5 Tips for E-commerce Start-Ups
Inspired to set up an online shop? Keen to see if you can earn a living with your own enterprise? Even with the perfect product range, there is so much for an e-commerce start-up to consider. These 5 Tips offer food for thought.
1. Be open to Adapting your Product Range and Target Customer
In the early days, you will focus on what to sell and who to sell to. Narrowing these down can be critical in applying limited resources where they have maximum impact. This is an important starting point, however, although you’ve allocated considerable time to this, you must be willing to adapt.
E-commerce is about experimentation. From the product range to advertising, fulfilment to the target customer, it is vital to try different things and review the impact. Some things won’t sell, whilst others fly off the shelf. Some ads will drive leads and conversions, whilst others deliver. Use the insight gathered from trial and error to evolve your offer.
2. Ensure Intuitive Navigation in your Website Design
You need to make it as easy as possible for someone to find what they are looking for and proceed to checkout. Your web design company will advise on how to use categories, filters, dropdown menus and calls to action to intuitively guide visitors through your website. Remember that many shoppers will access your site via a mobile device, so test all features on a small screen.
3. Be Transparent with Information
Descriptive and transparent information will influence your visitors’ shopping habits. Every e-commerce website needs strong product descriptions, clear shipping and returns information, as well as a means of contacting the retailer. Include genuine customer reviews, size/colour charts and other valuable information to convince shoppers that you are a trustworthy company that it’s worth doing business with.
4. Let your Personality Shine
Whatever you sell, there will be plenty of online competition. It’s important to understand that it is your company values and personality that stands you apart, more than your product range. People want to find synergy – companies with shared values or the same perspective on life.
Celebrate the priorities that underpin your business. Share how these impact your decisions, processes, packaging and commitments. Tell your story, showcase your employees, see marketing as a means of building a community. This is what engages potential buyers.
5. Plan a Schedule for Content
Consistent and regular update to your website and social sites is essential for keeping your e-commerce business fresh and appealing. It’s common to prepare and post a flurry of posts and updates in the first few months, then let it slip.
The key to consistency is planning. Create a schedule that is manageable to maintain. Map out when you will post a blog, showcase a product, post a ‘how-to’ video etc. The schedule can inform a content plan, with monthly themes. Working from this plan, it is possible to allocate specific content creation days, where you prepare in advance. With scheduling features and tools, this can be uploaded, ready for publishing in advance.
Launching an e-commerce business is exciting. We hope that these 5 business tips help your journey to online success.
