If you are reading this on a computer or mobile device in 2023, then you are more than likely to have engaged with ecommerce in some way or another. Ecommerce now accounts for the majority of consumer purchases in Western societies. Moreover, there is no doubt that it is the unique convenience of “click and deliver” that has made this possible.
The ecommerce giants might have it seem like selling things online is the preserve of those at the helm of registered companies, but this isn’t really the case. Ecommerce has represented a great democratization of commerce. Gone are the days when you had to set up at least some form of physical location in order to sell your wares to more than a few people.
Not only can anybody set up an ecommerce site today (and very cheaply) but even those without any intention to build a serious income from ecommerce can still sell goods online.
What Type of Ecommerce?
But of course, if you want to get in on selling goods online, then you need to first consider what path you would like to take. If you want to build a scalable business, then naturally a specific ecommerce site is the way to go. For those just selling the odd item and supplementing their income, then an ecommerce hosting site is probably the best way to go – that or an Amazon account.
For the very beginners though, the tips are broadly the same. This is because many ecommerce companies actually begin with a single individual selling a few items on a third-party platform. And for those with no ambitions beyond this, that is naturally how it starts too!
Yet even so, business is business, and there is going to be no success at all without doing things right. Even third-party platforms offer the user some type of creative control over how their online shop looks, and so web design and supplementary content are important.
Web designers out of Sacramento, Peak Design, say that their services, for example, are popular among companies of all sizes, and even sought out by some private individuals only selling a few items. SEO is another thing that really cannot be neglected.
Tips for Beginners
Create an SEO Strategy
The thing about the massive accessibility of the internet is that there is no place thereon where you can be sure you will not be completely drowned in the sea of other content. SEO is the way out of this dilemma. Even if you are selling on a third-party platform, you should optimize text content for keywords at the very least. And for scaling your operation, you can look into professional SEO services.
Pick the Right Platform
Even for those that ultimately wish to sell their goods exclusively on their own website, a platform is nearly always required right at the beginning. Sites such as Amazon, Etsy, eBay, Shopify, and so on can bring your products to a much wider customer base than is possible with a freshly created website.
Don’t Send Customers Elsewhere
Why would anybody do that? Well, because the great reach that social media offers, new ecommerce ventures often set themselves up on Facebook or Instagram in order to attract more customers. However, a big mistake is to link to your social media page on your actual site, sending customers away to a page where they cannot buy anything from. It needs to go only one way.
Beyond these tips, we are getting into the realm of scaling a company, and for that there is much moreto consider. For the absolute beginners, however, this is how to start.
