Running an e-commerce website is different from selling items on the likes of Amazon and eBay. As you won’t be tied to restrictive seller policies, you’ll have more control of the customer experience, your brand identity, and selling tactics.
Yet, running a profitable e-commerce company requires careful planning to attract visitors, secure customers, and remain compliant. A lot of planning and crunching numbers has to be done before you set up a new storefront online.
Find out how to make your online store a success.
Build a Professional Website
Even if you are selling the best product in your industry, your website could prevent visitors from buying from your business. Your target market will want to explore an attractive, easy-to-use, fast website that guides them to the checkout. For this reason, you should invest in a professional web design to create a quick, engaging, and straightforward site that naturally guides your visitors from the homepage to the shopping basket.
Introduce the Correct Tax Rules
Most e-commerce entrepreneurs don’t consider the tax implications of running an online store, which could cause financial repercussions for their businesses. Simplify trading online by turning to skilled ecommerce accountants at the earliest stage of your online business, as they will ensure it doesn’t overlook a single tax area. Plus, they can incorporate various tax rules into every sales channel to adhere to regulations and minimise financial risks.
Pinpoint Your Business’s USP
As your online store will compete with millions of e-commerce sites, you will need to pinpoint and promote your company’s unique selling proposition (USP). Every business should have a factor that sets it apart from its rivals, such as:
- Catering to an underserved customer
- Providing a service your competitors don’t offer, such as free delivery, a subscription service, or a free trial
- Unique customer experiences
Feature Online Support
Most consumers expect to access online customer support when visiting various e-commerce sites. If your website falls short, your visitors might not receive the answers they need to make a purchase, which might encourage them to click away from your store.
A 24/7 live chat tool can provide immediate answers to various questions, which could help your business generate substantial sales and secure loyal customers who are more likely to return to your business. If you don’t have the resources to provide 24-7 support, an automated chatbot might be an ideal solution for your cash flow.
Include Various Payment Options
Different customers will have different payment preferences. Some might be more than happy to input their credit card details, but others might prefer to use a third-party payment service for security purposes, such as PayPal or Apple Pay.
Other popular payment options include:
- Stripe
- Amazon Payments
- Google Wallet
- Samsung Pay
If you don’t provide their preferred payment feature, they might click away from your website and visit a more flexible competitor for a product. This would mean losing a potential sale.
While there is no guarantee your new online store will be a success, incorporating the above tactics may improve your business sales, prevent financial hurdles, and help you convert more visitors into customers.
