Are you looking to make some money on the internet? If so, eCommerce could be one of the options to consider. Even those who do not have a lot of experience with digital marketing can start a store and slowly build their business.
Another great thing about eCommerce is the freedom of choice when you pick a product you want to sell. This freedom means that you do not have to limit yourself to just best-sellers but work on something that you find interesting.
For instance, if you are into design and would like to try selling custom-made merchandise like t-shirts and hoodies, Printify is a great option since it is a Print on Demand & Drop Shipping Platform | 250+ Products, 24/7 customer support, and 90 printing facilities over the world.
Also Read: Must-Haves When Starting an Online Business
Finding the right idea is always difficult, but once you land on something that you believe in, it is time to start a website. If you have not developed a site for eCommerce before, you will certainly want to take note of the pointers below.
Tip #1 – Make Your Website User-Friendly
According to HubSpot, for 76 percent of online shoppers, the most important thing for a website is to be easy to use. Thus, when you are creating one as well, do not focus on other characteristics before you have a clear idea of how to make the site as user-friendly as you can.
The website you are developing is meant to sell products and if visitors struggle to find what they are looking for, it is understandable if they leave and look elsewhere. Every second matters.
Minimalistic design, clear categories, filters, comparison charts, advanced search bar, as well as product descriptions.
Tip #2 – Optimize It for Mobile Users
People do their shopping not just on computers but on smartphones and tablets. A website should be responsive to smart devices. Otherwise, you will lose a big chunk of potential customers.
HuffPost has published an article about how shopping on a smartphone is becoming viral and trending. Finally, the reason why the likes of Amazon and eBay have apps for smartphones is because of how much eCommerce is driven by mobile users.
Also Read: Tips for Mobile First Marketing Strategies for your Business
Tip #3 – Focus on High-Quality Images
Even if someone is doing grocery shopping and checking out fruits or vegetables, when something does not look good, they put it away and look for one that is more attractive.
Well, the same principle applies to eCommerce. On top of the high-image-quality, you will want to put out photos from different angles so that shoppers have a better idea of what they can expect.
Tip #4 – Search Engine Optimization
Organic traffic from search engines is valuable. Optimizing a site and ranking with keywords that are focused on buying brings a lot of quality visitors who are more likely to spend their money on your products.
Tip #5 – Social Media Marketing
Platforms like Facebook and Instagram are great not just for increasing conversion rates but raising brand awareness.
If you want, you can also interact with your audience directly by replying to their comments and encouraging discussions with posted content. Finally, organizing giveaways and contests will significantly increase the reach and attract more people.
Tip #6 – Variety in Payment Methods
Customers appreciate alternatives in payment methods. In fact, there are some who add a product in the cart only to abandon it in the end because they could not find a payment method that works. And abandoned carts are one of the biggest problems eCommerce stores face.
Tip #7 – Different Shipping and Delivery Options
If you work as a middleman, you may have limited say in what shipping and delivery option are. That is the price one has to pay for running a dropshipping venture. However, it does not mean that your hands are completely tied.
You are in charge of picking suppliers and if there is one who offers variety in shipping and delivery options on top of product quality, working with such a supplier is the best choice.
Tip #8 – Ensure That Your Website is Secure
Cybersecurity threats are one of those things that nobody can predict. DDoS attacks, malware, ransomware, and data breaches are just a few forms of what online business can go up against.
Protection of customer and personal data is another item that should be on the list of priorities. Failing to ensure the safety of a website will plummet your reputation and getting back on your feet might be impossible at that point.
In conclusion, a good eCommerce project starts with a well-developed website that can accommodate the needs of customers and consistently attract new visitors. The development can be a real ordeal, but well worth the effort. Expecting to make sales on a mediocre website is a fool’s errand. Instead, take note of the tips in this article and come up with the best possible website version you can.