What Is an eCommerce Website?

by Melanie L. Marten

Overview

What Is an eCommerce Website?

An ecommerce website makes shopping easier for millions of people every year. The total amount of money spent at online retailers increases every year. Business owners look to ecommerce solutions to increase profits and expand their customer base.
Function

An ecommerce website's main function is to showcase products for sale and to give customers a convenient way to buy them. These websites should also provide information about the company and product line in general to help build customer trust.

History

The world wide web was open to commercial enterprises as early as 1991, but it took a few years for security systems and coding to be in place for ecommerce sites to emerge. Amazon was one of the first ecommerce sites online in 1995.
Benefits

An ecommerce website provides benefits to both retailers and customers. Increased sales volume when used in addition to brick and mortar establishments attracts businesses to this sales model. Buyers who want convenience and more choice try ecommerce websites for their shopping needs.
Features

Most ecommerce websites have a home page with information about the company, product line and many pictures of products. Sales announcements are displayed prominently. Product pages are divided into categories for easier shopping. Contact, privacy and FAQ pages are also included.
Types

Ecommerce websites come in different styles, sizes and types. The largest venues, such as Amazon and eBay, are multi-database ecommerce sites that allow both business and individual sales. Most ecommerce sites are specific to one company.
Warning

While thousands of ecommerce websites are honest and trustworthy, some are fronts for scams; they operate to steal credit card information or send phishing emails. Check for security certificates and only buy from reputable companies online.