Setting up an eCommerce website is a smart move. In 2020, global eCommerce sales accounted for 20% of all retail sales. And the numbers are predicted to keep increasing. International e-commerce sales are forecasted to reach $4.9 trillion in 2021 and increase to $6.4 trillion in 2024.
Whether you are ready to get your brick-and-mortar store to produce online orders or wanting to start a new business online, we have some suggestions that will get people to start buying your goods or services from your online store. If you work with a web design company (like us at Klout9) to set up your eCommerce website, an expert will help you decipher which platform would work best for your business. Let’s get started!
Create a Plan and Budget
First, make sure you have a plan and a budget in mind. You will need to be prepared for business licenses, eCommerce software, domain name and hosting, a payment gateway, inventory and shipping operations, as well as marketing and advertising. Depending on which stage you are in, all elements are essential for a well-rounded online business.
Choose an Ecommerce Platform
There are many eCommerce platforms to choose from, such as Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, SquareSpace, and Wix. So how do you know which platform is right for you? Get to know their features and figure out which one aligns best with your business. For instance, while BigCommerce is strong in multi-channel selling and SEO performance, Shopify has a 1-click upsell feature, and it’s great for social selling. Wix and SquareSpace work well for smaller, more simple stores. And WooCommerce works well with WordPress and offers a large selection of extensions.
Develop Your Website
Once you choose the eCommerce platform, it’s time to get your website developed and ready to receive orders. When setting up an eCommerce website (or any website for that matter), consider the user experience. You want the online shoppers to be able to navigate your website intuitively and find the experience enjoyable.
If you’re going with a platform that offers themes, you’ll want to choose one that will support the look and feel of your brand. Another important feature to integrate with your eCommerce website is a payment gateway. This will allow you to receive credit card payments online. Make sure you take this step pretty early on in the process because it could take some time to get approved. And before you even apply, you’ll need to have some policies in place. Make sure to research the gateway requirements ahead of time.
Establish an Inventory System, Shipping Processes and Storage Capacity
In order to handle your online orders, you’ll need an inventory system in place with a shipping process and organized storage. Decide which shipping company you’ll use and if there are any shipping restrictions with your products. You’ll also want to determine the packaging and have enough in stock. If you end up working with a warehouse for your storage, make sure your inventory will be accurately accounted for, and you understand their shipping process.
Promote Your Online Business
Now that your site is live and operations are running, it’s time to promote your business! You’ll be able to link straight to your products through your marketing efforts. NerdWallet suggests budgeting 6 to 7 percent of your gross revenue for marketing. At Klout9, we provide quality traffic driving services such as Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and Local Search Marketing (LSM). But that’s not all! We are a full-service marketing agency and would love to help grow your business! Contact us to start the conversation today.