Lack of experience is one of the things that are stopping a lot of people from trying to give ecommerce a go and create a passive source of income.
This lack of knowledge should not really be a detriment as starting an ecommerce store is easier than ever. And it all begins with the basics. You can get in touch with a relevant eCommerce Agency to get a fair idea of the whole process.
This article will tell you all the necessary things that you need to create an online business and start selling in a matter of days.
Step #1 – Decide on Your Business Model
Being in charge of every single process like storage, shipping, and product manufacturing is a big pain. It costs a lot of money, and you are at risk of not selling everything. Every product that does not sell will cause losses. And a business that makes no profit will not last for a very long time.
Instead of running a regular e-store, why not consider giving dropshipping or even print on demand a go? Working as a middleman will allow you to focus entirely on marketing and driving customers to your website. Moreover, you will not have to take a risk and purchase on a stock as the money will have to come from paying customers first.
Step #2 – Decide on the Products You Want to Sell
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Picking a niche can cause a real headache, even more so when you have no experience with ecommerce and marketing research. Nevertheless, everyone has to start somewhere.
Think about what you are interested in and see whether there is a place for that product. Having knowledge about what you sell will also help since you will have to create content for marketing.
Aim for an evergreen niche instead of a seasonal thing. For example, instead of selling skiing gear that will do well during particular seasons, try something like phone cases or smart home appliances.
If you are serious about creating a sustainable business, take your time to find a great business idea that can be executed and will not disappear in a few years because of some change in the world.
Step #3 – Develop a Website
A website is where all the business will happen. You will need to find a platform that is both user-friendly and easy to work from the backend point of view.
Shopify is one of the most recognized platforms for ecommerce with its plethora of plugins, applications, and constant updates. Moreover, installing it is also simple as you will find all the instructions on the website. And be sure to have a domain name ready.
Add product descriptions, high-quality pictures, social media icons, a search bar. Consider creating an FAQ page as part of your knowledge base. Have a live chat for customer inquiries. Finally, do not forget to optimize your site for smartphone and tablet shoppers. Statista expects that this group will make about 50 percent of all shoppers online.
Step #4 – Start Your Marketing Campaign
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When the product is on the website, you can look to start with marketing. Expecting visitors from thin air will get you nowhere. Here are some of the most common methods to attract more website traffic:
- Search engine optimization. SEO should be part of a long-term strategy. Organic traffic from search engines is worth a lot because you can rank specific keywords that focus on purchasing. Also, being on the top pages of Google will help to establish yourself as an authority in the industry.
- PPC marketing. Pay-per-click is when advertisers pay for clicks rather than just having ads appear. A well-optimized ad targeted at a very specific demographic is another great method to bring traffic.
- Social media. The most popular social media platforms continue to grow and offer brands a chance to directly interact with their audience, cooperate with influencers, organize contests and giveaways, and even sell directly on your profile.
Step #5 – Make Use of Insights
Keeping track of data is important. You will not be able to make adjustments and improve your operation if you do not know which areas need improvements.
Tools like Google Analytics are great because they cost you nothing and provide valuable information. The more data you collect, the easier it will be to plan your next move and grow.
Step #6 – Continue to Scale
Speaking of growth, when you reach a point where your store is bringing in decent money, you do not want to stop. Look to scale it consistently and aim to establish your brand as one of the authorities in the industry.
When you feel like things are stagnating, take some time and rethink what you could do to improve the situation. Researching your competition or simply looking for inspiration elsewhere would be a good way to start.
A healthy and sustainable ecommerce project needs consistency in maintenance. And those who ensure that all aspects of the business are running smoothly can reap the biggest benefits.
