It is possible that you are also one of those Internet users who usually buy in electronic stores or who combine the purchase in a physical store with the online one. But, if in addition to being an e-commerce user, you want to take the leap and sell your products online, you have come to the right place: This article on the Bilib blog interests you!
In the following paragraphs, we will try to answer eight key questions that you need to ask yourself before taking the step and launching yourself to sell online.
Question 1: How to make your online store profitable from the beginning?
As in any business, whether it is an exclusively physical sale, online, or that combines both modalities, you need to seek profitability, monetize the sales platform that you are going to launch.
It is important to bear in mind that an online store will achieve greater profitability in the medium-long term if we make the right decisions, and the first months are likely to be a desert … In this sense, we sometimes find ourselves with the belief that Selling online is easier than if you did it through a physical store, but, although it is true that with an online store you will have greater growth potential, to make an online store grow and be profitable it is not enough to create it and sit back and wait. Customers do not come alone, you have to attract them to your store and generate the necessary confidence so that they end up making the purchase.
So what can you do? The answer is to invest in online advertising to get qualified and quality traffic (that those consumers who are thinking of buying a product like yours, find you). You can do it through a campaign in Google AdWords and Google Shopping to try to achieve a positive ROI (Return on Investment). It can also help you to carry out campaigns on social networks, taking into account the social networks that your potential clients use to a greater extent; carry out affiliate campaigns through a CPA (Cost per Acquisition) system, etc.
Question 2: Do you know your competitors well and do you know how to enhance your strengths to attract leads and sales?
Analyzing your competitors can give you a competitive advantage. It’s about realistically comparing yourself to them to determine whether or not you can compete and how to do it. Through this analysis, you will be able to discover which are their best-selling product categories; the ‘core’ of its products; the marketing techniques and strategies they use: the image they show; the values they communicate; its aesthetics, etc. In this way, you can better decide your position in the market.
And from this research arises the need to develop an effective SEO strategy. Carrying out keyword research is essential to know what type of searches your potential clients carry out, which ones are the most popular, and in which segment you can compete and position yourself. In those keywords that you are able to compete with, it can be interesting to carry out an SEM strategy.
Question 3: Which CMS to choose based on your current and future needs?
As we mentioned earlier, it can be important to plan the online store strategy as a long-term project. This long-term conception implies developing a scalable eCommerce platform that not only responds to the needs of a recently created online store but also allows you to face its future growth. This is why it can be important to build a robust e-commerce platform from the start.
Of course, everything will depend on the economic investment that you can or are willing to make to create the platform. Ideally, you should hire the professional services of a web developer specialized in eCommerce creation. In this way, being clear about the aesthetics you want to convey, you will have the help of a professional in this area who will be able to adapt the platform to your specific needs and with the exact functionalities you want.
Question 4: Is your online store adapted to the product you want to sell?
It seems obvious, but in many cases, we come across online stores whose image and structure are not adapted to potential users. The first thing you need to attract customers is to build an attractive brand image for them. The graphic elements, the way you address them, the language you use on the web, and the values you transmit should form your own personality as a brand. This is what is known as ‘branding’.
Working on ‘branding’ will allow you to connect more and better with customers and create closer and more lasting relationships. It is very difficult for online stores without a clear identity that does not work on their ‘branding’ to stand out in online retail, which is characterized by being highly competitive.
Try to identify the needs that your potential customers may have when buying your product. It is not the same to sell clothing, footwear or technology. For this reason, the product file that they access before “adding to the cart” must be clear, concise, and contain all the information that customers need to assess before making their purchase.
Photographs (from different angles and details), descriptive texts, and related packs or products play an important role. Take into account the characteristics of the products to create “filters” that speed up and improve the shopping experience, as well as the incorporation of options such as size, color, size, measurements, etc.
Question 5: Where will you send your orders?
Another key question: to which geographical areas will you ship? It is very important to take this into account to define your shipping pricing policy. Currently, shipping companies have different rates depending on your shipping needs. It goes without saying that the ideal is to offer free shipping, but it is true that there are products that due to their shipping cost (due to their weight or dimensions, for example) do not allow it.
In any case, ensure that the pricing policy regarding shipments is clear and transparent. That your customers do not get surprises when finalizing the purchase, since this can reduce their level of trust in the brand.
Question 6: What different forms of payment to incorporate into your online store?
Another very important aspect is the payment methods that you offer to your customers. Although it is true that trust in e-commerce has increased considerably in recent years, we can still find reluctant and distrustful customers in online payment platforms, which is why we offer various payment options in addition to payment by credit/debit card or Paypal, such as cash on delivery, for example, can open the doors to dubious customer purchases.
At this point, check the commissions that secure payment systems such as Paypal can apply to you. Again, this will determine if your return on investment (ROI) is as expected.
Knowing the buying habits of your customers and the payment methods they prefer will help you choose. The last step of the purchase process should not be neglected as it is quite common for customers to abandon the “shopping cart” at the last minute because their expectations are not met. Whichever you choose, they should convey confidence, comfort, and enhance the shopping experience.