“There is an app for everything,” you must have heard this phrase. This million-dollar statement is elevated now due to the newest app development trends with raging mobile apps and web apps.

So, you need to constantly innovate in the budget. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you plan your e-commerce app development in 2025.

Why Are E-Commerce Apps Booming in 2025?

The adoption of mobile apps has witnessed a rise after COVID-19. Due to this, customers spend 12% more time than they did in 2021. Also, the global retail e-commerce sales reached an estimated 6 trillion U.S. dollars. This figure is expected to increase by 31%, i.e., about 8 trillion dollars, by 2028.

In fact, fewer people have reservations about spending online. That’s why, number of online shoppers is rising exponentially in the

coming years. Also, there are various other reasons due to which entrepreneurs are now looking forward to actively investing in e-commerce app development.

1. Expanding Customer Reach
2. Enhanced User Experience
3. Higher Conversion Rates
4. Brand Loyalty
5. Customer Retention
6. Insights Driven By Data
7. Competitive Benefits
8. Scalability and Revenue Growth
9. Integration with Emerging technologies
10. Cost-Effectiveness Over Time
11. Adaptability to Market Trends

But customers are more drawn to the apps that add more value to them.

Types of E-Commerce Apps and How They Affect The Budget

Know this: not all e-commerce apps are built the same. The chosen app type has an impact on the overall development cost, timeline, and complexity.

Let’s break down the five most common types in the market:-

Core Features That Influence E-Commerce App Cost

Your feature list is the single biggest cost driver when it comes to building an e-commerce app. The more features you pack in, the more money is needed to bring your app to life.

Let’s break it down into two parts.

What Shoppers Expect from Your App?

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “People judge a book by its cover.” In e-commerce apps, that cover is your design, and it can make or break your success.

According to Forrester, 38% of users will stop using an app after just one bad experience. U.S. shoppers expect clean, fast, mobile-first interfaces with frictionless navigation and trust-building visuals.

What Goes into E-Commerce App Design?

Design costs cover more than just the look:

• Wireframes: app layout and user flow
• UI design: visual style, colors, buttons, typography
• UX strategy: how easily users navigate, search, buy, and reorder
• Micro-interactions: loading animations, cart confirmations, and much more.

Design Approaches and What They Cost

What do Users Expect, Especially Gen Z and Millennials?

• Clean and minimalist designs.
• Fast load times.
• Clear product visuals & reviews.
• Frictionless checkout at Apple Pay, face scan, and autofill.
• Dark mode with ADA accessible design.

Design Tips to Save Budget Without Sacrificing UX:

• Use UI kits, e.g., Shopify Polaris, Material Design
• Choose mobile-first tools like Figma or Framer
• Reuse patterns from successful apps, Amazon, Nike, GOAT
• Prioritize screens by impact as home > product > checkout.

The Engine of Your E-Commerce App

Design might win hearts, but development makes your app work. Think of it like this:

• Frontend means the showroom that users see and interact with.
• Backend means the warehouse and cash register; it is what powers the logic and data behind the scenes.

a. Frontend Development

This includes everything users interact with:

• Navigation menus
• Product pages
• Shopping cart
• Checkouts
• Animations and transitions

Tech Choices:

• Native like Swift for iOS or Kotlin for Android – best performance & higher cost.
• Cross-Platform with Flutter or React Native – faster build, shared codebase, and cost-effective.
• Progressive Web Apps  – lightweight & install-free alternative.

The frontend development cost is around $20,000 – $80,000 or more.

b. Backend Development

This is your app’s brain and backbone:

• Manages users, products, and payments
• Stores data securely
• Connects APIs (shipping, payment, email)
• Handles inventory, order tracking, and returns

Popular Tech Stacks:

• Node.js and MongoDB.
• Firebase, is great for MVPs.
• Ruby on Rails or Django for rapid prototyping.
• Headless platforms such as Shopify Hydrogen & Commerce.js.

The backend development costs $25,000 – $100,000 or more, depending on complexity.
The Developer Rates as of 2025:

Use serverless tools like Firebase or platforms like Shopify with a custom frontend for startups. You’ll get fast backends without the high dev cost of building from scratch. Also, use trusted services like Stripe or Shopify Payments, which are already PCI-DSS compliant. It reduces your compliance headaches—and protects your brand.

Cloud Hosting & API Integration Costs

Do you know building an app is only half the journey? But, keeping it running, secure, and scalable is the other half. That’s where cloud hosting and third-party integrations come in.

These tools help your e-commerce app do everything.

Hosting Options for E-Commerce Apps

Cloud hosting ensures your app loads fast and stays online, also handles traffic spikes, especially during big sale events like Black Friday.

Must-Have Third-Party Integrations

To build faster and smarter, most e-commerce apps plug into external tools:

These plug-ins add functionality without rebuilding from scratch. So, you save your time and development costs.

How Much Should You Budget?

Depending on your app’s size, expect to spend:

• MVP or early-stage app will charge in a month, approximately. $300 – $1,000.
• A mid-sized app will cost around  $1,000 to $3,000 for one month.
• An enterprise or marketplace app will cost from $3,000 to $10,000 or more monthly.

An Ultimate Cost Breakdown by App Size

Let’s take a look at the simplified breakdown to build an e-commerce app.

• Basic MVP E-Commerce App

Great for testing an idea to target early adopters or get investor buy-in.

• Mid-Level Growth App

Ideal for scaling startups and niche DTC brands. It offers access to strong UX and marketing integration.

• Full-Scale Enterprise or Marketplace App

Best for large retailers and high-growth brands, also for multi-vendor platforms like StockX or GOAT.

Start with a cross-platform MVP using tools like Flutter or React Native. You can migrate to full-scale native when you gain traction to save 40% of costs.

Native vs. PWA vs. Cross-Platform Apps

Choosing the right tech foundation is one of the biggest budget decisions you’ll make in your e-commerce app journey.

Let’s break it down:-

Quick Tech Decision Guide:

Mobile App vs. Mobile Website: Do You Need an App?

Before diving into app development, ask:-
Should I build an e-commerce app or is a mobile website enough? The answer depends on your growth goals and target audience, also UX expectations.

Let’s get to know it better:

• Mobile Website

Every online store needs a mobile-responsive website. It’s your minimum digital storefront.

Pros:

• Lower cost to build and maintain
• Works across all devices (desktop and mobile)
• Better for SEO and discovery via Google
• No need to download

Cons:

• Limited push notifications
• Slower performance than apps
• Weaker offline support
• Often lower engagement & retention

The cost falls around $5,000 – $30,000.

• Mobile App

Apps deliver a personalized and faster, as well as more engaging shopping experience. It is especially for frequent users.

Pros:

• 2x higher conversion rate vs mobile web.
• 3x more engagement through push notifications.
• Access to camera, GPS, and biometric login.
• Offline browsing, wishlists, and saved carts.

Cons:

• Higher upfront cost.
• Needs ongoing updates and App Store approvals.
• Download barrier for new users.

The cost falls around $50,000 – $300,000 or more.

What the Data Says:

• 85% of customers prefer mobile apps.
• Users spend 4x more time in retail apps vs. mobile web

When You Should Build an App:

• You’re focused on retention and customer lifetime value
• You offer repeat-use services like subscriptions and loyalty perks.
• You want faster checkout, better engagement, and brand stickiness.
• You have an existing customer base ready to download

A smart strategy would be to begin with a mobile-optimized website, then build an app once you see high repeat traffic or when average order value justifies deeper engagement.

How to Reduce Development Costs Without Sacrificing Quality?

Building an e-commerce app can be expensive, but smart planning can cut your budget by 30–50% without hurting quality. Here’s how startups and growing brands reduce costs while still launching top-tier apps.

1. Build an MVP First

• Start with only the core features.
• Think login, catalog, cart, and checkout.
• Skip the extras like AI or loyalty rewards for v1.
• Test demand fast
• Save money on unused features

The saving would be approx. $20,000–$50,000+

2. Use Cross-Platform Development like React Native or Flutter

You get iOS and Android apps with one codebase. Faster to build and easier to maintain.
The saving would be approx. 30–40% on development cost.

3. Leverage UI Kits & Templates

Use proven UI libraries, like Shopify Polaris or Material Design, instead of designing everything from scratch.

• Saves time on wireframes
• Keeps design consistent across devices

4. Use Third-Party Tools

Instead of building every tool in-house, integrate with trusted APIs:

• Payments → Stripe
• Shipping → Shippo
• Chat → Intercom or Crisp
• Search → Algolia

This reduces dev hours and keeps you focused on your core product.

5. Outsource Smartly

Consider hiring vetted remote developers from Eastern Europe, Latin America, or India. Many startups cut costs by 50% or more with high-quality offshore talent.

Just be sure to:-

• Use contracts and NDAs
• Set clear timelines and milestones
• Work in agile sprints

What’s the Real Cost to Build an E-Commerce App in 2025?

Building a successful e-commerce app isn’t just about writing code; it’s about creating a smooth, scalable shopping experience that your customers will love and return to. Whether you’re a solo founder, a growing DTC brand, or a large retail player, knowing the true cost helps you:

• Set realistic budgets.
• Avoid unexpected expenses.
• Prioritize features that drive conversions.
• Make smart decisions between native, PWA, or cross-platform.

Key Takeaways:

• Start lean with an MVP if you’re budget-conscious
• Use cross-platform tools like Flutter to save time and cost
• Don’t forget ongoing costs: QA, hosting, updates, and marketing
• Focus on core UX—fast load times, seamless checkout, and intuitive navigation

Remember, the best apps evolve, even Amazon started simple!

If you’re still unsure how to budget for your e-commerce app or want help finding the right team, tech stack, or tools, drop us a message. We help businesses turn big ideas into high-performing apps!

FAQs

Q1: What’s the average cost to build an e-commerce app?

A: A simple e-commerce MVP may cost $40,000–$70,000, while a mid-tier brand can expect to spend $80,000–$150,000. Enterprise-grade apps with advanced features like AI, AR, and headless architecture can exceed $250,000+.

Q2: How long does it take to develop an e-commerce app?

A: It varies from type of app as mentioned, and these timelines include design, development, testing, and deployment.

• MVP: 3–5 months
• Mid-range app: 5–8 months
• Enterprise app: 8–12+ months

Q3: Should I go with native, cross-platform, or a PWA?

A: Here’s how you can consider:

• Choose native for top-tier UX and full device integration.
• Choose cross-platform (Flutter/React Native) for faster, budget-friendly builds.
• Choose PWA for a simple, fast-to-launch MVP or content-heavy brand.

Q4: Is it cheaper to build or buy an app template?

A: Buying a pre-built template can save upfront costs, but it limits customization. Ideal for early testing, but scaling will likely require custom development later.

Q5: What hidden costs should I watch for?

A: Here is what you should not overlook.

• App store fees
• API subscriptions
• Post-launch maintenance
• Security compliance, such as PCI, ADA
• QA and device testing
• Cloud hosting and CDN services

Plan for at least 15–20% of the build cost, annually, for upkeep. Launch on the web first, then invest in mobile.

The post Cost to Build an E-Commerce App — Complete Breakdown appeared first on Imenso Software.

In this blog, we’ll take you on a journey into the heart of effective Shopify SEO strategies, unveiling the secrets that can transform your online store from a mere digital presence into a thriving hub of activity. From unlocking the power of search engine algorithms to harnessing the latest trends in e-commerce optimization, we’ll provide you with the tools and insights you need to elevate your Shopify store above the noise and captivate your target audience.

Join us as we unravel the mysteries of Shopify SEO and discover how you can boost visibility, drive traffic, and unlock the full potential of your e-commerce venture in 2024 and beyond.

Understanding the E-commerce Industry

The e-commerce industry has undergone a seismic shift in recent years, reshaping the way businesses operate and consumers shop. Defined by the buying and selling goods and services over the internet, e-commerce has experienced explosive growth, driven by a convergence of technological innovation, changing consumer behavior, and global market dynamics.

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Technological Advancements

One of the primary drivers of e-commerce growth has been advancements in technology. From the proliferation of smartphones and high-speed internet to the development of secure online payment gateways and robust e-commerce platforms like Shopify, technology has made it easier than ever for businesses to establish and operate digital storefronts. Innovations such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and artificial intelligence (AI) have further enhanced the online shopping experience, allowing consumers to interact with products in immersive ways and receive personalized recommendations tailored to their preferences.

Changing Consumer Behavior

The rise of e-commerce can also be attributed to shifting consumer behavior. Today’s consumers are increasingly turning to the internet to research products, compare prices, and make purchases, driven by factors such as convenience, accessibility, and an abundance of choice. The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed e-commerce adoption, accelerating the shift from traditional brick-and-mortar retail to online shopping as lockdowns and social distancing measures compelled consumers to embrace digital channels for their shopping needs. As a result, businesses that previously relied solely on physical storefronts were forced to pivot to e-commerce to stay competitive and meet evolving consumer expectations.

Global Market Trends

E-commerce operates on a global scale, transcending geographical boundaries and connecting businesses with consumers across the globe. Marketplaces like Amazon and Alibaba have facilitated cross-border trade, enabling merchants to reach international audiences and tap into new markets. The rise of globalization and the increasing prevalence of free trade agreements have further fueled e-commerce growth, creating opportunities for businesses to expand their reach and diversify their customer base. Additionally, demographic shifts, such as the growing purchasing power of millennials and Generation Z, have reshaped consumer preferences and consumption patterns, driving demand for seamless, omnichannel shopping experiences that seamlessly blend online and offline interactions.

Competitive Landscape

As e-commerce continues to thrive, competition among online retailers has intensified. With millions of stores vying for consumers’ attention, standing out amidst the noise requires strategic differentiation and effective marketing strategies. Success in e-commerce hinges not only on the quality of products and services but also on factors such as brand identity, customer experience, and digital marketing prowess. Businesses must continually innovate and adapt to stay ahead of the curve, leveraging data-driven insights, emerging technologies, and agile business models to meet the evolving needs and preferences of their target audience.

Understanding the Importance of SEO for Shopify Stores

In the bustling world of e-commerce, where competition is fierce and consumer attention is fleeting, the importance of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for Shopify stores cannot be overstated. As merchants strive to carve out their niche in the digital marketplace, SEO serves as a powerful tool for improving visibility, driving organic traffic, and ultimately, boosting sales. Let’s delve deeper into why SEO is indispensable for Shopify stores and how it impacts various aspects of online business.

Read Our Old Blog : The Most Trending Online Marketplace Apps In 2021

1. Enhanced Visibility and Discoverability : In a vast sea of online stores, visibility is key to attracting potential customers. When users search for products or solutions relevant to their Shopify store, appearing at the top of search engine results pages (SERPs) significantly increases their chances of being discovered. SEO optimizes your store’s content and structure to align with search engine algorithms, making it more likely to rank higher for relevant keywords and phrases. By enhancing your store’s visibility, SEO ensures that it remains competitive in the crowded e-commerce landscape and captures the attention of qualified leads.
2. Increased Organic Traffic : Organic traffic refers to visitors who find your Shopify store through unpaid search results, as opposed to paid advertising or other promotional channels. Unlike paid campaigns, which require ongoing investment, organic traffic generated through SEO is sustainable and cost-effective in the long run. By optimizing your store’s content for search engines, you can attract a steady stream of organic traffic from users actively seeking the products or services you offer. This not only reduces reliance on paid advertising but also ensures a higher return on investment (ROI) over time.
3. Building Trust and Credibility : Ranking prominently in search engine results instills trust and credibility in the minds of consumers. Studies have shown that users tend to perceive websites that appear at the top of SERPs as more reputable and trustworthy. By implementing SEO best practices, such as optimizing for relevant keywords, improving website speed, and enhancing user experience, Shopify stores can establish authority within their niche and build a positive online reputation. As trust and credibility grow, so does consumer confidence in your brand, leading to increased engagement, loyalty, and sales.
4. Targeted Traffic and Higher Conversion Rates : One of the primary advantages of SEO is its ability to attract targeted traffic—users who are actively seeking the products or services you offer. By optimizing your Shopify store for specific keywords and phrases relevant to your target audience, you can attract visitors who are more likely to convert into customers. These highly qualified leads are already interested in what you have to offer, making them easier to engage and convert. As a result, Shopify stores that prioritize SEO often experience higher conversion rates, driving increased sales and revenue.
5. Long-Term Sustainability and Growth : Unlike short-term marketing tactics that deliver immediate results but may fizzle out over time, SEO offers long-term sustainability and growth potential for Shopify stores. By investing in SEO, merchants lay the groundwork for ongoing visibility, traffic, and revenue generation, even as market conditions evolve. SEO efforts compound over time, with the cumulative impact of optimizations leading to improved rankings, increased authority, and greater brand recognition. As a result, Shopify stores that prioritize SEO are better equipped to weather fluctuations in consumer behavior, algorithm updates, and competitive pressures, ensuring sustained growth and success in the ever-changing e-commerce landscape.

Key SEO Strategies for Shopify Stores in 2024

In the ever-evolving landscape of e-commerce, mastering Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is essential for Shopify stores to stand out amidst the competition and attract qualified traffic. As we enter 2024, the SEO landscape continues to evolve, with new trends, algorithms, and best practices shaping the way businesses optimize their online presence. Here are key SEO strategies tailored specifically for Shopify stores in 2024:

1. Comprehensive Keyword Research and Optimization : Keyword research remains the cornerstone of SEO success. In 2024, focus on identifying long-tail keywords and semantic variations that reflect user intent and align with your Shopify store’s offerings. Leverage keyword research tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, and Google Keyword Planner to uncover high-potential keywords with reasonable search volume and competition levels. Once you’ve identified your target keywords, strategically integrate them into your Shopify store’s content, including product titles, descriptions, meta tags, URLs, and image alt text. Aim for a natural and seamless incorporation of keywords to enhance both search engine visibility and user experience.
2. Optimize Product Pages for Maximum Visibility : Each product page on your Shopify store represents an opportunity to capture the attention of potential customers. In 2024, prioritize optimizing product titles, descriptions, and meta tags with relevant keywords while ensuring accuracy and clarity. High-quality images, videos, and detailed product descriptions can enhance user engagement and increase conversion rates. Additionally, leverage Shopify’s built-in features, such as customizable URLs and meta fields, to further optimize product pages for search engines. Implement structured data markup to provide search engines with valuable information about your products, such as price, availability, and reviews, enhancing your store’s visibility in rich snippets and other search features.
3. Mobile-First Optimization : With mobile devices accounting for a significant portion of online traffic, optimizing your Shopify store for mobile is no longer optional—it’s a necessity. In 2024, prioritize mobile-first design principles to ensure that your store provides a seamless and intuitive browsing experience across all devices and screen sizes. Choose mobile-responsive themes that adapt dynamically to different screen sizes and orientations, optimizing page layouts, images, and navigation elements for mobile users. Prioritize page speed optimization to minimize loading times on mobile devices, as faster load times not only improve user experience but also contribute to higher search engine rankings.
4. Content Marketing and Blogging : Content marketing remains a powerful tool for driving organic traffic and establishing authority within your niche. In 2024, focus on creating high-quality, informative content such as blog posts, guides, tutorials, and product reviews that address the needs and interests of your target audience. Incorporate relevant keywords naturally into your content while providing valuable insights, solutions, and actionable advice. Promote your content across social media channels, email newsletters, and other digital platforms to attract visitors to your Shopify store and encourage user engagement. By consistently publishing valuable content, you can enhance your store’s visibility, build brand awareness, and drive organic traffic over time.
5. Build High-Quality Backlinks : Building high-quality backlinks from authoritative websites remains a fundamental aspect of off-page SEO. In 2024, focus on acquiring backlinks from reputable sources within your industry through techniques such as guest blogging, influencer outreach, and content partnerships. Additionally, leverage internal linking within your Shopify store to enhance navigation and distribute link equity throughout your site. Link to related products, blog posts, and category pages to improve user experience and encourage search engine crawlers to discover and index more of your content.
6. Enhance User Experience (UX) : User experience (UX) is a critical ranking factor in SEO and conversion rate optimization. In 2024, prioritize enhancing the overall user experience of your Shopify store to improve engagement, retention, and ultimately, search engine rankings. Ensure that your store is intuitive, visually appealing, and easy to navigate across all devices. Simplify the checkout process, optimize product search functionality, and minimize friction points to enhance user satisfaction. Leverage Shopify apps and plugins to implement features such as live chat support, product reviews, and personalized recommendations, further enriching the shopping experience for your customers.
7. Local SEO Optimization : For Shopify stores with a physical presence or serving specific geographic regions, optimizing for local SEO is essential for improving visibility in local search results. In 2024, ensure that your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistent across all online platforms, including your Shopify store, Google My Business, and local directories. Optimize your Google My Business listing with accurate information, customer reviews, and high-quality images to attract local customers and improve local search rankings. Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews, as they can boost your store’s credibility and visibility in local search results.

Conclusion

As the e-commerce landscape continues to evolve, mastering SEO is essential for Shopify stores looking to achieve sustainable growth and success in 2024 and beyond. By implementing the key strategies outlined in this blog—from comprehensive keyword research and optimized product pages to mobile responsiveness, content marketing, and local SEO optimization—you can enhance your store’s visibility, attract qualified traffic, and ultimately drive conversions.

Ready to take your Shopify store’s SEO to the next level? Partner with Imenso Software, a trusted provider of e-commerce solutions and SEO services. Our team of experts specializes in helping Shopify merchants optimize their online presence for maximum visibility and profitability. Contact us today to learn how we can tailor a customized SEO strategy to elevate your Shopify store to new heights of success.

We’re honored to mention that our efforts have been recognized by renowned B2B review and research platforms such as GoodFirms, Clutch, MirrorView, and many more.

The post Mastering Shopify SEO in 2024: Proven Strategies for E-commerce Success appeared first on Imenso Software.

By the end of this blog, you will have a solid understanding of how to build a scalable eCommerce platform using the MEAN stack and be equipped with the tools you need to build your eCommerce platform. So, let’s get started! 

Part 1: Planning the eCommerce Platform: 

Before you start building an eCommerce platform with MEAN stack, it’s essential to plan the project carefully. This involves conducting market research, analyzing competitors, defining the project scope, and identifying key features. Let’s explore these steps in detail: 

Conducting market research and analyzing competitors:  

To build a successful eCommerce platform, you need to understand your target audience and their needs. Conducting market research will help you identify the trends, preferences, and pain points of your customers. You can use tools like Google Analytics, social media analytics, and surveys to gather this information.  

Analyzing your competitors can also provide valuable insights into the market. You can study their products, pricing, user experience, and marketing strategies to identify their strengths and weaknesses. This information can help you differentiate your platform and provide a better user experience to your customers. 

Defining the project scope and identifying key features:  

Based on market research and competitor analysis, you can define the project scope and identify the key features of your eCommerce platform. This involves creating a product roadmap and prioritizing the features based on their importance and feasibility. 

Some of the essential features of an eCommerce platform include a product catalog, shopping cart, payment gateway, order management, customer management, and analytics. You can also include advanced features like personalized recommendations, social sharing, and loyalty programs, depending on your business needs. 

Creating wireframes and user stories:  

Once you have defined the project scope and identified the key features, you can create wireframes and user stories to visualize the platform’s user interface and user experience. Wireframes are low-fidelity visual representations of the platform’s layout, navigation, and functionality. User stories are descriptions of the user’s goals and tasks on the platform.  

You can use tools like Balsamiq, Sketch, or Figma to create wireframes and user stories. These tools allow you to collaborate with your hire Mean Stack developers team and stakeholders and get feedback on the design and functionality of the platform.  

By following these steps, you can plan the eCommerce platform effectively and ensure that it meets the needs of your customers and business. In the next section, we’ll explore the steps involved in setting up the MEAN stack environment. 

Part 2: Setting up the MEAN Stack Environment:

Now that you have planned the eCommerce platform, it’s time to set up the MEAN stack environment. MEAN stack comprises four technologies – MongoDB, Express, Angular, and Node.js. Let’s explore the steps involved in setting up each of these technologies:  

Installing Node.js and MongoDB: 

The first step is to install Node.js and MongoDB on your computer. Node.js is a JavaScript runtime that allows you to run JavaScript on the server side, while MongoDB is a NoSQL database that stores data in JSON-like documents. You can download and install Node.js and MongoDB from their respective websites. 

Setting up the Express framework: 

Express is a popular Node.js framework for building web applications. To set up Express, you can create a new Node.js project and install the Express module using npm, the Node.js package manager. You can use the following commands in the terminal: 

mkdir myapp 
cd myapp 
npm init 
npm install express

This will create a new directory called myapp, initialize a new Node.js project with a package.json file, and install the Express module. 

Configuring the Angular frontend framework:  

Angular is a popular frontend framework for building dynamic single-page applications. To configure Angular, you can create a new Angular project using the Angular CLI, which is a command-line interface for creating and managing Angular projects. You can use the following commands in the terminal: 

npm install -g @angular/cli 
ng new myapp

This will install the Angular CLI globally on your computer and create a new Angular project called myapp. 

Testing the setup:  

Once you have set up the environment, you can test it by running the Node.js server and opening the Angular app in your browser. To run the Node.js server, you can create a new file called server.js in the root directory of your project and add the following code: 

const express = require('express');
const app = express();
const port = 3000;  

app.get('/', (req, res) => {
  res.send('Hello World!');
});  

app.listen(port, () => {
     console.log(`Server listening on port ${port}`);
});

This will create a new Express app with a route that sends a “Hello World!” message when you visit the root URL. To start the server, you can run the following command in the terminal: 

node server.js

This will start the Node.js server and you should see the message “Server listening on port 3000” in the terminal. Next, you can open the Angular app by running the following commands in a new terminal window: 

cd myapp 
ng serve

This will start the Angularjs development server and you can open the app in your browser by visiting http://localhost:4200. If everything is set up correctly, you should see the default Angular app with the message “Welcome to myapp!”.  

These are the basic steps for setting up the MEAN stack environment. Of course, there are many additional configurations and dependencies you can add depending on your project requirements. 

Part 3: Building the Backend:

In this section, we will focus on building the backend of the eCommerce platform using the MEAN stack. 

1. Creating a RESTful API using Express:  

RESTful APIs are the backbone of modern web applications. They allow client-side applications to communicate with server-side applications through a uniform interface. To create a RESTful API using Express, follow these steps: 

• Install the required dependencies by running the following command: 

npm install express mongoose body-parser cors 

• Create a new file called “api.js” in the Express project folder and add the following code: 

const express = require('express');
const mongoose = require('mongoose');
const bodyParser = require('body-parser');
const cors = require('cors');
const passport = require('passport');

const app = express();

const port = process.env.PORT || 3000;
const mongoUrl = process.env.MONGO_URL || 'mongodb://localhost:27017/myapp';

mongoose.connect(mongoUrl, { useNewUrlParser: true, useUnifiedTopology: true })
  .then(() => console.log('Connected to MongoDB'))
  .catch(err => console.log(err));

app.use(bodyParser.json());
app.use(cors());
app.use(passport.initialize());

app.get('/', (req, res) => {
  res.send('Hello, world!');
});

app.listen(port, () => {
  console.log(`Server started on port ${port}`);
});

const mongoose = require('mongoose');
mongoose.connect('mongodb://localhost:27017/ecommerce', { useNewUrlParser: true })
  .then(() => console.log('MongoDB conne
cted'))
  .catch(err => console.log(err));

const mongoose = require('mongoose'); 

const productSchema = new mongoose.Schema({ 
  name: { type: String, required: true }, 
  description: { type: String }, 
  price: { type: Number, required: true }, 
  image: { type: String } 
}); 

module.exports = mongoose.model('Product', productSchema);

const express = require('express'); 
const router = express.Router(); 
const Product = require('../models/product'); 

// Create a new product 
router.post('/products', (req, res) => { 
  const newProduct = new Product(req.body);
  newProduct.save() 
    .then(product => res.json(product)) 
    .catch(err => res.status(500).json({ error: err })); 
}); 

// Get all products 
router.get('/products', (req, res) => { 
  Product.find() 
    .then(products => res.json(products)) 
    .catch(err => res.status(500).json({ error: err })); 
}); 

// Get a single product by id 
router.get('/products/:id', (req, res) => { 
  Product.findById(req.params.id) 
    .then(product => res.json(product)) 
    .catch(err => res.status(500).json({ error: err })); 
}); 

// Update a product by id 
router.put('/products/:id', (req, res) => { 
  Product.findByIdAndUpdate(req.params.id, req.body) 
    .then(() => res.status(204).send()) 
    .catch(err => res.status(500).json({ error: err })); 
}); 

// Delete a product by id 
router.delete('/products/:id', (req, res) => { 
  Product.findByIdAndDelete(req.params.id) 
    .then(() => res.status(204).send()) 
    .catch(err => res.status(500).json({ error: err })); 
}); 

module.exports = router;  

const mongoose = require('mongoose'); 
const Schema = mongoose.Schema; 

const UserSchema = new Schema({ 
  name: { 
    type: String, 
    required: true 
  }, 
  email: { 
    type: String, 
    required: true, 
    unique: true 
  }, 
  password: { 
    type: String, 
    required: true 
  }, 
  isAdmin: { 
    type: Boolean, 
    default: false 
  } 
}); 

module.exports = User = mongoose.model('user', UserSchema);

const express = require('express'); 
const router = express.Router(); 
const bcrypt = require('bcryptjs'); 
const jwt = require('jsonwebtoken');
const { check, validationResult } = require('express-validator'); 
const User = require('../models/User'); 

// @route POST api/users 
// @desc Register user 
// @access Public 
router.post( 
  '/', 
  [ 
    check('name', 'Please add name').not().isEmpty(), 
    check('email', 'Please include a valid email').isEmail(), 
    check( 
      'password', 
      'Please enter a password with 6 or more characters' 
    ).isLength({ min: 6 }), 
  ], 

 async (req, res) => { 
    const errors = validationResult(req); 
    if (!errors.isEmpty()) { 
      return res.status(400).json({ errors: errors.array() }); 
    } 

    const { name, email, password } = req.body; 

    try { 
      let user = await User.findOne({ email }); 

      if (user) { 
        return res.status(400).json({ msg: 'User already exists' }); 
      } 

      user = new User({ 
        name, 
        email,
        password, 
      }); 

      const salt = await bcrypt.genSalt(10); 

      user.password = await bcrypt.hash(password, salt); 

      await user.save(); 

      const payload = { 
        user: { 
          id: user.id, 
        }, 
      }; 

      jwt.sign( 
        payload,
        process.env.JWT_SECRET, 
        { expiresIn: 360000 }, 
        (err, token) => { 
          if (err) throw err; 
          res.json({ token });
        } 
      ); 
    } catch (err) { 
      console.error(err.message); 
      res.status(500).send('Server Error'); 
    } 
  } 
);
module.exports = router; 

router.post('/login', async (req, res) => { 
  // Implement login functionality here 
}); 

router.post('/login', async (req, res) => { 
  const { email, password } = req.body; 

  // Find user by email 
  const user = await User.findOne({ email }); 

  // Verify user password 
  if (!user || !bcrypt.compareSync(password, user.password)) { 
    return res.status(401).json({ error: 'Invalid email or password' }); 
  } 

  // Create and assign JWT token 
  const token = jwt.sign({ id: user._id }, process.env.JWT_SECRET); 
  res.json({ token }); 

}); 

const verifyToken = (req, res, next) => { 
  const token = req.headers.authorization; 

  if (!token) { 
    return res.status(401).json({ error: 'Unauthorized request' }); 
  } 

  try { 
    const decoded = jwt.verify(token, process.env.JWT_SECRET); 
    req.userId = decoded.id;
 next(); 
  } catch (err) { 
    return res.status(401).json({ error: 'Invalid token' }); 
  } 
}; 

router.get('/profile', verifyToken, (req, res) => { 
  // code to retrieve user profile 
}); 

const jwt = require('jsonwebtoken'); 

function verifyToken(req, res, next) { 
  const token = req.headers['authorization']; 

  if (!token) { 
    return res.status(401).json({ message: 'Unauthorized access' }); 
  } 

  try { 
    const decoded = jwt.verify(token, process.env.JWT_SECRET); 
    req.user = decoded.user; 
    next(); 
  } catch (err) { 
    return res.status(401).json({ message: 'Invalid token' }); 
  } 
}

router.get('/protected', verifyToken, (req, res) => { 
  // Handle protected route 
}); 

const stripe = require('stripe')('your_stripe_api_key');

router.post('/charge', async (req, res) => { 
  try { 
    const amount = req.body.amount; 
    const paymentIntent = await stripe.paymentIntents.create({ 
      amount, 
      currency: 'usd', 
    }); 
    res.json({ client_secret: paymentIntent.client_secret }); 
  } catch (err) { 
    res.status(500).json({ message: err.message }); 
  } 
});

import { HttpClient } from '@angular/common/http'; 

@Injectable({ 
  providedIn: 'root' 
}) 

export class PaymentService { 
  constructor(private http: HttpClient) { } 
  charge(amount: number) { 
    return this.http.post('/api/payment/charge', { amount }); 
  } 
}

import { PaymentService } from '../payment.service'; 
constructor(private paymentService: PaymentService) { }

async processPayment() { 
  const amount = this.cart.totalPrice * 100; 
  const { client_secret } = await this.paymentService.charge(amount).toPromise(); 
  const { error, paymentIntent } = await stripe.confirmCardPayment(client_secret, { 
    payment_method: { 
      card: this.cardElement, 
      billing_details: { 
        name: this.name, 
        email: this.email
      } 
    } 
  }); 
  if (error) { 
    console.log(error.message); 
  } else { 
    console.log('Payment successful'); 
  } 
}

The post How to Build a Scalable eCommerce Platform with MEAN Stack appeared first on Imenso Software.

The answer to both of these questions and millions of others like them are online marketplace apps like amazon, Etsy, eBay, Flipkart, and others.  

In the last 4 – 5 years, we have seen so many marketplace apps pop up in the market and not just to sell fashion or groceries; there is a dedicated marketplace app for every industry now.  

This blog post will talk about marketplaces, what they are, the different types of marketplace apps, and which are the ones trending most to help you kickstart your own marketplace business.  

What is an online marketplace? 

An online marketplace is a platform with two parties – buyers and sellers. Sellers bring the inventory to the marketplace, buyers bring the demand, and the transactions are in the middle. For Amazon, the transactions are for the products; for Airbnb, it’s the houses on rent or spaces being traded; for capsule, the transaction for buying medicines.  

The difference between an ecommerce website and a marketplace is that on ecommerce, products or services from one brand are being sold. On the contrary, marketplaces can have thousands or millions of sellers offering a variety of products. Such huge inventory brings more traffic to the marketplaces and gets more exposure to the sellers on it.  

Marketplace companies are some of the richest businesses in the world. As of June 2021, Amazon is worth $314 billion. Other big marketplaces like Alibaba, eBay, uber all are listed in the super-wealthy enterprises.  

The real question here is why marketplaces are so valuable?  

And the answer is market liquidity. The most accurate definition of market liquidity is the reasonable expectation of selling something you have listed on the marketplace or finding what you are looking for. This way, both the parties – sellers and buyers get something out of the marketplace.  

Marketplaces also have a cross-side network effect. The more buyers join the marketplace; the more sellers can sell their products or services. And the more sellers join the marketplace, the more inventory there is for buyers to choose from. Thus, this virtual cycle keeps running as the marketplace matures. This cross-side network effect has many benefits: 

• The cost of customer acquisition goes down  
• Revenue per customer goes up 
• Locking in the retention of users  

Also Read: Quick Insights: What You Need To Know To Build A Successful Marketplace App In 2021

Different types of online marketplaces  

There are marketplace apps for different niches online, and although the concept is the same, there are subtle differences. Knowing which type of marketplace is important because it decides the shopping experience, the customer persona who will buy the product/service, the type of product/service listing and other demands a marketplace should fulfil.  

1. Physical product marketplaces  

The marketplaces which sell physical products only are physical product marketplaces. The best example is Amazon. All the other apps that sell shoes, makeup products, or any other physical products fall in this category.  

If you are interested in developing a marketplace with physical products, keep one thing in mind. There are thousands of sellers on your app, and customers order different items from different sellers. When they receive shipping packages, wrap them with your logo on them to know what to expect. And it’s also a great brand establishing move.  

2. Digital product marketplaces  

In this type of marketplace, digital products are sold. No need for delivery; customers can simply download what they ordered on their computers or smartphones. Amazon Kindle is an example of a digital product. When users pay for an ebook, it is instantly added to their kindle account to read it anytime. One seller sells the products here.  

3. Properties and spaces marketplaces  

One of the most popular startups in this type of marketplace is Airbnb. You might have got what we are talking about. And you are right. This type of marketplace sell or rent properties, spaces, events, houses or apartments. Some other examples of this marketplace are Eventbrite and studio time.  

4. Services marketplace  

There are marketplaces for services as well. Through these marketplaces, customers can hire or rent experts for their specialties. The services can be digital or in person. Freelance marketplaces like Upwork, Fiverr, freelancer are the platforms where users can hire experts for digital services like web designing, marketing, content writing and others.  

The other marketplaces of this type provide access to in-person professionals for regular day services like cleaning, painting, home salon, etc.  

The services marketplaces also run on the same principle as others. There are two parties, one with the demand and the other one fulfilling the demand.  

The most trending marketplaces in 2021  

Do you know that global ecommerce sales are set to exceed $4.5 trillion in 2021? And with this question, you also get the hint of what’s trending most. Yes, it’s ecommerce.  

The top ecom giant is amazon, with 5.2 billion visits/month, followed by eBay with 1.7 billion visits/month. Other ecommerce marketplaces also have a high number of visitors with a good retention rate, including Flipkart, Walmart, and Etsy.  

Other ecommerce marketplaces sell physical goods but not globally. Every country has its ecom platform. For instance, Trendyol is a marketplace for Turkey. It clocks 206.2 million visitors/month.  

Judging by the figures, it is fair to conclude that the e-commerce sector is exploding, and it is one of the most promising sectors for launching a marketplace app.  

Also Read: Challenges In Developing An eCommerce Mobile App

But the marketplace business model doesn’t just apply to ecommerce. It is a viable option for many sectors and services. If there can be a marketplace for renting a stranger’s house in a completely different county or hiring someone to code your new business website 8,000 miles away. In that case, there can be a marketplace for buying or renting any product or services you can imagine.  

Here is a list of the different categories of marketplaces in the world. Take a look: 

• Online medicine purchase and delivery  
• Homewares  
• Books  
• Collectibles & antiques  
• Electronics  
• Baby products, apparel & fashion  
• Sports  
• Toys  
• Arts, crafts and gifts  
• Musical instruments  

Ready to build your marketplace app? 

Developing a marketplace is quite the challenge. Probably the toughest one you would overcome in your entrepreneurial career. Getting the sellers and buyers to join the platform is a hard nut to crack. And on top of that, dealing with the competition in the industry.  

You need to keep one thing in mind – the principal focus is to get everyone, the customers, the sellers and the inventory on board. It’s vital for the platform’s success. Whoever manages this first wins in the marketplace app game.  

If you would like to discuss your idea with a team of marketplace expert developers, reach out to us. We are an established ecommerce marketplace development company with hands-on experience in building multiple marketplaces for our clients.  

The post The Most Trending Online Marketplace Apps In 2021 appeared first on Imenso Software.

Such undeniable penetration of mobile devices is why more and more ecommerce websites are also getting a mobile application developed for their customers. An ecommerce mobile app is a great way to keep in touch with the customers and assist companies in getting more committed customers in the future. An ecommerce mobile app is a future-proof strategy that will not fail.  

However, developing an ecommerce app with desired features is not easy. There are plenty of things to consider and analyze even before the development starts. There is a lot to be done, from assessing the market trends, consumer needs and expectations to app deployment, user feedback, and bug fixes.  

For a first-time ecommerce entrepreneur, it might be a little overwhelming to get started in the mobile app market. You need a trusted and experienced partners like ecommerce development companies to assess different aspects of mobile app development with utmost precision.  

For instance, our world went into lockdown in 2020. Even after the lockdown is lifted, the coronavirus pandemic has caused significant changes in human behavior, which must get addressed by the app development team. Now ecommerce apps must have online payment options to promote no-touch delivery and ensure the safety of their customers.  

While the trends keep changing with varying social norms and situations, it makes the app development cost a bit high, but over time, ecommerce app owners will get a higher ROI.  

Also Read: How To Reduce the Cost of Mobile App Development for Business?

To help you understand the process better, let’s discuss the common challenges that development teams encounter.  

1. The quest for choosing the right technology  

Picking the technology and platform is the first and the most crucial one too. With the advent of technology, there is a myriad of options to develop a robust ecommerce app. Several platforms can be used to create a robust web app or mobile app for your ecommerce store.  

For instance, depending on your target audience and which OS they use, you need to decide whether to build a web app or cross-platform app or native app. Whichever one you choose, make sure the app has a seamless user experience across all major platforms and browsers. Between Android, iOS and cross-platform technologies, the right platform can be selected based on features required, security, target audience, scalability, and others.  

Another way to build powerful web apps is via platforms like Shopify and Magento. For a small to a medium-sized ecommerce store, you can build an ideal app with Shopify. It provides good functionality for start-ups too. Similarly, Magento can be used for enterprise-level applications for a functional ecommerce mobile app.   

Our mobile app development company is proficient in developing robust and reliable native and cross-platform apps using react native framework. Contact our developer team to know more.  

2. The concern for security  

What makes any app most desirable as well as trustworthy is its security. And the security of an ecommerce app is indeed a problem for developers. All ecommerce apps have to provide secure online transactions and payment options. For this, the app data system has to securely store the confidential personal and financial information of customers.  

Even a single hacking attempt can destroy your brand reputation. In light of increased cases of cyberattacks and malware activities, your app security should be your top priority.  

To create an extra level of security and trust among your customers, provide additional features in the app like encryption, single sign-on, verification codes, fingerprint scanning and others. Such features will associate your ecommerce app with high-security standards and thus customer loyalty.  

3. Hand-picking the right features  

This is another big barrier for both app owners and developers. Deciding on the right features is vital to attract and keep your customers. You should discuss the requirements with your ecommerce mobile app development partner to know what features to keep. Mostly the essential features are there in all ecommerce apps and keeping them is necessary to meet user’s expectations. If due to the absence of an essential feature, users might have a bad shopping experience which brings the wrong understanding of your business.  

Besides the standard features like shopping cart, search bar and menu, developers can also add advanced features like personalized shopping list, voice assistance, reviews, star ratings and others to give users an unforgettable app experience. Social media integrations and feedback are other additional features for your app.  

4. Look out for skills and experience.  

When you hire an ecommerce mobile app developer, ask about their expertise and experience. Sometimes it is difficult for seasoned developers to code certain features of an ecommerce app. It is possible that some developers might lack the understanding of business models or market trends, so their skills fall short for the project.  

Also Read: Top 10 Mobile App Development Mistakes To Avoid For Market Success

Also, every app is based on different technology and, therefore, requires subject matter expertise. It is crucial to find developers who have hands-on experience in a specific domain.  

While you’re looking to hire mobile app developers, also evaluate them on their ability to meet deadlines. The ecommerce industry is rapidly evolving where time to market is significantly important to get success and stay one step ahead of competitors.  

5. Guarded payment gateways 

Making the payment is rather a personal choice of customers than a standard approach. We have so many payment options, and everyone can choose whichever one they like to pay your ecommerce business. Integrating all the payment modes is mandatory to allow customers to pay through anyone they prefer.  

Your ecommerce app should support all the payment variants, including credit cards, debit cards, net banking, WhatsApp payment and other options. You can also introduce an in-app wallet like the e-commerce giant amazon so that customers can pay in a click swiftly.  

Furthermore, you should also integrate the refund process and payments in the ecommerce app. And make sure the digital payment modes are secure and seamless.  

Concluding thoughts  

This would sound a little far-fetched, but a lot of development challenges and problems can be avoided by hiring experienced mobile app developers from a reliable company. Think about it, what’s the point of spending a fortune on an ecommerce app that your customers don’t like?  

An ecommerce app development company and its trained team can help you mitigate any risk of the app development process in advance and help your business save money and capital.   

Interested in developing a thriving mobile app for your ecommerce store? Contact us, and we will help you sort every aspect of the app development process effectively.  

The post Challenges In Developing An eCommerce Mobile App appeared first on Imenso Software.

In the wake of the COVID-19, pandemic people search the internet and order various products and services on their smartphones. Consumers prefer to avoid going out and order via apps to receive the essentials at their doorsteps. COVID-19 has put e-commerce at the forefront of the retail industry and eCommerce app development company have made it possible for retailers to ride this trend.  

To prove that we are right, your everyday Amazon orders are enough but here are the stats to bring this change into broad daylight.  

According to this digital commerce 360 analysis, consumers spent $861.12 billion in 2020, which is 44% more than the $598.02 billion in 2019. And 21.3% of total retail sales were online compared to 15.8% the year before that.

COVID 19 has accelerated the growth of eCommerce with an additional $174.87 billion in revenue in 2020 which led to the soaring total e-commerce sales to $861.12 billion. If not for the coronavirus boost e-commerce sales wouldn’t have reached this number even by 2022.  

You might be wondering that this behavior of online retail shopping might alter once the pandemic is over. But let us warn you, it is here to stay.  

A Compuware study says that 85% of users prefer using mobile apps over responsive websites.  

Combine these statistics with the above results of the digital commerce 360 study, you get the next big thing in the eCommerce industry – the eCommerce mobile app.  

What is mobile commerce or m-commerce?  

To leverage the advantage of both, the thriving mobile platform and eCommerce sector, developers came up with eCommerce apps. This is known as mobile commerce or m-commerce.  

You might be thinking that if this is so lucrative many businesses have already developed a custom marketplace app. So it is not worth it to enter into a competitive space with an already established brand in the market.  

Also Read: Quick Insights: What You Need To Know To Build A Successful Marketplace App In 2021

Well, the data suggest otherwise.  

Despite the numerous opportunities m-commerce apps bring, A recent Barclay’s study found that only 10% of brands have developed an eCommerce app.  

Now consider this, eCommerce apps are responsible for 34% of total eCommerce sales. So there are still a lot of markets left to capture in the eCommerce app zone.  

Now that we have established that eCommerce apps are here to stay, as a business owner, you need to think about how to offer your product or service through an app. You need to figure out: 

• Which mobile app platform to target first? 
• What does the marketplace for my brand look like? 
• What features to add to the eCommerce app?  

For a successful eCommerce app development, it is important to find a great mobile app development company that can assist you to overcome all difficulties with passion and expertise.  

Important factors to focus on for an eCommerce app

When businesses step into app development, they want to put as many features as possible in their app. This is a bad strategy. There are countless features available to build a rich and attractive app, but that does not mean you should pick all of them at once.  

An experienced mobile app developer will suggest the same.  

So how to pick the best features for your app. As the saying goes in the modern user-focused online world “less is more”, focus on 3 key aspects of eCommerce app development: 

Also Read: 7 Steps to Make Your Ecommerce Business Successful

User Experience  

Usability  

Branding  

Must-have Features in an eCommerce app

1. Secure payment gateway  

What would you prefer an easy, quick and secure payment option or a complex, multi-step, unsecured one? It’s the first one of course. Just keep this in mind while eCommerce app development.  

As the number of cyberattacks is increasing, customers worry about their card info. A secure and robust payment gateway is a definitive way to build trust with your customers. Integrate the best payment gateways in your eCommerce app. Stripe, PayPal and Braintree are among the best ones.  

2. Product reviews  

The majority of online shoppers want to know about the experience of others with the product or service they are buying. This is where product reviews get you the leverage. If the reviews are good, other people are more likely to buy them. Product reviews are one of the important factors that decide online sales for any product.  

So adding a feature in your app which shows reviews clearly is a good idea. It helps to convert more people easily. 

 3. Product Comparisons  

According to Google consumer barometer, 55% of millennials and modern moms perform online research before making the purchase. By adding an easy to view comparison feature, customers won’t have to leave your app while making a decision. The eCommerce app development company can integrate a feature that allows users to compare relevant products swiftly.  

 4. Product Images  

What kind of user experience does bad quality pictures create? Everybody knows the answer. We don’t even need to discuss this.  

Without high-quality images that can be zoomed to the last thread, you are signalling the users that you don’t care enough for them. Images help users to imagine how the product would look on them?  

Make sure your app has the feature which supports high-quality images. An attention-grabbing caption and charming product description would go a long way to help consumers understand the characteristics of the product better.  

5. Notifications  

More often than not customers said that they learn about the latest shopping trends from social media sites. Facebook is the top information source of all.  

Don’t let social media channels shine in the spotlight. Become the top source for all shopping information to your customers.  

Integrate the push notifications feature in your eCommerce app. Whenever a new discount is released on the app or a season end or stock clearance sale go live, notify consumers directly on the mobile.  

Although don’t be greedy and start overdoing the notifications to a point where it’s annoying for the users. Be judicious about the frequency. The best number would be 2-3 notifications per day.  

Wrapping up  

An eCommerce app can take your business to a new level of success, sales and revenue. But before launching the app you need to research the competitors and know exactly what the users are looking for.  

Imenso Software is a client-focused software company that offers top-notch eCommerce app development services. If you want to take your business to the next level with best in class software solutions, mail us at info@imensosoftware.com and we will get back to you with a complete eCommerce app development plan.  

The post Develop An Ecommerce App That Is Loved By Thousands appeared first on Imenso Software.

Don’t feel sad. Such stats means that there is a clear requirement for better products out there. If your eCommerce product fills that need for consumers online, it will be an immense success. 

Let’s discuss the 7 steps you need to create a great product and leap into eCommerce success fast. 

1. Believe in Your Product  

Most first time eCommerce store owners start selling a product that is trending. This is a failing strategy. If you are not passionate about what you are selling, if you don’t believe in your product, the customers won’t either. 

Sell a product that means something to you. Something that you’re passionate about and that passion gets transfused into your customers as well. 

2. Design a rich website for your customers  

Creating a seamless user experience is necessary for customers to shop with ease in your store. To connect with your products. While most new eCommerce businesses don’t have a lot to invest in, there are always third-party eCommerce store builders available where you can set up a new shop in no time. Some of the best eCommerce platforms are Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento. 

Also Read: WordPress Vs Magento – Which One to Pick For Your Ecommerce Store In 2021

Although it is easy to get started quickly with the platforms, to create a professional-looking store you can consider hiring a custom eCommerce website development company.    

3. Research Well – Make Sure There Is Demand  

Many people while first trying out e-commerce retailing try to sell a product that they love. Only to figure out later that there is no market for it. Betting against consumer behavior is not a smart move. Make sure that the product you are passionate about also has a demand among the buyers, otherwise it won’t work. 

To figure out what is the right product to sell in your eCommerce store do thorough market research. If you are entering a populated space you must sell something that stands out from the others. This is where the value proposition of your product has immense value. 

To find out whether there is a market opportunity or not. You can follow the steps below: 

• Start creating content around your product on social media and see if the audience responds. Take feedback. You want to figure out who is the ideal customer and save your time.    
• Do a Google search. A simple Google search will tell you about reality much more precisely. If there are other competitors and if there are actively advertising then that is a powerful indicator that there are paying customers for the product. This means you are going in the right direction. 
• Research on Amazon. Like we discussed, if you are entering into an established market then your product must be superior to the existing ones. Otherwise, why would someone buy it? Read the reviews on Amazon. Here you hit the jackpot of consumer insights. What are the pain points, what are the most wished features, shipping times, support and others. Use these insights to create a better product for the consumers. 

4. Add Beautiful Pictures 

Many eCommerce stores don’t pay enough attention to the product images. This may sound cliché but humans are visual creatures. The better your product images, the easier it is for the customers to decide whether they want it or not. Whether it will look good on them or not. 

If you don’t have funds then hire that colleagues’ ex-roommate who is into photography or hire an enthusiastic intern for the pictures. This way both the parties get something valuable out of the deal. You can also take the pictures yourself and hone those photography skills. 

Make sure every product has a picture and then make sure it is beautiful. 

5. Write Detailed SEO Optimized Product Descriptions  

Don’t just write two lines or a paragraph about the product manufacturing details in the product description. 

You need to sell the story first. Any widely successful product has a very unique story to it. You need to put that story into the product descriptions. Be casual about the features, benefits, how they got created and how is it produced. Everything unique about your product includes in the product descriptions. 

Also Read: 12 Instant Ecommerce Hacks to Boost Your Online Store Sales Today

While optimizing the product descriptions from the user perspective don’t forget to optimize for SEO too. Without optimization with the right targeted keywords, no matter how much of a good story your product has, it won’t rank and thus your store will have no traffic. And if no traffic then no sales. Remember the whole point of optimizing the store is to get traffic. Or consider talking to a digital marketing company who has expertise in marketing such businesses. 

6. Invest In Getting The Tech Right  

Now you got the beautiful pictures, you got the personal story in the description but you also need to get the tech sorted. Loading time, shopping cart optimization, reducing the number of steps people have to take to purchase, optimize every aspect of your store for a fast and flawless user experience. 

You don’t have to know how it all works, you don’t have to be a coder, but if you are serious about being an eCommerce retailer, research and invest in getting the technical aspect of the store right. 

7. Marketing – Get The Word Out  

Setting an eCommerce store is easy. There is not a lot of technology involved. The real deal is distribution. You need to get the word out. There can be many ways you can market your product. 

The best strategy is to start even before the store is open. Start reaching out to influencers on social media and ask them to try your product. 

Create the content on social media platforms. You can also run a contest where some selected customers get a free batch of product to try. Thus by promoting your product on social media you can get user-generated content other than your marketing posts. 

Set the scene, start the drumroll and then let the customers come. 

Another very powerful strategy is to get your visitors emails. Don’t expect them to buy the first time they visit. Give something extra. A bonus, a tip, or a discount and get them to sign up for email. This way you can follow up and market your products with their permission even after they leave your store. 

The market and consumers are always open to a new and better product. And setting up an eCommerce store is the 2021 way of becoming an entrepreneur. Don’t waste your time with the old strategies. Market furiously, take real-time feedback, move fast and start selling. 

And if during your path to online business, you need any help with setting up, designing or marketing your eCommerce products, talk to our eCommerce development solutions team, we would love to be a part of your eCommerce success. 

The post 7 Steps to Make Your Ecommerce Business Successful appeared first on Imenso Software.

And even if you still can’t comprehend how big the eCommerce industry has become, think it this way, more than half of the world population prefer shopping online.  

There are an estimated 12-24 million eCommerce stores on the internet. So if the demand has increased so is the supply. It is not just about buying a site address, adding the products and the sales will start coming.  

You need to be strategic and creative to beat the competition and come out on top in the market. The best way to do that is SALES.  

Today we’ll see 9 most effective and instant eCommerce sales hack to get your eCommerce rolling.  

Let’s begin.  

1. Upselling  

Small eCommerce store managers overlook the easiest selling trick: upselling.  

It is a wrong assessment that it doesn’t work or work for a small eCommerce service with limited products. That’s not true.  

Like Amazon, you can also bundle up relevant products or past sales data to analyze the most bought items and make an upsell widget on your product pages.  

It is calculated that you can increase up to 4% sales through upselling to your existing customers alone. 4% doesn’t sound much, but if you figure it against the last year’s sales, it is a significant difference.  

2. More Product Images and Video  

The best hack to sell more is to help your customers figure out what they want. Images and videos are the way to do that. Adding more pictures and video of the product helps the visitors visualize more effectively as to how the product will look on them.  

Read the Blog: Is Shopify the best eCommerce Solution for your Business in 2021?

For an online watch store, a 360-degree video will help the visitors virtually feel how the watch will look on their wrist and which outfit will be best to pair it with.  

Videos are also proven to increase engagement, and this also helps to get better user retention metrics on Google. This can be game-changer in improving your conversions and Google rankings alike.  

3. SEO Optimization

Every store owner knows that their sales are not going to skyrocket without top organic rankings. They are aware that SEO optimization is vital for over the top conversions but apparently thinks that it will somehow be taken care of.  

Let’s be realistic and admit that SEO is not the instant hack you are looking for. It is more of a long game, but not investing your time and money into SEO for your online store will cost you more in terms of long term sales.  

Here are a few quick tips to speed up the SEO results.  

• Meta tag and description optimization (describe your products with catchy titles and add benefits in the description) 
• Target the right keyword (be specific and target long tail and detailed keywords)  
• Optimize the image alt tags  

4. Persuasive Copy  

If selling more on eCommerce platforms would have been easy, everybody will be chilling at their beach house. Well, that’s not the case.  

So what’s keeping your store from selling more? Persuasive Copy. It includes everything on your website from home page intro, product descriptions to CTAs.  

To write persuasive copy focus on communicating the value of your products to your visitors. Don’t just write the standard features. Be descriptive and add every possible benefit of your product in the description.  

Imagine this, what if you have a physical store instead of an online eCommerce site, what is the difference? Online, there is no salesperson or store manager to help your customers figure out which product is the best fit for them.  

A well written persuasive copy is that sales assistance which is absent online.  

5. A/B Testing for Product Pages  

A big part of increasing conversions on your product pages is to test it aggressively until you find what works. The best performing e-commerce websites test fast and test more.  

You can start testing your website by changing the product descriptions, fonts, color and theme, product images and more. Use an A/B testing tool once you have made the changes to boost your conversions.  

Some reference for what you can do for successful A/B testing: 

• Change the images of the product or maybe add a video  
• Improve the CTA copy by adding a benefit or a limited time discount  
• Change the color of your buy now buttons  

6. Mobile Optimization 

Almost all mobile users have bought something on their phone at least once. And this sales stat is increasing continuously. If you haven’t optimized your eCommerce store for Mobile, you are losing a lot of business to your competitor just because of a mobile-friendly website.  

Read the Blog: Native vs Progressive Web Apps

If you want to target a billion more people for your product, don’t forget to optimize the store for Mobile. This simple functionality can take your sales through the roof.  

7. Social Proofs and Testimonials  

Customers are more likely to buy a product that someone has purchased before. This is the bandwagon effect of psychology in effect. People are 90% more likely to buy things recommended by family or friends and 70% more likely to purchase items liked by a stranger. It makes them feel like it is the right decision to make.  

Just by adding the reviews on each product page, Amazon increased their conversions by 58%! Only by adding social proof.  

Think about what a rating widget near your eCommerce product can do for your revenue and conversions.  

Another intelligent eCommerce hack is to add customer showcase for your products. This adds another layer of social trust. Embed the actual posts of your customer from social media.  

You can ask your customers to tag your eCommerce social media profiles in their pictures. Or you can also run contests on social media for the extra marketing and social proof you need to drive more conversions.  

8. Less Than 3 Seconds Loading Time  

How long has it been since you checked your website loading time?  

It is estimated that 3 seconds is all it takes for a visitor to bounce back. And the probability of a visitor coming back to your site after bouncing back is very low.  

Read the Blog: Magento vs WooCommerce vs Shopify vs OpenCart

Optimize your site pages to load in less than 3 seconds to retain all your visitors and increase conversions.  

You can use tools like Google page speed insights or sites like https://www.webpagetest.org/ to measure your site performance for loading time.  

One easy hack to improve the page speed is by reducing the size of the product images. The results of compressing the image size on page load speed are immediate.  

9. Free Shipping 

This is an established truth that customers love to buy online but hate to pay for shipping. 47% of people said they abandoned their cart because there was no free shipping available.  

Use this consumer behavior to your advantage and start offering free shipping to reach your sales goals in half the time.  

Let’s have a quick recap:  

• Start Upselling 
• Add more product images and videos  
• Optimize for SEO  
• Write engaging copy and product descriptions 
• A/B Test Your Product Pages for Conversion Optimization 
• Don’t forget to optimize for Mobile  
• Bring customers reviews from social  
• Make it load faster  
• Offer free shipping 

If you need advanced eCommerce solutions to improve your website conversions, feel free to contact our specialist from various industries to set up a store that customers just won’t stop coming!  

The post 12 Instant Ecommerce Hacks to Boost Your Online Store Sales Today appeared first on Imenso Software.