Owning and operating an ecommerce business is a fun and exciting experience through which you can earn money while being your own boss. This can either be accomplished as a side gig or a fulltime job, depending on the amount of time you have to put into the process.
Yet, there are plenty of people who want to break into ecommerce but are afraid to do so. One of the most common questions is whether fledgling sites can compete against the big dogs.
Can a small e-store really edge out ecommerce giants like Amazon and eBay?
Yes – if managed correctly.
Below are a few things to keep in mind if you want your ecommerce store to run with the big dogs.
Build a Better Website
Online users love beautiful websites that are easy to use. Many fledgling ecommerce vendors spend too much time trying to build their sites from scratch; time that could be used for making sales and turning a profit.
So, how do you create an ecommerce website? The first thing you should do is select a leading ecommerce platform builder like Shopify. These provide customizable templates for your new site and are pre-fabricated to handle tasks like processing payments, so all you have to do is plug and play.
That being said, you definitely want to put your own spin on your site. Explore the basics of website design to understand how to best employ accent colors, HD images, menu buttons and product videos. Consider all of the ways you can make your e-store stand out.
Corner Your Market
These days, it seems like big-top ecommerce sites sell everything from consumer electronics to groceries. How can you possibly compete? By cornering your own niche market.
Imagine your product, then envision who is mostly likely to buy it. Are you selling handcrafted jewelry to Millennials? You may want to match your brand identity to “bohemian accessories for the fun-loving woman” or something equally creative. On the other hand, if you are selling home décor for a more affluent audience, shift your messaging to something that relates to them; “style in simplicity,” perhaps.
Research the competitors in your chosen space. See what is working for them and what isn’t. You might just discover the perfect formula for attracting and keeping loyal customers. Working on your own branding can help you make your business more valuable on the market, for more ideas, check out options from CGK Business Sales.
Connect with Your Customers
Speaking of customer loyalty, make every effort to meet consumers where they are. This all depended on location, location, location for brick-and-mortar stores. But where do you go to find shoppers when your store is floating around in cyberspace?
A vibrant social media presence is a must-have for any ecommerce site. While the big dogs stay top of mind due to their prominence, small and medium ecommerce sites have to regularly remind their audiences of the latest deals and product releases.
Social media is a great place to engage shoppers, post memes, share articles, join in conversations and display customer-submitted images – all while promoting your e-store.
Another idea is to leverage email subscription marketing to share coupon codes and product launches. Shoppers will have voluntarily joined the list, so you know they are interested in hearing from you.
If you are truly a beginner, no one will expect you to have all these factors at the get-go. Take your time when building your website, social media presence and email marketing lists. It’s better to develop each facet as you go, rather than slapdash something together.
In time, you’ll realize your full potential.
