Great news! You’ve probably heard that e-commerce is poised to be the future of retail. And if you’re not selling on the internet yet, that’s okay—you can still get in on the action. We’ll walk through our favorite strategies for starting an e-commerce store, including how to choose your software, payment processor and more. By implementing these strategies (and maybe even incorporating some others), you’ll be able to build a profitable and successful online business from scratch.
Choose your e-commerce software
The next thing you need to do is choose your e-commerce software. It’s important that your platform is easy to use, and compatible with the needs of your business. For example, if you are selling products through Amazon or Facebook, then Shopify might be a good option for you because it’s built for online stores that use those platforms. If you’re selling on Etsy and would prefer to have an alternative platform that allows for more customization and control over what content goes where on each page, Magento may be better suited for you.
Choose the right payment processor
You can’t run a successful e-commerce site without an effective payment processor. You need to select a processor that’s reliable and easy to use, so you can focus on growing your business. Make sure it’s PCI compliant—that means they have security measures in place to protect customer data. Then, check out the features and benefits of each option before choosing one. Also make sure you choose a processor with good customer service support if something goes wrong with an order or payment method.
Let your brick-and-mortar store feed your e-commerce store
For small businesses, it can be hard to build trust with a new customer base. Having a physical retail location allows you to establish that trust and create brand loyalty in person.
Use your physical store as an opportunity to build on the brand image you’ve created online. While building credibility through social media and email campaigns is important, there are some things that can only be accomplished face-to-face—from creating memorable experiences for customers (like trying out samples or asking them questions about how their day went) to simply seeing what kind of personal relationships you’re able to form with them over time.
Send customers to your e-commerce store with omnichannel marketing
If you want to maximize the number of visitors who convert into customers, you’ll want to send them to your e-commerce store from across channels. Your website, social media and email marketing campaigns should all include a link to your e-commerce store—and ideally, it will be mobile-friendly so that visitors can browse and buy products on the go.
To encourage shoppers to visit your e-commerce site, make sure that each campaign has an easy way for people to click through directly from their desktop or mobile device. On Facebook ads, this may take the form of an “open” button (the one with the downward arrow) with “shop” written above it; while on Twitter ads, they’ll see a link at the bottom of each tweet directing them back over onto their device’s browser window in order to check out more options or complete a purchase.
If you have time constraints during these campaigns’ production periods (or if they’re not available in all countries), consider including an image of how great life could be if consumers made purchases right now rather than later: maybe show off how much better someone looks after getting into shape or wearing makeup professionally applied? As long as it’s relevant enough within context of those particular ads’ messages but still inspires action on behalf of potential customers by reminding them how good things will feel once they’ve bought something now rather than later.
Keep up after a sale with email and social media marketing
After you make a sale, it’s important to stay in touch with your customers. Email marketing is one way to do this.
You can set up an automated email campaign that sends out emails at regular intervals—for example, once a week or once every two weeks—and include helpful information about the products and services you offer. You could also use social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to share photos of new arrivals or goings-on in your store.
Do not forget about perfect SEO optimization. In a sea of competitors, it is necessary to stand out on the search engines. An expert SEO agency from Sydney can help you the most in this. You will save a lot of time and you will get to profit faster.
Manage inventory across all channels
Inventory management is a major concern for small businesses, and it should be an important part of your e-commerce strategy. It’s possible to manage inventory across all channels with a single system, which can help you avoid mistakes when fulfilling orders or moving products from one place to another.
One way to do this is by using an inventory management software like QuickBooks Inventory, which lets you track the quantity and value of your incoming goods as well as their distribution across multiple locations. This allows you to ensure that the right amount of product is available in each location at any given time—and that nothing gets lost along the way!
Sell on third-party channels like Amazon, eBay, Etsy and Houzz
Photo by James Yarema on Unsplash
The two marketplaces that are most likely to give you the best success are Amazon and eBay. Both can help you grow your business, but in different ways.
Amazon is a good place to sell new and used items, but it’s also a great place for Amazon sellers who want to buy products from other sellers and resell them on Amazon. When you sell on Amazon, you’re essentially becoming an independent retailer who uses their platform as your storefront. This means that all of the marketing, customer service and fulfillment responsibilities fall on you as the seller rather than being handled by Amazon itself (though certain services may require an additional fee).
Ebay is another option if your focus is more specific—say collectibles or antiques—and many successful businesses have started out just selling online through this marketplace. Again, since Ebay operates as merely an online marketplace for buyers and sellers rather than handling any of the logistics or customer relations for those who use its platform, this requires some extra work from eBayers themselves depending upon what they’re selling.
These strategies will push you down the path to success in the online marketplace
The e-commerce industry is growing at a rapid pace, and it’s no surprise that more and more businesses are making the switch to online platforms. If you want your business to stay competitive, using these strategies can help ensure that you remain relevant in today’s marketplace.
How do I use them?
These strategies will be most beneficial if used in conjunction with each other. You can use one strategy by itself or combine several of them for maximum effect!
Benefits include: Increased sales and traffic on your website; ability to reach consumers around the world; increased brand recognition; market research opportunities; ability to expand product offerings.
e-Commerce can be a great way to reach more customers and grow your business formation. This article has given you some valuable strategies for making it work for you.