Everyone knows that e-commerce is a form of non-face-to-face commerce conducted through electronic devices. But not everyone knows what an e-commerce website is. Well, if you're one of those people, then find out now!
WHAT IS AN E-COMMERCE SITE?
A website is an internet interface identified by a domain, which can serve multiple purposes such as publicizing a charity work or informing about the tourist aspects of a city, for example. An e-commerce site, in turn, has the same characteristics with the difference that its objective is to make online sales.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN TYPES OF E-COMMERCE SITE?
There are several types of what we can call e-commerce sites. Today, the main ones are:
- Virtual store: online sales front managed through an e-commerce platform;
- multi store: multiple fronts of virtual stores of the same owner with centralized management;
- Marketplace: online shopping (with payment split) where stores from different companies can sell;
- hotsite: media with few pages that can serve to sell a product or service only;
- Landing page: page with persuasive arguments focused on selling a product or service;
- corporate website: business website that can assist in the sale of products and services;
- e-commerce blog: Content media that may contain embedded sales pages;
- online classifieds: ad and detachment sites;
- infoproduct platforms: websites selling digital products such as courses and e-books.
Furthermore, it's possible to use social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, among others, to create online sales interfaces. Not to mention platforms like Google My Business and WhatsApp Business , which serve the same purpose.
In summary, as can be seen, any multimedia interface available on the Internet can be considered a website. And if it serves to sell something, then we can say that such an interface is an e-commerce site. However, the best type of e-commerce site today is the online store.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VIRTUAL STORE AND CORPORATE WEBSITE
The main difference between an online store and a corporate website is that the former is developed and managed using a technology called an e-commerce platform , while the latter operates via a content management system.
For example, VTEX , Linx Commerce , and Loja Integrada are e-commerce platforms. On the other hand, WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal are content management systems. The latter are more suitable for creating websites and blogs. However, they are often also used in the development of online stores.
The advantage of using e-commerce platforms like VTEX is that they allow you to create online stores, multi-stores, and marketplaces much more easily. They have integrated content management systems that facilitate the creation of unique layouts/designs , differentiating them from competitors. Furthermore, they integrate more naturally with other systems such as payment, logistics, digital storefronts, customer service, and endless aisle management . After all, they are focused on the creation and management of online stores.
VIRTUAL STORE OR CORPORATE WEBSITE: WHICH IS BETTER TO SELL ONLINE?
Regardless of your business model, that is, whether it is a B2C (business-to-consumer commerce) or B2B (business-to-business) model, virtual stores are better for making online sales for the simple fact that this is the focus from them. All of its tools and integrations lead to this.
A corporate website, on the other hand, is more suitable for those who intend to showcase their organizational culture and the company as an institution in the national or global market. It serves to develop a strategy for expansion, influence, reputation, dissemination of results, interaction with governments, laws, business partners, the mainstream press, etc. In this context, a corporate website functions more to leverage e -business than e-commerce.
Of course, nothing prevents you from including some sales pages within a corporate website and thus transforming it into a corporate e-commerce website. However, realize that this will work as a "pull". Then, the result will be that in the end you will have an e-business and e-commerce site integrated in the same domain. It may even work, but most of the time it is more prudent to separate things and thus avoid communication noises with the different audiences of your company. Right?
CONCLUSION: WHAT IS AN E-COMMERCE SITE?
What is an e-commerce website? It is basically an online interface identified by a domain name and address, which serves to trade products, infoproducts and/or services.
An e-commerce site can be useful for companies that intend to sell to other companies; companies to end consumers; and even consumers to other consumers, among other business models.
Currently, the most modern e-commerce site format is the virtual store, followed by the multi-store and the marketplace. These three formats can be created and managed through software called the e-commerce platform, which, in turn, integrates with hundreds of other systems and applications with a single objective: to sell more and more and better via the internet.
So, if your interest is e-commerce, then bet on the power of an online store. If, however, you want to develop your e-business, go for a corporate website. But if, after all, the idea is to work in both wings, then produce an online store for your consumer audience and a corporate website for your stakeholder audience. captain?
- As soon as you can click on “e-commerce development” and learn about the 10 fundamental steps for a good project!
