Thinking about starting an online store? Overwhelmed with the steps you need to take to get started? Stay tuned because in this web series, you will learn everything you need to know to take the first step and move forward with your business selling a product or service online!
Selling online is becoming more and more popular for consumers today because of the benefits it provides to both the buyer and the seller. To start with, here are my top 10 reasons why one should own a web store.
- You are a one in a million (of pages online), which is still better than being a part of nothing at all.
- You can be searched and found by great customers from anywhere in the world
- Advertising online is much cheaper than print, no need to break the bank.
- The first ad will start with www and will be emailed to someone at no cost.
- Your customers don’t need to spend money on parking.
- Your business is open, 24/7, weekends, holidays, and even when you’re asleep or on vacation.
- You can sell a ton without having a single thing in hand.
- You don’t need to hire anyone.
- You can change your web store design at ease.
- You are online. Therefore you exist. You better believe it.
As you can see, there are many benefits that we can add to the list, but the most important thing is that you ready to take all the responsibilities that come with running your web store.
Before you begin to get yourself geared for this new adventure, remember that your online reputation will be one of the most important keys to your success. Online customers can be highly critical making managing your store vital to your success. Images, content and design layout make your first impressions and decide whether your client is going to be loyal or simply move on.
Much like a doctor for your health or a mechanic for your car it is a good idea to get professional advice to get you set up giving you the best chance to have your store off the ground right from the start. Today the market is saturated with professionals such as business advisors, web developers, graphic designers and online marketer, so do not hesitate to reach out and get the proper advice and service you require to get you started and going forward.
Here are some questions you should ask yourself when considering online selling:
Do I have enough time?
Time is essential because it has everything to do with good customer service. One of the keys to success online is a quick response when customers reach out and getting their product to them as soon as possible so they come back for more.
Am I web savvy?
E-commerce websites are heavy, tedious websites that require attention to detail. In order to properly manage your website, you need to understand how it is set up or be prepared to build a relationship with a professional web developer that will take care of web maintenance and updates.
Am I ready to commit?
Your customers will want consistency. Once the store is up and running, it is important that you can commit to the branding and product selection that you initially chose.
Do I have enough money to invest?
Starting up a business online requires a marketing budget to help spread the word about your amazing new store or services. Be prepared to spend some money to get the engine rolling.
On our next segment, we will discuss how to get started and introduce you to essential online tools that get you properly started. If you have any questions or feel we skipped over something you want to learn more about, leave it in the comments below and we will be sure to cover it in the upcoming segment.
This segment brought to you by our contributor Itsik Romano. Itsik Romano is the creative director and founder of Definite Image Productions Inc., a Montreal (West Island) creative studio that specialized in web development, graphic design and online marketing.
Feel free to contact Itsik and his team at 514.228.7979
or email him at itsik@definiteimage.com.