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Research is the first step in every UX project. Here are our top website picks for coming up with interesting insights, sharp conclusions and fresh ideas. Reading the brief for your new project can be an enticing experience, pumping you up with newly found energy and promising ideas. At other times, the brief seems to drain all inspiration out of you, making even that sink full of dishes seem like a more enjoyable activity. Whichever the case, the first stage in UX design is some serious, in-depth research. There are, of course, the Muses – those major online goddesses of design inspiration that we all know and love. Behance , Dribbble and Muzli are some of the big names that are especially close to our UX hearts. But there are also smaller, more targeted resources, that can make for extra-productive research. We’ve compiled a list of seven websites that provide the best tools, galleries and tips for your upcoming UX design projects. Take a look – your wireframes (see wireframe examples ), buttons and prototypes will not regret it. 1.  Pttrns : Spot repeating design trends When something recurs over and over again, it’s probably for good reason. And if you know what that reason is, you can start bending the rules in your favor. That’s what makes the self-proclaimed ‘mother of all design resources’, Pttrns, into such a useful tool. Edited by Robin Raszka, this website showcases screenshots of thousands of user interfaces from different apps. Divided into categories, the screenshots present different answers to the same problem, allowing you as a designer to note similarities and differences, and analyze UX design trends . These repeating elements can then be interpreted as common denominators – making them design patterns, hence the name. A quick browse through the ‘Empty States’ category, for example, can bring some interesting points to mind, such as the dominant use of white and light gray in displaying empty pages (carts, lists or other pages without any added items). It’s equally relevant to note how some apps spitefully break the rules, opting for very bright or very dark colors. With this sort of insight at hand, Pttrns offers a simple and intuitive way to research for the common thread and spot patterns in current design trends. Pttrns.com is available in free and Premium options. Premium members enjoy an ad-free version of the website, and an unlimited access to the screenshots. 2.  UX Archive : How things are done on mobile UX Archive shares a similar logic of observing existing design patterns. Only this time, the website is focused on user flows in mobile apps. Meaning, the chain of events required for performing a specific task on mobile. UX Archive collects screenshots of actions performed on some of the bigger apps, and displays them in order of performance. By breaking down a specific action performed on an app (such as searching or booking) and displaying a screenshot of each step, you can get a better understanding of the process and see how each stage is communicated. This leads to some interesting, analytical questions. When reading a news article (categorized under ‘Consuming’), for example – what happens when we want to watch a video embedded in the article? And once we’re done watching it, how do we get back to the text? How do we know when we’ve reached the end of the article? The owners of the site, Arthur Bodolec, Chris Polk and Nathan Barraille, stress the importance of downloading the apps yourself, and really playing around with them on top of comparing static user flows. “It will help you visualize all the flows and steps,” they write. 3.  Media Queries : Responsive web design in all its forms Named after the CSS3 feature that enables responsive web design, Media Queries is a collection of responsive websites curated by Eivind Uggedal. Responsive web design is, simply put, design that can flex and adapt when viewed on different devices, from the large desktop screen to the much smaller smartphone – and any tablet in between. Media Queries displays each website in a row of four screenshots that gradually grow in size. Seeing the different versions of the same design side-by-side, allows for a thorough probe into the main adaptations required for successful responsive design. What happens to the logo, for example, or how the layout is rearranged, and what design elements don’t make the cut into the mobile version. Mediaqueri.es allows browsing the collection chronologically (by posting date), or by popularity. Users can submit more responsive sites, or vote for their favorite designs via Twitter. Want more? There is also a convenient list of all sites showcased in the collection. 4.  UserOnboard : The good, the bad and the ugly in user onboarding You only get one chance to make a great first impression. On UserOnboard, that crucial first encounter is picked apart and critiqued with elaborate slideshows. The website, run by Samuel Hulick, is dedicated to how design and textual copy can improve the user’s success when meeting a new app or website. With elaborate teardowns, UserOnboard walks visitors through screenshots of each screen in the onboarding process of different websites and apps. With accompanying text bubbles and meme-like images that point at important aspects in the design, the teardowns detail why these websites work well, and what can be improved. These critical observations are on-point, and their fun and light tone makes UserOnboard a great way to freshen up on what to keep in mind when designing your next onboarding experience. One such useful advice can be found on the site’s PayPal teardown: “Pro tip: remove all the words from your app and evaluate what remains – does it still provide guidance? Can people still learn from it?” 5.  CollectUI : Ideas are everywhere There’s something special about participating in web design challenges. With no client to supervise your every move and no brand guidelines to follow, it’s all about quick, stress-free briefs that pop up in your feed or inbox, awaiting to set your imagination free. The end result, often refreshing and original, is then shared with the design community for feedback and mutual inspiration – only to be quickly forgotten in the abyss of Internet oblivion. This is where CollectUI comes in, handpicking the best Dribbble shots from the Daily UI Design Challenge , and curating them for future reference and an inclusive design research . “The challenges chosen are so good that you they serve as a great source of inspiration,” writes Ahmet Sülek, who runs the website. And we tend to agree. The site, which can be viewed either by chronological order or by category, showcases the best UX design solutions for almost any website feature. It goes from simple ones, such as a search bar or an on/off switch, to more large-scale designs, like sign up pages, or user profiles. Some of the submissions are wild creations that can only exist as an exercise, while others seem so sharp that they could  easily make their way into a new app. Browsing through all of this together is bound to get your wheels turning with new ideas. CollectUI.com also offers a Chrome Extension so that you can easily browse for similar designs and submit your own Dribbble shots. 6.  Sketch App Sources : Winning us over with high-quality freebies Sketch App Sources offers free design resources to be used on Sketch App, created by designers around the world who share a love for Sketch and UX design. The website fosters a feeling of a growing design community, with members learning and helping each other by sharing tools, knowledge and tips – and giving credit where credit is due. Among the many design resources available for download are UI kits, wireframe kits, templates, icons and more. These useful tools can come in handy as assets for your own projects, and you can also download them to take a look into the layers and thought process behind other designers’ work. The website, active since 2012, also features tutorials, plugins, articles and much more. 7.  Medium : Sophisticated reads for your inspiration Not all design inspiration comes in visual form. As a platform based on the written word, Medium is all about the quality of the content, and not the big names behind it. Readers can promote their favorite texts, so that the best articles come up first. You can also follow and subscribe to writers and publications you appreciate, or search according to tags. Some of our favorite writers for you to check out are Saadia Minhas and Ariel Verber from Muzli, as well as the excellent UX Collective publication. Medium houses many other great reads in all fields of design (and pretty much any topic you can think of, from tech trends to cultural phenomenon). You can also publish content of your own, as Medium is an open platform, and share some of your UX thoughts, or other musings, with the world. Medium is also available for Android and iOS .

Bring your inspiration to life with a Wix website →   Do you have extensive knowledge in a specific field and a strong desire to help others? If so, then starting a service business might offer you the ideal path to entrepreneurship. Need a hand launching your business online? Create a business website with Wix. Unlike manufacturing or eCommerce businesses, where you have to make your own products or buy inventory, service businesses carry small startup costs. Instead of selling products, you “sell” your expertise, skills and assistance to meet your customer’s needs. Service businesses drive today’s economy forward. They employ more than 50% of people worldwide , and in the U.S., they account for almost 78% of the total gross domestic product . Get inspired by these 24 lucrative service business examples across eight different categories. Need inspiration for your website? With Wix, building a standout site is easier than ever. Choose from hundreds of customizable templates and use Wix’s easy drag-and-drop website builder  tools to make your vision come to life. Turn your ideas into reality and see just how simple it is to create a unique, professional website. 24 inspiring service business examples Legal and consulting services Accounting and financial services Marketing and advertising services Fitness and health services Pet care services Beauty and wellness services Graphic design and branding services Web development and digital marketing services Content creation services Cleaning and organization services Lawn care and landscaping services Handyman and home repair services IT consulting and support services Software development and programming services Technical SEO services Tutoring and academic services Language learning and translation services Professional development and training services Community outreach and support services Environmental and sustainability services Nonprofit and charitable organizations Wedding photography Wedding and corporate event planning Event catering Professional services In a professional service business, you use specialized knowledge to help clients solve complex problems. Because you’re selling your expertise, most professional service businesses require formal education, such as college degrees, certifications and/or licenses. Some of the most popular types of service businesses are outlined below. 01. Legal and consulting services If you’re a lawyer or legal professional, you can create a service website that explains the types of representation and assistance you provide. For example, Stephany Cabrera, Esq., uses her website to promote Florida Legal Service , a Miami-area firm that offers family law, immigration law, estate planning and civil litigation services. If you have specific business expertise, you can open a consulting business and offer companies guidance on topics like human resource management, change management or business planning. Shipra Seefeldt established Strategic Solutions Consulting, LLC to guide family businesses with things like wealth transfer, executive team building and conflict resolution. Her consulting website includes descriptions of her services and client reviews, and her team includes professionals with advanced degrees and licenses. 02. Accounting and financial services Every business needs talented people who can keep an eye on their finances, balance the books and guide it to profitability. That’s where accounting and financial services come into play. These experts have specialized knowledge in everything from bookkeeping to retirement planning and tax management. To enter this field, you’ll need a thorough understanding of accounting principles and tax regulations, along with related education and certifications, such as a certified public accountant (CPA) designation. To look at some real-life examples, David McCallister, owner of 3CM Capital Management in Ohio, is a registered investment advisor. He provides numerous services, from wealth management and financial evaluation all the way up to being your personal chief financial officer (CFO). Learn more about how to start a virtual assistant business or how to go about starting a bookkeeping business . 03. Marketing and advertising services Businesses can’t grow unless they’re constantly raising awareness about their brand and the products or services they offer. Marketing and advertising agencies partner with these companies to generate buzz, reach their target audience and attract new customers. To offer marketing services, you may need a college degree and/or certifications, though real-world experience can speak for itself. Within the marketing services industry, you have plenty of room to carve your own niche. BLUstrategy bills itself as an agency that helps “fearless brands seeking limitless growth” with marketing plans and pay-per-click advertising strategies. Meanwhile, Pitschy Media , a full-service media, digital marketing and branding agency, sets itself apart by creating a customer experience it likens to “having your own creative marketing team in-house.” Learn more about how to start a marketing business. Personal services While professional service companies advise businesses, personal service companies help individuals improve their personal lives, well-being and confidence. Some personal service businesses require licenses or degrees. With others, all you need is a specific skill and a little bit of business knowledge to begin. Let’s dive into a few popular service business examples in this space. 04. Fitness and health services By obtaining the proper education, license or certification, you can help people achieve their fitness goals, relieve their stress and live a healthier lifestyle. There are a myriad of business options in the space, as evidenced by these health and wellness website examples. For example, athletic trainers teach clients the proper techniques for lifting weights and working out, while massage therapists use their skills to provide relaxation and a little bit of pampering to their customers. Yoga instructors, another popular profession, help people improve their balance, strength and flexibility. Learn more about how to start a gym business or how to start a fitness business . 05. Pet care services Pet ownership has skyrocketed over the past few decades, with 66% of U.S. households now identifying as pet owners. This creates a pressing need—and an amazing business opportunity—for all types of pet services. From dog grooming and pet sitting to dog walking, you can turn your love of animals into a full-time gig. In some states, you may need a license to operate a pet grooming facility, but anyone can be a pet sitter, dog walker or mobile dog groomer. Learn more about how to start a dog-walking business . 06. Beauty and wellness services If you like helping people enhance their physical appearance, then beauty and wellness is for you. You can start a beauty business that offers salon or spa services, manicures, pedicures, skincare consulting and more. Follow the lead of Brianna Rehm. When the pandemic hit, she realized her dream by opening her own hair salon, Luxe Salon and Beauty Bar . Today, her salon website promotes her many offerings—everything from a simple haircut to full highlights. Some other great beauty service business examples: El Beauty Station in Colorado offers a wealth of beauty enhancement services, including eyelash extensions, permanent makeup and microblading. And Prestige Salon and Spa in Las Vegas offers what it calls a “full beauty experience,” including facials and hair styling. Learn more about how to start a nail business. Creative services Looking good isn’t only reserved for individuals. Businesses also need professionals who can help them create a beautiful and unique brand identity. When you start a business focused on creative services, you can put your talents to use for companies of all sizes. Professionals in these fields often have a college degree in design or a related field, along with extensive experience. Related reading: Why's everyone so obsessed with productized services ? 07. Graphic design and branding services If you’re an artist at heart, graphic design can help you express yourself and make money. You can design logos, brochures, advertisements and web pages. You can follow a company’s specific brand standards, or you can help a business develop its own brand rules. For some real-life examples, Courtney Hatcher uses her decade-plus of experience as a graphic designer and illustrator to help companies with design, branding and strategy services. Meanwhile, James Cummings and his team at Exchange Theory bring cohesive and creative visual design to businesses, government and nonprofit agencies. And Belm Designs specializes in 3D drawings and engineering design for tech clients. 08. Web development and digital marketing services Websites are the online front door for every company, which is why web developers are in high demand. The best ones today don’t just create websites that look appealing—they also understand the ins and outs of the user experience and apply this specialized knowledge in combining beauty with functionality. In addition, web developers understand how to optimize the front and back ends of websites, and are skilled in optimizing the content management systems that help to bring sites to life. 09. Content creation services Companies, business owners and individuals rely on content creators to enhance their websites, connect with their audiences and document special moments. As a writer, for example, you can author blog posts, case studies or social media posts that promote a business’s products or services. As a photographer, you can shoot stunning product images or breathtaking architectural photos for a company, or document someone’s special moment with portrait or event photography. Similarly, as a videographer, you can use your craft to tell a business's or individual’s story in an engaging and effective way. Home services If you’re looking for a service business idea with a low barrier to entry, then a home service business may fit the bill. These companies help homeowners finish their to-do lists, offering things like professional repairs, routine maintenance and cleaning. While you will need a license to perform some home services, others (such as being a professional organizer) require no license or formal education. 10. Cleaning and organization services The average American attempts to declutter their house four times a year , but they often don’t finish the job. That’s where house cleaners and professional organizers come into play. You can clean houses on a regular basis (weekly, biweekly, etc.) or offer deep cleaning services to individuals and families who are moving in and out of their homes. Other ideas include specialty cleaning services (such as pressure washing , carpets, windows or upholstery), decluttering and helping people clean out their closets, garages or basements. Learn more about how to start a cleaning business . 11. Lawn care and landscaping services While the cleanliness inside a house matters, so too does its curb appeal. That’s where lawn care and landscaping businesses come into play. Today’s top performers go far beyond lawn cutting. They also offer irrigation, gardening and even landscape design. It’s a smart business choice if you enjoy the outdoors, have a green thumb and enjoy transforming an ordinary backyard into a personal paradise. Learn more about how to start a lawn care business . 12. Handyman and home repair services When do-it-yourself goes off the rails, homeowners call a licensed and bonded repair person who can help them get back on track. So, if you can fix it, odds are that you can turn your skills into a profitable business. You can offer a variety of services, comprising everything from plumbing and HVAC to electrical repairs, painting and carpentry. Learn more about how to start a handyman business . Technology services The Wall Street Journal and others have proclaimed that every company is now a tech company . And while that may (or may not) be true, the fact is that all businesses need some sort of technical assistance. Technology service businesses fill in the gap. While many people in this service business sector have bachelor’s degrees, others develop their skills through online learning and hands-on experience. 13. IT consulting and support services Your IT consulting business can include a multitude of services. You can help businesses assess their technology infrastructure, find improvement opportunities and recommend upgrades. Or, you can focus on integrating new hardware into a company’s existing IT architecture. Cybersecurity, processing help desk tickets and implementing Agile project management frameworks are other potential IT consulting areas. Yet another angle is to help businesses seize the next great tech opportunity. That’s the focus of Apache Technology Company. It guides companies’ digital transformations by offering services such as cloud analytics modernization, application and platform engineering, and data visualization. Learn more: How to start a consulting business 14. Software development and programming services While IT consultants focus on hardware, app developers and programmers carve their niche by providing software-related technology services. You can offer mobile app development, web app development or software integration services. Then, you can level up your business by giving your clients ongoing software-related support. HB3 Data develops custom business intelligence software applications so companies can access and analyze data quickly and make better decisions. The company also offers mobile app development, internal corporate app support and data center support services. 15. Technical SEO services Search engine optimization enhances a company’s ability to get its web content ranking higher on Google and other search platforms. While many people are familiar with on-page SEO (embedding keywords into a webpage to increase its search engine ranking), fewer know the technical side of SEO. This includes making changes to improve website speed, creating an SEO-friendly site structure and repairing duplicate content issues. By offering these kinds of technical SEO services, you can give companies—and their website strategies—a boost in this key area. Education and training services The online learning market is valued at $399 billion and is expected to grow by a 14% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the next decade. That’s why education and training services offer a prime opportunity as a service business. If you have expert knowledge and enjoy sharing it with others, you can build a company with tremendous upside potential. 16. Tutoring and academic services Learning happens inside and outside of the classroom. A tutoring and academic service business offers homework help, test prep and academic support. You can deliver these services in person or online. To begin, you will need a teacher certification, prior teaching experience and/or a degree. To look at a real example, Mindsprout carves its niche by offering services that cater to homeschooled students. It additionally offers free educational assessments and provides its services both in the U.S. and overseas. Learn how to start a tutoring business. 17. Language learning and translation services Parlez-vous français? Language learning and translation services enable people to overcome language barriers in many walks of life. You can help a budding world traveler learn a new language for an upcoming trip, or help a company’s sales team master the dialect they’ll need to use in an emerging market. Alternatively, translate documents into multiple languages for individual, educational or business use. 18. Professional development and training services When workers want to stay up to date with the latest industry trends or obtain new skills, they seek professional development and training services. These can take the form of workshops and seminars, online courses or technical training. You can start your business by offering a few classes or building an online course on your very own website. With a Wix site, you can take advantage of Wix Bookings to create, customize, schedule and price your online courses. Social and nonprofit services Sometimes the best service business ideas have nothing to do with making a profit. Social and nonprofit service businesses exist for the greater good, such as addressing important social issues or enhancing the well-being of specific populations. All you need to get started is a strong mission and a giving heart—but you must file the appropriate paperwork if you choose to operate as a nonprofit, such as filing for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. 19. Community outreach and support services When you identify an unmet need within your town or region, you can start an organization that fills in the gap. You could, for instance, start a community food bank for people struggling with food insecurity, or you could create an organization that offers STEM education to underrepresented groups. For example, Kode with Klossy creates learning experiences in tech fields for young women and gender-expansive youth. 20. Environmental and sustainability services If you want to raise awareness about important environmental issues or help people practice sustainability, you’ve found a unique service business opportunity. Environmental and sustainability services can include restoring natural habitats, protecting endangered species or advocating for conservation efforts. The Clean Power Initiative, for example, promotes and advances the widespread adoption of solar power as an alternative energy source. It helps individuals and companies analyze their energy use, perform a cost-benefit analysis and maximize alternative energy credits. 21. Nonprofit and charitable organizations These organizations exist to make a difference in the world. They’re often started by individuals who believe strongly in a certain cause and dedicate themselves to giving back. Kristina Filler founded Hold Your Fire after her father, a Hoboken-area teacher, was killed in a school shooting more than two decades ago. The organization dedicates itself to raising awareness and funds to prevent gun violence. Event services From graduations and weddings to parties and corporate events, celebrations bring plenty of business opportunities for budding entrepreneurs. An event service business might be right for you if you’re highly organized, have connections in the industry and know how to throw a party that will be remembered for years to come. You don’t need a formal education to start. 22. Wedding photography A happy couple will always look back fondly on their wedding day. That’s why wedding photography remains in high demand. This job will keep you busy—you’ll need to work on weekends, evenings and holidays (times when weddings happen most frequently). Once you get your business started, be sure to post samples of your photography and testimonials on a photography website and share them on your social media channels. 23. Wedding and corporate event planning Weddings and corporate events take months of advanced planning, and it’s overwhelming for most couples and companies. As an event planner, you can guide your clients by assisting them with everything from choosing a venue and sending invitations to planning the menu and hiring a band. For a real-life example, Anne Katherine Whitehead founded Whitehead Weddings and Events to turn people’s wedding dreams into reality. She packages her service offerings, which include wedding day and rehearsal dinner assistance, bridal luncheons and bridal or couples’ showers. Learn how to start a party planning business . 24. Event catering Food is a part of almost every kind of event. With a catering business , you can prepare delectable dishes that will satisfy guests and drive repeat business. You can focus on full-course meals with hors d’oeuvres and formal dinners, or you can specialize in scrumptious desserts, such as spectacular cakes for weddings or festive cupcakes for gender reveal parties. Learn how to start a food business Learn how to start a baking business Learn how to start a party planning business Learn how to start a food truck business 5 quick tips for running a successful service business No matter which type of service business you choose to launch, you’ll need to dedicate yourself to continuous improvement so you can succeed long-term. Five quick tips: Define your value proposition: Determine which elements will make your business stand out from the competition, then communicate them clearly in your marketing. This could be things like competitive pricing, excellent customer service or unique branding. Understand your target market: Research trends to learn where the current needs for your business exist, and determine the types of individuals or companies who are more likely to rely on your service. Put your customers first: It’s a service business, after all, so customer service must be your top priority and number one goal. Ask your customers for feedback and respond quickly to any concerns. Promote your business: Use your website, social media, email marketing and online advertising to spread the word about your services. Stay flexible: Today’s business needs change rapidly. Keep an eye on trends so you can grow with your clients and pivot your services as needed. This way, your business stays relevant.

“When we handle things, we do not usually look at them; we look through them. It is when they break that they become visible.” —Martin Heidegger, 1927 The invisible bridge There’s a moment after a new strategic partnership is announced–after the high-fives, the press releases and the logo swaps–when the product team goes unusually quiet. That’s the moment when the real work begins. Because behind all the slides and forecasts, there’s a real user. A person who just wants to get something done: in our case, a small business owner . They want to make a business website  and open a new sales channel with eCommerce . Or, they’re navigating from our website builder  over to our strategic partner company’s services. And now, they’re about to guide us in the design of an invisible bridge between two platforms trying to work together. As head of product for Wix Channels (Wix’s B2B strategic partnerships ), I work with our partner companies like Intuit , VistaPrint  and Name.com  in grasping the invisible moments of the user journey. We take the time to really “see” things as they should be, not just when they break or unravel.  The goal is to weave a new path together, through the user’s eyes, to create an experience that truly feels seamless and complete. Servicing SMBs? Show your customers how to start a business  online. Strategy is a promise. Product is the proof. On paper, the partnership  makes perfect sense. The value props align. The market need is clear. Our strategic partner is ready to offer our AI website builder  and AI tools  to their customers so they can discover how to make a business website  and grow their brand online. Everyone’s excited. But here’s what I’ve learned again and again: A partnership isn’t real until it’s productized. Until a partnership is designed, built, tested, shipped and refined, it’s just a strong idea backed by a firm handshake. Productizing a partnership isn’t about building new features. It’s about designing a shared experience via tailored B2B solutions . And that’s when things get real. Two companies. One user. Infinite UX decisions. You're not just solving for what a user wants to do. You're solving for how they expect it to feel, while honoring two different ecosystems. The user says, not in words but in behavior: “This is what I want to do next. Can you make it seamless?” We then face a decision: Do we bring the value closer, embedding Partner B’s capabilities into Platform A? Or do we guide them into Partner B’s world, where more power lives, but the experience may feel unfamiliar? There’s no universal answer, only tradeoffs. What matters is why you make the choices you do. A real example (and the infinite space between) In one of our strategic partnerships, users on Platform A needed to complete a meaningful task, but the capability itself lived within Platform B. At a glance, it might seem like a binary choice: Redirect users to Platform B’s environment, or Recreate the entire experience natively within Platform A But in reality, this binary almost never holds. Our actual work lives in the infinite space between those two ends. Together with our partner, we had to explore and define where on that spectrum we should position the experience, for the sake of the user. That meant asking: When is the ideal moment for the handoff? How much context or value should we expose upfront, before introducing a second platform? What does a seamless handshake actually feel like, in this particular journey, for this particular user? And it gets even more nuanced when you factor in: Cross-platform development complexity Real-time data exchange and system readiness The need to balance time-to-value with creating an experience that’s truly valuable and sticky Ultimately, we shaped a hybrid journey: a native entry point in Platform A to anchor the user in clarity and progress, paired with a thoughtfully timed transition into Platform B, where the deeper functionality lives. It was more than a product decision. It was a shared design, engineering and user experience decision, while grounded in observed behavior patterns, informed by intent mapping, shaped by technical tradeoffs and aligned through joint prioritization. I’ve come to appreciate that “space between” in the user journey. The quiet transitions. The micro-moments. The invisible decisions that either carry momentum, or interrupt it. These moments don’t belong to any one team. They live between systems, brands and expectations. And they ask product teams to do something we rarely talk about: let go of ownership, and optimize for coherence. When “seams” start to show: red flags of the partnership user journey Most cross-platform experiences don’t break loudly. They unravel quietly: in drop-offs, misunderstandings and mismatched expectations. Here are the signs we’ve learned to look out for: You see intent building… then a sudden stall. Often, it happens right before a user crosses into the partner platform. Why? Because the value isn’t clear, the next step feels different, or the mental model breaks. You’re over-explaining what should feel intuitive. If you need multiple tooltips, modals or help text to guide users through a flow, then something’s off. It likely means your design is working against user instincts, not with them. Your teams measure different things as “success.” If Platform A is tracking activation and Platform B is tracking completion, and both believe their job is done halfway through the process, then your users are stuck in the middle, with no value. One team calls it a “handoff,” another says “integration,” someone else insists it’s a “seamless sync,” and Product throws in “cross-platform orchestration.” The language shifts with the speaker, which usually means the mental models do too. This disconnect doesn’t just slow things down, it quietly breaks the experience. Because without a shared vocabulary, there’s no shared ownership. And without shared ownership, the user journey becomes disjointed. You’re optimizing individual touch points, not the full journey. Each step looks great in isolation, but the overall full path feels disjointed. That’s a sign no one owns the end-to-end journey. The seams are showing. Recognizing what “seamless” feels like So we know the signs of unraveling. But how do we spot a true seamless experience? A great productized partnership doesn’t just feel smooth and remove friction. It actually generates momentum. And not just for users, but for the teams building the experience. It creates a sense of inevitability  in the journey. As if the user was always meant to move from one platform to the next. Not because we forced it, but because it simply makes sense. And behind that seamlessness? Two companies working as if they were one. Product, design, engineering and go-to-market teams–separated by org charts, roadmaps and cultures–are centered and aligned around one shared user journey. You know it’s working when: The user’s mental model holds steady across systems because the experience was designed together, not patched together. Early touchpoints feel purposeful, not transactional, because both platforms are sequenced with intent. Internal language starts to blur: “We” no longer means just one company. It means the team building this, regardless of which logo is on their slides. Teams debate what’s best for the user , not whose system owns what . Barriers of process, platform and ego start to soften. Not out of obligation, but because there’s momentum, and no one wants to break it. And maybe the most telling sign? The experience doesn’t even feel like collaboration. It feels like coherence. The partnership doesn’t just deliver on strategy, it delivers on trust.  And when it’s done right, users don’t even notice the bridge. They just arrive where they were always trying to go. Why this work resonates, with us and the user When this work is done well, no one notices. When it’s not, everyone feels it. And when it clicks? A user starts on one platform, and finds value in another. They don’t pause. They don’t think about the handoff. They just see progress. And that’s what great product work looks like. When the complexity disappears, and all that’s left is clarity. As we build strategic partnerships and shared product journeys, let’s remember: true success lies in identifying the user’s invisible moments between platforms. How do we “see” this journey before it breaks? How do we come together to design strong, seamless experiences? Learn more about providing a seamless website creation journey for small businesses through a tailored channel partnership .

Launching your business website is just the beginning of starting your own venture. Depending on what type of business you run and where, you may need to get a business license. While the processes vary by site, state or country, you should begin your journey with understanding what a business license is and why it’s important. In this article, we’ll answer those questions, plus go over the available types and how to get one in a few key states. Ready to start your business website today? Get started with Wix. What is a business license? A business license is a legal document issued by a government agency that grants businesses permission to operate in their respective geography. The term can refer to many different business licenses and permits. To obtain a business license, you may need to register your business and comply with local government codes and industry regulations. Why do I need a business license? While the business license application process depends on your industry and location, the benefits are universal: Licensing your business provides accountability and transparency, letting customers, employees and stakeholders know they can trust you. Business-owners will need the right license or permit to operate for the following reasons: Service-based businesses: Ranging from lawyers and medical consultants to restaurants and hair salons, many service businesses require state or federally regulated professional licenses. Brick-and-mortar businesses: If you need to renovate or rebuild your business, you might need to apply for fire department, zoning and land use permits. Retail businesses: Whether you sell online or off, you’ll need a sales tax license to collect the required fees on your transactions. Furthermore, certain businesses involved in government-supervised activities must register for the proper license or permit, including: Selling, importing or manufacturing alcohol: You must apply for a federal permit from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau , as well as obtain a local liquor permit from your state. For example, New York has its own liquor authority for businesses dealing with selling and distributing alcohol. There are also special state permits for one-day alcoholic catering and marketing events. Importing and transporting agriculture: Whether it’s the commercial sale or adoption of an imported live pet, you will need to apply for a permit with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service . The same goes with animal products, including prepared foods from countries with livestock diseases. The federal agency also grants plants and plant product permits, such as those for fruits, vegetables, timber, cotton, seeds and cut flowers. Investment advising: As an investment advisor, you must act in your clients’ best interest and provide them with sound counsel. You must also register with the Securities and Exchange Commission, adopt the agency’s policies and procedures, prepare required reports and file an annual update of your registration form. Food preparation: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates food and food ingredients for commercial sale, including home-based food businesses to food processing and manufacturing facilities. (States and local governments regulate food establishments like grocery stores, food trucks and restaurants). If you’re starting a food business, then you’ll need to understand how you’re subject to FDA rules . Types of business licenses Licenses and permits related to business operations vary on a local, state and federal level. In fact, not all businesses will need to register at all three regulatory levels. In some cases, you can get a state business license and forgo the federal business license. To file for any business license, you might need to register your business first with your Department of Commerce. You may register your business as a DBA , corporation or limited liability company (LLC). Applicants will also need a taxpayer identification number . So, familiarize yourself with how to obtain a business license on each level: Local (city, county, town): A local license gives you legal authority to conduct business in a specific area. Depending on your profession (consultant, instructor, medical and legal advisors), you might also need a certificate to operate your business in your home city. Local authorities also manage zoning regulations, so you will need to file for a permit with the relevant agency. For instance, the city of New York hosts a database for licenses and building permits needed to start, run or grow a business in any of the boroughs. State: States with sales tax require a license or permit from any business that sells products or services in the state. Research your own state on the US Small Business Administration page and find out which license or permit is required for your industry. Federal: Federal agencies regulate certain business activities, like agriculture, firearms and alcoholic beverages. Check your industry against the Small Business Administration checklist for federal licenses and permits. More business license types Professional or occupational licenses: Some states require licenses for certain occupations (hairdressers, real estate brokers and mechanics) and professions (doctors, lawyers and accountants). For example, all US states require a lawyer license , while the same number of states require a license to work as a barber, according to the Institute for Justice . Sales tax licenses: In coordination with state tax agencies, businesses may be required to collect and remit sales tax on sold items. To avoid hefty fines and legal woes, register for a sales tax license. Currently, there are 5 states without sales tax—Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon, as reported by CNBC. Home occupation permits: A home occupation permit is required when a business operates in a residence in a residential district and ensures that the business will not negatively impact the community. You can register your home business with your local or state agency. How much does a business license cost? Since business licenses vary by government agency and type, business license costs can range dramatically. For example, a business license in Minneapolis can range from $15 to over $10,000. How to get a business license Form a business entity Apply for an Employer Identification Number Choose your business license type Apply for a business license While there is not one standard business license, do the appropriate research to determine the steps you need to take to get a license for your business. Here, a breakdown on how to get a business license, with examples of some of the most entrepreneurial states : 01. Form a business entity Before you get a business license, you need to have a business name and know what type of business you are. Some common small business types include: Sole proprietorship: While sole proprietors are not obligated to register a business, they may need to apply for a business license or permit depending on their industry and regional government jurisdiction. General and limited partnerships: When two or more people start a business , they can form a general partnership. In this business type, stakeholders share liabilities and authority within the business and split profits and losses equally. A limited partnership implies that one partners takes on more responsibility than the other, with the limited partner sometimes referred to as a “silent partner.” Corporation: Incorporating a business allows the company to operate as its own entity and protects the owner's personal assets from business losses. Limited liability company (LLC): An LLC combines aspects of corporations, sole proprietorships and partnerships. LLC owners have limited liability, meaning they absorb profits and losses for tax reasons, but their personal assets are not liable. 02. Apply for an Employer Identification Number You may need to show your Employer Identification Number (EIN) on your business license application. This Internal Revenue Service uses this number to identify your business entity. Applying for an EIN is free and can be done online . Check your state government website for what details you’ll need when filing your EIN, such as state number or charter. 03. Choose your business license type Before applying for a license, you'll need to identify which type you need. Research your options according to your needs (e.g. whether you plan on operating in more than one state, what products or services you offer, your legal business structure, etc.) Inquire at relevant local, state and federal agency to learn what will be required from your business (e.g. notarization or document duplications.) 04. Apply for a business license Prepare all required documents before applying for a business license. Be aware that you may need to file by email, online, fax or even in person. How to get a business license in New York Go to the New York State Business Wizard page to figure out which license or permit you need for a service-based, home-based, retail or online business. Complete the application for a sales tax permit. Pay the business license fees (~$50-$150). How to get a business license in California Go to the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development and get initial information on permitting and regulatory requirements. California requires that you: Register your business structure and file with the California Secretary of State . File state income tax with the Franchise Tax Board (FTB). Get a seller’s permit , if applicable. Pay the license and permit fees (~$50-$100). How to get a business license in Texas Register for a Texas sales tax permit . This is mandatory for all businesses. Check the Texas Business Permits and License Guide about additional statewide professional licenses based on industry. Also check your city about unique licenses. In the City of San Antonio, for instance, there’s a peddler’s license for anyone who wants to sell goods in the city’s streets. Pay the license and permit fees (~$15-$100+, depending on the specialized license or operating permit.) How to get a business license in Florida Apply for the primary Florida business license, also known as a business tax receipt, via your municipal website. And check you won’t need to apply to other local licenses using OpenMyFloridaBusiness . Visit the Florida Department of Revenue to register for a seller’s permit (Annual Resale Certificate for Sales Tax in Florida). This is filed for free. Final business license costs in Florida come up to $50 and $100, excluding the seller’s permit.

These days, everybody and their mother seems to be fighting for attention online—and for good reason. It’s estimated that there are 4.3 billion people using Google around the world, and more than half of them are using Google to find or discover new brands. Needless to say, Google is teeming with opportunities for your business. The biggest question is, how will you get seen? What can you do to get seen right away? The answer: Google Ads. Google Ads offers a fast way to top Google’s search results pages and to get in front of shoppers the moment they’re searching for brands like yours. That said, Google Ads can be challenging to manage, adding yet another platform to monitor. To help take some of the weight off your shoulders, we’ve teamed up with Google to create Google Ads with Wix . With Wix’s Google Ads integration, you can create and manage your ads directly from your site dashboard. Looking for a website builder where you can centrally manage your advertising and marketing campaigns? Create a website with Wix. Why should you use Google Ads with Wix? Two words: time and money. As a business owner or aspiring entrepreneur, you’ve got zero time or money to waste. That’s why we created Google Ads with Wix: to ensure that your ads work for you and your marketing strategy . More specifically, with our Google Ads integration, you can: Manage everything in one place: Manage your advertising activities in the same workspace as your business instead of hopping between platforms. From Wix, you can manage everything from your site and business operations to your marketing emails and Google Ads. Launch your ads faster: Automatically sync your Wix data with your Google Ads rather than keying in your product data by hand. You can additionally use Wix’s AI for Google Ads to find keyword themes and generate ad content even faster. Receive Google Ads credit: If you’re a first-time advertiser, you'll be eligible for up to $500 in Google Ads credit after spending $500 in the first 60 days (terms and conditions apply). Tap into Wix analytics: Automatically install dynamic tracking on your Wix website and get accurate conversion tracking. In other words, use real-time, first-party data to understand behaviors once someone clicks onto your site from a Google ad—and find ways to spend your money more efficiently. Get hands-on support: Wix provides 24/7 support for all its users. Ask a Wix specialist for help optimizing your Google Ads campaigns and diagnosing any issues. What kind of campaigns can you run with Wix Google Ads? Wix currently supports two types of Google Ads campaigns: Smart campaign: Uses machine learning to automatically define your targeting, ad content and bids. Smart campaigns are great for service-based businesses, looking to attract new customers to their site with their ads. Performance Max campaign: Available for Wix Stores subscribers, Performance Max campaigns * use Google’s AI technology to do your targeting and bidding for you. Performance Max ads will appear at the top of Google search results, in addition to the entire Google Network (think: YouTube, Display, Maps, etc.). Pro tip: “You can use both types of campaigns simultaneously,” notes Wix Product Manager Ivan Terechin. “For example, if you sell baby products online, you can advertise your products with a PMax campaign, but advertise your shop itself with a Smart campaign.” How do I use Google Ads with Wix? Google Ads with Wix is available to all Wix users with a Premium plan. You must also have a published site with a custom domain. From there, getting started is as simple as a few clicks. Follow the below steps to run your first Google Ads campaign in Wix: 01. Open Google Ads From your Wix site dashboard, go to the “Marketing & SEO” dropdown on the left-hand menu. Click “Google Ads,” then “Start Advertising.” 02. (For Wix Stores users) choose your advertising goal Choose between creating a Google Smart campaign, geared towards driving more site traffic, or a Google Performance Max campaign, aimed at increasing product purchases. If you don’t have a Wix Store, you will automatically be sent to the next step. 03. Set up your campaign The steps to creating your ads will vary slightly depending on your advertising goal. For example, if you’re a store owner looking to connect your inventory to your ads, you’ll have to connect your ads to your Google Merchant Solutions account ( view Merchant Center terms of service ). Alternatively, if you’re just looking to drive traffic to your site, then you can get started with creating your first Google ad right away. At this stage, you’ll need to decide on your campaign settings, which may include picking your target locations, keyword themes and landing page. 04. Create your ads If you’re a store owner running product ads, then your ads will be auto-generated from your inventory. Otherwise, you’ll need to take a few moments to write out a few headline and description options for Google to use. Wix also has built-in AI text tools, which can lend a hand with your ad headlines or descriptions. 05. Set your budget and launch As the final step, you’ll need to decide how much money you’re willing to spend per day on your ads. Keep in mind that Google may spend above or below your daily budget on any given day, but it will never go above your monthly max (that is, your daily budget times the average number of days in a month). Once you’ve set up your payment details, you can launch your ads. 06. Follow your campaign's progress Google will need to review your ads before they can officially go live; this process can take anywhere from one to seven days. However, you can easily follow its progress from your Wix dashboard. Once your ads are live, you can even track which products or keywords yield the best results and make tweaks to your campaign from Wix. Tips for getting the most out of Google Ads with Wix Getting set up is a cinch and most of the heavy lifting will be done for you. Still, it doesn’t hurt to follow a few best practices to ensure that your campaign performs the best that it can. Keep your Wix catalog up to date. If you’re planning to advertise your products, make sure that your catalog is up to date with the latest details (note: any changes in Wix will automatically update your Google merchant feed). Don’t gloss over details such as your product specs, product variations, descriptions and images. Google will draw from this information to build your ads—so you’ll want to make sure that you’re putting your best foot forward and offer as many details as possible. Make sure that your landing pages are highly relevant. In a similar vein, you’ll want to check that any linked landing pages are relevant to your ad content. Don’t drop visitors into a random or broad page on your site. Rather, send them to a page that speaks to their particular interest. You’ll often find that a dedicated landing page—free of distractions—will perform better than your homepage. For example, if your ads are targeting the keyword “online cooking courses,” then you’d benefit from sending visitors to a page that lists out your available cooking classes, not a page that lists any type of online course available. Pick keywords themes with high intent. By “high intent” we mean keyword themes that are relevant to your target consumer and precede a desired action. In other words, just because someone Googles the word “yoga” doesn’t mean they’re looking to buy a yoga mat. Perhaps they’re trying to sign up for a yoga class or watch a free class on YouTube. Or, perhaps they’re simply looking to understand the benefits of yoga. A better, high-intent keyword for a store selling yoga gear is “buy yoga mat” or “best yoga mats.” Be mindful of your headlines. When it comes to creating your Smart campaigns, your headlines play a big role in enticing a click. “Make sure to speak directly to your prospect’s desired outcome,” advises Terechin. “For example, if you’re advertising a fitness class, consider something like ‘Get Fit Fast’—which immediately speaks to your customers’ goals.” At the same time, you don’t want to overpromise and be specific about what you offer, says Terechin. Avoid meaningless fillers like “world-class” that aren’t backed by research, and replace them with stats or trigger words like “free.” Use your Wix Analytics reports to your advantage. Wix offers a slew of reports that can strengthen your understanding of your site visitors. For example, using the Behavior Overview report, you can see which pages people click to from other pages on your site, and see where they drop off. Or, using the Marketing Overview sites, you can see how your Google Ads campaign stacks up against your other marketing efforts. Test and refine continuously. “Don’t settle for your first attempt at your ads,” says Terechin. “Create multiple variations of your ads and run A/B tests to determine which creative performs best and why. Regularly analyze your ads based on click-through rates and user engagement.” Learn more about how to advertise on Google , or check out more step-by-step guides on using Google Ads with Wix. * In the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom or Switzerland, Performance Max campaigns can be used with any Comparison Shopping Service (CSS). The ads will show on general search results pages and on any other surfaces the CSS has opted in to.

Turn your ideas into sales and start selling with Wix eCommerce→  In the dynamic world of eCommerce , embracing the latest technologies is key to staying ahead. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a game-changer, offering unparalleled tools for merchants to enhance their eCommerce businesses .  Having spent over a decade in the eCommerce space with some of the world’s largest online merchants (including Amazon, Dell and Expedia), I've had the opportunity of seeing this evolution up close. Now, as I run a leading eCommerce platform at Wix, which powers more than 700,000 active online stores worldwide, I can confidently say that we are at a pivotal juncture.  Create an eCommerce website  with Wix today. The once-exclusive AI capabilities—previously reserved for giant enterprises—are being democratized, making this the ideal time to experiment with AI and use it to stay ahead in eCommerce. This article delves into several practical use cases for AI in eCommerce, with a focus on the two main types of AI that have revolutionized the way we do business online today: generative AI and machine learning.  As you prepare for high-traffic shopping moments like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, these strategies become even more valuable for keeping your store fast, reliable and ready to convert visitors into customers. 16 examples of AI in eCommerce Brand development Online store design Website copy Product descriptions at scale Site images Refined product images Enhanced SEO Blog content Email and social media content Personalized marketing support Personalized customer support FAQ content Personalized shopping experience Hyper-relevant product recommendations Predictive analytics for inventory management Dynamic pricing Generative AI use cases in eCommerce  Generative AI is a trending technology that automatically creates new original content for you. It analyzes existing data and produces materials tailored to your business's needs. Within eCommerce, this type of AI significantly cuts down the time and effort needed to maintain an appealing online store and optimizes your content for better search engine performance,  customer experience and conversion. Here are a few examples of how you can use generative AI to your advantage.  01. Brand development  When you’re starting a business , AI tools can help you solidify a business idea, then suggest suitable business names, logos and domain addresses. The synergy between a solid business idea, a memorable name and strong brand visuals is what helps you stand out and earn credibility. Aside from sparking creativity, these tools analyze market patterns to spot the biggest opportunities. They also factor in your personal objectives when recommending the best business and brand concept for you.  Take Wix’s Business Launcher  or  AI logo maker  for a spin. 02. Online store design  Today, AI can already create your online store from top to bottom. The quality, of course, will depend on the platform you use. The best AI website builders don’t simply match you with a pretty template, but design your site with you, shaping every detail to fit your vision. The result: a fully functional website that’s optimized for conversions, complete with all the content, apps and functionality that you need to run your store. Try Wix's free AI website builder  today. 03. Website copy  AI content creation tools can be used for any type of website content for any type of business . They can produce all the text that your site requires, from the tagline on your homepage to the titles on your product pages. By simply answering a number of simple questions, these advanced tools are engineered to generate the best results for the specific website content that you’re looking for. Learn more about Wix's AI text creator . 04. Product descriptions at scale  When you have a large catalog, writing product descriptions can quickly become tedious. AI makes it possible to auto-generate hundreds of professional, engaging and SEO-friendly product descriptions—without leaving out important details. By analyzing specific product specialties and market trends, these descriptions are optimized for customer engagement. Case in point: Founder of Z Jewelers , Zamar, notes that “Before, I would put the most generic descriptions like ‘gold,’ ‘ring,’ ‘buy it now.’ But with [Wix’s] AI, it's helped me come up with more detailed descriptions of every product…and I noticed that after using AI, I've had an increase in sales as well.” 05. Site images In the dynamic world of online commerce, first impressions matter more than ever. Your site imagery plays a key role in leaving a positive impression by not only making your site more memorable but by reflecting your brand’s values and personality.  Using an AI image creator, you can create banner images and other site visuals that deliver an immersive shopping experience. Simply describe your desired image, and let AI create it.  You can also avoid expensive production days with apps like AI Packshots , which let you upload a photo you took with your phone and turn it into a polished, professional-looking packshot within seconds.  Discover more about Wix’s built-image creator or try Wixel , an AI-powered design platform, for free.  06. Refined product images You can give your product photography  an extra boost with the help of auto background removal and image enhancement tools. This ensures that your product images are aligned with your store’s aesthetic, enhancing the overall visual appeal of your site and boosting trust amongst your visitors. 07. Enhanced SEO These days, attracting a new customer can be pricey.  With customer acquisition costs skyrocketing by 222%  within the last decade, it’s more important than ever to invest in cost-effective marketing strategies like search engine optimization (SEO)—or, as of more recently, generative engine optimization (GEO). The latter refers to the art of optimizing your site so that it appears on AI-driven search results, like Google’s AI Overview section.  Fortunately, AI makes both SEO and GEO more accessible and scalable. Enhance your SEO with AI  eCommerce tools  that automatically write your title tags and meta descriptions by analyzing your site content. These optimized elements improve your visibility online and user engagement, which, in turn, attract more visitors to your store.  On the GEO front, you can use AI to automatically track mentions of your brand on various AI platforms, like ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude. You can use these insights to understand which AI searches and sources are attracting people to your product pages, then make sure your site answers their burning questions.  Learn more about Wix’s AI meta tag creator  or AI Visibility Overview . 08. Blog content It’s no secret that a blog can help you get in front of potential customers; in fact, organic search is the top traffic source  for all websites, according to a recent HubSpot report. With a blog, you can address search queries like “best running shoes for flat feet” or “how to pick the best running shoes” (as examples) that online shoppers may have before making a purchase.  That said, managing a blog is a lot of work. Generative AI tools make it significantly more manageable by producing blog articles that aren’t only engaging, but also optimized for SEO. You can equip the AI with specific prompts and your keyword. While you’ll want to double-check everything that AI creates, you could potentially publish more articles regularly without investing extra resources into it.  09. Email and social media content  Generative AI enables you to create eye-catching content for social media and emails. It can automatically create images, text and videos that show off your products, plus identify optimal posting times.  Perhaps most importantly, AI can help you tailor content to multiple customer segments. For example, in Wix, you can use AI to design a unique email based on various factors—including the intent, tone of voice and messaging that’s specific to your audience. The same can be applied to social media captions created with Wix.  10. Personalized marketing support  Aside from handing off the boring stuff on your to-do list to AI, you can use tools like Wix’s AI Marketing Agent  to anticipate what needs to get done. Tools like this can stay on top of any email campaigns, ads or other assets attached to your brand. They can then surface the most important things that require your attention and roll out any changes. For example, an agent might remind you about an upcoming shopping season and suggest sending your top users a coupon. Just approve the content it generates, and your agent will take care of the rest. In this way, you can capitalize on real-time marketing opportunities that you’d likely pass up when you’re swamped.  Bonus: Similar to having an AI marketing assistant, an AI business assistant  can help simplify day-to-day tasks. It can monitor your business more holistically, tracking site performance, billing and more—while creating content for your online course, blog and other properties. 11. Personalized customer support  AI-powered chatbots  have the power to improve your retention rates by providing instant, personalized eCommerce customer service as shoppers are browsing your site. It can mimic the interactions between in-store associates and shoppers, offering additional product details or answering questions about your return policies (as examples).  In the case of the Wix AI Site Chat , you’ve got the option to feed the chatbot additional details about your products via PDF to improve its accuracy. The chatbot will learn from these custom docs and your site content, becoming an expert on your products before answering customer questions or recommending products in real time.  12. FAQ content  By analyzing customer interactions and feedback, AI can help you stay ahead of customer queries and continuously update any FAQ pages on your site. FAQ generators can take a topic (like “return policy”) and suggest a list of related questions that your target customer may have, plus answers, to include within your FAQ page.  This proactive approach ensures that your customers find relevant, up-to-date information easily, enriching their experience.  Machine learning use cases in eCommerce  While generative AI has made most of the headlines lately regarding how well it creates new, original content, machine learning has tremendous power in providing predictive insights that can automatically improve any aspect of your business.  Machine learning in eCommerce harnesses a data loop process: it captures customer data, analyzes it and applies insights to make store adjustments. This cycle helps to continually refine the shopping experience. Essentially, it uses customer feedback to enhance future visits, constantly evolving to meet and anticipate shopper needs. This continuous optimization ensures a more personalized, efficient shopping journey, which is crucial for customer satisfaction and business performance. Below are a few practical and highly effective examples of machine learning capabilities in eCommerce.  13. Personalized shopping experience  Machine learning apps such as Twik  offer a groundbreaking approach to eCommerce, allowing you to tailor product galleries and shop pages to individual customer preferences. Twik, which is available on the Wix App Market , leverages AI and machine learning to understand shopper behaviors and intentions. It leverages these insights to offer the right products in the right order to the right user, in real time. Furthermore, it constantly optimizes your storefront based on real-world outcomes to attract more sales. By personalizing site menus and product catalogs, Twik Store Personalization helps to improve add-to-cart ratios and reduces cart abandonment rates. It operates autonomously, requiring no setup or maintenance, and is designed to adapt its strategies as it learns more about user preferences.  The end result is a highly customized shopping experience that meets the specific needs of each customer, reducing friction in the shopping process and significantly boosting conversion rates.  14. Hyper-relevant product recommendations  Smart Product Recommendations  are a pivotal tool for any online store looking to maximize its sales potential. By utilizing advanced algorithms, these systems analyze customer behavior, purchase history and browsing patterns to display similar or complementary products alongside a viewed item.  You don’t have to set any custom triggers by hand; AI will automatically surface the right product recommendations. This method of intelligent product placement allows you to subtly encourage customers to explore additional products that they might find appealing or necessary. As a result, customers are more likely to add more items to their cart, thereby increasing the overall order value.  15. Predictive analytics for inventory management Machine learning can revolutionize inventory management in eCommerce by leveraging predictive analytics. This technology analyzes past sales data, seasonal trends and consumer behavior to forecast future product demand. You can avoid number-crunching by hand and optimize your inventory levels to prevent overstocking or stockouts.  Aside from ensuring that popular items are always available, this solution can reduce the costs associated with excess inventory. Predictive analytics can also help in identifying potential supply chain disruptions and adjust inventory strategies accordingly, thereby maintaining a smooth operation and consistent customer experience. Note: this capability is primarily accessible to the largest merchants, but I predict that it will soon become accessible to the masses.  16. Dynamic pricing  Machine learning algorithms can dynamically adjust product prices based on various factors, such as demand, competition, market trends, customer behavior and inventory levels. It addresses the age-old problem of setting competitive prices that attract customers while maximizing your profit margins.  Dynamic pricing can be particularly useful when you’re facing high-demand periods, sales promotions or a volatile pricing landscape. By automatically adjusting prices in real time, you can stay competitive and responsive to market changes.  Note: This too, in all its glory, is mostly reserved for the eCommerce titans of the world. However, I anticipate it will become much more accessible soon.    How will the future of eCommerce be shaped by AI? The future of eCommerce stands at the cusp of a revolution, fueled by rapid advancements in AI. This transformation goes beyond the realms of generative AI and machine learning, extending into natural language processing, computer vision and robotics. When these AI advancements converge with ongoing improvements in logistics, mixed reality and cloud computing, we’ll be looking at a dramatically altered eCommerce landscape. In the coming years, AI will allow you to offer hyper-personalized and zero-friction shopping experiences like never before. Imagine entire storefronts, catalogs, promotions and products that look completely different for every customer. Such hyper-personalization will not only elevate the likelihood of purchases but also significantly boost customer satisfaction and retention rates. Furthermore, AI will bridge the gap between various stakeholders in the eCommerce ecosystem, including content publishers, eCommerce platforms , device manufacturers, retailers and logistics companies. Just imagine walking down the street and seeing someone with a stylish outfit through your AR glasses. In that instant, your glasses offer you the chance to virtually try on and/or purchase the entire look—clothing, accessories and all.  Or, let’s say you’re watching a sports game on your TV, and your favorite player is dominating. AI may suggest fan gear in your exact size and color preferences. All you have to do is say “Buy it now” to your smart speaker, and AI will instantly send your order to the right retailer and have your purchase at your doorstep within hours.  In many instances, the shopping journey will start even before you realize you want to make the purchase. That’s  the power of predictive AI.  The Wix commitment AI's role in eCommerce is transformative, progressing from today's generative AI and machine learning tools to a future of interconnected, sophisticated AI systems. This evolution promises immense growth and innovation opportunities in eCommerce. At Wix, we are dedicated to providing you with the best AI tools to grow your businesses today while equipping you for the thrilling advancements of tomorrow.

Websites, like fashion, make personal statements. Choosing dark shades for a website design is a powerful statement about the purpose and the mood of the site. Contrary to popular associations, dark doesn’t mean gloomy or scary. Dark colors can create a mysterious atmosphere, a classy look or a minimalist cut that draws attention to the product or service. These beautiful HTML5 websites demonstrate that well. Have a look and see how these dark shades positively accentuate the topic and web design of the website. With nothing against bright website color schemes – dark can be beautiful on its own right. Learn more: What is web design? Old Barber Shop Blake Allen Design La Bubbly Black Negative Josh Sullivan Blissfully Aware Moresoda Moresoda Under The Psycamore Granny and Smith STUDIOBEMA East Village Eatery Untitled Design Made in Germany Visualquimia WEARESIGNALS Vertu Blacktie MOA Beer Leah Haggar BlackRabbit Designs Learn more about how to make a website with our extensive guide.

The way your brand or business looks online is more important than ever. And while your website needs to keep up appearances with quality visual content, 31% of consumers also believe an engaging user experience should be a priority. When you create a website on your own, crafting an impactful user experience often depends on paying attention to unseen details like your website structure. Although a good website structure may go unrecognized by the visitor’s eye, an inadequate one will undoubtedly stand out and leave a poor impression. In this article, we’ll define a website structure, explain how to build it through the lens of UX design and discuss the most popular models used in website design and website templates today. Learn more: What is website design? What is a website structure? A website structure refers to the hierarchy, order and organization of your site’s pages, mapped out by a desired user experience. It connects all your web pages with a navigational system of menus, internal linking and content. Along with your site’s information architecture , website structure is an important UX design factor that impacts a visitor’s user journey. But it’s also a way for you as the creator to plan your site's layout and content and determine where each element should sit. Especially when designing a website with multiple pages, the more attention you pay to your site’s structure at the start, the less surprises you’ll have later on. What elements are in a website structure? Defining a website structure ensures that visitors follow a logical user journey when discovering information on your website. The structure must include all of the web pages on your site, a system of categories for organizing these and a means for visitors to navigate from one element to another. Your site’s structure should make sure the most important information is discoverable first, while inviting visitors to continue exploring the following elements: Categories and sub-categories Navigation Linking system Categories and subcategories Categories set the foundation for organizing your website structure, grouping pages of your site that have similar content, and making it easier for visitors to find what they need. In addition, bigger sites that have a large number of categories should further divide their content into sub-categories. If you’re a clothing retailer, your eCommerce website homepage would start with links to main shopping categories, such as “shoes,” “outerwear,” “pants” or “accessories.” Eventually, these pages will direct visitors to various sub-categories; “sandals,” for example, would sit under “shoes” while a sub-category like “fleeces” would sit under “outerwear.” Navigation Your website’s navigation lays out its structure for visitors, acting as a map of directions to the content they need. In most cases, this starts with a website menu—which may be a classic header menu across the top or a more minimalistic hamburger menu. Since the purpose of navigation is to guide visitors, your homepage should clearly display the pages and categories they’re looking for on your site. From there, sub-categories should also be discoverable, whether by using a drop-down menu or using another way to display links to sub-category pages. Additionally, you’ll want to be sure your site’s navigation drives visitors to other important web pages relating to your brand, such as an “About Us” page or a “Contact” page. Linking system Implementing a well-thought-out linking system ensures that your user moves through your site properly. Depending on the type of website structure you use, when learning how to make your website , there will be varying degrees to which the visitor relies on your linking system. In addition to links from your website’s menu, a structure can utilize the following kinds of links to elevate the user experience: CTAs , or calls-to-action, are strategically placed links that take visitors to a direct goal, encouraging them to make a move. Whether it's a link to “sign up” or “purchase,” CTAs are extremely helpful to visitors who have that specific goal on your site. Display them using bold text, enticing microcopy or a button design. Internal links refer to those links within a website that connect to other pages of the same site. Every site naturally has internal linking between its web pages, whether it's organized in the most optimal way for visitors is entirely up to you. Sometimes, businesses will group their pages into category “clusters,” using this as a guide. Having a system of internal linking also happens to be a strong SEO best practice. Since it is reflected in your sitemap, Google bots see the effort being made to provide visitors with the most relevant information in the right order. Contextual links bring the visitor to related content outside of your own site’s web pages, such as product pages from other businesses, blog posts, sources or news. Different types of website structures Take a look at the different types of website structures and examples below. What patterns do you notice? What are the characteristics of each? What type of user will benefit best from each of these structures? Having a grasp of the four most basic structures and how they’re used will help give you a better understanding of how to build your own design or which website template to use: Hierarchical model Sequential (aka Linear) model Matrix model Database model Hierarchical model The most popular type of website structure is the hierarchical model, where a homepage acts as the starting point, branching off into various categories and pages according to importance. Because it’s so versatile, this structure suits a variety of types of websites—from personal service websites to online portfolios. First, order your content according to importance. Most times, this means ensuring the user reaches general information first before discovering more detail. To draft and test out your hierarchy, use wireframes and card-sorting exercises. Then, once you have your pages created and mapped out, use an interlinking system and navigation menu to implement this hierarchy on your website. In the example below, we see a perfect representation of a hierarchical website structure in Steven Popovich ’s online portfolio. Ultimately, it facilitates a journey for users through different levels of information and actions on the site—from larger categories like “Beauty” and “Advertising” on the homepage, visitors get more detailed in the search for specific projects and brands. Steven Papovich 's online portfolio uses a hierarchical web structure Sequential (aka Linear) model A sequential web structure takes users through a step-by-step journey to achieve their goal, whether it’s narrowing down categories, guiding their search process or helping them find a sign up form. This basic, low-maintenance structure fits sites with minimal content and pages, such as a small business website or online portfolio . A sequential website structure starts at your homepage or landing page that lists a number of pages or categories. Visitors follow a linear flow that guides them through a journey of parent pages, ultimately landing them on their desired content. In the example below, Aly Gray designed her fitness website to take users through a sequential journey. By displaying four types of training packages on her homepage, visitors can choose which one initially sounds best, and page-by-page, start the process of signing up. Aly Gray 's fitness website uses a sequential website structure Matrix model While the matrix is one of the oldest website structure models, it still remains popular today. Geared towards letting visitors enjoy browsing without strict categories, a website structure following the matrix model does not have a rigid user journey in mind. This might sound chaotic, but for visitors, it means complete freedom and many points of entry to all of your website’s content. While categories, sub-categories and individual pages should still exist in the matrix model, you don’t have to curate their order of appearance for the user. Instead, the website’s robust interlinking and increased importance on navigation features, like a website menu or search bar, serve the user experience. Some of the best examples of matrix website structures are online newspapers, online resources or large eCommerce websites with a variety of content connected to one another. Below, Tach Clothing uses a matrix model, using the addition of breadcrumbs (and breadcrumb navigation) and a dropdown of suggested “trending products” in the search bar to take visitors outside of their current journey—albeit towards relevant distractions. Tach clothing uses a matrix website structure for their online store Database model Website structures that follow a database model often create dynamic and personalized experiences. A visitor to a site following this model will generally need to input their own personal details, queries or preferences. From there, the website will present them with relevant content stored like personal details or product pages in the webpage’s database. To do this on your own, you’ll need to work with a website software that allows you to create an internal database or integrate with external ones. Use a bottom-down approach to organize your content and outline the most dynamic design for displaying it to visitors. Using Velo , the business website for Code Zero Yachts (shown below) has integrated a sophisticated system of data for helping visitors find yachts available at specific times, price ranges and locations. Tip: If on the scale of low code to no code, you’re on the no code side, try out this simple way to display content from database collections on your Wix site . Code Zero 's business site uses a database style website structure How to approach your website structure Once you’re ready to design a website, decide whether you’ll use a top-down or bottom-up website structure to organize your content. While a top-down approach starts with outlining a hierarchy of categories based on your site’s general topics, a bottom-up approach starts with the least important sub-categories, working up to the more general categories and content. If you’re starting with a template, you likely don’t need to think much about creating a website structure—just be on the lookout for one that suits your content. If you’re making a site from scratch, using UX tools for stages like wireframing and drafting your design’s architecture can be extremely helpful for kick-starting this process. Why is it important to pay attention to your website structure? For a visitor to achieve a goal on your site, they must hit elements in a specific order. According to GoodFirms , 34.6% of online visitors will leave a site with a poor content structure. Whether you’re starting off with a website template or diving into your web design from scratch, it’s on you to make sure your visitors can find exactly what they need on your site, ensuring a solid website structure to support their user experience. But all this talk about how your structure will benefit users, what about you as its creator? A solid website structure is worth the effort from a business standpoint, too. Having a site that’s easy to use will undoubtedly leave customers pleased. With the right strategy, your structure will support your business by helping customers purchase and speeding out the checkout or contact processes.

When creating a website, it’s always great to have options. With a flexible set of tools from the Wix website builder at your disposal, deciding on the site structure and functionality will be a piece of cake! The real fun begins at the design stage. Adding visual media can create a great first impression and convey a message so your site visitors know what you’re all about right out of the gate.  Even if you have your own images and videos, you may be in the market for more when you start to think about how to make a website . There are several different places to acquire stock photos and videos, many of which can cost a pretty penny. They don’t have to, though! There are also several places you can get stock images for free to go with your new web design , and we’re going to lay out some of our favorites below! Let’s just say the following sites are well “stocked.” Learn more: What is web design? First, let’s talk licenses Stock photos and videos always have a license attached to them. You may have seen terms like Public Domain, Creative Commons, among others – and that’s exactly what these are. Licenses. Some licenses are completely free to use, while others either require accreditation or restrict you from using the media for commercial use. A majority of the resources you find here will offer you completely free media to use as you see fit, but it is good practice to always check the license before you download it. Free Wix Photos If you haven’t dived into the Wix Free photos available to you right inside the Editor, then you’re missing out. With hundreds of images to choose from, you can use as many as you wish on your website without a worry! With easy navigation and a search option to hone in on what you’re looking for, the Wix free images should be your very first stop! You’ll also have access to our video and cinemagraph collections. All of them can be displayed at full quality at any size, whether you want to use them as a small page icon or as your website background. Learn more about how to edit photos: How to edit AI generated images How to edit stock photography How to edit images for social media Pexels Pexels is easily one of the best sites for you to find free stock images. With a nice design and an incredibly large selection to choose from, this is a resource that shouldn’t be ignored. Navigating through the site is simple and to the point. You can browse photos by popularity, popular searches, leaderboards, and even color. The latter of which can be incredibly helpful if you’re looking for a specific color scheme. While discovering images on Pexels is easy, it could stand to more category options when it comes to browsing. That said, it’s really hard to find anything bad about what Pexels has to offer, given the treasure trove of photos available to you. Unsplash While Pexels falls slightly short when it comes to category choices, Unsplash gets high marks with its vast collections. In fact, outside of searching for a photo, digging through said collections is going to be your primary method for photo discovery. Slightly tucked away, Unsplash also offers a “most popular searches” section, which lists around 50 different popular searches. Due to the lack of genuine categories, it may be a bit difficult to find exactly what you’re looking for. Some of the collections are simply called “collection,” accompanied by a number, making what it contains a bit of a mystery. That shouldn’t stop you though, as it’s easy to get lost in all of the nice photos. Death to Stock Death to Stock may not offer a massive catalog for free users like the aforementioned sites above, but it’s definitely something to have bookmarked. This resource offers something you don’t often see amongst other stock photo libraries; Photo Packs. They contain a set of images, most, if not all, from the same shoot. Viewing one of the photo packs is a unique experience, as they tell a story. While not all images from the pack itself are displayed on the preview page, what is presented will easily give you the general vibe of the rest. The photos that are shown sprawl across the page, broken up by short lines of text, giving breath to a few of the 1,000 words the photos are worth. Fine print: Death to Stock requires a premium subscription to access all of its stock media. Without it, you’ll only have access to their latest photo packs (at the time of this writing, there were only 4 available.) Still, you can download all available packs every time they’re updated. Pexels Video Unsurprisingly, Pexels isn’t just a one-trick photo pony, as it offers an equally impressive collection of free stock video for the taking. Since it’s essentially the same website as it’s photo counterpart, Pexels Videos looks, feels, and operates the same exact way. When selecting a video, you’re given all of the information you need to know about it, including resolution and license type. Coverr.co Coverr.co makes all other site designs on this list look a little flat, except for maybe Pexels, making it a joy to use. Not only does the site look nice, it’s easy to navigate and has a wealth of beautiful videos to back it up. Functionally, Coverr.co is lacking a bit. You only have a handful of broad-stroked categories to choose from, and then you’ll need to scroll until you find (or don’t find) a suitable video. You’ll also find the site void of a search function. Nonetheless, Coverr.co exceeds in both content and design, and that’s enough for it to make it on this list. Mazwai When it comes to discovering videos, Mazwai very much offers a “what you see is what you get” approach. No categories. No search. Each video displays the creator’s name and that’s it. However, things get a little more interesting when you’re ready to download the video. Setting itself apart from every other site on this list, Mazwai allows you to choose how much of the video you want to download. Say you’re only interested in 8 seconds of the middle portion of a clip. You can set the beginning and end points, and you’ll only download that portion, saving you from having to throw the file into video editing software afterward. We see you, Mazwai. Other great resources Morguefile – Another great selection of free photos. (Not where they go to die) Pixabay – Offers up free images, videos, illustrations, and more. (There be no pirates here) Free Range – Free photos with a long list of categories. (Better than any free range egg) Stock Photos 4 Free – Thousands of free images to download! (About as literal as it gets)

The Necessity of a Style Guide A style guide is a document that prescribes the ‘style’ or standard format for you as you create a website . It lays down common guidelines for formatting texts and images, use of color and fonts, logo variations that can be used, etc. The general idea here is to: Create consistency across your website Outline guidelines that can serve future partners taking over from you In big (and some small) design companies, a website cannot be created without a style guide to back it up. It’s a communication document that levels out the expectations of all those involved in the project. It’s also a way of making sure there are no surprises in the end. Even if you’re not working in a team, a style guide can make your life easier. It is a crucial step towards creating a successful professional website. It’s the touchstone in the process that will keep you focused and help you achieve a more cohesive design. The Wix editor offers endless possibilities - like image slideshows as just one example, making for an exciting and refreshing design process. But watch out! This wealth of design possibilities can just as well throw you off track. A style guide will always help you steer back into the right direction thus saving you a lot of time. By creating a style guide you are effectively establishing rules that will make the design process more efficient and help the final website achieve its purpose. Learn more: Web design tips What is web design? How to Prepare a Style Guide Before approaching the editor grab a pencil and paper and construct your guidelines. Web guidelines keep everything consistent, from website header design to navigation structure. You can also take a look at current web design trends to find some inspiration before you get started. Points to Consider When Preparing a Style Guide Prepare a color sheet- what are the tones you would like to use in your design, and what is the color scheme of your website? A black and white concept with brightly colored text? Solid black background with neon colored elements? Lay out the colors together, when stuck or lost. It can be very handy to refer to your pre-planned guide. What fonts will you be using? Usually no more than three are needed. Find combinations of fonts that work for you. Decide what font you’ll be using for titles, sub-titles, headings and main text. Will you be using Bold or Italics for titles? Think about the grid and layout of the website. This determines where elements will be placed. Prepare some generic templates that you can use when designing. A good grid is the key to a good website and will ensure consistency. Have a look at your navigation structure and organization of relevant materials. Map out the information you want to display on your website – this is where you name the menu options. Menu options may include headings such as home, about, contact, gallery, portfolio (perhaps with sub categories), links, comments. Will you be using an intro page? Or use more than one language? This is the map of your website, it will ensure that your web design has an appropriate structure and will help you lay out all the materials you need to prepare. Prepare the text you’ll be using. Think of keywords you need to highlight. Gathering all the text at this stage including contact info and picture captions will be a huge time saver when you get to building your website. What images will be displayed? Are they ready to upload or are compression and editing needed? Decide which image goes under what tab and if captions are needed. How are the images going to be displayed? Perhaps with a consistent frame around them? If you have a gallery of some sort, plan out the image categories. Consider your use of graphic elements. This is where you decide whether and where to incorporate them, and how and where your logo will be integrated. You may find it helpful to have the editor open and play around with different options. Make sure to transfer your decisions to the style guide, so you will always be able to refer to it once you start. This is the best practice when deciding how to design a website in the most effective way. The best thing about a style guide is that it’s transferable- it can be applied to all your publications. The effort you put into the style guide will definitely pay off when you’ll see you can apply it to any other form of communication you use: email marketing, blogs, business cards – your company now has a strong unified style. Remember the document you produce is not set in stone, you can always make changes and update it. Learn more about how to make a website with our extensive guide.

Turn your ideas into a website you love with Wix →   When patients need a new dentist, most turn to the internet first. We've all been there —whether we're overdue for a cleaning or had a recent insurance change. When looking for a new dental practice, one of the first things people check is the website. If your practice doesn't have a strong online presence, you're likely missing out on a significant number of potential patients. We know running or managing a dental practice keeps you busy, but now is the perfect time to get started with a free website builder . While making a website from scratch might seem overwhelming, we've got the tools to make the process simple —and leave you smiling. Regardless of if you're new to web design or want to give your dentist website a makeover, keep reading for expert tips and step-by-step guidance. Building a website for your business, passion project or side hustle should be easy and exciting. With Wix, you can customize and launch a professional website in minutes, no coding needed. We’re all about simplifying the process so you can focus on what matters most–bringing your ideas to life. So why wait? Let’s get started on creating the website you’ve always wanted. Why dental websites can be a benefit to any practice  Your potential patients aren't just looking for any dentist —they're searching for a dentist who's professional, trustworthy and meets their practical needs, like convenient locations, office hours and accepted insurances. Having a website makes your services more discoverable to those in need of a new provider. It serves as a virtual representation of your practice, offering visitors a nice introduction that reassures them they're in good hands. A well-designed dental website can answer potential clients' questions upfront and build trust by highlighting the qualities and expertise that set your dental practice apart. Another one of the benefits of a website is that it can make life easier for you and your patients. Features like online scheduling, digital patient forms and payment options add a layer of convenience that leaves a lasting impression. For many patients, your website becomes a touchpoint for quality customer service that extends beyond the office walls. What is a website?  Learn how a website can help you connect with patients today. Features of effective dental web design Before we jump into the process of how to create a professional website , let's think about which elements will serve you and your web visitors. Effective web design results in great functionality, ease-of-use and the right aesthetic—and there are more specific criteria dental websites need to achieve this balance.  So, what makes a good website for a dental practice? Keep the following features in mind throughout your process: Learn more: What is web design? A clean and professional web design In comparison to trendy e-Commerce stores or artistic portfolio websites , a dentist website is a type of website  that doesn’t need to hone in on design trends to make an impact on visitors. Since your dental website will be used by a diverse audience from all sorts of backgrounds and demographics, it’s more important to use a design that’s intuitive and inclusive.  A healthcare website  like yours should focus on a clean aesthetic that presents your practice’s information without overwhelming visitors. That doesn’t mean beauty isn’t a factor—a simple yet modern website can be incredibly attractive, making a positive impression that’s balanced with user-friendliness.   Provides user-friendly tools A well-crafted dental website goes beyond looking good—it provides a smooth and frustration-free user experience. By prioritizing user-friendliness, your website becomes more than a marketing tool. Whether it’s a potential client or a current one, every visitor to your dentist site should find useful content and practical tools to help them achieve their goals.  And these days, there are so many supportive website features  available, there’s no excuse not to spoil visitors. As you build your website, take advantage of AI and business tools that can make your site extra user-friendly. For example, an AI chat box that responds to your visitors' questions immediately. Or, to simplify bookings and payments, integrate online forms, scheduling software and online payment options that work on any device. These tools don’t just help patients—they reflect your practice’s commitment to accessibility and convenience. Prioritizes web accessibility Web accessibility is an important step to make sure people with disabilities can engage with your site’s content and features. Rather than treating this as an afterthought, it’s important to build your site with accessibility in mind. 1 in 4 people in the US suffer from a disability —whether it's visual, audial, cognitive or other—making it likely that some of the customers your dental practice serves will require accessible elements.   "The way to make a site accessible is to build it the right way. To meet the needs of these users, and to ensure your site covers WCAG guidelines, you should incorporate elements like alt-text for images, sufficient color contrast, readable fonts and other accessibility features as you go." Nir Horesh, Head of Accessibility at Wix It’s good to know that tools like Wix are designed with accessibility in mind , and tools like the Accessibility Wizard exist to guide you with an AI-powered accessibility scan. Still, these tools don’t cover it all. Learning how to make a website accessible  and ensuring your site is accessible will benefit your customers and make sure those with disabilities aren’t alienated. Facilitates intuitive website navigation  Every website has a navigation system in place—but the best website navigation feels instinctive, guiding visitors effortlessly. For a dental website, good navigation is the key to helping patients find what they need conveniently, whether that’s office hours, your appointment booking page, or learning more about your team. This means building a navigation menu and using internal links to group your site’s pages together, which we’ll show you how to do in the step-by-step guide below.  How great dental websites are made in 9 easy steps Now that you’ve got the gist of how a dental website will affect your practice, let’s review the steps of how to create one. Here, we’ll mention important parts of the process and show you how to launch a new website like a pro  using a website builder to support your project.  Plan your dental practice website design   Choose a website builder Pick a domain name  Start quickly with a website template Include relevant pages and content Set up user friendly website navigation Implement local SEO practices  Make sure your site is mobile friendly Do one final review and publish 01. Plan your dental practice website design  Before getting into the hands-on creation process, your first step should be to draft a strategic plan for your dental website. This is a process that combines research with creative brainstorming.  Similar to mapping out a business plan for a private company , planning your website will be important to create a vision, maintain direction and stay focused throughout the project.   Here’s how to flesh out your intentions at this stage:  Do competitor research: Take a peek at other dental websites that inspire you and take note of their design and content decisions. While you don’t want to completely copy their site, this is a helpful way to learn more about dental website design and gain useful ideas. Write down clear goals : What do you aim to achieve with your website? Whether it’s getting the attention of more clients or setting up online booking procedures—setting goals at this stage will prioritize and highlight solutions. Define your audience: Knowing who will use your website provides an anchor for many decisions, from how to approach your website's copy, to branding and design elements, too.  Develop a timeline:  This can be helpful for breaking up the tasks and staying on track of website management before, during and after you publish your site.  Learn more about website mapping . 02. Choose a website builder   Many first-time dental practice owners may not have the time or the money to hire a professional website designer. That’s where a tool like Wix comes in. Today, there are plenty of website building software available that can put website development  in your hands, providing an affordable and easy way to design a website on your own.   When you review the options to pick the right website builder for your project, consider the following:   User-friendly interface: Most website builders feature drag-and-drop  and AI website building  technology to provide customers like yourselves with the tools to design autonomously.  Solid website infrastructure: A website builder that prioritizes high performing website infrastructure  is one you can rely on to keep your site up and running properly at all times. This refers to the hardware, software, network and server components that work together to deliver your online content.  Dependable web hosting: Curious about what is web hosting ? Web hosting is exactly what it sounds like—that is, the technology where all of your site’s files are stored to be accessed by visitors. Most website builders include hosting, but you should find one that’s known for its quality, since this will affect your site’s speed, reliability and security.  Diverse pricing plans: Website builders present a great opportunity for cutting down how much a website costs  these days. It’s easy to find a platform with pricing plans that accommodate your current budget, but it’s just as important to seek one that offers you potential to grow.  For example, Wix provides a free version upfront, with the option to upgrade Wix Premium Plans at any time —this ensures that you'll have access to more advanced design, business and marketing tools when your website needs it. Marketing and business elements: Even if you don’t use them right away, a dental website will benefit from a platform that supports small businesses. Look for a software that prioritizes marketing and business tools—whether it’s tools for brand building, eCommerce solutions for selling products or booking integrations to help customers.  03. Pick a domain name  As your site’s web address, a domain name  is an important element to decide on. This name not only serves the functional purpose of getting visitors to your homepage, it’s part of the brand identity your patients link to your online presence.  Your only goal when picking a domain name should be to keep it simple and on-brand. Include 1-3 related terms, such as the name of your practice, your location, or dentistry-specific keywords like “dentist,” “clinic,” or “oral surgery.” A domain name also includes a TLD (top level domain)—which is the last, but certainly not least important part (that’s the .com in Wix.com ). Some popular TLDs compatible with dental websites include: .com, .dental, .dentist, .clinic, .org or .net.  If you have a domain name in mind and want to see if it’s available, a handy tool like a domain name search  engine can tell you what’s yours for the taking, while offering alternative ideas.  04. Start quickly with a website template  Perhaps not as useful as dental floss, but website templates can help any dental practice get their online presence shining and ready in no time. Most website builders include template collections, which feature pre-made designs and layouts with varying levels of customization.  When thinking about how to choose a website template for your dental practice, focus on three things: your business goals, the layout, and the features you need to get started. The right template will have the essentials for a great dentist website while allowing you to tweak it to reflect your practice’s branding. Simple website templates are great for a clean and professional look, while industry-specific health and wellness templates can be a smart choice to explore, too. These templates may already include useful tools like appointment scheduling or design elements that resonate with dental patients. Remember, the right template combined with your personal touch will create a website that effectively represents your practice online. Once you find the perfect template, you can quickly start customizing elements like fonts and color scheme.  Explore these fonts for more design inspiration: Calligraphy fonts  for elegant and artistic designs Cool fonts  to add personality to your creations Cursive fonts  for timeless designs Cute fonts  to bring charm to your designs Free fonts : a curated selection Fun fonts  for playful and lively projects Futuristic fonts  for cutting-edge and modern designs Graffiti fonts  to infuse urban energy into your designs Handwriting fonts  to add a personal, authentic touch Number fonts  for creative numerical typography Poster fonts  to make your designs bold and eye-catching Pretty fonts  to enhance delicate designs Professional fonts  for polished and formal designs Psychedelic fonts  to inspire striking and retro visuals Resume fonts  to help your skills stand out with style Retro fonts  for a nostalgic twist in your visuals Scary fonts  to give your designs a chilling edge Script fonts  for a touch of sophistication Tattoo fonts  to inspire edgy and unique designs 05. Include relevant pages and content It’s time to start drilling web content  into your site. Like every patient’s smile, each dentist website is different—but here are some foundational parts of a website  and user-friendly elements we recommend you include:  Homepage: Since this is the first web page  visitors will interact with on your site, it’s important to use this space to introduce your practice. A homepage should include your dental practice’s name, strong imagery, and important details such as office locations, hours and contact info.   Your own logo:  A distinctive logo and branding is important for your practice’s success. A logo design can include traits that immediately communicate to your clients who you are and what your practice stands for, and like most branding elements, acts as a tool for differentiating your dental business from others. Your logo should be placed on your website, usually found in the website header—this strategic location will ensure no visitors miss it.  About Us page: Use your About Us page to build trust with new visitors and potential patients. Here, it’s typical to give more details about your dentistry, elaborating on the practice’s mission and specialties. Your dental website’s About page is also the perfect page for a “Meet the Team” section, and can feature photos of your employees, alongside their professional bios.  Contact page: A contact page is a standard way to give visitors informative details like your business’s office locations, phone number and emails for getting in touch. To add more user-friendliness for visitors, we recommend including a Google map for seamless navigation to your office, as well as using a contact form builder to streamline their communication process.  Scheduling apps: Bookings tools  display available appointment slots to customers so they can schedule their appointment directly on your website. This speeds up processes for busy patients, and it’ll also provide you with convenience on the website management  side of things. Your team can keep an eye on scheduling, send reminders and get notified of new bookings or cancellations—providing a more efficient way of running the office.   High quality images: You should include high-quality imagery and videos throughout your site that capture the essence of your dental practice. We’re talking about patients showing off their bright smiles, and friendly images that reflect high quality customer service. Whether you set up a custom photoshoot or take images from your website builder’s collection of stock images, be sure they’re dental related and inspire your audience with high quality. Also, a “Before and After” gallery is priceless—if you get permission from clients to showcase their dental journey, that’s a great way to show off your practice’s dentistry (and customer service) skills.  Pro tip: Want guidance on how to create a logo of your own? Check out our guide on how to create a medical logo  for inspiration and tips on how to nail your branding in the healthcare industry. 06. Set up user friendly website navigation  Your website's navigation acts as a digital roadmap, helping visitors discover different pages and sections of your dental practice’s website. Your site’s menu should guide visitors to find exactly what they’re looking for, whether that’s booking an appointment or learning more about your services.  In general, website navigation can vary in complexity. For example, a multi page website vs single page website  will change the size of a menu, and a bigger site may require more sophisticated navigation tools like pagination . But for a dental website like yours, it’s really important to keep it simple, clear and intuitive—especially because patients are often searching with specific details in mind. Make sure your menu is well organized, with the most important pages front and center. Key sections might include Services, About Us, and Bookings. Submenus can add clarity too, for example, under About Us, you could list a category like Meet the Team. When you consider your patient’s journey, you should also add internal links or call-to-action buttons throughout your site, making it easy to book appointments or access information from any page.  07. Implement local SEO practices  Search engine optimization (SEO) is the practice of optimizing your content to improve your website’s ranking on search engines like Google. While SEO is a marketing strategy of its own, including basic elements will set you off with a strong foundation. This can be implemented by using relevant keywords in your site’s written content, and especially within your site’s headings, alt texts and metatags.  To start, focus on local SEO, including keywords that encourage Google to display your site when people search local dentistry-related queries, like “dentists near me.” You should also focus on industry terms such as “dentist” and “dental practice,” along with those related to your location and specialties. For example, aiming for specific keywords like “teeth cleaning in Miami,” “family dentist in Miami” or “porcelain veneers” can eventually draw relevant traffic to your site.  Pro tip: Register your website for Google My Business, a Google directory that will amplify local SEO to bring more traffic to your website.  08. Make sure your site is mobile friendly  Put yourself in your clients’ shoes—most of them will want to access your website from a mobile device. If it’s too difficult to use on smaller screens, they’re likely to lose interest before they even think about making an appointment. It’s important to make sure your site is as mobile-friendly as it gets, so visitors on their smartphones have a great user experience. Most website builders include responsive design features that automatically adapt your site for mobile, which is one of the most important tools you can have today. While this technology does the heavy lifting of mobile design, it’s important to have control over these elements if you can. For example, with Wix, the Mobile Editor allows small changes to your content and layout, so you can make sure your dental website meets your standards across all screen sizes. 09. Do one final review and publish Before you hit “publish,” you want to feel confident in how your dentist website looks and functions. That's why it's important to take time to review your design and make sure it's in tip-top shape. Use our website launch checklist  to make sure no important tasks are ignored, and send a preview of your site to honest family, friends and colleagues, too.  Having a second and third pair of eyes review your website can help highlight any glitches in functionality, design and content. From pointing out spelling errors, to gaining feedback on the user experience—hearing what other users think is a valuable way to gain constructive feedback, especially since they might observe things you don’t.  How great dental websites generate leads and convert  Once your website is published, it should do more than just showcase your practice—it should actively work to grow it. Your dental website can become a marketing powerhouse, attracting new patients searching for a dentist, and turning curious visitors into loyal clients.  Online healthcare marketing  is the key to making this happen. By combining creative strategies and psychology tricks to improve your website, you can generate leads with new traffic and guide your visitors to take action. From encouraging content to effortless booking tools, here are some ways to get marketing leverage on your website:  Add testimonials and stats to build trust: Including reviews of satisfied patients is a great way to show new visitors they can trust your practice. You can also include statistics, like how many patients you’ve served, to reflect your experience. Both kinds of content can encourage potential to book an appointment with you. Start a dentistry blog: There’s so much expertise you can share to build a relationship with dental clients—that’s where learning how to build a blog comes in. Whether you write tips for dental procedures, or provide in-depth guides related to your practice (like, “what is a wisdom tooth and why do they get removed?”)—these expert topics are valuable resources in their own right, and may convince a new visitor to use your services.  A blog maker is an excellent way to improve your site’s SEO, too. With SEO implementation, your website may become available in search results when people ask Google or Gen AI tools about these topics.  Include CTAs: Strategic calls-to-action (CTAs) help visitors engage with important content—whether it’s your About Us page, bookings page or more. CTAs are effective because they come in the form of customized buttons, which you can design using unique shapes, colors and font styles to attract attention. Use concise copy, such as “learn more” or “book now,” and place CTAs in visible locations that encourage visitors to click through.   Include a QAB : For mobile users, a quick action bar (QAB) offers instant contact. Include actions like email and phone calls, or create custom links for direct access to key information. This ensures your visitors can easily get in touch or find what they need. Online forms:  Your site can assist incoming or current patients by providing the tools to get them ready for their upcoming appointment. Consider including documents like intake forms or patient agreements that your customers can fill out online in advance. This will make their in-person intake easier, and enhance their customer experience by providing a sort of portal online. That being said, a dental website, like a medical website, is subject to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which sets national standards in the US for protecting sensitive and personal health information. For dental websites, HIPAA compliance can be necessary, especially if you collect, store, or transmit personal information through features like forms, patient portals or online payment processing.  Dos and don'ts of dental website design  There’s a lot to take away from this guide on how to make a dentist website, but here are some outstanding best practices you should always keep in mind as you go:  Dos of dental website design:  Do prioritize user friendliness.  Do feature scheduling software. Do optimize your site’s content for speed and performance.  Do make contact info easy to find.  Do showcase trust factors. Don’ts of dental website design:  Don’t overload your site with too much text.  Don’t ignore SEO and accessibility.  Don’t use generic content.  Don’t overcomplicate the design.  Don’t skip mobile optimization . Great dental websites: examples  I couldn’t let you walk away without visual inspiration. Before you dive into your own design process, check out these health and wellness websites  and best medical website  examples.  These can give you ideas for creative ways to use Wix  and provide inspiration for how to engage an audience in the health industry.  Let's take a look at some of the best dental websites built on Wix to inspire your dental website journey: 01. North Park Dental North Park Dental ’s website combines a clean design with vibrant images, creating a welcoming feel. Notable features are an integrated appointment scheduler and a service breakdown that highlights their focus on family care. This easy-to-use layout guarantees patients find what they need quickly. 02. New York Prosthodontics New York Prosthodontics ’ website exudes sophistication and professionalism, ideal for a high-end dental practice. With a sleek layout and clear navigation, visitors can easily access essential information and meet the team. The homepage emphasizes expertise with patient testimonials and detailed treatment options. 03. Calimesa Dental Calimesa Dental  showcases the power of simplicity. Their minimalistic design focuses on clean visuals and straightforward navigation, making it easy for visitors to find essential information like services, contact details and office hours. This site prioritized functionality for their users, offering a smooth experience while maintaining a professional and welcoming feel. This approach is known to build trust and show the dental practice’s dedication to patient care. 04. Family Precision Dental Family Precision Dental ’s site focuses on creating a connection with potential patients through vibrant imagery and approachable content. Features like patient resources and detailed service descriptions help visitors make informed decisions about their dental care. 05. We Care Dental  We Care Dental keeps it personal with a warm and welcoming design that emphasizes patient-centric care. It includes a strong CTA for scheduling appointments and highlights their commitment to affordable dental care.  Final thoughts on creating great dental websites for your practice  With the right tools and guidelines, you can master the process of how to make a website for your dental practice. We hope this guide provides you with ideas and knowledge to assist you in this process. If you’re interested in learning more about our tools, check out our guides on what is Wix and how to make a Wix website . Since it's within the same industry, this blog post on how to create a medical website  may provide you with more inspiration, too.  Dental websites FAQ How much does a dental website design cost? Depending on your specific needs and the tools you use to design your dental website, the costs can vary. In general, using a website builder can be free of cost between $10-$50/month. While using a freelance web designer or agency can cost up to $10,000 or more for a single project. There are also ongoing costs like domain names, hosting and maintenance to consider.  Do dentists need a website? Dentists need to attract new patients since most people search online when looking for a new dentist. It’s also a way of building credibility, since you can use your site to showcase customer reviews and highlight your experience. A website is also a convenient tool for patients, since it can feature tools like intake forms and online booking.  What is a dental website? A dental website is an online platform for representing an individual dental practice. It provides visitors online with information about the practice’s services, office hours, location and more, and is often equipped with tools like online bookings. It is meant to enhance convenience for both dentists and their patients, and help to establish the practice’s credibility.  How do I advertise myself as a dentist? Promoting yourself as a dentist requires you to build a strong professional presence and use tools to reach your target audience and turn them into customers. A dental website is a great way to do this in today’s digitally heavy ecosystem. This can give you a way to showcase your services, and can help your practice become more visible in search engines by leveraging SEO. You can also engage new customers with social media, paid advertising and by offering promotions for your services.  How does a dentist go about creating a website? There are a few ways a dentist can go about creating a website for their practice. One, is to hire a freelance web designer. The designer you choose should prove to have skills needed to produce a professional online presence in your industry, so try to find someone who has experience in the health and medical website design niche. You can also go to a design agency, which gives you the added benefit of having a team of dedicated experts that will build and maintain your website before and after publishing.  Another way to create a website of your own is by using a website builder like Wix. These tools give you the capability to design your site independently, using tools like AI, drag-and-drop technology and website templates to speed up the process and make it easier. Using a website builder is often the more affordable option, which can be a big pro when you’re just starting your own dental practice.  How to build a dental website from scratch? This process involves careful planning, the right tools and attention to detail. Here are some steps towards building a dental website from scratch: Define your goals Choose a website building platform Secure a domain name  Pick a website Design the layout and visuals  Create essential pages and upload your content  Set up intuitive navigation  Include user-friendly features  Implement local SEO  Test, publish and promote your website

Start dropshipping now In order for your online business to survive its first precarious years—and to thrive beyond them—you need a solid ecommerce business plan. Most eCommerce websites  are built on a dream, a passion or a noble goal of fixing something that lacks a proper solution. But unfortunately, many businesses don’t last more than a few months.   After all, some of the most common reasons why businesses fail include lack of capital, inadequate management, and a faulty business model. Much of this is a symptom of poor planning. Here’s how you can better plan for your brand’s future and create a strong eCommerce business  plan in order to bring your eCommerce business ideas  to life. What is an eCommerce business plan? A business plan  is a roadmap for how to structure, operate, and manage your business. It includes the important elements that define your company—such as your name, description, capital needs, product categories, target market characteristics, and business goals. A thoughtful ecommerce business plan can prepare your store for a successful launch and/or help it to scale in the right ways. In the latter case, an annual business plan review and revision can help you adapt to industry changes and anticipate new trends or consumer behaviors.   In a nutshell, an ecommerce business plan helps you to: Secure funding: By having a business plan that details the who, what, where, when, and hows of your business—you’ll enjoy an easier time building trust with investors and piquing their interest. Filter distractions: New trends and distractions crop up all the time in eCommerce, making it especially important to have a plan that holds your business accountable to (read: focused on) particular goals. Do your due diligence: When you’re first figuring out how to start a business , it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and act on gut feelings. But building a business plan requires you to slow down and perform more thorough research on your target market, product(s), financial plan, and more. Plan for the long term: Your business plan will help you to better gauge where your business should be in both the short and long terms. It can also act as a compass, estimating the steps you need to take to get from where you are today to where you want to go.    Grow your team: An ecommerce business plan not only gives you a sense of who to hire and when, but serves as the glue binding your team to one, clearly defined vision. Grow your operations: Between your tech stack, staff, supply chain, website, and more—there’s a lot that needs to be put into motion before your eCommerce business can take off. Your business plan should outline all of these moving parts, helping you strategically build out your operations. How to create an eCommerce business plan An eCommerce business plan is structured similarly to a traditional business plan. However, it will detail things like your website builder, eCommerce merchandising methods , sales channels, fulfillment process, ecommerce metrics and goals that are distinct to building an online store  and running it successfully. Here’s a breakdown of what you should include in your plan and how to create it: Write your executive summary   Include your company name, description, and domain   Perform eCommerce market analysis   List the products you’re selling and why   Plot your operations plan   Set out your marketing and advertising plan   Lay out your financial plan   01. Write your executive summary Though this is published at the beginning of your business plan, your executive summary should be written last. This summary is exactly as it sounds. It connects and introduces all the components of your document for readers who want a brief overview of what your business is all about. It’s similar to a hook or an elevator pitch that compels readers to continue scrolling. Keep this summary short. Do not exceed one page, and include a brief description of your product or service, growth opportunities, and why your business is set up for success. What do investors or teammates need to know right off the bat? 02. Include your company name and description In this section, you’ll want to outline the who, what and why of your business. Rather than going into details about the products you plan to sell (this comes later), talk about your vision for the company. Share your motivations, values and problems that you plan to solve. Your description can include things like: Brand name: Selecting a meaningful name is particularly important for eCommerce businesses since your website domain will be closely associated with your brand. Jeff Bezos famously named Amazon after the world’s largest river because his goal was to create the world’s largest bookstore, but also didn’t want to be tied to books. Similarly, you’ll want to pick a name that you won’t outgrow. If you need some inspiration, give Wix’s store name generator  a whirl or check out this guide to eCommerce business names . Domain name : At this point, you’ll want to have registered a domain name. Use Wix’s domain name search  to check if your preferred domain is available. If the domain is taken, you can take one of several steps: contact the site owner directly, tweak your domain (e.g., add a verb like “get” to the front of your name), use a different TLD than .com, or use an abbreviated form of your name. Background: Your description is a great place to share why you started your ecommerce business in the first place. What inspired you to create your brand? Who do you plan to serve? What do you plan to accomplish? While you want to avoid waxing poetic here, it’s worth giving your readers an inside look into the history of your company. Vision: Your vision statement  should capture the ideal state of your business. In other words, what is the future that you’re building towards—not just now, but five or 10 years from now? Mission: Your mission statement , on the other hand, should express what you’re striving and able to achieve now. While your vision statement provides the 30,000 foot view of your company, your mission statement acts as a compass for your team and keeps them motivated to do their best. Business structure: Be clear about whether your company is a sole proprietorship, an LLC , s-corporation, c-corporation or partnership . If you’re not sure which applies to you or which one to pursue, consult a lawyer or accountant. Key personnel: Name key team members like your cofounders, CEO, partners, and upper management. There should be no question about who owns the company and who is responsible for managing what. This is not something just meant for appearances—your team should be well-structured to ensure efficiency and growth. Core values: Your values should represent how you plan to run your ecommerce business. Investors and employees will want to know that they’re backing the right horse, not just from a financial perspective but from a human perspective. Your values will naturally make an appearance in your vision, mission, and background, but make sure that your values are clearly stated for readers to refer back to. 03. Perform eCommerce market analysis Your ecommerce business plan should include extensive information about your industry and the people you plan to serve. The last thing you want to do is enter the ring blindly or operate based on assumptions alone. This section should describe everything from the barriers to entry, to how your business fits into the existing landscape, to how much opportunity exists. Remember that you’re the expert here. Not everyone who gets their hands on this doc will have as much insight into the industry—nor the time to research it on their own—so you’ll want to provide all the essential information up front. Target market: Estimate the number of consumers who need your product (based on real independent research) and how often they may make a purchase. Revisit your buyer personas and describe who you’re planning to target. Is the need for your product growing, based on the climate of your industry? What consumer behaviors have you observed? Are there any doubts or questions that you should address? Competitive analysis: Identify your top competitors and perform a deep dive into their strengths, weaknesses, top products, pricing strategies, and more. You should know how your business stacks up against these players. For example, many companies manufacture and sell hair and body care products but Lush built its reputation by taking a stand against animal testing, over packaging and harsh synthetic ingredients. The company has a clear niche of eco-friendly products within the cosmetics and bath products industry. They create unique, memorable products that are easy to differentiate from competitors (and fuel brand loyalty). The most important thing at this stage is to be honest in your assessment. Don’t turn a blind eye to areas where your company needs to improve or any risks that you run. At the same time, zero in on any product gaps or niches that your company can effectively target to get ahead of competitors. Special considerations: As an eCommerce business, you may not simply sell D2C from your branded site. You may also choose to sell on third-party marketplaces like Amazon, sell wholesale, or open brick-and-mortar locations. Each of these may involve a different set of competitors and buyers. Take the time to look into each of these channels separately. Understand how you plan to compete on all of these different fronts (or perhaps now is a good time to define which is most important to start off with). 04. List the products you’re selling and why you’re selling them By now, you’ve likely mentioned your product several times within your ecommerce business plan. Still, you’ll want to have a section that clearly lists out your products. In this section, describe your pricing, product positioning , margins, product life cycle, and key differentiators. You can include pictures and product reviews if you’ve already tested your items in the market. Or, if you’re still in the research and development phase, describe your timeline and progress in detail. It should be clear whether your products are private label  or sourced elsewhere. If you only sell a few items, provide a more detailed description of each. Alternatively, if your catalog is too large to list out, give a more general overview of each product type, plus the strategy behind them.   05. Plot your operations plan If your ecommerce business plan is meant to serve as an internal doc for your team to use (or even if you want investors to see where your capital is going), include a section that describes how you plan on tackling logistics and operations. There are tons of things to keep track of on this front, from the suppliers you’ll need to work with to the storage space you’ll require. Here’s a breakdown of information you can include. Suppliers: List out your suppliers for raw and/or finished goods. Where are they located? How do you plan on connecting with and managing them? Production: Are you dropshipping , manufacturing, hand-crafting, or buying your products wholesale? Include details like lead time, contingency plans (for when demand spikes), and other essential details about your supply chain. Equipment: What hardware and software will you need to conduct business? Include your website builder and other subscription-based tools that you’ll need. Warehousing: Explain where you plan on storing your products—whether that be your own warehouse or a third-party logistics (3PL) provider. Facilities: Do you plan on opening a brick-and-mortar location or will you have a designated office space? Include where your team members will be operating out of and how that might change as you grow. Personnel: You’ll want to be clear about the chain of command and which roles are filled or need to be filled. Don’t forget to think about any legal or accounting needs, in addition to board members, consultants, and employees. Inventory: How do you plan on handling inventory management ? This is an area where lots of ecommerce businesses stumble, so you’ll want to have a clear strategy (and the necessary technology) to keep this in check across all of your sales channels. Shipping and fulfillment: Do you plan on fulfilling orders on your own or will you outsource this responsibility? Moreover, how will you handle international shipping if your brand plans on selling overseas? 06. Set out your marketing and advertising plan It’s no secret that you need a good marketing and advertising plan to grow your eCommerce business . That’s why you don’t want to haphazardly build your eCommerce marketing strategy . Think of—and document—the various components of your strategy: PPC ads Social media ads Content marketing/SEO Organic social media Email marketing Influencer marketing Promos/discounts Affiliate marketing Loyalty programs Events/pop-ups/ flash sales /trade shows Radio or TV Brand partnerships A strong marketing plan  doesn’t necessarily require a big advertising budget. But you’ll want to name your top channels upfront and specify whether these things will be handled in-house or with an agency’s help. 07. Lay out your financial plan So you’ve got big plans for your eCommerce business. How will you fund them? This is where you reassure readers that your head isn’t just in the clouds. While this is probably the least fun to write, the viability of your online business (and your reader’s confidence in you) relies on having a firm grasp of the numbers. If you plan to seek financing, then investors and lenders will want a sales forecast along with your list of expenses (this includes both fixed costs and variable costs) to ultimately ensure that they’re making a sound investment. Or, if you don’t plan on seeking third-party funding, a financial plan still tells you how much money you’ll need to run your business and helps to protect you from unwelcome surprises. The last thing you want is to run out of money before you can establish yourself—which is one of the top five reasons that eCommerce startups failed in the same survey mentioned above. Consider including these elements within your ecommerce financial plan: Startup cost Income and expenses Balance sheet Cash flow statement Break even point Customer acquisition cost Key assumptions Financial projects for next five years Whether you’ve just dipped your foot in eCommerce or have been in business for years now, you’ll need an up-to-date business plan to run a tight ship. Download our free business plan template  today and build a solid foundation for your brand. Ecommerce business plan FAQ Why do I need an eCommerce business plan? Having an eCommerce business plan is essential for several reasons. It serves as a roadmap that outlines your business goals, strategies, and tactics, helping you navigate the complexities of starting and running an online store. What are the main steps included in an eCommerce business plan? The main seven steps in creating an eCommerce business plan include: Writing an executive summary Giving your company name and description Performing eCommerce market analysis Describing the products you plan to sell Planning your operations Establishing a marketing and advertising plan Laying out your financial plan