How is an eCommerce website different from a general website?
In the digital world, having a high-performing website is a crucial factor in establishing your business as legitimate. Today, we’ll explore the two main types of websites widely used: general websites and eCommerce websites. These two differ significantly in functionality and system requirements, necessitating varying levels of programming and development. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the differences:
Functionality
General Websites: These are typically designed to display information, such as corporate, organizational, or blog websites with static content or primarily informational purposes. They are built to support and promote the business by providing details about products, services, and the organization itself. General websites aim to communicate a company's image to the target audience, highlighting the business’s unique value and key features.
eCommerce Websites: eCommerce websites are specifically designed to meet the demands of online shopping. They cater to selling tangible products, such as furniture, tech gadgets, and skincare products, as well as digital goods like courses, eBooks, and movies. These websites feature systems to facilitate online transactions, including shopping carts, payment gateways, and inventory management functions.
Structural Design
General Websites: These typically consist of a limited number of pages with a straightforward structure. Common pages include the Home Page, About Us, and Contact Us, focusing on simplicity and ease of navigation.
eCommerce Websites: These have a more complex structure to accommodate various functionalities. Common elements include Product Pages, Promotions Pages, Membership Registration, Inventory Management Systems, and Order Tracking Systems.
User Experience (UX)
General Websites: These websites focus on presenting information related to an organization, its services, or specialized topics. Examples include company websites, news portals, or knowledge-based sites. Their goal is to build credibility and trust with visitors by offering engaging content, such as articles, images, or videos. This helps capture the visitor’s interest and encourages them to spend more time on the site.
eCommerce Websites: These platforms are a popular avenue for purchasing and selling retail products. While some businesses operate exclusively online, others incorporate eCommerce as part of a broader strategy that includes physical stores and other revenue channels. Regardless of the approach, eCommerce enables startups, small businesses, and large corporations to expand sales and reach global audiences. These sites are designed to make it easy for users to search for products, make selections, and complete purchases. Key features include product filters, price comparisons, and mobile-friendly design to enhance usability and convenience.
Security
General Websites: These sites, which do not involve online transactions (such as payments or product purchases), typically implement basic security measures. These safeguards protect visitors' personal information—such as names, emails, phone numbers, or messages submitted through contact forms—and reduce the risk of data being intercepted or misused without authorization.
eCommerce Websites: eCommerce platforms require advanced security measures due to the nature of online transactions, which involve payment processing and the storage of personal and financial data. Robust security protocols help prevent data theft and build user trust. Features like data encryption (SSL) protect sensitive information during transmission between users (clients) and the website (server). SSL technology ensures that usernames, passwords, and credit card details are secure from interception by third parties. Websites using SSL display a URL starting with "https://" and a padlock icon in the browser.
Backend Management (Content Management System)
General Websites: For general websites that do not involve online transactions, backend management primarily focuses on updating basic information. This includes adding or editing content on web pages. Unlike eCommerce websites, general sites typically do not require managing complex data such as payment details or customer records.
eCommerce Websites: eCommerce platforms demand a more sophisticated backend system with diverse functionalities to support online sales and service operations. These backend systems streamline and enhance data management and tracking, enabling efficient business processes. Features include inventory management, real-time stock monitoring, low-stock alerts, and product categorization to meet the specific needs of eCommerce businesses.
Functions comparison between general websites and e-commerce websites
| Aspect | General Websites | eCommerce Websites |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Primarily for displaying information about organizations, services, or specific topics. | Built for online sales, allowing users to browse, select, and purchase products or services. |
| Structure | Simple structure with limited pages such as Home, About Us, and Contact Us. | Complex structure with product pages, promotions, membership systems, and order tracking. |
| User Experience | Focuses on providing engaging content to build credibility and retain visitors. | Optimized for ease of shopping with features like filters, price comparisons, and mobile-friendly design. |
| Security | Basic security to protect user data submitted through contact forms. | Advanced security, including SSL encryption, to protect payment and customer data. |
| Backend Management | Simplified backend for updating basic content and information. | Advanced backend for inventory management, real-time stock monitoring, and customer data handling. |