Starting an eCommerce business has become easier with all-in-one platforms like Shopify. However, there is a big difference between simply creating an online store and creating a profitable eCommerce business.
Success in this industry requires more than just a website; you need to have competitive products, a user-friendly and professional platform, fast delivery, excellent service, and a memorable brand. Let’s take a look at the nine main steps to make your business successful.
1. Research the viability of your idea
Before you start, it is important to check the demand for your product and business idea.
Analyze search engine queries: Use tools such as Google Trends to gauge the demand for your product. For example, if you are planning to open a children’s gift shop, a search for “wooden toys” can show a stable demand.
Consumer research: Understand why people buy your product by reading industry forums or conducting surveys.
Price research: Compare competitors’ prices to determine how much consumers are willing to pay. You can use the markup pricing method by adding your profit to the cost of the product.
2. Find the right product provider
Next, you need to determine how you will deliver your products. Here are some options:
- Manual production of goods: Ideal for premium pricing and quality control, but difficult to scale.
- Manufacturers: Allows for greater scale, but is associated with greater complexity and high start-up costs.
- Resale of goods (dropshipping): Easy to scale, but limits control over product quality and uniqueness.
3. Choosing and registering a business
Choose a memorable business name that fits your product and target audience. Check if the name is available and register your business officially.
Search for trademark availability: Use the Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) to make sure your name is unique.
Domain name: Check domain availability before finalizing your business name.
4. Choosing an e-commerce platform
Choosing the right platform is critical because it affects your site’s functionality and SEO. Here are some popular platforms:
- WooCommerce: Free and customizable, ideal for those already using WordPress.
- Squarespace: A great choice for those who are not tech-savvy and want a user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing platform.
- Shopify: The best choice for ease of customization and a large set of features for sales and marketing management.
- Wix: Easy to use, with templates, but can have SEO and loading speed issues.
5. Setting up a payment system
To accept payments, you need a reliable payment system. The choice depends on the volume of transactions and fees:
- PayPal: The most popular option with high conversion rates.
- Stripe: Great for supporting multiple currencies and integrating with WooCommerce.
- Shopify Pay Installments: Allows customers to pay in four installments.
6. Choosing a delivery method
Determine how you will deliver goods to your customers. Here are some options:
- In-house delivery: You manage inventory, packaging, and delivery.
- Delivery by specialized services: Outsourcing logistics to companies like Amazon or specialized fulfillment centers.
Offering fast or free shipping can improve the customer experience and reduce abandoned carts.
7. Hiring for customer support
Once your store is up and running, provide excellent customer service. Start by having you or a member of your team handle inquiries. Over time, you can delegate this to a customer service specialist. Here are some channels for interaction:
- Online chat: Customers appreciate instant responses.
- Social media: Interacting with customers through social media increases sales.
- Email: The most popular channel for resolving issues.
8. Marketing your online store
Having a passion, a unique product, and a beautiful website is not enough to attract customers. To make your business stand out, you need to invest time and money in a combination of marketing strategies such as SEO, paid advertising, social media, video marketing, and more.
Here are six proven marketing strategies for e-commerce:
- SEO (search engine optimization): This is the key to ranking high in search results for relevant keywords. Increasing website conversion includes keyword research, content creation, link building, and technical improvements for your site.
- Online advertising: Paid advertising on platforms such as Google, Facebook, Instagram allows you to target specific users.
- Social media marketing: As a new business, focus on one social network where your target audience is located.
- Video marketing: Video is a powerful tool because it demonstrates how products work and highlights their benefits. Platforms such as YouTube, Instagram Stories, Facebook Live allow you to sell products through video.
- Email marketing: This is an effective way to interact with past customers through promotional emails that can capture their attention and increase sales by engaging previous customers.
9. Analyze the results to improve the marketing strategy
It is important to track the effectiveness of marketing campaigns by measuring the following metrics:
- Conversion rate: Comparison of the number of purchases with the number of product views.
- Average check: The average amount spent per customer.
- Customer lifetime value: How much money a customer brings to your business over time.
- Returns or refunds: Track the number of returns or refunds for each campaign.
- Regularly analyzing these metrics will help you determine what’s working and what’s not and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Conclusion.
By following these nine steps, you can create a conversion website and turn your idea into a profitable business. Don’t be afraid to make adjustments along the way and stay customer-centric. Your willingness to adapt will help you scale your e-commerce business and succeed in online sales. And if you need help developing or advertising your products and services online, don’t hesitate to contact us on Telegram or at +888 888 888 8888.