Ecommerce, Web Design, Web Development
03 Jan, 2022
Information is power.
If you have an online store, you need to stay on top of the latest web design trends and insights to avoid being stampeded by the competition and abandoned by unforgiving customers.
But finding really good, fresh, actionable eCommerce information on today’s internet is no walk in the park.
Actually, it’s more like rummaging through an overflowing wardrobe not knowing exactly what you’re looking for, but hoping that, like Narnia, it’s somewhere in there waiting for you.
Well, since you’re here, you’ve given it a shot…
And it must have worked.
You’ve stumbled right into the corner of the magical land where we keep our supply of all the hottest eCommerce website resources, and today we feel like sharing.
So close your other tabs and get comfy.
We’ll take it from here.
Let’s start off with the format we already know you appreciate. 😉
Blogs are some of the easiest content forms to learn from and the 77% of people who regularly read them can confirm.
But the ones we’ve picked for you aren’t just great blogs. They’re some of the best eCommerce website resources you’ll find, so prepare to bookmark them.
A Better Lemonade Stand is a great place for eCommerce beginners and experts alike, as you can see from their “filter by phase” option. Wait, we’ll zoom it in for you.
There’s a free 2-in-1 eCommerce idea you can steal right away:
Tailored, targeted content categorization + stupid simple navigation.
In the best possible way.
You can tell people know what they’re talking about when they follow their own advice:
It makes sure everything you read on its blog is directly relevant and important for your business situation, which is what you should be doing for your customers, too.
This eCommerce resource has you covered throughout the entire journey, from planting a good seed that bears the juiciest lemons, to transforming your humble lemonade stand into a Fortune 500 lemon powerhouse.
Quite the image, we know.
State Creative is an award-winning web design agency with an impressive track record in creating and supporting eCommerce businesses to get results with their website.
Frankly, we don’t know how it can get better than this.
Alright, you caught us, that’s us. The jig is up! But we just had to include ourselves in the list, because our blog gives eCommerce businesses what they need – data-driven advice.
Our goldmine of eCommerce website resources don’t just talk the talk – they show you how to do it, with clear examples and success stories.
Like this:
And also this:
Our eCommerce blog is a place for our audience to actively learn how to improve their website to drive results.
Podcasts are wonderful platforms if you’re:
Let’s be honest, we’re all at least one of those things.
Learning from an eCommerce podcast is as easy as grabbing your earphones and pressing play while you’re autopiloting a mind-numbing task or just driving to work.
Well, that’s all you have to do since we found the good ones for you.
How I Built This is a series of interviews with founders of successful companies who share the hurdles, wins, and lessons of their entrepreneurial journeys.
This podcast isn’t limited to eCommerce resources.
But you can imagine how real and relevant the advice is when it comes directly from people who have already made it and understand the spot you’re in now.
Even if you’re just starting to get your eCommerce site off the ground, the insights from the guests on this podcast can help guide you on your way.
You can relate to or get inspired by these stories and simply grab the best practices that took them years of work to figure out the hard way.
All while brushing your cat.
At 24, Grace Beverley is already an eCommerce powerhouse, having built 2 successful, sustainable online stores – BND and TALA.
In her podcast, she interviews other overachieving business people and together they share their pearls of wisdom.
Why is this valuable for eCommerce entrepreneurs like yourself?
Because having honest conversations about eCommerce is where all of the real learning takes place.
Conversations about things like:
Essentially, it’s the touch of reality we could all use in this increasingly claustrophobic space between the good vibes only and grind til you die culture.
Of course, this little lineup wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t mention Gary Vee.
Everyone’s heard of him, some cringe at him, but you can’t deny that this guy walks the talk.
Gary Vee is the definition of a thought-leader. He’s a hugely successful businessman, best-selling author, and world-class expert in all things entrepreneurship, eCommerce, communications, and leadership.
His innovation with eCommerce was the tailwind behind his success today.
If there’s one single eCommerce website resource to tap into for the hottest takes and ahead-of-time ideas, it’s Gary Vee’s podcast.
Gary also posts regularly on Linkedin, Instagram, and other platforms – so if you prefer a different content format, you don’t have to miss out.
Who hasn’t learned something from YouTube?
This platform is a self-starter manifesto and you better believe it’s one of the best eCommerce resources out there, among other things.
Like tutorials on how to cut your own bangs and what neuroplasticity means…
For the purposes of this blog, we’ll stick to the eCommerce side of things.
You don’t have to use Shopify to pick up some solid advice from the eCommerce website resource that is their YouTube channel.
Sure, a lot of their videos are Shopify tutorials.
But they also have playlists containing universally applicable advice, like:
If you like watching short videos that break down business topics into bite sized clips, give Shopify’s YouTube channel a try.
Nothing like first-hand experience to teach you important eCommerce lessons… except watching Youtube videos about it so you avoid making the same mistakes as someone else.
Travis Marziani is a hands-on, experience-first kind of guy who tries things out so you don’t have to.
Or rather… so you can do them better.
He’s posted a bunch of videos detailing his eCommerce adventures like how he started an Amazon FBA business, Amazon successes and failures, Facebook ad tips, and more.
If you’re new to his channel or to eCommerce, Travis has a playlist to get you started.
Forums like Reddit can be minefields, but they can also be eCommerce goldmines.
But that’s just the nature of dealing with customers.
There are all kinds of people out there, and when you’re trying to get their attention, it can seem like they all want totally opposite things and can never be pleased.
Well, turns out that’s not always the case.
Reddit can give you a direct line to your audience’s real and honest thoughts about anything you can think of (and some things nobody ever should, ever).
That includes the things they buy and the brands they buy from.
This is definitely a different type of eCommerce resource, for better or worse, so tread carefully.
Buy it for life is a subreddit about durable, high-quality, practical stuff (it’s in the title) AND sometimes about brands that used to sell quality stuff but went cheap (AKA skimpflation).
A list you don’t want to be on.
Basically, it’s a place where millions of people share their experiences of brands that give a damn about them.
And products you buy… for life…
Exhibit A:
And who doesn’t?
Everybody wants good service. But what does that actually look like?
Well, reading “Buy It For Life,” you can see exactly what it is that’s working for other companies and what the masses love enough to praise online.
As well as what not to do, which is equally important info.
This subreddit is another great eCommerce resource for product ideas and you get to hear how customers talk about them and why they like them.
Overall, it’s one of the best subreddits to get inspiration for your own products and messaging directly from prospective customers.
No marketing, no tactics, just raw, honest opinions from consumers.
If you know how to use that to your advantage, this is definitely a goldmine.
On the flipside, Reddit can also show you what you really shouldn’t be doing.
It’s no secret that some marketers use shady techniques to lure consumers in, get them to click on something, or even purposely make the UX miserable – unless you download an app.
First of all, these tactics are not effective. Scamming and irritating people isn’t a sustainable growth strategy. Who knew?
And second of all, they’re pretty obvious.
Many sites seem to be smug about their evil masterplans, thinking that they can get away with it with the same audacity as your dog after he trashed your place.
But by now, consumers can smell this behavior from miles away.
And subreddits like this one make fun of it.
So if you have any grey area eCommerce dilemmas or feel the dark Kermit pulling you in, remember to check “Asshole Design” first.
There are always better ways to win your audience over.
It shouldn’t be a surprise that Linkedin can serve as an excellent eCommerce platform.
Whether you’re just setting it up and don’t know where to start, or looking to fill your existing feed with verified eCommerce pro’s, we’ve vetted them out for you.
Linda’s got you covered if you’re looking for eCommerce-specific solutions and website optimization tips.
She shares articles that answer important questions like:
And, we’re not saying you have to pick just one person to follow, but…
Someone else said it. 😉
Linda is also the author of the up and coming book “eCommerce Illustrated.”
Creator of Moz, Rand Fishkin also has a book that isn’t your standard entrepreneur success story.
Rand struggled in the beginning and took 15 years to build his business, which is relatable and directly valuable for most founders out there.
Look. If you wanted to become a classical musician, you probably wouldn’t need tips from someone like Mozart.
No, really, hold the outrage for a second.
Sure, his advice would be great and all, and he’d definitely have the authority to give it.
But let’s face it, you’re probably not the next Mozart.
Unless you also composed a masterpiece by the time you turned six?
Point is, you’re actually way better off getting advice from someone who started from a similar spot as you and went through what you’re going through now instead of replicating someone else’s unlikely experience.
Because Mozart didn’t have to do what you have to, so how would he know what you need?
But Rand Fishkin would know.
You can follow him on Linkedin for the real talk and actionable advice.
Nearly 1 in 3 people said they stopped buying from a brand due to sustainability or ethical concerns about them.
Over the last five years, the popularity of Google searches for sustainable goods has increased by 71% globally.
More and more customers factor in ethical concerns when considering brands, so sustainability is no longer something you can simply sweep under the rug.
But how do you begin unpacking it?
Well, you follow Nicole.
She has some really good insights for you.
She also discusses other eCommerce-related topics and business best practices on Linkedin, Twitter, and her blog Retail Minded.
Last but not least, if you’re the kind of person that feels most confident learning from a good book, snuggled up by the fireplace, we hear you.
And your crackling fire.
Here are some classics to reignite your entrepreneurial spark this winter.
It’s safe to say that this man has inspired a generation of marketers.
Seth Godin goes in-depth about what it really means to serve your customers, why good marketing is good for you AND them, and how to center your business model around providing value and building meaningful connections.
Yeah, we know. Nearly everyone says this, but then turns around and practically shouts at customers to BUY NOW as if that logically follows.
And everyone else thinks they’re already doing it.
But most people aren’t, and most eCommerce brands are definitely relying on aggressive messaging that may coerce someone into buying once – and never again.
But spoiler alert: when you actually follow through with Seth’s advice, it pays off in the long term.
Because “This Is Marketing” isn’t only about marketing. It’s about building a profitable business with humanity at its core and not as an afterthought.
That’s a good read in our book (yikes, again, sorry).
Hoped for more beginner-friendly, hands-on eCommerce website resources?
Say no more.
“E-Commerce Blueprint” has got you covered.
This is the book to read for detailed, step by step instructions on building your online store from the ground up, without the needlessly complicated jargon that usually comes in the package, like the annoying younger sibling it isn’t.
If you’re sick of hearing all the pro tips, statistics that don’t mean anything, and corporate language that you need to decipher just to follow the sentence…
And want to read the things everyone implies but never explains…
Read this book.
It’s important to stay on your eCommerce A-game, so you need all the info and the sharpest tools at your disposal to keep you up to speed.
And we definitely encourage you to learn as much as you can about it.
But this is just the tip of the eCommerce iceberg.
You have to immerse yourself in that content to learn the latest on eCommerce, analyze a lot of information, and timely implement the best strategies.
And you’ll still probably need expert help.
As a web design agency with plenty of experience with eCommerce businesses like yours, let’s just say we understand your struggle.
If you’d like some guidance or have any questions, feel free to hit us up.
