How to Pick The Right eCommerce Website Agency for You
Building an eCommerce website can be more stressful than buying a house or car. Don't let that scare you off. A successful build hinges on careful planning.
The success of your eCommerce website hinges on a solid foundation laid at the outset. Most project failures can be traced back to early-stage missteps. To avoid these pitfalls, it's crucial to involve key stakeholders, develop a comprehensive project brief, conduct a rigorous tender process, and choose a website builder that aligns with your vision. By taking these proactive steps, you'll set your project on the path to success.
A successful eCommerce website:
- Meets your business needs
- Fits your budget
- Launches on time
- Drives sales
Follow this process carefully to get it right the first time. Finding the right builder is a significant investment of time.
Step 1: Research: Consult the Stakeholders
Identify and Involve Stakeholders
Building a successful eCommerce website requires input from various departments. It’s essential to identify all stakeholders and gather their requirements early in the process.
Key stakeholders typically include:
- Product team
- Online merchandisers
- Sales
- Customer service
- IT/warehouse
- Finance
- Marketing
- Brand
- Owner
Consider additional stakeholders based on your business structure.
Gather Stakeholder Input
Conduct interviews, focus groups, or surveys to collect information from stakeholders. Ensure their input aligns with customer needs and business objectives.
Step 2: Creating the Brief
The brief is a crucial document sent to potential website builders. It outlines your needs and ensures the final website meets your company's objectives.
Content & Benefits of a Detailed Brief
- Combines all project details: objectives, stakeholder feedback, customer needs.
- Clarity saves time and money during build and tender comparison.
- Ensures all team needs are included and avoids surprises.
- Improves builder experience, potentially leading to a better website. (e.g., mockups, sample product data)
Key Sections in a Strong Brief:
- Company Overview & Goals: Briefly introduce your business and website aspirations.
- Project Stakeholders: Define the internal team and any external agencies involved.
- Desired Functionality: Specify functionalities needed for your B2B eCommerce site (e.g., product structure,pricing, delivery options).
- Navigation & Design: Outline design preferences (mobile-responsive, who's responsible for design elements,desired content).
- Technical Details: Include specific technical requirements like integrations, supported browsers, and SEO considerations.
- Integrations: Clearly define all necessary integrations (email marketing, inventory systems etc.)
Step 3: Selecting Prospective Website Builders
Identify Potential Builders
Start by creating a comprehensive list of potential website builders. Research various options, including:
- Existing provider
- Recommendations from integrated systems
- Customer suggestions (social media, email)
- Social media groups (LinkedIn, Facebook)
- Supplier recommendations
- Competitor websites
- Google search
Narrow Down Your List
Evaluate potential builders based on key criteria:
- Relevant experience (e.g., B2B, specific features)
- Integrations with essential systems
- Ability to handle critical functionalities
- Budget compatibility
- Project timeline expectations
Prioritize Criteria
Determine the most important factors for your project. This helps eliminate unsuitable candidates quickly.
Gather Information
- Research builders' websites and social media.
- Request information or samples of similar projects.
- Avoid excessive calls or emails to respect their time.
Create a Shortlist
Select 3-5 top contenders based on your evaluation. Maintain a reserve list in case some decline.
Remember: If no suitable builders meet your criteria, reconsider your research or adjust your requirements.
Step 4: Selecting Prospective Website Builders
Conducting the Tender Process
The tender process is a crucial step in selecting the right website builder. By following a structured approach, you can effectively evaluate candidates and make an informed decision.
Key Steps:
- Send out tenders to shortlisted builders.
- Manage the process fairly and transparently.
- Evaluate proposals comprehensively.
- Select finalists based on your criteria.
- Conduct meetings to assess candidates further.
- Make an informed decision based on your evaluation.
Remember:
- Maintain open communication throughout the process.
- Be fair and transparent in your evaluations.
- Consider both initial costs and long-term factors.
- Involve your team in the decision-making process.
A well-executed tender process will help you find the ideal website builder and set your project up for success.
Step 5: Signing and Kicking Off
Once you’ve told them that they’re the winner, you are going to need to sign some sort of contract with them.
This is a great opportunity to finalise exactly what’s in the brief. It won’t be the same one that you sent to them in the beginning; you’ll have learnt things you want to include during the tender process, and they will have pulled the brief into their format.
So, before you sign, take time to make sure you are 100% agreed on the final scope, pricing, payment plan, and timescales.
