It comes as no surprise when small business owners become intimated with the world of e-commerce. But, thanks to advanced technology, it is now easier than ever to build and run a digital storefront.
There’s also no need to worry about facing tough competition because the demand for online convenience is high, and giving consumers various payment options is enough to get a competitive edge in the digital market.
Get started and jump into the world of e-commerce by following these steps.
Admittedly, not all small businesses will be well-suited for e-commerce. Plan for your e-commerce site by writing a business plan and create a business model following a checklist of questions you need to ask yourself, such as:
• How can I translate my value proposition into the online world?
• What do my customers need and can an e-commerce site help me deliver a solution?
• Can an e-commerce site help me reach new customers and grow my business?
• What other cost implications come with developing an e-commerce site?
Why settle for paying sky high costs when you can choose customisable and affordable options for your website? Hosted solutions are available for a minimal cost. Some of them can even plug directly into accounting packages for easier pricing and inventory monitoring on your website.
Subscribing to hosted solutions will help you build your own site without having to hire designers or programmers. These tools can also help you market your business on social media and email. It’s up to you to make the choice.
Mobility is important in this day and age as your customers will most likely use mobile devices when they access your website. In e-commerce, having a website optimised for mobile is a huge competitive advantage.
You may also invest in a mobile app, budget-permitting. The cost will be worth it down the line.
Don’t stop at building your site. Once you have it up and running, you’ll need to invest some money and effort into marketing it. Promoting your website is key to attracting customers and eventually engaging them in conversation.
Blogs, social media, content, and email are just some of the ways for you to increase organic search ratings on Google and other search engines. Offline, you could promote your website by including its address/URL in your signage, vehicles, receipts, business cards, etc. Newspaper or magazine ads can help, too.
Make it easier for customers to get their hands on the physical goods you sell by offering online order and pay services or partnering up with courier companies for the shipment of your goods.
For payment options, make sure to provide safe and secure payment channels they can use for various methods of payments such as EFT, Visa that comes with Verified by Visa, and Mastercard with Master Card Secure Code. Customers view you as a more trustworthy merchant, and you will also have greater peace of mind knowing your transactions are secure.
