More and more consumers are turning to the web to research products and make purchases. Ecommerce sales topped out at nearly $260 billion last year, and the industry is expected to grow in leaps and bounds over the coming years. This is good news for entrepreneurs interested in building a business online. If you are interested in trying your hand at ecommerce, there are countless approaches you can take. Here are four tips that can get you on the road to success with your ecommerce venture.
Identify the right niche
You probably already have a general idea of what type of business you want to build. But many of the most profitable sites make money by providing highly specific products targeted at a particular audience. Before you get started with building your business, it’s a good idea to do some research to come up with the best approach. You can start the process with some keyword research. Tools like Google’s Keyword Planner and SEO Book’s Keyword Tool allow you to conduct free searches for potential keywords in your niche. Typically, when you enter a general search term, keyword planners come up with a list of more specific queries related to your search. They also indicate which terms have the most search volume and the lowest competition in the industry. This information can be invaluable as you develop the foundation for your ecommerce business.
Develop a website
Once you’ve done your research, start building your website. There are several intuitive platforms available that allow users to build highly functional, professional websites with little to no knowledge of code language. Many of them are inexpensive or free. As you’re developing your website, make sure you take your time. Use your knowledge of keywords to create compelling copy that is going to drive search traffic to your website. Once you have a working draft of your site, conduct some usability tests with people you know and trust then incorporate their feedback. Remember, even though you may be excited about launching your new ecommerce business, it’s really important to get your website right from the start. Using an effective hosting platform is also key for ecommerce.
Build your online following
If you apply effective search engine optimization principles to your site, update it regularly, and share content that’s valuable, you’ll end up with a healthy flow of visitor traffic. But don’t expect this to happen overnight. It is a process that takes time, and you need to be committed to updating your site regularly in order to achieve success. Many businesses also rely on social media and email marketing to give their site a traffic boost. Consider creating a page or profile on one or two major social networks to help spread the word about your ecommerce company but make sure you don’t go overboard. When it comes to social media, it’s better to focus on one or two sites so you don’t become overwhelmed with all the updating.
If you are interested in building a business online, now is a great time to get started. Begin the process by doing your research. Use keyword tools to identify profitable niches, and then start building your business website. After you’ve conducted usability tests on your site, you can begin spreading the word about your business via search, social media, and email marketing. Remember, building a successful business is not an overnight process. But if you are persistent and passionate, your ecommerce site will achieve success!
About the author: Brendan Harrington is a digital marketing expert. He works with ecommerce firms to build their platform and frequently writes about his experiences.