E-Commerce

A Five Step Guide to Starting E-commerce Business

2019 May 7

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A Five Step Guide to Starting E-commerce Business

The topic of e-commerce is becoming more and more popular in various types of media: you can attend a number of e-commerce seminars and conferences, read blogs or watch videos giving insights or advice on selling online/having an online shop. It is also noticeable that many physical stores are making their way into the online world. No-one would argue that having an online shop is not profitable nor popular, but many are still struggling to figure out the best way to start an online shop. So, we’d like to discuss 5 main factors which you should consider before you start selling online.

  1. Choose the most suitable e-commerce platform

Nowadays there is a vast variety of e-commerce platforms. Before choosing the right platform, it is advisable to make sure that the platform is easy to manage and use. That way your job of managing the store will become simpler and more effective. Also, it is a must to check if the platform can be adapted to the mobile screen. More than 60% of online searches are made using mobile devices. It means that if your online shop is not suitable to use on a smartphone, you will lose part of potential buyers.

If this decision seems difficult at first, you can try renting an online shop. You will be able to try different platforms without serious commitment and once you feel ready you can create your own ecommerce website.

  1. Decide what you are going to sell

This decision is probably one of the hardest. You can try to find a new exciting niche in the market and offer your original product. However, in order to succeed you have to constantly keep track of the newest trends in the market (local or international) and pick the best time to get started. We recommend avoid entering markets with product/service overflow because you will face more intense competition and it will be rather difficult to establish yourself in an already overfilled market.

Alternatively, you can try selling your hand-made products, for example, handicrafts or unique desserts. A modern buyer usually looks for authenticity and high-quality products, so if you decide to sell your hand-made products, you will have an advantage over your competitors. The buyer will be able to see a real human behind your product – it will make your brand more trustworthy and will help you please a modern picky buyer.

  1. Take care of the security of your online shop

There is still some people who view shopping online as something risky and tend to shop the old fashioned way. Because of that, you have to do everything possible to ensure security in your e-commerce website. Not only does poor website security scare potential buyers, but it can also cause serious damage to you as an e-shop owner. If you don’t make your e-commerce website as secure as possible, you put all the shared data at risk (credit/debit card data, addresses, etc.) One of the most important security measures is an SSL certificate, which helps to transmit all the information in a secure manner. If you’d like to accept credit/debit card payments, it is a must to install a SSL certificate.

  1. Make your website design user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing

Another undoubtedly important aspect of any e-business is the design. High-quality modern design of a website will attract more attention and will make potential buyers trust your brand more. However, the overall design of the website is not the only thing that matters. Pay extra attention to the pictures of the products – they should be exceptionally high-quality and show how the procut looks in real life. Considering the type of products that you sell, you can also think about including short 360-degree videos (it works incredibly well for clothing, footwear, etc.)

If you want to turn your website visitors into real buyers, make sure your website is user-friendly. Buyers will be unsatisfied if they are unable to find such basic functions as search bar or filters. People tend to get impatient when searching/buying, so slow and ineffective website is likely to be abandoned.

  1. Pick the most suitable payment methods

Choosing the right payment method makes the whole payment process fast and effective. You should use payment methods/systems, which are popular in your area or market. Also, check which payment methods can be integrated into your e-commerce system. If your business type requires recurring payments, make sure to select a payment platform with this feature. When planning to sell internationally, it is very recommendable to integrate credit/debit card payment system, because you will be able to accept payments from all around the world.

Having completed these five main steps, you will have a strong foundation for future success of your online store. Once you secure a strong start, it will be easier to deal with further challenges. Also have a look at the infographic which presents a shortened version of the information:

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Sources:

1.https://searchengineland.com/report-nearly-60-percent-searches-now-mobile-devices-255025


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