How much does it cost to build an eCommerce website in Nigeria?
That’s a question no web designer or agency will want to answer without knowing what your goals are.
By reading this article, you will know what to expect from your online store project.
Building an online store in Nigeria is of great profit if you want to start or grow a successful business. It offers the following benefits:
- No Time Restrictions: An online store opens 24/7. So you can sell while at sleep.
- Sell Anything: Whether it be t-shirts, music files or software. Even affiliated products, it’s all possible.
- Sell Anywhere: You can now run your business from anywhere in the world. All you need is an internet enabled device.
But before we unveil the cost breakdown, I will like us to understand the meaning of an eCommerce website and how it works.
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What is An Ecommerce Website?
An eCommerce website is your online business home where customers order for your products via an electronic device.
This could be physical products (shoes), digital products (eBooks), or services (Web Design).
Most traditional businesses in Nigeria need your presence before transactions can take place, thereby limiting your sales.
Ecommerce has become part of our daily lives. We can see this in how we make orders online, use credit cards, and more.
Breakdown Cost of eCommerce Website in Nigeria
It is difficult to give a quotation on the cost of ecommerce websites in Nigeria
Because of variables like features, hosting, marketing, maintenance which differ in pricing.
To reach a perfect price for any online store web design project, I do ask my clients three questions:
- What number of visitors are you expecting per month?
- How many products do you plan to sell?
- What features do you want on the website?
If you want to save costs, then you can go with eCommerce website builders like Shopify.
They would save you money but at the expense of your business growth.
And if you choose to go custom, working with developers, be ready to spend your entire revenues.
Yet, you can counter these problems by designing with CMS like WordPress.
With WordPress, you work with your budget and still scale up business in a quick time.
And that’s what I use in designing all my clients’ eCommerce websites.
The cost of eCommerce website design in Nigeria can range from N150,000 to N500,000 or more.
Let’s discuss your online store website design and maintenance.
Ongoing Cost Of An Online Store You Should Know
While the cost of building an online store is once. The maintenance fee is ongoing – monthly or yearly.
Just like every other website, eCommerce requires daily optimization for proper functioning.
In most cases, you will get to know the cost of a year ahead, so it doesn’t get you unaware.
Below are some of the component that makes up the annual maintenance fee.
- Security:
You will want your eCommerce website and its information protected from outside threats.
- Data Backups:
Without daily or hourly backups, you could lose money and even customers in a day.
- Performance:
You need to invest in continuous fast speed because your visitors hate slow websites.
- Inventory Management:
Your online store will make use of plugins often to upload, manage, and ship orders.
- Email Marketing:
Communicating with your customers from time to time can help boost sales.
- Digital Marketing:
SEO paid ads and more will help increase your brand awareness.
All the above lead to increases in cost to build an eCommerce website in Nigeria.
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How Does Ecommerce Website in Nigeria Works?
Ecommerce website operates on the same commerce principles as physical retail shops.
While retail stores depend on a customer’s physical visit, eCommerce doesn’t.
With an eCommerce website, customers can shop your products from anywhere in Nigeria and even the world.
Your path to growing a successful online business starts with building an eCommerce site.
Below are steps a customer follows on your eCommerce website.
- You upload your product, write the description (what it’s about) and give your price.
- A customer enters your site, shop around products, and adds to cart interested ones.
- He/she input required details (email, address, bank card info), check out and make payment.
- After a successful payment, you receive notifications about orders while the customer receives a digital receipt.
- You ship the products to the customer’s address.
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Types of Ecommerce Website in Nigeria with Examples
The cost of eCommerce website in Nigeria also depends on the types.
- Business-to-Business (B2B) Website:
This is a website where a company transacts goods and services with another company. Example: Jumia.
- Business-to-Consumer (B2C):
This website allows transactions between companies and their consumers–end users. Example: Your Online Store.
- Consumer-to-Consumer (C2C):
This eCommerce website allows transactions between consumers. Example: Jiji.
- Consumer-to-Business (C2B):
This is a website where individuals offer products or services to companies. Example: Oluboba.com
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What Products Can You Sell In Ecommerce Website?
There are no limitations to what you can sell with your online store.
- Physical Products:
These are items you can touch and feel. They are most common with online stores.
You display your products on your website, customers select and add to the cart (basket).
When they make payments, you ship their orders to them.
- Service Offering:
These are professional skills (coaching, repairing, teaching, and designing) that clients pay you for.
Here you display your expertise and portfolios on your website, client calls, and consult with you.
When they make payments, you start their work.
- Digital Products:
These are e-books, podcasts, software, and online courses.
Display your digital products on your eCommerce site, customers select and add to cart (basket).
They receive a download or access to your products after signup.
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Best Ecommerce Website Builder
The cost to build an eCommerce website in Nigeria also depends on your choice of web design platform.
- WordPress (WooCommerce)
WordPress is an open-source content management system for blogging. It’s easy to use and customizable to your needs.
WooCommerce is the most popular solution for building an eCommerce website. It has millions of installs in the WordPress plugin directory.
Both make it easy to create your site how you want it.
- Shopify
It is a popular eCommerce platform with over one million online stores worldwide.
Shopify is for you if you plan to avoid using a web designer to build your eCommerce website.
You gain access to free and premium themes that are easy to use and customize.
- Wix
Wix is amongst the top and best eCommerce website builders. It is easy to use and comes with a drag-and-drop feature.
Wix provides has suitable plans for your eCommerce websites.
Also, they give unlimited capacity, a free domain for one year, visitor app analytics, and advertising vouchers and more.
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Features to Expect in an Ecommerce Website
This is the major factor that determines the cost of eCommerce website in Nigeria
It’s important for any website to look professional and beautiful, and with an online store, it’s critical.
Your eCommerce website needs to enhance usability and make the shopping experience ‘wow’ to customers.
- Designs and Styling:
It must have a beautiful layout to help make your products and contents stand out.
- Fast Speed:
Customers don’t like slow online stores. Talk to your designer to make the website loads fast. For delay is dangerous.
- Easy Products Filtering:
Your customers should be able to sort products by popularity, related, newness, rating, price, featured or other attributes.
- Products Bundles:
A visitor looking at an iPhone on your store will probably want a case for it. By putting related products in front of your customers, you increase your upsell (more sales) potential.
- Email Templates:
You want the ability to send notifications to customers at critical stages, e.g., Before, during and after purchase.
- 24/7 Security:
Hackers are everywhere and can pull down your years of effort. You want your website tightened against harmful viruses and infections.
- Real Time Tracking:
Know what’s going on your website about customers’ activities. The number of visit, orders made, and many more.
- Responsiveness:
With more than half your visitors coming from mobile devices, your website needs to look good on all electronic devices – phones, tablets, and computers.
- Constant Updates:
You don’t want your site to break down because of lack of updates. Your designer should use the latest theme and plugins.
- Standard Support:
Managing your website can be stressful, especially with technical errors. Working with a web designer, you can save more time and energy for yourself.
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Necessary Ecommerce Website Pages
As part of the cost of website, ask your web designer to put more attention to the following pages.
1. Home Page
The home page is one of the most important pages of your eCommerce website.
Because it’s most likely the first thing a customer will see.
The homepage must communicate value and win customers’ trust within 7 seconds. The first impression matters a lot.
2. Product Pages
The product page is the beating heart of any eCommerce website.
It’s where you get the chance to show your visitors what they are buying (and why they should buy it).
If your product pages aren’t performing well, then you are losing money.
3. Category Page
Customers like to have a glance of similar products in the same category.
You need to make your category page visually attractive in order to make buyers add more products to the carts.
4. Cart and Checkout Page
This is the page where customers must be able to change quantities, remove items and view their orders.
They should be able to input details and shipping addresses without stress.
5. Account Page
This is the page where customers can view their past and current orders.
Also, customers visit the account page to enhance their buying decisions.
6. About Page
About page goes further to explain who you are and what you do. It allows you to tell your brand story.
You can include your team bio, images, and many more.
7. Contact Page
When customers have a problem with a product or service, they need to get in touch with you.
Make your basic contact information easy to locate, so customers don’t have to be dug around searching.
You can also include a phone number or email at the top of every page.
Design a Professional Ecommerce Website Now.
Faqs on Ecommerce Website
What is the cost of building an eCommerce website in Nigeria?
Ecommerce website design prices vary depending on the sales and traffic goals, the features you need and the type of eCommerce website.
How do I market my eCommerce website?
You are not a success until your website can bring in customers and make you more sales. SEO, Blogging and Paid Ads can help reach new customers and increase sales.
How do I build an eCommerce website in Nigeria?
If you are just starting in business, it’s impossible to know how complicated building an eCommerce website can be. So, I advise you to contact a digital marketing expert.
Conclusion on Cost of Ecommerce Website in Nigeria:
It’s possible to build an eCommerce website within your marketing budget.
It all depends on the feature you need for your business to succeed.
Starting your business online offers great potential to grow and increase sales.
