If you build enough eCommerce websites, you’ll eventually discover that none of them are simple. Each one comes with unique challenges. And it takes a lot of work and effort to get things right.

Among the biggest challenges is finding out exactly what a client wants and needs. Small businesses, especially ones that haven’t sold online before, are particularly tough. Quite often, they come into the planning stages of a website without a full understanding of how things work.

This leads to a lot of uncertainty around how to handle shipping, payment gateways, and other key functionality. This makes it hard to provide an accurate price quote. And it also means that you may not have the resources to finish the project if it’s already in progress.

So, how can web designers help? First, it’s all about showing clients the lay of the land. From there, it’s time to encourage them to do a little research on their own.

Let’s look at some ways to help clients make sense of eCommerce.

Start Small with Tough Topics

eCommerce is a vast subject. And depending on which platform you work with, the number of options can be overwhelming.

Therefore, it’s best to keep things basic in the beginning. Provide clients with the minimum they need to know to spark a deeper conversation.

Take shipping methods as an example. It’s one of the most difficult things for small businesses to grasp. There are, depending on geography, several potential carriers, methods, and pricing scales. Not to mention the logistics of making it work without losing money.

To say the least, this is a subject that can quickly lead to confusion. However, it’s possible to relieve some of that stress by asking the right questions and offering the simplest solution.

In this case, you might ask what the client’s expectations for shipping are. Do they have a specific carrier in mind? Do they have products of varying sizes? While this is just a fraction of what you’ll need to know, it can help to break the ice.

Based on the answers, you can share specific solutions that work with the chosen eCommerce platform. If they’re unsure, point them towards something basic, such as a table or flat-rate shipping.

This doesn’t necessarily provide the final solution. But it is a foundation upon which you can build.

Take a Holistic Approach to Client Training

Selling online brings a variety of tasks and responsibilities. To keep things running smoothly, clients will need to process orders, manage inventory, and provide support to their customers.

This is where client training plays a big role. By showing them the ropes of running an online store, you can help them develop an effective workflow. In addition, it will (hopefully) limit their reliance on you for common issues that pop up.

Start with the basic tasks that take place when they receive an order. Walk them through the process of verifying payments, changing the status of the order, and providing tracking information to the customer. They’ll get a sense of how things work and can then determine ways to maximize efficiency.

It’s also important to understand how the customer experience works. Too often, we focus on teaching administrative tasks, while forgetting about the front end. Clients will need to know the finer points of that to support their customers.

Encourage Independent Research

Our clients depend on us for guidance. Still, they must be the ones to make business decisions. All we can do is help to point them in the right direction.

That means introducing them to helpful resources. But also asking that they do some of the legwork. For example, you might mention a few different payment processors that could be a good fit. From there, you could encourage your client to look at each option’s rates and policies.

This helps to ensure that there are no surprises. Telling a client to use a specific service without their review could lead to problems later. They need to understand what they’re getting into. And they (or an associate) should be responsible for figuring out the best option.

You can still answer any questions they might have. But it’s all about making sure that they have the information they need to make the right decision.

Talk About the Future

Successful shops are constantly evolving. And there are always opportunities for retailers to grow their offerings and revenue. These are things clients should both know about and consider. That’s why it’s a good idea to discuss what the future may bring.

Even when a website starts small, it doesn’t have to stay that way for the long term. Data can be used to determine where to take things next. It might be a new feature that makes searching for products easier or maybe an affiliate program. The answer will vary by client, but there are likely options for every need.

This is important for web designers as well. Not only do we help our clients grow, but we also stay in the loop for new phases of the project. That’s money in our pockets, too.

Keeping eCommerce Within Reach for All Clients

When you think about it, eCommerce is still a relatively new way to sell products and services. Two-plus decades is a tiny sample size when compared to traditional methods.

Therefore, it’s understandable if small business owners aren’t well-versed in the details of selling online. And most don’t have the resources to bring in high-priced consultants. As such, a lot of the educational duties fall on web designers.

Helping clients figure things out can be a challenge – but it is very much possible. Patience, explaining the concepts around eCommerce, and training all play a role. You can guide clients toward success. From there, you’ll have the opportunity to grow together.