There has never been a better time to make the jump from simple brick-and-mortar store to eCommerce powerhouse. Consider, according to eMarketer, by the end of 2014, web users across the world will have spent $1.5 trillion on goods and services they’ve purchased offline. 2014, more than any preceding year, marks the Age of eCommerce.

As such, building high quality eCommerce websites is crucial to any business that wants to succeed going forward, but where can you turn? If you want the best eCommerce web design capabilities, what system should you be using? For most, Sitecore development is the only way to go.

What is Sitecore?
The answer to \”what is Sitecore\” is two-pronged. On the one hand, Sitecore is a content management system which allows marketers to craft high quality websites, eCommerce solutions, and smart marketing approaches to the mobile and social media markets. Of course, when answering \”what is sitecore,\” you have to discuss the fact that Sitecore is not only a content management system but a digital marketing system. Unlike other CMS on the market, Sitecore provides its users with high-end engagement analytics, engagement automation, and much more. That’s why huge companies, like Revlon, Boy Scouts of America, and others, rely on Sitecore to get their brands out there.

Three Tips for Beginning Sitecore Developers
Getting started with Sitecore can be a little tricky, but if you follow these tips, you’ll be well on your way to crafting a high quality eCommerce website. Just remember, if you can’t use Sitecore for yourself, there are reputable web design firms out there who can help you out.

1. First Thing’s First: Evaluate Your Needs

As written on Sitecore basics!, a popular website for Sitecore tutorials, the first step in any Sitecore development project is to evaluate what you need and want out of the project. Do you need an eCommerce storefront that sorts your merchandise by type and price, or do you simply need the standard home, about, and contact pages on your site? Take everything into account in the planning process before you actually get started.


2. Learn the Basics

This may seem obvious, but trying to develop a website using the Sitecore CMS without being familiar with the way it works is a recipe for disaster, not to mention a great way to waste a lot of time and money in development. To avoid the issue, CMSUniverse.net recommends all fledgling developers use Sitecore’s readily available training course. This will cover the basics on how to build things like Lock Managers. Remember, before you could walk you had to crawl. The same applies here.


3. Make Sure You Begin with Multi-Domain Support

Having your content shared is a huge part of any successful online marketing campaign. Sitecore can make it easy for web users and other websites to share content from your site that they love, but as the Sitecore Guild suggests, that’s only if you’ve enabled multi-domain support from the get-go. While you can add multiple domain support down the line, it can and will become a headache as more people want to share your content on their pages.

Do you use Sitecore? What tips do you have for beginners? Sound off in the comments below! Visit here for more information.