Like any new business, setting up an e-commerce store involves an abundance of research, strategy, planning and business savvy. Then, once your store is up and running, there is much to consider for ongoing operations, customer service, marketing (including search engine optimization), expansion and more.
There are six essential steps to launch a successful e-commerce store, according to Tallya Rabinovich, CEO and founder of international e-commerce platform IzzoNet.
1. Set-up your goals. Your first move when starting an online business is setting your goals according to a thorough research. After researching the market, products, competitors, target group and suppliers, you create a business plan that encloses a clear set of your business goals.
2. Evaluate your available resources. Your time, money and manpower must be considered before starting your store. Keep in mind that the more time and money you invest in your store, the better the chances are for you to succeed.
3. Finding a reliable supplier. Locating a reliable and trustworthy supplier is essential for an improved customer relationship service and your brand's image protection. Your store reputation largely depends on the supplier you work with.
4. Automated management tools. Running your store effectively and automatically saves time and prevents sales loss. One significant advantage of e-commerce over traditional retail is that you can find platforms with automated management tools to operate your business while you're away and sell in abundance simultaneously.
5. Marketing and promoting your store and its products. Your goal here is to market and promote your store and its products on a great deal of channels in the least amount of time. To do that, you need marketing tools such as: eBay and Amazon integrations, Facebook store, coupons distribution, selling on price comparison sites, search engine optimization, etc.
6. Keep on the lookout. Analytics reports, new trends and updated widgets contribute to your business continuous improvement and increases your sales profit. If your business provides tools to analyze your store's activity, product sales and overall traffic, you're capable of optimizing your actions accordingly.
