Even though having an eCommerce presence in today’s business world is not a necessity, it sure is a plus, that is if you are going about it the correct way.
That said while eCommerce is not a guaranteed moneymaker, it can certainly tilt things financially in the right direction for you and your brand.
One of the keys to doing an online business the right way from day one is making sure your website is thoroughly reviewed beforehand you implement such a program.
In the event your website has some holes in it, get those fixed immediately before embarking into the eCommerce world.
So, are you ready to put an online store to work for your brand?
Is Your Website up to the Task?
Before you can cash that first Ecommerce dollar, you must review your website, being sure it is poised and ready to go.
Among the areas to focus in on:
- Plan – First and foremost, what do you want to do with eCommerce in order to grow your brand? Some business owners will use it as a part of their brand offerings; others will move full-steam ahead with it. If you are going to be accepting credit cards for your business, be sure to have any and all kinks on your website worked out. For instance, if you are setting up your store to go live the first day of the following month, running a number of tests on the site prior to that date. This includes pages that do not upload properly, broken links, pages where information is missing etc. You also want to make sure the “checkout” portion of the sales process is as smooth as possible. Stop for a moment to think about the poor public relations image you would present to consumers if they get all the way to the checkout process, only to have their credit cards or something else not work. Even though some consumers may start all over again, a fair number of them will simply call it quits, instead deciding to go to a competitor’s eCommerce store. If you’ve used online stores in the past as a consumer, you know how frustrating it can be when a glitch occurs, preventing you from completing the sale. The number one part of your plan should be having a site that is as close to perfect as possible;
- Offerings – What will your eCommerce store offer? One thing you always want to avoid is trying to be too many things for too many different people. In many cases like that, the brand is spread too thin. Focus on your strengths, offering those products and/or services that are central to your brand’s success. Over time, it is perfectly fine to add some items, though this should always be done with a sound thought process in mind. How can this or these additional items improve your eCommerce store? Also, will you offer specials on your store, especially for items that are either not moving all that quickly or have been on the store for some time now? Having the best stuff out there for sale will certainly increase the odds of moving more website traffic (and ultimately sales) your way;
- Service – Lastly, always respond to any and all customer inquiries, making such responses a priority. Some customers will have a question, perhaps even a problem along the way. Making sure you address such matters in a prompt and professional manner is important. Leave clear contact information on your online store, thereby avoiding having customers jump through hoops in efforts to contact you by phone, email etc.
No matter what products or services you offer for sale online, be sure to work out any kinks, before, during, and even after your site is offering such sales.
The potential to make a sizable amount of money is there with Ecommerce sites, but they have to be well-run from start to finish.
Be that business owner who ends up being a major player in Ecommerce when all is said and done.
If you do, your bank account will reward you.
About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business topics on the web
