Showcase site vs e-commerce: which one to choose for your business?

A showcase website is a website used by companies to present their services, values, teams and history. When a company decides to create a showcase website, it presents its services and values to Internet users. It also enables them to acquire new customers, because a showcase site with a good SEO strategy will be more visible on the web.

In terms of design, a showcase site generally consists of a home page, an about page to introduce the company and its staff, a services page and a contact page.

However, a showcase site does not allow a company to sell products or services.

Unlike a showcase site, an e-commerce website is specially created for the sale of products or services. An e-commerce makes it easy for customers to buy items by adding them to the shopping basket and facilitating the purchasing process through online payment.

What’s more, the creation of an online shop offers a number of advantages over a physical shop, such as 24/7 accessibility and greater visibility, enabling you to reach a wider customer base.

Now, to meet the needs of your business, new solutions are available for creating an online shop via platforms. Among the many popular online solutions are Shopify, Woocommerce and Prestashop, which make it easy to sell items online.

If you’re looking for a showcase website, you can easily create one using platforms such as Wix or Squarespace. Although the most affordable solution in terms of budget and maintenance is the WordPress CMS.

On the other hand, creating an online shop involves a higher budget, not only because of the management involved but also because of the plug-ins you need to add functionality to your website.

In terms of customisation, the platforms make it easy to shape your site using pre-designed templates. Once you’ve familiarised yourself with the interfaces, you can customise your website to suit your aspirations.

What’s more, a showcase website will be easier to get to grips with, because unlike an e-commerce site, you won’t have to manage stock or payment systems.

On the other hand, an e-commerce site will require more effort because you’ll have to manage more parameters in terms of integration in order to offer your customers a fluid navigation and an optimised shopping experience.

When it comes to capturing visitors’ attention, design and user experience are two key steps that should not be overlooked. In terms of design, a showcase website must reflect the identity and image of the brand, and in terms of user experience, the website must offer maximum navigation to facilitate the visitor’s journey.

What’s good for a showcase site is also good for an e-commerce website. However, a merchant website must be designed to optimise the conversion rate. This means facilitating the purchasing process with a simplified shopping card and reducing the ordering process.

Apple’s e-commerce site is a perfect example, combining aesthetics and ergonomics.

When you’re deciding between a showcase and an e-commerce, you need to refocus on your capabilities and the objectives of your business. The choice of your future website will depend on a number of criteria. Budget is one of the first criteria to be taken into account, as is management.

If your business is a service business, then a showcase site is sufficient. It will showcase your services and expertise and give you online visibility so that you can attract local customers. This type of site is the ideal tool for professions such as craftsmen, lawyers or restaurant owners.

On the other hand, if your business is based on the sale of physical or digital products or services, then an e-commerce site will be the most appropriate solution for your company. Like a brand, a retailer or an entrepreneur, an e-commerce site will help you acquire new buyers and increase your sales.

In short, the choice of a showcase website or an e-commerce depends on your company’s needs. Whether you simply want to present your business or your services, then a showcase site is the perfect option for you. On the other hand, if your aim is to sell online or develop a commercial activity, then an e-commerce site is the ideal solution. In all cases, to assess your needs for your future projects, our teams will work with you to guide you in choosing the website that’s right for you.