eCommerce websites are challenging to design and build, but they also have massive potential in terms of revenue. That’s why more and more businesses choose to have an eCommerce site instead of just a standard website. Coding for eCommerce websites is not a walk in the park. Achieving a fully functional eCommerce website requires special attention to detail and different programming techniques.
Websites meant for selling products require a lot of features that standard websites don’t need: user registration, payment methods, product catalogs with images and descriptions, etc. So how can you become a successful web developer when coding for eCommerce websites? Keep reading to find out!
1. Choose a suitable programming language
Suppose you’re looking to build an eCommerce website, and you want to use a programming language that’s powerful enough to handle complex web development tasks. In that case, you’ll want to consider using HTML5. HTML5 is an object-oriented language that will easily be the next generation of web coding. It allows for interactive features that can be used for eCommerce websites, such as video content and advanced functionalities.
However, HTML5 is not for beginners. If you’re new to web coding, start with something like PHP or Python before moving on to HTML5. When coding for eCommerce websites, there are a lot of things that you need to take into consideration. For example, it’s crucial to consider the type of product you’re selling and the amount of detail you’re willing to include in your product pages.
It would be best if you also thought about how much traffic your site will get and how easy it will be for customers to find your online shop. When choosing a programming language for an eCommerce website, it’s essential to consider all these things to ensure that your site runs smoothly from start to finish. Remember to follow these detailed steps when designing your new eCommerce website.
2. Update your sitemap
When coding for eCommerce websites, it is essential to have a sitemap. It is a document that search engines and visitors can use to help them navigate the site. A sitemap should be regularly updated to contain all of the site’s pages, including images and videos.
It helps keep your site clean and organized, allowing users to find what they are looking for quickly. It also helps provide visitors with a helpful tool when they are looking to navigate your site.
If you plan to develop an eCommerce website, make sure you have a sitemap created before you start working on the project. It will ensure that everything is in its proper place and can be found easily by both visitors and search engines.
Popular eCommerce platforms like Amazon have clear sitemaps for their website.
When you search for “Amazon” on Google, the various results that appear above are sitemaps from the Amazon website.
3. Make metadata a priority
Making sure that developers have a good understanding of the usefulness of metadata is crucial when it comes to coding for eCommerce websites. Whether it be a search bar or drop-down menu, metadata makes sure that it is simple to browse across your website.
In a SaaS marketing context, metadata can be used to track customer interactions with your product and create marketing campaigns targeted at specific customers. Having well-thought-out metadata can also help you with SEO, as it can help your site rank higher in search results.
There are a few different ways a developer can make metadata a priority. First, they can start by creating index pages that list all their website content types. This will make it easier for people to find what they’re looking for and improve the overall user experience. Content types are illustrated below from the screenshot obtained from Microsoft’s website.
Next, they can use tools like Google Search Console, Google Analytics, and WordPress SEO to see where their site stands in terms of ranking. In addition, they can make sure the eCommerce store is registered with business citations to improve its online presence. Finally, they should always consider ways to make their website better every new dawn.
By taking these steps, developers can ensure that their websites are always as user-friendly as possible.
4. Code Optimization to Improve Server Time
Research shows that a 1-second delay in page load time can result in a 7% reduction in conversions. So, when it comes to eCommerce, speed is crucial. You want clients to be able to swiftly and smoothly find your products and place orders. How important is website speed?
Page load time is defined as the time it takes for a web page to load in a browser completely. Every second counts for eCommerce, as every extra second your site takes to load can result in lost sales.
Code optimization involves removing unnecessary code from your website so it can load faster. This includes CSS, JavaScript, plugins, and even HTML elements. Caching: Use a caching plugin to store static content such as images and scripts from your website to your server so they can be loaded quickly. It will mean more requests are served from your server rather than going out to third-party servers.
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When coding for eCommerce websites, you must never underestimate code optimization, as page load time is critical in SEO ranking. A short page load time will take the customer experience to the next level. You can use tools like PageSpeed Insights to analyze the load speed of your website.
5. Use of Canonical Tags for Similar Product Pages
Canonical tags are a way to tell search engines which URL is the original one. A canonical tag is relatively simple: if you have multiple pages with the same content, a canonical tag tells search engines which page to rank in search results.
Canonical tags are usually used to solve issues like having duplicate content on your online store website. How do you use a Canonical Tag?
You’ve probably seen them before, but you may not have known what they are used for. Here is an example: <link rel=”canonical” href=”http://www.example.com/” />
What does this tag do? In short, it tells Google which version of the content is original. If you have the same content on different URLs, Google may index both of them, but it will always show one of them in search results.
Without canonical tags, your website will compete against itself, which will “water down” the outcomes. Instead of making the most fantastic choice, you’re letting the search engine choose what matters most to your audience.
Even if you think your website has no “duplicate” material, canonical URLs will remove any uncertainty and let visitors see it just as you intended. You can use these web design feedback tools to help you complete your project without bugs.
Wrapping Up
You now have five expert tips you can utilize when coding for eCommerce websites.
Start with choosing the most appropriate programming language. Then update your sitemap and make metadata a priority. This will ensure your site has an appealing interface with which any user can easily interact. Next, make prioritize metadata and optimize your code to improve server time.
Lastly, code optimization and adding canonical tags will make your website competitive against others. It will also give potential customers an excellent face value for the online shop and potentially improve eCommerce sales.
Follow these tips today and build effective eCommerce websites!
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About our Guest Author: Daryl Bush is the Business Development Manager at Authority.Builders. The company helps businesses acquire more customers through improved online search rankings. He has extensive knowledge of SEO and business development.
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