Starting an eCommerce business can be both exciting and intimidating. With so many things to consider, and seemingly endless advice out there (we may be adding to the pool…) it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But if you’re impatient and keen to just get started, we've pulled together the 5 main things you need to get your eCommerce business off the ground. The bells and whistles can come further down the line.
So what do you need to launch a business?
1. A user-friendly website
This is a no-brainer: you can’t have an eCom business without a website. Your website is your shop window, and it needs to be inviting and easy to navigate else potential customers simply won’t look around. Website builder platforms like Wix, Squarespace and Shopify are all great and simple options to get a professional-looking website built without needing advanced technical skills. Just starting out? We would recommend starting with Wix or Squarespace and then scaling up from there.
2. A reliable payment gateway
You need a way for your customers to pay you for whatever you’re selling. The easiest and quickest thing here is to go with the provider recommended by your website builder- for example, Shopify favours Stripe. This ensures that the payment gateway is well integrated to your website and gives your customers a secure, reliable and easy payment option. You also likely want to offer multiple payment methods to cater to different customer preferences – if you only offer PayPal, you may exclude customers who don’t have a PayPal account. And a big watch out is that different providers charge different amounts, so take note of any cut of your sale they will take.
3. High quality product images
After having a website and an option to pay, you need to make sure you’re showing customers what they can buy. High quality images are crucial for showcasing your products. Would you buy something online that you can’t clearly see, or can only see one angle of? Hire a professional photographer, or if you have a lower budget, look to buy photo backdrops and use family or friends as models. Clear, attractive images can significantly boost your sales by giving customers confidence in your products.
4. SEO strategy
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the key to driving organic traffic to your site. You could have the best website and products in the world, but if no-one can find your website, you aren’t getting any sales. Use relevant keywords in your product descriptions, blog posts, and meta tags. Tools like Google Keyword Planner can help you find the right keywords to target to get you started.
5. Marketing strategy
Getting visitors to your website is that important that 2 of our 5 tips are focused on this! As well as your SEO strategy for organic traffic, you need a marketing strategy to drive even more traffic to your website. The cheapest way to start with this is focusing on your social media presence. Create profiles on platforms like Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. Regularly post engaging content, interact with your audience, and use paid ads to reach a larger audience. As you grow, other marketing strategies can come into play like email campaigns, but you need to get your first customers through the door first.
So where to start?
Launching an eCommerce business provides planning, commitment and attention to detail. By focusing on these five essentials, you’ll be well on your way to launching your online store. By mastering these five essentials, you’ll be able to launch a successful one.
Create a checklist based on these five things and start ticking each item off. Struggling with mastering any of them? Book a consultation call with us now for advice on what you can do and how we can help.