Ecommerce
has grown in popularity in the last few years. This is not surprising
as it’s considerably cheaper to open and run an ecommerce business than
it is to open a brick-and-mortar store.
has grown in popularity in the last few years. This is not surprising
as it’s considerably cheaper to open and run an ecommerce business than
it is to open a brick-and-mortar store.
Not
only is it cheaper, ecommerce also shows a consistent rise in growth
and demand, essentially making it an extremely advantaged business
opportunity. Ecommerce has simply revolutionized the world of business.
Now more than ever before, people don’t need to go through any stress or
effort at all to purchase whatever they want.
only is it cheaper, ecommerce also shows a consistent rise in growth
and demand, essentially making it an extremely advantaged business
opportunity. Ecommerce has simply revolutionized the world of business.
Now more than ever before, people don’t need to go through any stress or
effort at all to purchase whatever they want.
As
long as there is an ecommerce store that offers the product and can
ship it, most people can stay in the comfort of their homes and do their
shopping. If you’re looking to get into ecommerce, having a general
overview will go a long way in helping you succeed at and profit from
the venture.
long as there is an ecommerce store that offers the product and can
ship it, most people can stay in the comfort of their homes and do their
shopping. If you’re looking to get into ecommerce, having a general
overview will go a long way in helping you succeed at and profit from
the venture.
What You Need to Start
First,
you need an idea. By an idea, we mean excellent product or service idea
that your market wants. You should research the ecommerce industry for
these opportunities. Drill down, and always consider your passion and
area of expertise — wherever you have the most experience and
creativity.
you need an idea. By an idea, we mean excellent product or service idea
that your market wants. You should research the ecommerce industry for
these opportunities. Drill down, and always consider your passion and
area of expertise — wherever you have the most experience and
creativity.
Perhaps,
find a profitable niche that might be even easier for your business to
break into. There are ecommerce stores that sell everything from
perfumes to auto spare parts. Don’t fall into the trap of setting up a
huge general merchandise store, unless you’re willing to and have the
resources to take on the likes of Amazon.
find a profitable niche that might be even easier for your business to
break into. There are ecommerce stores that sell everything from
perfumes to auto spare parts. Don’t fall into the trap of setting up a
huge general merchandise store, unless you’re willing to and have the
resources to take on the likes of Amazon.
Now,
go out and source your products. You could either have them shipped to
you so that you handle the order fulfillment or simply work with a drop
shipping company to fulfill your orders while you get your cut on each
sale.
go out and source your products. You could either have them shipped to
you so that you handle the order fulfillment or simply work with a drop
shipping company to fulfill your orders while you get your cut on each
sale.
After
you must have figured that out, it’s time for an ecommerce store
platform. There are quite a few options out there, but you might want to
try FastSpring because of their complete, end-to-end ecommerce
solutions. The service is designed to take your store from scratch all
through to fulfillment.
you must have figured that out, it’s time for an ecommerce store
platform. There are quite a few options out there, but you might want to
try FastSpring because of their complete, end-to-end ecommerce
solutions. The service is designed to take your store from scratch all
through to fulfillment.
What to Do to Get the Word Out
Now
that you have configured and built your ecommerce store, it’s time to
get the word out. Listen carefully — marketing and advertising are your
friends. Gone are those days when all you had to do was build it and
they would come.
that you have configured and built your ecommerce store, it’s time to
get the word out. Listen carefully — marketing and advertising are your
friends. Gone are those days when all you had to do was build it and
they would come.
Things
have changed you have to fight for your visibility. For this reason, we
recommend that you get prepared to market your products. If your budget
is limited, you should consider learning search engine optimization
(SEO) or hire an ecommerce SEO company to take care of that for you.
have changed you have to fight for your visibility. For this reason, we
recommend that you get prepared to market your products. If your budget
is limited, you should consider learning search engine optimization
(SEO) or hire an ecommerce SEO company to take care of that for you.
This
option takes time, and the orders may take a while before they start
coming in — something to take note of if you’ll be selling perishable
goods. But if you want to start generating revenue almost instantly,
you’ll need to go the route of paid ads like display advertising, pay
per click advertising or even ads in radio and print.
option takes time, and the orders may take a while before they start
coming in — something to take note of if you’ll be selling perishable
goods. But if you want to start generating revenue almost instantly,
you’ll need to go the route of paid ads like display advertising, pay
per click advertising or even ads in radio and print.
Customer Management and Service
Here’s
something you probably won’t hear a lot about: many ecommerce stores
fail on a daily basis. Do you know why? For most it’s not the design or
even supplies. It’s the logistics, the order fulfillment, the customer
care service. Your shopping cart must always work…always.
something you probably won’t hear a lot about: many ecommerce stores
fail on a daily basis. Do you know why? For most it’s not the design or
even supplies. It’s the logistics, the order fulfillment, the customer
care service. Your shopping cart must always work…always.
Truly,
Amazon has “spoiled” the market with same-day or next-day deliveries.
If you’ll be filling orders, make sure that you aim towards the same
delivery period, that same level of convenience. Your customer service
and order fulfillment must be flawless.
Amazon has “spoiled” the market with same-day or next-day deliveries.
If you’ll be filling orders, make sure that you aim towards the same
delivery period, that same level of convenience. Your customer service
and order fulfillment must be flawless.
Since it’s next to impossible to do this yourself, you should consider getting FastSpring’s order
fulfillment tools which also include their payment processing tools.
This will help make your business flow seamlessly while helping you
execute orders efficiently as they come in.
fulfillment tools which also include their payment processing tools.
This will help make your business flow seamlessly while helping you
execute orders efficiently as they come in.
