Deciding whether to build your own ecommerce website, or opt for buying one instead, is one of the first decisions when starting an online business. It’s not always easy picking which option to go with, so to help set you on the right path, here’s a rundown of the pros and cons.
Pros: The biggest advantage is that you’ll have control over the design of your website – you get to design it from ground up. Also, with content management systems (CMS) like WordPress, it’s possible for just about anybody to build a site easily, without needing to know programming languages and spending too much time and money. It also comes with tons of customizations and features. So, it’s great if you’re a looking to get started quickly with your ecommerce site or blog shop.
Cons: With a number of other powerful website building platforms, you’ll need programming knowledge or at least some technical skills. Also, although easy-to-use CMS tools already offer great customizations, at some point you may want to make further structural tweaks. Though you can always hire a developer you trust to build or customize your site, keep in mind that you’re still going to need to think about design, navigation, shopping cart functionality, content strategy and search engine optimization etc. to provide direction and build traffic for a successful online business. So, the process of starting and developing a (successful) site can be challenging.
What else you need to consider
You can start by deciding what platform or CMS you’re going use to build your website with. Or, if you’re hiring someone to do it, know which one they specialize in. Not only should the layout and content meet your requirements, but your website should be easy for you to use and update. Also, to get your new website online, you’d need to get a domain name (name for your website) and a space to host your site.
Pros: Buying a read-made established website means you don’t have to invest a lot of effort that goes into the initial phase of development – designing a website from scratch and then generating customer base and rankings in search engines with quality content. Purchasing an already functional website means you’ll be taking over everything that comes with it. This gives you the opportunity to put your focus on taking your online business to the next level.
Cons: It may not be easy to find an already running online business (up for sale) that meets the requirements of your business or your website strategy. It’s also important to consider spending time doing extensive research on the website you are looking to buy – its authenticity, performance (ranking, traffic), design, revenue model etc. It can also cost a lot more to buy an existing online business with an established customer base, rather than build your own.
What else you need to consider
There are few ways to buy a website – you can go to online marketplaces, like Flippa, that sell established websites, or you can contact the owner directly to let them know you’re interested. Consider buying a competitor's site or a site with a name that you think will catch up in coming years. And, you may even be able to negotiate with the website owner for a lower price. Also, keep in mind that you need to buy a site that has targeted traffic for the product or service you’re selling and with keyword rich content.