Ecommerce has seen a surge of new businesses and customers over the past few years.
In response to the pandemic, small business owners took their stores online, while consumers turned to online shopping to procure necessities and even relieve stress.
The U.S. Census Bureau estimates U.S. retail ecommerce sales in the first quarter of 2021 to have reached $215 billion, up 7% from the last quarter of 2020 and up almost 40% from the first quarter of 2020. Sales from ecommerce platforms accounted for 13.6% of total retail sales. eMarketer projects that U.S. ecommerce retail sales will reach a trillion dollars in 2022.
If you're interested in riding out this ecommerce trend, there is no better time to start an ecommerce business than today.
However, before starting your online shop, it's a good idea to take a page from the top ecommerce sites in the U.S. to learn their secrets for success. In the following examples, take note of their use of ecommerce website best practices, as well as their use of classic web design principles.
Read on to discover:
- Top 10 Ecommerce Websites
- Tips for Building Top Ecommerce Sites
- Final Thoughts: Top Ecommerce Sites in the US in 2023
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Top 10 Ecommerce Websites
These are the top 10 ecommerce sites in the U.S. If you want to learn more about what makes them stand out, keep reading.
1. Amazon
Estimated monthly traffic from the U.S.: 942.3 million
The name Amazon is synonymous with ecommerce. It is, after all, the top ecommerce site by sales in the world.
Founded in 1994 as a humble bookstore startup, Amazon has undergone tremendous ecommerce growth to dominate the industry by offering one to two-day shipping with an Amazon Prime membership.
Besides allowing customers to shop for its branded products, Amazon also lets users sign up for seller accounts on its online marketplace.
2. Apple
Estimated monthly traffic from the U.S.: 538.4 million
Apple has been synonymous with cutting edge technology for close to 50 years, with the introduction of the Apple I in 1976. The company introduced many firsts and innovated existing tech, from the home computer to smart watches.
The Apple online store goes beyond just ordering products. You can engage with a specialist to help you make purchase decisions, engrave a product, or even set up an appointment for the Genius Bar.
3. Etsy
Estimated monthly traffic from the U.S.: 253.3 million
Founded in the U.S. in 2006, Etsy is one of the best ecommerce platforms for sellers dealing with handcrafted or vintage items. With over 2.5 million vendors selling to over 40 million shoppers worldwide, Etsy has made a good name for itself despite its very niche business.
Related reading: Etsy Alternatives: 6 Reasons To Launch Your Own Online Store >>
4. Walmart
Estimated monthly traffic from the U.S.: 222.1 million
An established name since the 1960s, Walmart is America’s largest multinational retail corporation, operating a chain of hypermarkets, department stores, and grocery stores in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
It’s no surprise that Walmart is one of the top ecommerce sites in the world. With over 2.2 million employees worldwide, Walmart is the world’s largest employer and largest retail company by revenue.
Besides listing and selling items on its website, Walmart also has an online marketplace called Walmart Marketplace, founded in 2009.
5. eBay
Estimated monthly traffic from the U.S.: 151.1 million
Founded in 1995, eBay is also one of the pioneers in the ecommerce space. It is one of the success stories of the dot-com bubble in the late 1990s.
eBay started as an online auction website before offering ecommerce capabilities to its users, empowering them to buy and sell different goods online.
6. Home Depot
Estimated monthly traffic from the U.S.: 141.8 million
Home Depot is the U.S.’s largest home improvement retailer, making it the go-to website for home improvement supplies. The now-top ecommerce site started in 1978 and operates over 2,200 stores in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
7. Target
Estimated monthly traffic from the U.S.: 126.1 million
Target is the eighth-largest retailer in the U.S. and the second-largest department store after Walmart. It has over 1,900 stores in the U.S.
In 2019, Target opened its website to third-party sellers through its Target Plus program, an invite-only online marketplace designed to expand the product selection on Target’s website with goods from third-party sellers.
8. Nike
Estimated monthly traffic from the U.S.: 106.0 million
Nike is an American multinational footwear and sportswear company headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon. They are the largest supplier of athletic shoes in the world.
Known for its iconic "Just Do It" slogan, the brand partners with countless sports stars and celebrities for collaborations. Their online store is massively popular with sneakerheads – the sneakers have become collectibles and are highly sought after.
9. Samsung
Estimated monthly traffic from the U.S.: 97.1 million
Samsung is a multinational manufacturer of electronics components and appliances. It is also the largest manufacturer of mobile and smart phones in the world. The company additionally manufactures displays for companies like Apple, Sony, and Nokia.
The Samsung online store is an online portal to purchase their complete line of commercial products, from phones to computers, microwaves to washing machines, and even bespoke appliances.
10. Best Buy
Estimated monthly traffic from the U.S.: 71.6 million
Best Buy is a multinational consumer electronics retailer. It started its business as an audio specialty store in the 1960s before focusing on consumer electronics in 1983.
Today, as one of the top ecommerce sites in the U.S., Best Buy offers a wide range of items across several product categories, including electronics, furniture, fitness, and baby products.
Tips for Building Top Ecommerce Sites
As you can see on our top ecommerce sites list, online marketplaces make up the first five items, while custom ecommerce websites make up the remaining five.
However, no matter if it is an online marketplace or a custom ecommerce website, you'll notice that top ecommerce sites have several website features in common.
Some of them you may not be able to spot immediately, but here's the good news — we've compiled them for you.
So, if you're ready to build your online store website, take note of the following website tips to design a top ecommerce site of your own:
Focus on a user-friendly design. There is a lot of thought that goes into designing websites. The top ecommerce sites have modern web designs that are easy to navigate, fast-loading, and responsive on both desktops and mobile devices.
Because ecommerce sites have a lot of large files (like product images), they aren't always the fastest. Page load speed is an SEO ranking factor that can affect how potential customers use your website and how it appears on search engine results.
Some website speed optimization tricks are to:
- Choose the right web hosting provider.
- Optimize images.
- Enable caching.
- Use a content delivery network (CDN).
- Learn how to create a one-page website.
- Build a beautiful homepage. A website’s homepage is the online version of a storefront. Create a homepage inspired by these beautiful homepage design ideas.
- Emphasize website security. Top ecommerce sites must be secure because they deal with customers’ sensitive personal information and financial data. Ensure that your ecommerce store has an SSL certificate and is PCI-compliant.
- Provide multiple payment gateways. Top ecommerce sites cater to customers from different countries. Although most shoppers are comfortable using PayPal or credit cards, other customers may have different preferred payment methods.
- Offer thorough product information. Customers can't see the products in an online store firsthand. For that reason, top ecommerce sites must give users comprehensive information about the merchandise on their listings and product pages. The standard is detailed product descriptions and high-quality images.
Final Thoughts: Top Ecommerce Sites in the US
Ecommerce is growing and will continue to do so in the coming years.
If you've found inspiration in our top ecommerce companies list and decided you want to start an online business of your own, all you need is a solid foundation.
That's where managed WooCommerce from Nexcess comes in.
It's easy to get started with WooCommerce. With a few clicks you can pick a theme, add your products, and start selling from your online store.
So, what are you waiting for? Check out our managed WooCommerce plans to get started with ecommerce today.
