HOW TO START YOUR E-COMMERCE BUSINESS IN 2021

Even before the pandemic hit, we had more than half of the world’s population using smartphones. According to global online shopping statistics, around 2 billion people around the world shop online. After the pandemic, this figure has seen exponential growth. Everybody is shopping online now. Whether they did so before or not is irrelevant. Companies that have a strong online presence are reporting explosive sales figures and more and more companies are getting into the market. The age of online shopping has started and it is not going anywhere. If you haven’t thought about opening your eCommerce store, this is the right time to do so. 

The question that comes to mind is: How do we go about building an online eCommerce store? What do we do first? How do we move along? Where do we go? Do we start everything ourselves or do we contact a software house? 

These are some of the things that might be worrying you. But don’t worry. We have got your back. We have prepared a walkthrough which will make opening an eCommerce store easier. It includes all the vital elements that are needed to start an online eCommerce business.

Read on to find out more.

Pick the Right Products

The very first thing that you have to decide is what you are going to sell. What are the products that you will be offering to your customers? For this purpose, you will have to do some research. What are the products that are in demand right now and will stay in demand for the next 10 years? Don’t make the mistake of selecting products that you like. What you like, others may not. Select your target audience and find out what they want. You will need to create a buyer persona. This will be your ideal customer. Now find out what they are looking for and how you can easily provide it for them.

Choose an Ecommerce Platform

Once you have decided on the products that you want to sell, you have to select the ideal eCommerce platform. There are a lot of options for you and each one has its own pros and cons. You can select Shopify as it is one of the most affordable platforms and you can easily get started. They offer a lot of options and you can customize your brand as you grow. But that is not the only platform and you should do your research before settling for one.

Create the Website

Now that you have selected your product and the platform, you have to create your website. It is the first impression that you are going to make on your customers, so it goes without saying that it has to be captivating and engaging. You want your customers to stay and shop. Everything matters; the colour scheme, the logo, the content, the images, and more.

Branding Strategy

Once you have your website up and running, comes the part of making it look and feel awesome. Nowadays visual branding is one of the most important factors of running a business. You have to create a look that is consistent across all channels. Your customers should be able to recognize your brand no matter where they see it. Make sure that everything communicates the same message. This includes your social media platforms, logo, website, colours, messages, packaging, and everything else.

Time to Build the Product Pages

Now you have to develop your product pages. If you are not doing it yourself, you should know enough to guide the agency that is doing it for you. You have to make sure that you create the product pages so that your customers find what they are looking for. Include all the details that you can like product information, specs, selling points, and more. Have a professional photographer take pictures of the products so they look amazing.

Create a Blog and Social Media Accounts

Once your website is complete, you have to start adding content to it. A blog is always a helpful resource to attract customers and educate them about your products. It is also a great strategy for  SEO purposes. You can create blogs, how-to posts, listicles, and more. Answer questions and give guidance to your target audience. The same is true for your social media channels. Don’t just resort to promotional posts. Keep the “80/20 rule” in mind. 

Create a Wish List Option

Make sure that you add a wish list option to your eCommerce website. Obviously, you cannot do without a shopping cart and a checkout, but a lot of people forget the wish list option. This is something that can set you apart from your competitors. Make sure that you have support for major payment options like PayPal, Apple Pay, and more.

Time to Get Started

Great! Your eCommerce store is ready to launch. We’re not saying that it is easy, but it is one of the most rewarding things at this time. Also, the more you get into it, the more you will learn. Make sure that you do lots of research beforehand and don’t assume anything. The more diligent you are, the better results you will see.