2020 Guide to Selling Products Online

Setting up a successful e-commerce business is not an easy task. Even if you have done the right groundwork, your e-commerce business may not take off. There are many decisions you will have to make before launching your e-commerce business.

Here are the main things you should consider when creating an e-commerce business.

Register a Domain Name

The address potential clients will type into a web browser is called a domain name. This is what will help customers find your business history. Normally, people choose the domain name and the business name simultaneously. They can ensure that their domain name reflects what their business does and avoid any inconveniences. Therefore, you should choose your domain name before you choose your business name. You may discover that another entity has already taken the domain name reflecting your business if you don’t.

It is better to choose a domain name that is short, catchy, and memorable. You should also select a domain name that explains what your business does but doesn’t sound too generic. Finally, avoid domain names with special characters such as hyphens.

Build Your Website

Newbie e-commerce business owners are reluctant to build a website because they think they don’t have the right programming skills. This used to be the case a few years ago. But today, you can create a functional and attractive website without any technical knowledge. All you have to do is find a platform with the right tools to launch a website.

A functional e-commerce website needs several essential tools, such as a checkout button and an easy way to add products. This is why it’s important to find a website builder platform that offers all these tools without extra cost. To protect your website, you will also need an IdentityForce plan.

Add a Payment Method

Once your website is up and running, you will start receiving payments. That is why one of the first things you must add to your website is a payment method that links to your bank account. Fortunately, there are many payment methods available today. Some of them are easier and faster than others.

You can start by creating a merchant account. It’s advisable to skip this step and instead use advanced payment processing platforms such as Stripe, Square, or PayPal. These payment processing platforms have e-commerce software integrated into them.

Another popular payment method is credit cards. Credit cards are easier for potential customers because the customer does not have to create a merchant account. Additionally, other digital wallet solutions, such as Masterpass, Visa Checkout, Amazon Pay, Google Pay, and Apple Pay, exist. These digital wallet solutions offer a new way for customers not comfortable using their credit cards online. These customers may not be comfortable with sharing credit cards online due to identity theft. Is identity theft worth it? Of course not.

Choose a Shipping Method

Once you have built a website and created a payment method, you need to figure out how customers will receive your products. This brings us to the next step: shipping. The right shipping method is a critical part of any business that sells physical products, such as books.

The first step to creating the ideal shipping method is to pick a carrier. When selecting a carrier, consider things such as their charging rates and speed of delivery. Also, examine the carrier’s network.

One of the incentives you will be offering your customer is free shipping. This means you will have to absorb the costs you will be paying the carrier. To successfully mitigate free shipping, you should opt for real-time rates to save on costs. In that light, you need to choose a shipping solution that provides a wide range of shipping tools that can be integrated with your website. Moreover, you should maintain contacts with several other shipping solutions to compare rates.

E-commerce Marketing

Just like any other business, an e-commerce store must be marketed aggressively. It is recommended that you start marketing the e-commerce business as soon as you launch it. Research has shown that omnichannel marketing that incorporates paid advertising, SEO, email advertising, and social media is the best way to market an online store. Additionally, you should have occasional coupons and promotions as well as product discounts.

The best way, however, to promote your e-commerce business is social media. This is where the majority of your customers will come from. For starters, you can create a business page on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. You’ll also need a wide variety of high-quality images and videos to promote your business. Facebook and Instagram also have integrated tools that allow sellers to sell products directly from their social media pages.

You’ll also need to invest a lot of money in search engine optimization. For your business to succeed, it must appear on the first page of Google search results. As a result, you will need to write blogs, create landing pages, and use keywords.

Key Takeaway

Physical stores are becoming a relic of the past. The future is leaning towards e-commerce. That is why you need the ultimate guide to help you set up a successful e-commerce business.