Have you started selling online yet? If not, it’s time to start! Online sales success has never been so within your reach as it is today.
Whilst taking the plunge can seem like an overwhelming, scary task, now is the perfect time to launch your eCommerce store.
And here’s why:
Research shows that online shopping is now more popular than ever before. As of 2017, there were 1.66 billion customers shopping online around the world. It’s also predicted that, by 2021, this figure will rise to 2.14 billion. That means that online sales will make up around 17.5% of all global retail sales.
So, if you’re looking to get on board, read on to find out how you can hit the bullseye when it comes to starting a successful eCommerce venture.
Choose the Right Platform
When you’re setting up your eCommerce store, the first step is to choose the right platform to start selling your products. And you need to choose carefully.
After all, the platform you choose will have a huge impact on your customers’ experience.
For the store itself, you need to ensure your website is highly functioning to ensure it’s easy to use. You need to choose a platform – some of the most popular are WordPress and Shopify; and you also need to choose a host, like a cloud or on-site server.
Your website should allow your customers to make secure payments. It should also be capable of supporting the levels of web traffic you’re expecting from your store.
In addition to this, you should look at starting social media sites for your company, which can then be linked to your main website.
Social media can be used to post videos, text posts, and other media that can engage your audience and promote your eCommerce store.
Select the Right Products
Although it can be tempting to start selling all of your products immediately when you first start your online store, you don’t want to overwhelm your customers. That’s why you need to be selective about which products you introduce, to begin with.
For this, it helps to look at your offline sales trends. Talk to your sales staff. What do your customers want? You need to sell products that will solve their problems.
Your existing trends will show you what your customer’s preferences are now – and it’s likely that this pattern will continue online as well.
Or, you could try starting with an MVP (minimal viable product). An MVP is a product that includes all the core features of your product range and can be put on the market as a high priority item.
You can also use a launchpad website to sell your key products, which can have a great impact on your eCommerce success.
Listen to Feedback
When you’re setting up your website, and when it’s running, you need to make sure you’re actively seeking feedback from your customer base.
Doing this can give you an edge over your competitors, as it allows you to constantly improve your service and lead you to online sales success.
One of the easiest ways of doing this is through market research. Ask your customers what they want. What are their biggest pain points, and how can you solve them? And what are they willing to pay for your products?
When you’re developing and implementing your strategies, you need to consider the results of the research you’ve carried out so you can focus on your customers’ needs.
Think about your Design and Logo
The eCommerce industry is very competitive. Because of this, it’s essential to consider all aspects of your website’s appeal, including its visual design, use of images, and having a unique, memorable logo.
The right logo can help your business to stand out from your competitors and to be recognizable to your customer base. If you’re looking to design a logo for your online business, you can use a logo designer, like Hatch.
Be Adaptable
Once your eCommerce store is up and running, it can be tempting to leave it as it is. This, however, is a mistake. In fact, any successful business owner knows that you continually need to improve your operations, your brand, and your website.
In order for your store to run smoothly, you need to test out your strategies and tactics regularly to make sure they’re working effectively.
That includes the design and layout, the content, the products you’re selling, and everything else. And the earlier you do this, the better, as you will be able to make changes before investing more time and money into your website.
There are various tools available to help you analyze your website’s performance. These include analytics for your conversion rates, web traffic, cost per lead, or any other KPIs you’re using to assess performance.
Focus on Customer Experience
Last but not least, to get the maximum success out of your online business, you need to focus on providing your customers with the best experience possible.
With sites offering faster services than ever, customers now expect their products to arrive quickly, and, of course, they expect high levels of customer service at all times.
For new businesses looking to compete, it’s crucial to ensure high levels of service by focusing on the needs of your customers. You could also consider using a third-party logistics firm to allow for a smooth and effective delivery service.
Conclusion
Taking your business online can increase your sales. And in the future, it could be vital if you want to reach customers. That’s why it’s important to adopt the right strategies.
By following the above tips, you can hit the eCommerce bullseye and make your move towards online sales success!
