If you’re thinking about setting up an eCommerce shop, you’re far from alone. In fact, the global market for these stores is worth over $9.09 trillion, and it’s increasing at a rate of 14.7% per year.
Because of this, it’s important that you develop and launch an idea that stands out from your competitors. Here, we’re going to give you a comprehensive eCommerce guide so that you can get started in this ever-growing market (and find success). Read on to learn the benefits of eCommerce and to learn the steps towards becoming a well-known brand.
The Benefits of eCommerce
Before we look into the basics of an eCommerce guide, let’s analyze why getting started in this industry is a good idea.
First, eCommerce is literally the most lucrative investment you can make. 67% of millennials prefer to shop online rather than in stores. The same applies to more than half of Gen X consumers.
This means that you’re sure to get more customers when you choose to set up shop online. 71% of all customers also tend to think that they’ll get better deals when they shop on the web because they know more about the product from reviews before purchasing.
A wide audience is another benefit of getting started in eCommerce. While you should optimize your online shop to those in certain industries, occupations, price brackets, ages, and genders, you don’t need to emphasize location at all. Anywhere that you can ship to is fair game.
You, therefore, aren’t limiting your prospects to a specific region. This casts a wider net and lets you become a household name across the US (and maybe the world!)
There are also many types of eCommerce shops out there. You may want to sell to individuals with a B2C business that specializes in fashion items. However, there are also B2B eCommerce shops that offer bulk sales for promotional gear.
These are but a couple of common examples- the possibilities are limitless!
Developing an Idea
This eCommerce blog will tell you the things that you need to consider before starting an online business. As you might expect, considering and developing your core product is at the forefront of the list.
Many people who are considering opening an online shop already know what they want to sell. Assuming that it’s unique, high-quality, and interesting to modern consumers, that’s awesome! You’re ready to begin stocking your items so that you have enough of them to begin sales.
However, if you don’t know what you want to sell but love the idea of eCommerce, that’s also okay. Plenty of budding entrepreneurs are still looking for what they’re passionate about selling.
Unique Handmade Objects
To decide what to sell, first, consider your hobbies and interests. Do you like to knit or crochet? Are you a fan of painting and creating patterns?
If you answered ‘yes’ to these questions, you may be able to sell the handmade items that you’re passionate about. Selling knit sweaters, hats, and amigurumi dolls is an awesome way to go. Painters can create practical items like mugs and organization boxes with their unique designs on them.
If you like to make jewelry, you’re, especially in luck. Lots of people love to buy unique handmade jewelry for themselves or for a loved one.
Wholesale Products
Still, even those who aren’t artistically inclined can set up an eCommerce shop. In fact, many people who are interested in business prefer to do this since they can focus on the business end.
You can purchase wholesale goods and services for resale to clients. These resale items include clothing and accessories as well as toys, games, kitchenware, furniture, and organizational tools.
The possibilities are limitless. Do your research and find something you’re excited to sell.
Creating Your Website
So, now you know exactly what you want to sell. You’ve obtained a startup quantity of items either by making them or by working with a wholesale provider. It’s time to actually set up your website for consumers to look at!
Choose a Platform
There are a lot of different eCommerce platforms out there, and you’ll need to choose the appropriate one for your needs.
Shopify and WooCommerce are two of the most popular because of their easy-to-use and eCommerce-specific interfaces. You don’t need to know anything about coding to use these sites- all you need to do is come up with an engaging design.
If the idea of an eCommerce-specific site doesn’t appeal to you, you may like to try a site like Wix, SquareSpace, or GoDaddy.
These platforms are just as easy to use as the others but can sustain more diverse pages. You’ll have more freedom to do precisely what you want but at the expense of simplicity.
Follow Current Web Design Trends
Once you’ve selected a platform and are ready to design a site, it’s time to get cracking. Make sure that your page is up-to-date and engaging for consumers. If it looks old or unsightly, prospects will think that your products are out of date or that you don’t care about your business.
Some web design trends that you need to follow include:
- Comfortable colors (specifically blue, the most populat and calming color)
- Scrolling transformations
- Video content
- Graphics and 3D images
- Engaging, multi-angled product photos
- Interactive questionnaires
- A search function and easy-to-read navigation
- Small sentences and short paragraphs
- Bold, noticeable text
There are many more, but these are some of the most important basics of an eCommerce guide.
Make Sure Your Site Runs Smoothly
Finally, you’ll need to make sure that your site runs smoothly.
You have less than 15 seconds to generate consumer interest before they bounce. Most people expect a page to load within 2-3 seconds at the most, so making sure that your site is fast must be a top priority.
Optimize your site speed to load quickly. If you need to do this at the expense of some Flash videos, then so be it.
You also need to make sure that your site is optimized for mobile. Currently, this is how more than half of global consumers primarily access the net. By 2025, this number will be at 72%.
Create a mobile interface that loads quickly and reads easily. Make sure that navigation systems are smartphone-compatible. If you want to go all-out, don’t hesitate to design an app- this is a surefire way to get more customers and one of the finest eCommerce guide.
Beyond Your Basic eCommerce Guide
Now that you’ve read the best eCommerce guide on the web, it’s time to get started. Check out the ‘business’ tab on our home page for more ideas on how to grow your shop.
Here, you’ll find all kinds of articles about innovation, marketing, budgeting, and beyond. Start browsing today to get your eCommerce startup running ASAP!
