starting an e-commerce business
This blog was partly written by ChatGPT with edits by Reggie Compton. This is part of a series of blogs called “AI Blogging.” See a problem? Let us know!
Starting an e-commerce business can be a great way to sell products or services online. Here are some key steps to getting started:
1. Identify your niche:
Before you start setting up your e-commerce website, you need to figure out what you want to sell. This could be a specific product or a range of products that fall under a certain category, such as clothing or electronics. Make sure it’s something you can be competitive in, something you are excited about and won’t lose steam on. The more invested you are as an owner, the better success you can have.
2. Create a website:
Once you have a clear idea of what you want to sell, you can start building your e-commerce website. There are many platforms, such as Shopify, BigCommerce, Squarespace, and WooCommerce + WordPress.org, that make it easy to create an online store. These platforms provide templates and tools that allow you to customize your site to match your brand and products. The platforms are officially called Content Management Systems, or CMS’s for short, by web developers & web designers. If you aren’t a pro, start with a basic program, or hire your help. Be skeptical here - make sure to shop around, ask good questions, or ask for a recommended developer before going forward. This step is incredibly important. Your design and User Experience of your website will be the cornerstone for the success of your business. You will want to make sure it also supports all of the goals of your business. Ask questions such as:
How much does this cost?
Will I need to hire someone one time or reoccurring to keep it updated?
How secure is the website?
How easy is it to use for edits/changes (WYSIWYG vs custom development)
Does it play nicely with other software?
Does it match the size and scope of your business (too complicated or too simplistic causes issues later)
How flexible is the platform?
The worst problem I typically see for clients is that they started on the wrong platform and switching is daunting. Not sure where to start? Contact us to get a free consult.
3. Set up payment and shipping:
To be able to sell products online, you need to set up a way for customers to pay for them. You can use a variety of payment gateways, such as Credit Card Processors, PayPal, and Stripe, to accept payments from customers. Additionally, you need to figure out how you will ship your products to customers. This may include setting up a shipping account with a carrier such as FedEx or UPS, or choosing a shipping service that integrates with your e-commerce platform. A platform like Shopify POS will make this very easy. One pitfall I often see is clients utilizing an old-school credit card processor service and paying way too much to accept credit cards. Shop around for the best fees here, offer customers as many options as possible, and make it as easy as possible for a customer to checkout.
4. Build a customer base:
Once your website is up and running, you need to start building a customer base. One of the best ways to do this is through social media marketing. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Twitter can help you reach a large audience and connect with potential customers. You may need to invest in Social Ads, Google Ads, and SEO since social organic reach can only get you so far. Keep learning the newest trends to grow this customer base. As you build, we always recommend keeping a list of your go-to experts in specific categories, such as: business/contract law, finances, accounting, marketing, management, web development, professional development, PR, etc. These people will be invaluable for mentorship as you experience questions, twists, and turns through your business growth.
5. Optimize for SEO:
Optimizing your website and product listings for search engines like Google can help your e-commerce website to rank higher and be more visible to potential customers. This includes using keywords in your product titles, descriptions, images( in alt text), and URLs. Additionally. make sure your site is mobile-friendly. Consistently updating a blog or video-log (vlog) can be a great way to start generating organic traffic to your website as well. Utilize keyword research tools, such as Uber Suggest, Keywords Everywhere, Google Keyword Planner, and others to help you plan out what keywords to focus on. There is a lot more to SEO. Google Ads can also help with your organic rankings on search engines. Ask Penta West for more info here and a free consult as we are experts in Google Ads!
Starting an e-commerce business can be a lot of work, but with the right approach and tools, it can be a great way to have a job you love. Be sure to stay on top of industry trends and continuously optimize your website, customer service, and marketing strategies to grow your business.
Ready to grow your business? Reach out to the marketing experts at Penta West today!