choose A Top eCommerce Website Development Company
Choose An eCommerce Web Design Company With Excellent Past Experience
It’s imperative that you look into the past history and experience of a top design agency.
What clients have they worked with and what were the results? Do they have prior experience in your industry and niche?
Does their work inspire you and give you hope that they could transform your e-commerce site and overall brand identity?
Do some investigating. Look into their online portfolio and check out the brands they’ve worked with. Ask questions, and research their past work and the results these initiatives obtained.
Maybe you want a fresh e-commerce agency with no prior experience with competitors, or maybe you want one that has worked intricately with your rival.
Conducting your own research will ensure you find a leading e-commerce website design and development company that has the experience that fits your brand and its goals.
Pick An eCommerce Web Development Services Firm Based On Their Team Of Experts
The best e-commerce website design agencies are full of talent, expertise and innovative ideas. These are the best of the best in their field.
They passionately bring creative concepts to life, elevating brands along with them.
Take some time to get to know these individuals to better understand their process and how they construct the plans for your future e-commerce website.
Additionally, the makeup of a team is important.
You need a design and development team full of fresh ideas, excited to jump on board and start brainstorming innovative ways to take your e-commerce web design from flat and boring to interactive and mesmerizing.
The best e-commerce web design companies have top experts who are experienced and fluent in all things e-commerce web design.
Find An E-Commerce Company With A Strong & Comprehensive Project Plan
Great e-commerce web design and development agencies will come to the table with a comprehensive plan for how they will build your site, what features will be integrated and how long and in-depth the overall project will be.
This includes communication, reporting, metrics and beyond. A solid plan is a strong foundation for an effective e-commerce website.
The top agencies will provide you with in-depth insights into their process at every step. You, as the client, should be intricately involved in their process.
In addition, your brand should integrate the agency into your processes, too.
Creating a top e-commerce website is a fluid process that requires a lot of work and even more communication.
So it’s important to stay on top of things while also giving your agency the freedom to do what they do best — create captivating e-commerce platforms.
A Professional eCommerce Company Adds Brand Value & Builds Effective Online Shopping Platforms
Where once e-commerce was a novelty, online shopping has quickly become the norm. If an online store is lacking, users have the option to turn to any number of competitors.
It’s not enough for an e-commerce site to be merely adequate. It has to be exceptional. Only exceptional agencies can produce the best eCommerce sites, too.
It’s important, therefore, to be able to identify the agencies that are truly cutting edge. One way to do this is to look at the different ways the top web design agencies differentiate themselves from the competition.
Because one e-commerce web design agency isn’t the same as the next. And in order to make the right decision for your brand, you need to know what to look for.
Who Are The Best eCommerce Website Development Companies In The World?
Like with many outsourcing projects, what works for you may not work for someone else. It’s the same with web design agencies.
The best web design agencies in the world have a few key similarities, but ultimately what makes them stand out from the rest is their value to you as a brand.
These key factors, however, can help you decide if an e-commerce design agency is truly top-of-the-line.
Discover the best eCommerce companies around the world in the agency listings above.
A Top eCommerce Website Development Company Earns Top Honors & Awards
While nobody stakes their reputation on honors and awards alone, web design agencies that manage to win them are not shy about using them to differentiate themselves from the competitions.
From the client’s perspective, the fact that an agency has won an industry award or accolade is a good indication that they’re well-respected within the design field.
In a large pool of design firms to choose from, awards can help signal which firms are trustworthy and which may be less established and therefore a riskier bet.
Because they’re designed to reward only the best and brightest in the field, design awards are also an indicator that the agency is doing cutting-edge work.
The Best Web Development Firms Take A Strategic Approach To eCommerce Website Development
You could have the most beautiful website in the world, but if the product content is flimsy or the user pathways are muddled, then you’ve failed your users just the same.
Top web design companies avoid this pitfall by engaging in an intensive strategy phase at the beginning of every project.
The strategy phase allows the agency to gain intimate insight into the client’s business and to do a comprehensive analysis of the user groups they’re trying to target.
The result is better e-commerce websites that speak more effectively to consumers.
Leading e-commerce design companies pride themselves on taking a strategic, considered approach to their projects and they base decisions not on gut feelings but on research and facts.
The Best eCommerce Company Has A Dedicated Team Of B2B & B2C eCommerce Experts
An e-commerce web development agency can help bridge that gap and provide brands with the necessary designs to help that can help them reach a wider consumer base.
These experts come to the table with a more structured process, stringent project timelines and legally binding contracts.
They have dedicated points of contact to keep your internal team in the loop and know how to ensure business goals are met and communication is fluid.
Businesses big and small are made up of teams. Not everyone does everything, and not everyone is knowledgeable about every task.
Plus, many companies just don’t need a dedicated design team, especially when their focus is on creating products and marketing them to consumers.
But with e-commerce agencies, you know you’re getting a dedicated team that’s committed to creating a customized design that integrates easily into your online presence and provides maximum business growth benefits.
It takes more than design talent to build a successful e-commerce site (though strong design talent is, of course, essential).
Top e-commerce design companies often differentiate themselves based on the range of diverse talent they have powering the agency — including strategists, developers, and marketing gurus.
Small teams and one-man shops may not have the expertise in-house to pull off complex projects.
Full-service design agencies with robust teams, on the other hand, have the ability to handle every aspect of the build.
That includes things you may not initially consider, like content creation, brand identity, e-commerce platform selection, or digital strategy.
A team with a diverse set of skills is a team that’s equipped to take a holistic view of your project, ensures that all bases are covered, and works to make certain that no business need goes unmet.
The Best eCommerce Website Development Company Has A Pricing Structure That Matches The Return On Investment (ROI)
You might need to weigh the pros and cons of outsourcing your web design efforts, which could take some number crunching.
But oftentimes, it’s more cost effective to go with an agency that is working on a dedicated project for a specific length of time than it is to hire an entire employee full time.
In fact, by hiring an outside agency, you’re cutting down costs by up to 30%.
Thus, you’re getting the work you need without paying for an internal employee — making choosing an agency more ludicrous.
Agencies come in all shapes and sizes and offer different pricing options based on strategy, implementation, and design.
Choose the e-commerce development company that best fits your needs financially and logistically, ensuring you get the features you want on the schedule you need.
Lay this information out in advance so both parties have a comprehensive understanding of what to expect.
This should be done through an airtight contract that explicitly details expectations, timeframe, and payment.
Of course, if you’re looking for more concrete examples, the table above has a number of leading e-commerce web design and development agencies that can transform your business for the better.
Top eCommerce Development Companies Improve Online Retail Businesses
Top eCommerce Web Design Companies Provide Data Analytics & Insights
It’s important to track your brand’s progress through data and insights so you can learn what tactics are effective.
The best e-commerce website companies have the tools to keep these metrics front and center.
Insights come from understanding valuable data sets.
If you and your team can’t understand what certain numbers, trends, and behaviors truly mean, you won’t be able to reach your goals and make your business better.
However, leading e-commerce design agencies are able to set objectives, determine if a website is achieving them, pivot the strategy as needed, and report to you regularly and clearly.
It’s important for a brand to keep growing. The online e-commerce markets are constantly evolving -- and you need to transition along with it in order to stay relevant.
E-commerce web design agencies offer in-depth analytics, enabling them to draw the necessary conclusions.
This will help your business determine the right layout, content, design, navigation and more that will increase visitors, conversions, and revenue.
eCommerce Web Development Firms Solve Business Problems
E-commerce agencies know the tactics and strategies to not only help your business reach its goals.
In addition, they can solve problems that are caused by inconsistent branding, poor functionality, and design.
By using an e-commerce website design and development company, you’re signing on a team of individuals who can track analytics and report to you their findings in an efficient way.
These firms have a better understanding of what the analytics really mean, and can offer them to you more frequently than an in-house team might.
Whether your revenue is dwindling, or your branding is failing in terms of consistency, e-commerce website agencies intimately understand the business strategies that go into a design that leads to sales.
They know how to identify problems and implements solutions within your web design to solve them with ease.
Plus, eCommerce companies have access to the top web hosting services like Drupal, Magento, Salesforce, and Shopify that boost your bottom line and increase conversions.
The Best Development Companies Offer Unbiased Guidance And Support
When you run a business, you know everything about it — the good, the bad and the unnecessary.
Similarly, employees who work for a brand breathe in those insights daily and want to infuse anything and everything they can into a brand’s products, marketing materials, and designs.
But that’s not always necessarily helpful — and can oftentimes lead brands astray by seeming too unfocused and disorganized.
An e-commerce site agency can bring an unbiased viewpoint to the table that can help brands more effectively and display their thoughts and goals.
They can pick and choose what matters and what doesn’t and integrate that into a web design.
Top-rated eCommerce design companies have the experience and talent to know what web design elements will lead to sales, which is necessary to create a web design that works.
Ready to create a professional online retail site of your own? These top eCommerce web design firms give your brand the boost it needs to become a leader in the industry.
