As many top 500 e-comm site operators know, a web site is only as good as it's features. Last time, I talked about the small things that make e-comm sites popular. Today, I want to talk about those who help you get there and what to do when the budget isn't there.

Most e-comm sites don't go it alone. You have a cart solution provider, a payment transaction provider, analytics provider, hosting provider, a search provider, a channel provider, an affiliate provider, SEO / SEM campaign, user recommendation provider, review provider, etc... You get the point. The fact of the matter is that all of these solution can be done in-house by your IT department. They can make anything themselves if given the time and enough developers. So why are so many companies contracting out?

The answer is simple and two-fold; Lack of knowledge of the solution, and external development. The fact is, if you have a search solution, you call the search provider to make changes to it. It's all they do and they do it very well. If your IT department did it, it would be one of a few things they did and one guy would probably be the expert. When that one guy leaves, your expert is gone and you are back at square one. Someone in IT needs to learn the code before making changes or fixes and then things get lost or forgotten. Not the best scenario.

On the other hand, good documentation, code comments, and using basic and widely accepted processes can help anyone pick up where someone else left off. Doing it yourself can also save money because contracting it out can be expensive. A normal e-comm operation with integration partners can cost a few million in start up costs dependent on size, along with $50,000+ a month in "service fees" to the solution provider. Think of it as a retainer so they do whatever changes whenever, unless it's big. Then they charge you more to spend time on it. 

I personally have been a fan of doing it yourself. You can get exactly what you want and customize the solution 100%. It's your branding and works your way. No comprosimise. However, to do this documentation is key as well as very knowledgable programmers. It's a good money saving tactic and can prove benificial in the long run.

On unlimited budgets, of course i would fimd 3rd party solutions 100% of the time, but if money is not there, I don't let that stop me. That's what it comes down too. You have to figure out what you want, then figure out how to get there. Remember, nothing is ever a brick wall, just a bigger hurtle.