Setting up an online store is so much more than having a list of products to sell. Ecommerce platforms must be fully optimized, your entire online marketing methods need to change, and most importantly, you need to ensure that the behind-the-scenes systems are in place and capable of handling an influx of online orders. This is especially so if you are expecting orders from around the country.
With this guide, you can easily and successfully set up a successful store online. Just remember to keep it tailored to your brand so that you can stand out and make a splash online.
Choose Your Ecommerce Platform
First thing’s first: your ecommerce platform. This can be an extension to your website or it can be the entire platform that your website is built on. If until now your website has consisted of a few pages that talked about you and listed your contact details, then you will want to start from scratch with a fully integrated ecommerce website.
These websites can be easy to set up yourself, or if you want a more advanced and professional look, you can hire a web designer. If you opt for the web designer, ensure you know how to update it further to keep the information accurate and to update, add, or remove product listings after the website has been created.
Create High-Quality Product Listings
There are a few things you will need to create high-quality product listings:
- Great Photo
- Excellent Description and Copy
- Dimensions
- Inventory
- Testimonials/Reviews
Choose a Fulfillment Company
Handling shipping logistics on your own will be a nightmare. Not only will you need to handle the full scope of shipment and inventory, but you also need to work out an efficient shipping method. Shipping from your home or business and using the postal service won’t provide the fast, efficient service that customers have come to expect. That is why all businesses looking to sell online, especially if they are looking at large volumes of sales, need a fulfillment company.
An order fulfillment company manages your inventory by storing it. It then picks out the product that needs to be shipped, packages the product, then ships it to your customer. The best of these companies will have multiple locations which allow for faster shipping, while boasting extremely high shipment accuracy and times.
Link Your Store to Social Media
Facebook, Instagram, and even to an extent, Pinterest, are all very powerful platforms to sell products through. Facebook and Instagram in particular have built-in features that allow people to click on the product in your post and be taken to the product page on your website. You will need to set this feature up and optimize it for your followers.
Build Advertising Campaigns
Advertising in a bid to get people to visit your store is entirely different than advertising to get people to your ecommerce website. Thankfully, it is in many ways easier. That said, you will also be competing against a lot more people, so try to focus on all the trust signals you can. Reviews, influencers, brand partnerships, and awards are a good place to start.