E-Commerce Websites

What do we solve with e-commerce websites?

E-commerce websites go beyond putting your products on the internet; they set up a sales system that runs from the order to the shipment. The visitor finding the product, trusting it, completing the payment and knowing what happens after the order are all parts of the same structure. We handle these parts one by one and put the design at the service of this flow.

On this page, we explain how building an e-commerce website proceeds, which decisions affect the scope and what you need to prepare before we start. Our aim is to help you get clear on what you are investing in, even before asking for a quote.

Who is it for?

A manufacturer with a store, a new brand planning to sell only online, or a business that wants to set up its own channel independent of marketplaces each comes with different needs. That is why we do not suggest a one-size-fits-all package for e-commerce websites. We draw up a plan based on your product structure, your order flow and your team’s daily routine.

Some businesses sell only to end customers; others also want to take orders from their dealers at special prices. Whether wholesale and retail sales will run on the same site, and which customer will see which price, are questions that need to be settled in the first call.

For a brand with few products so far, a simple but growth-ready structure may be enough; for a manufacturer with a wide catalog, filters, bulk product management and integrations come first. E-commerce websites can take very different forms between these two ends, so we scale the plan to the need.

For those who take orders through social media

Many businesses that take orders by message on Instagram or WhatsApp start to struggle with stock, payment and shipping tracking after a certain volume. E-commerce websites gather these orders in a single panel. While your social media account keeps promoting products, payment, order records and the shipping process are completed on the site.

Building an e-commerce website step by step

Although every project is different, our work on building e-commerce websites follows a similar order. The steps feed each other: a decision left unclear at the discovery stage can turn into lost time and budget during development. That is why we give the first two steps no less time than the design.

1. Discovery and product structure

In the first call, we talk about what you sell, who you sell to and how orders are managed today. Your number of products, variants (size, color, measurements), where stock tracking is kept and the accounting or shipping systems you use are listed at this stage. This information decides which platform suits you.

2. Category and filter structure

When searching for a product, the visitor thinks in their own words, not in your internal codes. We build the category tree, filters and menu headings around the customer’s search habits. On e-commerce websites, a good structure both makes shopping easier and helps search engines understand your site.

3. Design and prototype

We first sketch the home page, category page, product page, cart and payment steps, and move on to the visual design after your approval. We build the design starting from the phone screen, because a large share of shopping is done on mobile devices. Your brand’s colors, typography and photography style are placed on the pages at this stage.

4. Product page structure

On e-commerce websites, the product page is where the purchase decision is made. Price, stock status, variant selection and the add to cart button should be visible on the first screen; the size chart, material information, delivery and return terms should open easily. Answering a question that may cross the customer’s mind right on the page directly affects both sales and the load on your support team.

5. What conversion-focused design means in practice

Conversion-focused design means checking whether each element on the page moves the visitor closer to the next step. On e-commerce websites, this means building the visual hierarchy correctly, not losing the add to cart button in the crowd and not letting campaign information come before product information. Animations added for decoration and pop-ups that open on their own often break this flow.

We try to tie design decisions to concrete goals: payment in fewer steps, a shorter form, a faster-loading page. As real visitor data comes in after launch, it becomes possible to see and fix the page where people get stuck.

6. Development and integrations

The approved design is coded on the chosen platform. Connections such as the payment system, shipping companies, e-invoice or accounting software are set up at this stage. If there is no ready-made connection with a system you use, we plan the custom integration together with our software team.

7. Testing and going live

Before launch, we place orders like a real customer; we try different payment methods, coupon codes, running out of stock and return scenarios. We check the appearance on different phones and browsers and make sure order emails go to the right people. Then we launch the site and stay in touch with your team for questions that may come up with the first orders.

What we expect from you during the process

For the process of building an e-commerce website to run without delays, it depends on the person who will make decisions being clear from the start. We plan together at the beginning the schedule for the content that will come from you, such as design approvals, product data and legal texts. Collecting feedback in a single channel prevents conflicting requests from different people for the same page.

Secure payment, shipping and return flow

The place where the visitor leaves the cart is often the payment step. An unexpected shipping fee, a required sign-up or a long form can turn the purchase decision back at the last moment. For this reason, when we design e-commerce websites, we see the payment flow as the part we test the most.

Payment infrastructure

For card payment, your bank’s virtual POS service or a licensed payment provider is used. A structure with 3D Secure verification, where card details are not stored on your server, protects both the customer and you. We decide on bank transfer, cash on delivery or installment options together, based on your sales model.

What we pay attention to in the cart and payment steps

• Allowing guest checkout reduces friction on the first order.
• The shipping fee and delivery information should be visible at the cart stage; an extra charge that shows up at the last step loses trust.
• The address form should ask only for the required fields, and the right keyboard for each field should open on the phone.
• Error messages should say clearly what is missing and should not erase the information entered.
• Order confirmation, shipping tracking and return information should be sent by automatic emails.

Shipping and returns

When creating a shipment with your contracted shipping company, sending the tracking number to the customer and recording a return request can all be managed from the panel, your team’s daily load drops noticeably. Being able to read the return and exchange terms from the product page with one click also puts an undecided customer at ease.

Legal framework and trust elements

Businesses in Turkey that sell to consumers over the internet must comply with consumer legislation on distance sales and with personal data protection rules. The preliminary information form, the distance sales contract, the right of withdrawal notice, the KVKK (Turkish Personal Data Protection Law No. 6698) privacy notice and the cookie policy are the basic texts that e-commerce websites need to have.

The Ministry of Trade publishes general information on electronic commerce, the legislation and the Electronic Commerce Information System (ETBİS) registration on its electronic commerce page. We suggest checking from this source how the registration obligation applies to your business and what the current rules are.

We make sure these texts appear in the right places on the site, are accepted at the payment step and are recorded with the order. As for the content of the texts, we suggest that your legal advisor prepare or check them with information specific to your business.

Personal data and marketing consent

The name, address and phone details collected during an order are personal data. Asking only for the information that is needed, using a separate and explicit checkbox for commercial email and SMS, and avoiding pre-checked boxes are points that need care on e-commerce websites. We also suggest clarifying with your legal advisor how commercial message consent relates to the Message Management System (İYS, Turkey’s commercial message consent registry).

Small details that build trust

• A contact page with a clear address, phone number and company information
• A connection encrypted with an SSL certificate on all pages
• Real product photos with clear size and material information
• Easy-to-find return, exchange and delivery terms
• A support channel that can be reached after the order

Product management, content and search visibility

On e-commerce websites, most of the work after launch takes place in the admin panel. Your team needs to be able to add products, update stock and prices and set up campaigns without technical knowledge. We simplify the panel around these daily tasks and go through its use with your team at handover.

Keeping product data organized

For products with variants, defining separate stock and photos for each size or color prevents wrong orders. If you have many products, we prepare a spreadsheet template for bulk upload and move your existing data to the new system. Writing product names and descriptions in a consistent pattern improves readability for both customers and search engines.

Stock and order synchronization

If you sell your products in your store, on marketplaces and on your own site, stock needs to be updated from a single source. Otherwise, a sold-out product keeps being sold on one channel and canceled orders wear out the customer. For e-commerce websites, we put stock synchronization at the very start of the integration plan, based on the systems you use.

Campaign and discount setups

Setups such as a first order discount, free shipping above a certain amount, a coupon code or an end-of-season campaign need to be easy to define from the panel. On e-commerce websites, where the campaign appears is at least as important as the discount itself. The home page banner, the category label and the reminder in the cart should support each other consistently.

Measurement and reporting

Without measuring which product was viewed, added to the cart and bought, it is hard to make sound decisions about e-commerce websites. We set up the e-commerce tracking in analytics tools and the conversion tags of advertising platforms before launch. This way, when you start running ads, you can see which campaign brings sales.

Speed and hosting

A slow-loading product page quickly uses up the visitor’s patience, especially on a mobile connection. Compressing images, using caching and choosing a server that suits your number of products are the basic steps that set the speed. We also treat who will provide the hosting and how to prepare for heavy traffic during campaign periods as part of the plan.

Basic settings for search engines

The titles, descriptions, URL structure, image alt texts and page speed of category and product pages are the basis of the site being listed correctly in search. Google’s search guide for e-commerce websites is a good starting point on this subject. If you want more advanced work, we can continue with our search engine optimization service.

Photos and product copy

On e-commerce websites, the customer cannot touch the product; photos and descriptions fill that gap. Using product shots taken on a plain background together with photos that show the product in use shows it both clearly and in context. For this need, we can include our product photography service in the site’s schedule.

Example project: Huanra

On the site we built for Huanra, which sells organic textiles, natural stones and accessories, we gathered the product categories in a clear menu and kept the cart and payment flow simple. We moved campaigns such as the first order discount and free shipping to the most visible area of the home page; we also handled the basic SEO settings and product photo shoots in the same project. Details are on the Huanra e-commerce project page.

After launch

E-commerce websites are not finished on the day they go live. Platform and plugin updates, regular backups, new page needs during campaign periods and small fixes based on customer feedback call for continuous maintenance. We suggest settling from the start who will take on this responsibility.

What determines the scope, and common mistakes

It would not be right to name a firm price for e-commerce websites without listening to your needs, because a few basic decisions set the scope. When preparing a quote, we go through the headings below with you one by one.

• Number of products and variant structure: A few dozen products and a catalog with thousands of variants are not managed with the same setup.
• Integrations: Accounting, e-invoice, shipping, ERP or marketplace connections change the size of the job.
• Language and currency: Selling abroad requires multilingual content and different tax and shipping rules.
• Custom features: Requests such as product personalization, subscriptions or dealer pricing can go beyond the standard platform.
• Content preparation: Whether photos and product copy are ready directly affects the schedule.

Ready-made platform or custom software?

Ready-made platforms are set up in less time, come with well-known payment and shipping connections and meet standard needs. Custom software stands out for unusual workflows and for systems that talk directly to a dealer network or production planning. We make the decision on building an e-commerce website by thinking about your plans a few years ahead as well as today’s needs.

Common mistakes

• Leaving product photos for later and opening the site with temporary images
• Leaving shipping and return terms unclear
• Adding unnecessary fields and a required sign-up to the payment step
• Testing the site only on a desktop computer
• Choosing the platform only for today’s number of products without allowing for growth
• Giving no one the responsibility for updates and backups after launch

What to prepare before we start

If you have decided to build an e-commerce website, collecting the information below makes our first call much more productive. We can complete any missing items together.

• Product list: with name, code, price, stock and variant information
• Logo, brand colors and brand guidelines, if you have them
• The banks, payment providers and shipping companies you want to work with
• Company information and your return, exchange and delivery terms
• Example sites you like and dislike, with your reasons

Frequently asked questions

How long does building an e-commerce website take?

The time varies with the number of products, the integrations and whether photos and copy are ready. After the discovery call, we draw up a step-by-step schedule and share it with the quote.

Which platform do you use for e-commerce websites?

We choose the platform based on your product structure, integration needs and budget. For standard needs, a ready-made e-commerce platform is enough, while custom workflows may call for software development.

Can we manage the site ourselves?

Yes. You can add products, update stock and prices, track orders and set up campaigns from an admin panel that does not require technical knowledge.

If we sell on marketplaces, do we need a separate site?

Marketplaces bring sales, but the customer relationship, pricing and display rules belong to the platform. Your own site gives you a channel where you control your brand and your customer relationship; the two channels can run together.

Will our search ranking be affected when we renew our current site?

During a renewal, redirecting old addresses to the right new pages is the basic step in protecting the site’s standing in search. Before the move, we list the existing addresses and test the redirects and the transfer of product data before launch.

How is payment security ensured?

Card payments are taken through your bank’s virtual POS or a licensed payment provider, with 3D Secure verification. In the structure we build, card details are not stored on your site’s server and the site runs over an encrypted SSL connection.

Let’s talk about a site ready to sell

Tell us about your products, your goals and your sales setup today; let’s work out together the right structure and roadmap for building your e-commerce website. To request a call, you can reach us through our contact page.