How to Build an Auction Website Successfully

auction design templates

Are you looking to create an auction website to sell products to the higher bidder?

Does your current auction website need a facelift?

Bad website design can keep customers from using your site. You don’t want to lose business because of a poorly designed website!

The design on an auction website has to focus on user experience and user interface.

If your website is hard to use or difficult to navigate, customers will go elsewhere.

Continue reading to learn the need-to-knows for successfully building an auction website.

1. Design before building

Before you start building your site, it’s important to have a design idea on paper.

Do you know what content will be on your website?

Do you have an idea of where links, images and other items will be located on the site?

All of the fine-grained details need to be mapped out before spending time building a website.

This includes a wire-frame and website mock-up!

If you need help with designing your website, check out auction design templates.

Templates remove a lot of the guesswork that comes with designing a website.

2. Decide where your website will be hosted

Will you be purchasing and maintaining your own server?

Do you plan to use a web-hosting service?

Have you considered a pre-built web platform like WordPress?

There is no wrong or right option. The best decision depends on your business needs.

To decide on the best hosting platform, consider these questions:

  • How big is your budget? WordPress is inexpensive. Hosting your own auction website will require custom development. This can get expensive!
  • Who will run the site? Will you be the content manager and the brain behind the computer? If you want to have control of the website, WordPress is the better answer. Otherwise, you’ll need to outsource support.
  • Want a supportive community? Sites like WordPress offer access to a large community of developers. Unless you are a technical guru, this support will come in handy.

Helpful WordPress plug-ins

If you decide to go the WordPress route, there are plug-ins that you’ll want to use for your auction website.

Must have plug-ins include:

  • Account creation
  • Item search
  • Buy it now
  • Private messaging
  • Email notifications
  • Shopping cart
  • Payment gateways

3. Dream big but start small

eBay didn’t become a billion dollar company overnight.

Your dreams of growing your website into a huge success are possible!

But you have to build your business on a solid foundation.

This means starting small.

Start with a simple but functional website.

Build your customer base. Be patient, it will grow!

Add more features and functionality to your website as your clients provide feedback.

Keep your website design flexible!

And in due time, your auction website will grow in size and popularity.

This sounds like the winning bid for a successful website, right?

Conclusion

Your auction website is your company.

The website you provide for users is what will make or break your success.

It’s important to spend the time and effort needed to build a quality website. You will thank yourself in the future!