How to Build an E-Commerce Website: Technical Guide

Selling online is on every business's agenda in 2026. But building an e-commerce website is very different from creating a simple website. Payment infrastructure, inventory management, shipping integration, security... There's a lot to consider.

In this guide, I cover everything you need to know about building an e-commerce site from a technical perspective.

Which Platform Should I Choose?

1. Shopify — Quick Start

Best for: Those who want to start selling fast.

| Pro | Con | |-----|-----| | Very easy setup | Monthly subscription fee | | Hosting included | Limited customization | | Payment integration ready | Per-transaction commission | | Mobile-friendly themes | Can feel generic |

2. WooCommerce (WordPress) — Flexible Solution

Best for: Those who want blog + e-commerce combined.

| Pro | Con | |-----|-----| | Free, open source | Hosting separate | | Thousands of plugins | Security is your responsibility | | SEO friendly | Performance issues possible | | Full customization | Technical knowledge required |

3. Custom Development (Next.js + Headless CMS)

Best for: Those who want unique experiences and scalability.

| Pro | Con | |-----|-----| | Unlimited customization | Longer development time | | Best performance | Higher cost | | Full control | Requires technical team | | Scalable | Ongoing maintenance |

Which for Which Situation?

0-50 products, quick start → Shopify
50-500 products, blog + store → WooCommerce
500+ products, custom needs → Custom development

Core Components

1. Product Management

• Adding, editing, deleting products
• Category and tag system
• Variant management (size, color, dimensions)
• Inventory tracking
• Product images (multiple, zoom)

2. Payment System

Popular payment gateways:

| Platform | Feature | |----------|---------| | Stripe | Global, developer-friendly | | PayPal | Widely trusted | | Square | Combined POS + online | | Mollie | European focus |

3. Shipping Integration

• Carrier API integrations (UPS, FedEx, DHL)
• Automatic shipping price calculation
• Tracking number status updates
• Return shipping management

4. Security

Security is the top priority for e-commerce sites:

• SSL certificate — HTTPS mandatory
• PCI DSS compliance — Card data security
• 3D Secure — Extra verification layer
• GDPR compliance — Personal data protection
• Rate limiting — DDoS protection
• Regular backups — Data loss prevention

SEO: Critical for E-Commerce

For e-commerce sites, SEO directly translates to sales:

Product Page SEO

• Unique product descriptions — Don't copy-paste
• Optimized images — Alt text, WebP format
• Structured data — Product schema
• User reviews — Rich snippets
• Internal linking — Related products

Technical SEO

• Fast loading — Under 2 seconds
• Mobile friendly — Responsive design
• URL structure — /category/product-name format
• Canonical URLs — Prevent duplicate content
• Sitemap — Include all product pages

Cost Planning

Initial Costs

| Item | Shopify | WooCommerce | Custom | |------|---------|-------------|--------| | Platform/Hosting | $29/mo | $10-30/mo | $20-50/mo | | Design | $0-200 | $0-500 | $2,000-10,000 | | Payment integration | Included | $0-100 | $500-2,000 | | Shipping integration | Plugin | Plugin | $500-1,500 |

Ongoing Costs

• Domain renewal (~$10-15/year)
• SSL certificate (free or $50-100/year)
• Maintenance and updates
• Transaction fees (1.5-3.5%)

Step-by-Step Setup Guide

1. Choose platform — Based on your needs
2. Domain and hosting — Name and server
3. Design and theme — Brand-aligned look
4. Upload products — Photos, descriptions, prices
5. Payment integration — Run test transactions
6. Shipping settings — Region and price definitions
7. SEO optimization — Meta tags, sitemap
8. Test order — Try the entire process yourself
9. Launch — Social media and Google Ads

Conclusion

Building an e-commerce website becomes a successful investment with proper planning and technical knowledge. The key is choosing the right platform for your needs and creating a secure, fast, SEO-friendly site.

If you'd like to get your e-commerce site professionally built or optimize your existing one, feel free to reach out: info@cagribilgehan.com. You can explore my projects and experience at cagribilgehan.com