What is the Difference Between B2B and B2C eCommerce Web Design?

Author: Michael Scorcia Category: B2B, B2C, Web Design Date: February 18, 2021

As the face of your eCommerce business, your website is the first place visitors will go to form an impression of you. It’s your best shot to grab their attention, engage them and, ultimately, make the sale. But to create a site that resonates, first understand that not all eCommerce sites are created equal. It all depends on your audience: are you serving businesses or consumers? And what exactly is the difference between B2B and B2C ecommerce web design?

A business’s needs are vastly different than those of a consumer—and your site must reflect that reality. Today, we’ll help you understand the difference between B2B and B2C eCommerce web design and why it matters.

B2B and B2C Web Design: What You Should Know

While all eCommerce sites serve the same basic function (selling something to their customers), they require different functionality that caters to the user. Here are some of the main differences between B2B and B2C eCommerce web design.

When it comes to B2B eCommerce website design, keep in mind your B2B customers aren’t perusing the internet on a shopping spree to meet an emotional need. They aren’t interested in the bells and whistles or cool, interactive features and functionality. Rather, they’re looking to procure a supply or service to solve a business problem.

In other words, your B2B eCommerce website design should allow for a quick and easy user experience that will help your audience do their jobs better and support business success. Keep the sales cycle in mind in your B2B eCommerce website development; you need to accompany users through the buyer’s journey and build trust over time before expecting them to make a purchase.

Consider the following in your B2B eCommerce website design:

• Include calls to action that push users to engagement rather than the straight purchase. If you ask for the sale too soon, you’ll run the risk of scaring off your buyer.

• Collect contact information in exchange for value-added content, such as free quotes or assessments, whitepaper downloads or webinars.

• Be clear and to the point about what you have to offer. B2B customers are busy and don’t want to waste their time navigating through your site to figure out how you can help them.

• Educate your viewer with informative content that will help them make a purchasing decision.

• Build in functionality that addresses things like purchase orders, shipping and freight options, payment options and MSRP codes.

Unlike with B2B eCommerce website development, a B2C eCommerce site should be built to offer an engaging experience that captures and holds the user’s attention. If your site fails to capture the moment, you risk losing that consumer to a competitor. The consumer is engaging in more of an emotional experience; they are browsing—and they want to be enticed.

Keep the following in mind when designing your B2C eCommerce site:

• Make your calls to action easy and prominent.

• Include pictures, videos, FAQs and reviews to help your consumer make a decision.

• Be sure your category navigation and search functionality are intuitive.

• Keep your checkout process easy.

• Incorporate a responsive design that accommodates various screen sizes, including mobile.

While all eCommerce sites should be aesthetically pleasing, clear and easy to navigate, knowing the difference between B2B and B2C eCommerce web design can make or break your ability to drive traffic, boost engagement and close sales. In the world of B2B and B2C web design, it comes down to knowing your audience—what they need and what motivates them.

At Paradigm, we are experts in both B2B and B2C web design. We’ll build a professional eCommerce site that supports your marketing objectives and sales goals.