Bill Gates once said: "If your business is not on the internet, then your business will be out of business.
Yes, he is absolutely right.
Starting an ecommerce store allows your brand to escape the confines of being stuck in a little box to gain access to an infinite number of benefits. In today's digital era and with heavy competition in the market, it is easier to sustain in the business world with a digital presence. However, getting started with your ecommerce business can be a tad bit more challenging than it appears. You need to be dedicated, good at decision-making, and put in a lot of effort to make it work.
Before we get started, let's understand a little about e-commerce and look at the advantages of having one.
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What is E-commerce?
E-commerce or electronic commerce is buying and selling goods and services and transferring funds or data over an electronic network, most specifically, the internet. These transactions can be business-to-business (B2B), business-to-consumer (B2C),consumer-to-consumer (C2C), or consumer-to-business (C2B).
Advantages of having an e-commerce store
1. Reduced expenses
E-commerce stores do not require a large staff or a lot of space to operate because most e-commerce operations can be automated using free plug-ins and other features, saving businesses a lot of money compared to traditional stores.
2. Customer information
Collecting customer data can be done efficiently and effectively through an ecommerce store. Because consumers provide information such as their name, email address, and phone number, businesses can more easily collect data, understand their behavior, and analyze demographic data through an ecommerce store. This allows them to nurture and target consumers more precisely.
3. A more extensive customer base
The most important advantage of establishing an ecommerce store is its ability to reach a more extensive customer base with few staff requirements. Unlike a physical store, which can be limited to a specific geographical area, ecommerce stores allow you to reach a wider audience, allowing you to sell your product or service across the country or even globally.
4. Availability
Another significant benefit of starting an ecommerce store is that your business operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, thanks to automation because it ensures that the rest of the sales process runs smoothly and that customers can buy at any time on any day.
5. Easier to expand
If you want to expand your business but are concerned that opening a physical store will incur additional costs, employees, and shelf space. That will not be an issue with an ecommerce store. You can start a new one whenever you want with a click of a button. All it takes are a few minor tweaks, a few social media campaigns, and possibly more storage space, which are far less expensive than opening a physical store.
How to start your online ecommerce store
Now that we've learned about the numerous advantages of having an ecommerce store, it's time to know how to start one. Here are five things you should do to get your ecommerce store up and running.
1. Select your niche/product
The first step to starting a successful ecommerce store is to identify the right niche or product, specifically your area of expertise, the skills you possess, and where these skills fit in the market. Because the online marketplace is competitive, you should be clear about your niche/product. Though difficult, figuring it out can help you get a long way toward success. Examine what other businesses in your industry are doing, examine their strategy, and determine what they are doing correctly or incorrectly. This allows you to make clear and concise business decisions.
2. Conduct your research and make your plan
Before you begin writing a business plan, conduct extensive research on what your competitors are doing. Investigate their history, including how they got started, reached their target market, and business model. Consider how you can stand out from your competitors, what business model you can pursue, and the techniques for reaching your target market. For example, your competitor may be investing in more advertisements as part of their strategy, or they may have a world-class photography and content marketing team that allows them to stand out creatively. Whatever method you choose, make sure you research and prepare a business plan that sets you apart from the competition.
3. Starting your own business
3.1 Choosing the right domain name
Choosing the best available domain name is even more difficult than choosing the right niche for your business. Because you want your business's exact name, and you don't want it to be difficult for your customers to find you. Your domain name is frequently one of the first things your audience notices about you, and it can also influence their perception of your brand. So, when selecting a domain name, ensure that you select the correct one.
3.2 Making a logo
Once you have the right registered domain, it's time to channel your creativity into designing the perfect logo for your company. Logos can range from simple letter-based logos to pictorial logos to Mascots. However, remember that your logo should represent your brand and be easily recognized by your target audience.
3.3 Creating your store
There are many ecommerce platforms available to help you build your dream brand online. Wix, Shopify, Woocommerce, and Bigcommerce are some ecommerce platforms that you can use to build your ecommerce store. You can choose them based on your business requirements and the configuration they offer.
3.4 Choose your preferred promotional channel.
Finding the right promotional channel is critical for reaching new customers. For example, if you are a shoe brand, you can promote your products through a variety of channels such as Amazon, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Suppose you own a pizzeria; does it make sense to promote it on Amazon?
Of course not, but all other social media channels are.
Always remember that a good mix of channels is always preferable than focusing on a single medium. Find out where your target audience spends the most time shopping and market your products accordingly.
4. Prepare for the launch
Keep a big fat checklist in mind as you prepare to launch your ecommerce store. Preparing these checklists will allow you to be more productive after launch and focus on more meaningful metrics for any improvements. Because, in the end, you want to provide a positive purchasing experience for your customers. So before the launch, consider factors such as,
1. Technical functionality of your websites, such as server log, sitemap, and site speed.
2. Ensure the page's performance
3. Test your customer's core actions to ensure a smooth experience.
4. Consider additional features such as privacy policies, shipping details, chat features, and so on.
5. Following the launch
Now that you've launched your ecommerce website, the hard work of marketing will begin. Digital marketing is an excellent strategy to incorporate into your business plan because it aids in acquiring new customers and nurturing existing ones. Modifying your game plan in response to the results is also critical. You can update your business plan accordingly based on the KPIs and other metrics you collated. As it is a continuous process that must be done regularly to achieve the best results.
Why Understanding Search Engine Optimization is crucial for your ecommerce success?
Many businesses fail to succeed with their ecommerce store because they undervalue the power of SEO. They believe it is unimportant, but this is not the case. SEO is the most important success factor for any ecommerce business. SEO is critical to the development of your ecommerce store and should be prioritized because it increases the visibility of your online business, resulting in increased traffic and conversion opportunities.
In conclusion,
Building an ecommerce store is an exciting process that keeps you excited and allows you to learn new things every day. Once you have mastered all the concepts, it is the most rewarding and highly effective strategy to help your business grow exponentially. If you feel like you need help in building your ecommerce store, Pravaah Consulting is here to help. With highly knowledgeable professionals in our team, we create the perfect ecommerce online store aligned with your objectives quickly and effectively. Schedule your FREE digital transformation consultation with us now.