ECommerce is a big deal. Last year, online sales increased by 15% as consumers spent over $517 billion at their favorite online retailer.
If you’re looking to get a piece of the pie, there’s never been a better time to set up an online store. Of course, it isn’t so simple that you can just click your mouse a few times and have a store up and running.
You’ll need the right strategy.
Want to find out how to start an online shop? Then keep reading as we give you five important tips that’ll guarantee success.
1. Find a Developer and Web Host
First thing’s first, you’ll need a platform for your great new online store. But since there’s no shortage of options out there, the process can be more than a little confusing.
Unless you have experience designing web stores, leave it to the pros. There’s so much more to a great web store than getting it online, after all.
You’ll need to make sure it looks professional and has your unique flair. And don’t forget about maintenance. To keep your site secure, you’ll have to undergo routine maintenance.
The whole process can be a headache to deal with alone, so outsource the task instead.
2. Target a Niche
Over 1.7 billion websites are live at this very moment. To get your store the attention it deserves, you’ll have to diversify yourself enough that you stand out from the crowd.
Your best bet is to target a niche and go after an audience that’s currently under-served.
Niche audiences tend to be some of the most loyal shoppers you could ask for. Plus, finding a unique angle reduces the amount of competition you’ll face.
3. Make Your Checkout Process Easy
Have you ever had an online shopping experience that was just too frustrating to put up with? Well, there’s a reason that the cart abandonment rate is 75.6%.
The faster your checkout process, the more sales you’ll make. It’s that simple.
Allow users to complete a purchase as a guest, make your sign-up process simple, and enable one-click ordering whenever possible.
4. Spread the Word
By this point, you’ll have a beautiful, well-designed site that caters to an audience and has a sales-ready checkout system. The only thing missing is…well, people.
Running a brand awareness campaign is a must for generating buzz about your new store. You’ll want to optimize your website, as well as take advantage of social media.
5. Keep Track of Inventory
Once your audience is in place, get ready for sales to go through the roof! You might even have trouble keeping up with demand.
To avoid a disaster, invest in an eCommerce platform that offers real-time inventory tracking. That way, you’ll always have a heads-up before you run out of your best-selling products.
How to Start an Online Shop: Final Thoughts
If you’re wondering how to start an online shop, know this: Starting a shop is easy. But building a successful store with a dedicated audience and unique branding? Well, that takes a bit more work.
Follow these tips and you’ll have tons of sales in no time.
And don’t forget, we’re here to help. Get in touch today and find out how we can help you with branding, web development and hosting, and more.