Many businesses these days want to add ecommerce to their websites to reach more customers and offer greater convenience.
Whether you’re a brick-and-mortar store owner, a service provider offering bundled products, or a content creator, adding ecommerce capabilities to your website is a great way to test selling online. It is often the first step before migrating your business to a full-fledged ecommerce platform.
Here’s a short guide on how to add ecommerce to websites and the best software solutions to make it happen.
Table of contents
How to add ecommerce to your website
- Use ecommerce plug-ins on your site
- Add a payment gateway to your website
- Sync your website with online marketplace platforms
- Attach a standalone ecommerce solution to your site
If you want to quickly begin selling online, add ecommerce features to your existing website. Here are a few strategies to get you started:
Use ecommerce plug-ins on your site
Ecommerce plug-ins are software add-ons that integrate ecommerce functionality with your website, providing features like product pages, shopping carts, and ecommerce checkout processing. They provide an easy way to start selling online through your existing website.
Many content management systems (CMS), such as WordPress’s WooCommerce or Shopify’s Buy Button, offer dedicated plug-in marketplaces where you can find and install various compatible ecommerce add-ons to customize your site.
Installing these plug-ins provides basic ecommerce features to your customers, letting them purchase products directly from your site. It’s a quick and effective way to add ecommerce features without a full platform migration. A migration involves transferring your entire website to a new platform. While it can be time-consuming and technically challenging, migrations can be worth it to gain better site functionality, new intuitive tools, and a robust ecommerce experience.
Add a payment gateway to your website
A payment gateway helps you process transactions securely on your website. Services like PayPal, Stripe, or Google Checkout offer easy-to-integrate solutions you can add to your business website. Payment gateways come with APIs (interfaces allowing software to communicate and exchange data) and plug-ins that work with your website’s back end to enable secure ecommerce payment processing.
The direct integration of a payment gateway lets you incorporate payment processing into your website while keeping the existing layout and functionality. This approach can save money, avoiding the need for broader website changes or reliance on third-party ecommerce platforms.
Sync your website with online marketplace platforms
To expand your reach, consider syncing your site with online selling marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, or Etsy. This approach lets you list your products and manage everything from your website. These platforms offer integrations that connect with inventory management software, automatically keeping track of sales and stock levels.
Syncing your website with an online marketplace platform is a great way to start selling online while benefiting from their traffic. Plus, it can be an effective way to test new markets without committing a lot of resources.
Attach a standalone ecommerce solution to your existing site
Another ecommerce setup option is building a standalone ecommerce store that connects with your existing website. Platforms like Shopify, Magento, and BigCommerce can be integrated as subdomains (e.g., shop.yourdomain.com) while maintaining your main site’s design and navigation.
These standalone ecommerce stores offer robust ecommerce functionality, including advanced analytics, customer management, and a range of payment gateways.
This option requires more work because it involves integrating a separate ecommerce system with your current website. However, it provides a scalable ecommerce solution that can grow with your business. It’s a perfect fit for businesses ready to dive into ecommerce and build a comprehensive online store.
Top solutions to add ecommerce to your website
Choosing the right ecommerce solution can make or break your ability to sell online. Here are the top platforms that offer simplicity, flexibility, and powerful ecommerce features for your website:
Shopify Buy Button
The Shopify Buy Button is an ecommerce plug-in that lets you add ecommerce functionality to any existing website. It provides a snippet of code you can paste into your website’s HTML, instantly creating a sleek, Shopify-powered checkout experience for any product or collection.
The Buy Button is ideal for keeping your site’s design and content while leveraging Shopify’s secure and reliable transaction process.
Key product features include:
- Seamless integration. Easily embed products or collections into your existing website, blog, or landing page without disrupting your design.
- Customizable design. Adjust the color, size, and text of the Buy Button to match your website’s style and branding.
- Easy checkout. Simplify the buying process with a mobile-friendly and secure checkout experience for your customers.
Shoprocket
Shoprocket is an ecommerce platform that integrates with existing websites, turning it into an online store.
By embedding a single line of Shoprocket code, you can add ecommerce functionality, allowing visitors to shop directly from your current site. Shoprocket provides a streamlined shopping experience for users and a back end for merchants to manage inventory, track orders, and analyze sales data.
Key product features include:
- Central dashboard. Manage products, orders, and customer data from a centralized dashboard, offering complete control over your online business.
- Global payment gateways support. Shoprocket supports more than 45 payment methods so you can accept payments globally.
SnipCart
Snipcart is an HTML/JavaScript-based shopping cart solution that can be added to any website. It allows developers to turn any part of a website into a shopping cart.
Snipcart allows you to keep the look and feel of your business website while adding ecommerce functionality, including customizable checkout options and secure payment processing.
Key product features include:
- Developer-centric workflow. Integrate a shopping cart into your site with simple HTML markup.
- International payment options. Offer customers international payment methods, making global sales possible.
Ecwid
Ecwid is an ecommerce solution that lets you add a shopping cart to any existing website. It’s designed to be plug and play, requiring minimal technical expertise to implement. It also synchronizes with multiple platforms, including social media and third-party marketplaces.
Key product features include:
- Multiplatform synchronization. Sell across your website, social media, marketplaces, and in-person with synchronized inventory.
- Mobile app management. Easily handle orders, products, promotions, and customer interactions with its iOS and Android apps.
RomanCart
RomanCart is an ecommerce solution that lets you add a shopping cart to any existing website, blog, or social media page. Transform your web presence into an online store by inserting HTML code into your site.
Key product features include:
- Shopping cart templates. Select from a range of templates to determine the exact look of your shopping cart for customers.
- Marketing tools. Marketing features like discount codes, email marketing, and affiliate tracking help increase ecommerce sales.
Foxy
Foxy is a customizable ecommerce platform tailored for developers and merchants who need a cart to add to their existing website or web application. It emphasizes seamless integration and a high degree of customization, allowing for control over the checkout experience.
FoxyCart creates a secure checkout experience that can accommodate subscriptions, donations, and digital products.
Key product features include:
- Customizable checkout. Craft a checkout flow that matches your site, improving customer experience with custom fields, templates, and end-to-end design control.
- Flexible shipping options. Integrate shipping and offer your customers reliable delivery through carriers like USPS, UPS, and FedEx.
Add ecommerce to website FAQ
Can you put Shopify on your website?
Yes. You can integrate Shopify with your existing website using the Shopify Buy Button or by linking to a Shopify storefront.
How do I set up an ecommerce website?
To set up an ecommerce website, choose an ecommerce platform, customize your store’s design, add products, set up payment and shipping options, and launch your site.
Why should you add ecommerce to your website?
Adding ecommerce to your website can increase your revenue potential by letting you sell products or services directly to online customers around the clock.