If you’re new to the e-commerce world, then you may be feeling a little overwhelmed. It can be a lot to take in, especially if you’re unsure where to start.
That’s why we’ve put together this list of 11 beginner tips for those who want to run an e-commerce business today. Keep reading for advice on everything from setting up your store to choosing the right products.
1. Get Help with Design and Development
Whether you need website development services or help with your website’s design, it pays to hire professionals who know what they’re doing. This will make the process easier for you and ensure that everything is done correctly from day one.
To find the right team to work with, look for those who have experience in e-commerce and check out their portfolios to get an idea of their work. Ask for references when necessary.
Get a cost estimate for their services. Are you going to pay a flat fee or a fixed price? Do you need to pay a retainer fee? Does it cover only one project, or do they also update your website?
Find web developers familiar with your niche. For example, if you’re selling vintage clothing, find a web developer specializing in e-commerce and fashion websites.
2. Choose the Right Products
Not all products are created equal. When starting an e-commerce business, choose the right products to sell. This means doing your research and making sure you have a market.
Get feedback from your audience. You can do this by running Facebook Ads or through surveys. Find out the average amount of sales per item on other websites, so you can have an idea of your pricing and compete.
Use Google Trends to see if there’s a demand for your product or read customer reviews on Amazon, eBay, or Etsy. Identify market gaps. If there’s no competition, the market may be too small to make it worthwhile.
You can also use tools like Jungle Scout, which will help you find profitable products for your store based on their sales history and price point. However, ensure that your business is not already saturated with competition.
Also, consider factors like shipping costs and ease of manufacturing or sourcing. Is your supplier reliable? Have you tested their product’s quality and delivery time?
If not, then consider testing a small batch first. Get feedback from friends and family about their experience with these products before selling them online.
3. Set Up Marketing Strategies
Even if you have the best products globally, no one will know about them if you don’t market them correctly. Set up marketing strategies early on, such as SEO, social media, and email marketing.
SEO is the process of optimizing your website so that it appears higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). You can do this through on-page optimization (e.g., using the correct keywords, titles, and descriptions), backlinking, and social media marketing. Another is off-page optimization, which includes things like link building and citation.
Social media marketing is the process of using social media platforms to promote your business. This can include creating profiles, posting content, running ads, and engaging with followers.
Email marketing is the process of sending out automated emails to subscribers who have opted-in to receive them. These emails typically contain content about your products or services and encourage recipients to take action (e.g., make a purchase).
All these strategies require different approaches, so take the time to figure out which ones will work best for your business.
4. Attract People to Buy with Regular Promos, Discounts, and Incentives
To attract more customers, you need to find ways to stand out from the competition. One way is by offering discounts and incentives for your products or services.
For example, give away freebies with purchase orders over $100 (or another amount). You can also send thank-you notes after a sale as an act of appreciation for their business.
Set up regular promotions where people get 30 percent off when they sign up for your newsletter, 20 percent off if they spend at least $50 on their first order, etc. These tactics will encourage them to come back for future purchases.
To encourage reviews and word of mouth, you can also set up referral programs where customers get a discount for every person they refer to your website.
Try various sales tactics like flash sales and limited-time offers to create urgency in purchasing decisions. For example, if someone is shopping on their phone at 11 p.m., send them an email that says, “Hurry! This sale ends tonight.”
You can also run giveaways for free products, gift cards, and other prizes when people enter their email addresses into the contest form (this helps build up those mailing lists!).
The point is you have many ways to attract new customers with incentives. It just takes some creativity and planning, so they don’t feel like they’re constantly being bombarded by discounts every day without a break from them at all times throughout the year.
“How do I start an e-commerce business?” That’s a question we hear often. Luckily for anyone who wants to know how much work goes into creating one of these businesses from scratch, these tips give you the direction you need.
