For companies that still arent convinced of the power of ecommerce development, the latest report from eMarketer may just change their minds. The Internet watchdog predicts that online retail sales will grow 21 percent to $131 billion this year. And 117 million people, or two-thirds of Internet users, will make at least one purchase online, with the average buyer spending $1,123.

Do Companies Really Need an eCommerce Web Site?
In the early days of Web v1.0, Web design ecommerce was little more than a digital business card that organizations used to relay their contact information to potential customers. There was scarce functionality for making sales, creating networks of connections, or any of the other vital processes that are required to build a powerhouse brand. The andquot;staticandquot; nature of the ecommerce Web site was the aftereffect of limited technology and a natural aversion of businesses to test the waters of true site interactivity.

Flash forward to Web v2.0. eCommerce Web site design now includes a wealth of interactive tools that allow companies to connect with their customers like never before. According to access-ecom, here are the primary reasons why companies should have an e commerce Web site:

• Learn about ecommerce. Having an ecommerce Web site literally forces a company to wade into new technologies and make them a part of their strategic business plan.
• Save and improve on customer service. Many grudge work tasks associated with responding timely to customers can be automated, saving time and improving customer experience.
• Expand customer, distributor, or supplier base. All of these are just a mouse click away.
• Find just the right employees. The talent search has never been easier, as potential employees can connect to a company quickly and easily.

Principles of eCommerce Site Design
Ecommerce Web site design includes a series of intuitive tools that streamline the purchase process and leave companies more time for marketing their business. Some of the features include auto responders for instant customer contact, product suggestion devices that steer site visitors towards additional purchases, and e-mail capture forms that can quickly build a robust list of buyers.

Layouts are graphically oriented to increase visitor frequency and stickiness of pages. Tools such as RSS feeds keep e-commerce sites filled with fresh content daily. The result is a 24/7/365 high-tech employee that is constantly selling products and marketing businesses.

Getting an e-Commerce Web Site
There are two basic options for acquiring Web design e-commerce: buy a ready-made template with out of the box setup, or hire a graphic design firm to develop an original design. The advantage of a template is low cost. Most e-commerce Web site templates can be purchased for under $100. Once downloaded, all a company needs to do is insert product images and descriptions. The advantage of a unique design is customization. Companies can request features pertinent to their particular businesses that might not come with a template design.

Whichever Web design model a company chooses, an Ecommerce Web site can not only increase that companys sales, but it can help the company create and extend its online presence.

Sources
access-ecom
eMarketer
Web Design