If a few of your friends are currently enjoying the freedom that comes with making a living online and you would like to know more about e-commerce, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will outline a few basics regarding selling products on a digital platform, with the aim of helping you to get started in what could be a life-changing time for you.
- Your Business Plan – By creating a comprehensive plan that includes every aspect of the business, you will learn how to overcome the many obstacles that are sure to encounter. If building a successful company was easy, we would all be millionaires, and your chances of success will be greater if you have a good business plan, and once done, let a few business people take a look.
- Website Design and Hosting – Your e-commerce website will have to be professionally designed and built, as this is very much your shop window to the online world. Of course, the design would include your input, and with great images and professionally written product descriptions, your goods will be well-presented to the online consumer. Any web developer would offer both web design and hosting services and an online search will help you locate an SEO specialist who can handle all of your digital requirements.
- Choosing your Products – Your chosen field will very much determine the level of competition you will have, and you need to carry out exhaustive market research to evaluate the demand for your proposed product line. The online consumer uses search engines to source absolutely everything from digital devices to white kitchen wall tiles, and everything in between, and your products should be attractive in every respect, if you are to carve out your share in the market.
- Logistics – Once you have connected with the online consumer, you need to provide a first-rate logistics service, and rather than attempting to pick and pack yourself, simply outsource all order fulfilment to a 3PL provider. This company would have warehousing, expert packing staff and an extensive delivery network, which guarantees rapid delivery, plus they are very flexible and will design their services around your needs.
- Accounts – Obviously, if you are going into business, you will need to keep an accurate record of all transactions, indeed, you are advised to make contact with a local bookkeeping service even before you start trading.
- Crunching the Numbers – Some people start slowly, and do not give up their day job, rather waiting until they can see the business doing well, while others will jump in with both feet, but either way, you need to calculate your start-up and running costs. Can you afford to survive the first 3 months without making a single sale? If the answer is no, then you must understand the risk of running out of money, and borrowing is a good way to ensure that you can survive the first year.
Other people are successfully starting e-commerce businesses and with the right preparation, there’s no reason why you can’t join them.
