Start selling online
Starting selling online and creating your own eCommerce is no longer a challenge. There are dozens of ideas on what to sell on the internet and options for making online sales. To help you on this journey on how to start selling online, you need to pay attention to some essential tips to succeed.
So check below the best way to start selling online.
The market
The world of eCommerce is dynamic and attractive to entrepreneurs interested in selling their products online. This market has been growing at a staggering 20% rate each year, not to mention the impact of the coronavirus pandemic has fueled the growth of the eCommerce market even further. So do your market research and pay attention to your niche, try to collect as much information as possible before starting your own online store.
Potential risks
It is also necessary to understand and research the potential risks to your business. One of the ways is doing research on what other competitors in the market are doing because, in this way, it is possible to understand your competitors better and learn from them.
What should I start selling online?
Do you have your brick-and-mortar store and wanted to start selling online with the products of your physical store? Or do you going to have just an online store? If you’re creating an online store from scratch, choose products based on your target audience. If your goal is to sell your products, think about products that you can produce and that are cost-effective. You can also is starting your eCommerce business with a drop shipping service. There are many options for you, even combine your products, resell products and drop shipping at the same online store.
Supply chain and target audience
Entrepreneurs know that they can sell almost anything online as the demand for online shopping is always on the rise. Still, to build a viable eCommerce business, you need to understand both your supply chain and your target audience. Running an eCommerce business is not just setting up a digital. It includes managing logistics processes, product configuration, secured payment gateway, marketing and supply chain management. A well-organized supply chain speeds up all the major e-commerce operations processes ensuring that the customers’ expectations are constantly met.
Competition and supply chain
Your competitors are in the market, so it’s crucial to keep an eye on your competition’s strategies and activities, so you can always be ahead.
Search for ideas on Google, Amazon, eBay, Etsy or other marketplaces and start following related hashtags on Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn. Review product and store reviews and watch what shoppers say on social media. You can also look for positive or negative feedback from your customers to see how you can improve their experience with your product. The key is to keep a close eye on the competition — order the products and see what they offer. Look at every aspect, from delivery time to packaging quality.
Also, talk to the people in your competitor’s supply chain who manufacture, store, and ship your products. They will have relevant information to help you with customers, the order return rate, and other key eCommerce elements.
Once you learn more about your competition and the supply chain, you can start choosing the best options for selling your products.
Target audience
Now that you’ve defined your product, know how much you’re going to charge for it, and know your competitors, it’s time to understand your target audience.
Only then will you be able to study the best ways to reach them
At this point, you must decide whether to sell only to those who are close to you or other states or even countries. In this stage, it is very important to choose a marketing strategy to help you get to your customers
Choose your business name
Finding a name for your business is the first step, as this name will appear everywhere — on your logo, website domain, marketing materials, social media, and more. If your business already has a name, you’re ready to go.
Create a logo
Your logo is your brand’s image, and it represents the essence of your store. You can create your logo yourself since nowadays several websites help you make it, or hire a professional to do it.
eCommerce brand
Creating a consistent brand gives your business a soul and makes consumers recognize your brand. By developing a branding strategy, you will influence your business’s image to customers. Branding is an ongoing process that evolves as your business grows. Here, you can find the information you need to get started. Brand identity helps develops a relationship through positive emotions so that customers are satisfied with your product, and with you. Remember that your eCommerce brand strategy helps you conquer and guide your customers’ expectations while developing a relationship with them.
Buy a domain
Your website’s domain name plays a vital role in your brand’s credibility and concept. It affects your store’s ranking in search engine results and may or may not attract potential buyers as the domain acts as your store’s online address. When choosing a domain name, keep in mind that a clear, personalized domain will help make your store look more attractive and professional.
Set up a professional email
A professional email should contain your website’s domain name, unlike the email generated on the platform used, such as a Gmail email. As an online store owner, you will be sending many emails to your customers about promotions, shipping updates, and more. A professional email is essential so that customers can identify where these emails are coming from. After registering your domain, you can create your professional email.
Create an eCommerce website
The online store is the centre of any successful eCommerce. Your online store is a great way to test items and get feedback quickly if you’re just starting. If you are already selling on one or more marketplaces, try this other channel that can be even more profitable. If you already have a physical store, try selling anywhere anytime.
Retail Solutions Web Shop
Retail Solutions gives you the power to sell online, in-store — anywhere. Manage everything from one platform with centralised inventory, promotions, pricing, new products, and much more.
It’s seamlessly integrated, all through one central point of control — your Retail Solutions EPOS System!
Retailers seeking to develop an online store usually need to engage with several suppliers, such as EPOS providers, web developers, and eCommerce platform providers. The time and costs involved for all the necessary integrations can be significant.
This process can be significantly streamlined when a retailer has a single provider for all services, saving time, resources, and money.
Retail Solutions can take care of the entire process, ensuring the channels are correctly set up and customised to your store’s needs. For more information check our webpage.
Who are we?
Retail Solutions is a market-leading EPOS provider with over 25 years of business experience. Our leading sectors are convenience stores, supermarkets, forecourts, and pharmacies.
We are dedicated to providing your store with the most up-to-date and reliable point of sale hardware, along with software management tools to help you manage your business effectively.
To find out more about what we do, get in touch to chat with one of our knowledgeable consultants:
About the author:
Juliane Camozzato is a Marketing Executive at Retail Solutions. You can follow her on LinkedIn!
