Planning Your B2B Ecommerce Website

If you envy businesses that make it look easy to sell online, it is time to plan how you can compete. In the B2B market, it pays to take an informed approach. That is why, at Comgem, we help businesses that sell to other businesses get ecommerce right. So, how do you start planning your B2B ecommerce website?

In this short guide, we will walk you through the key points of B2B ecommerce website planning. We will highlight the dos and don’ts and give you some valuable industry insider tips. Bear in mind that 74 per cent of B2B buyers will research products online before making a purchase. And, don’t forget, B2B ecommerce is expected to be worth more than a trillion in less than two years’ time.

If your existing website isn’t gaining traction, doesn’t rank on Google or just looks plain naff, it’s time to act.

Setting out your B2B ecommerce goals

Planning your B2B ecommerce website is much easier if you have predefined goals. For example, ensuring your website is user friendly should be a priority. Other ‘dos’ include:

• Choose a domain name that will make your website more discoverable
• Make your website fully searchable
• Use automated processes to reduce costs and save time
• Ensure products can be viewed from more than one angle
• Make the customer journey seamless to reduce cart abandonments
• Be clear about shipping and charges
• Define roles and responsibilities to ensure your ecommerce website delivers a flawless customer experience
• Ensure your website integrates with your preferred payment gateways

What about the ‘don’ts’? Avoid putting all your eggs in one basket. For example, don’t:

• Overlook the importance of mobile commerce. This is a serious growth market and you ignore it at your peril
• Forget that a B2C offering can significantly increase sales
• Neglect to integrate your existing systems with your ecommerce platform. Not being able to update stock availability will lead to errors that may damage your brand’s reputation

The importance of multi-channels and integration

Successful B2B ecommerce requires a multi-channel approach. When you are planning your B2B ecommerce website, ensure that it can perform seamlessly on any device. Don’t be tempted to think one size fits all. Get expert advice to ensure your B2B website has the competitive edge online.

Integration is important and not just in terms of delivering a great customer experience. Efficiency in your business will depend on how well your systems integrate. For example, being able to integrate your website with third party suppliers will help you stay on top of price fluctuations, stock availability and much more.

Give yourself a head start

Want a stunning B2B ecommerce website that does all the hard work for you? Sell more online with Gemsuite, the award-winning B2B ecommerce platform. Discover how this powerful ecommerce solution can transform the way you do business. After all, innovation is the new advantage.

Find out more here or call 01656 330 360.