Basics of Launching Your First Ecommerce Business

Starting a business when you’ve never run one before may seem like a daunting prospect, but thanks to the popularity of ecommerce, it does not have to be. A young aspiring entrepreneur can use ecommerce as an arena in which to test out their business and managerial skills without taking on disproportionate risks. However, you still should not wade into ecommerce unprepared. You want it to be a positive and encouraging experience that will provide you with the chance to test and hone your managerial skills prior to expanding. Plus, you want to establish your name as trustworthy in the business world. So here are some tips and resources to help you get your new ecommerce company off to a stellar beginning.

Decide on an ecommerce product.

When selling products online, what you have to offer is one of the most important factors that can determine success or failure.

• You don’t want to sell something mass-produced or generic that anyone can find more easily from a big seller like Amazon.
• You need to be certain that the cost of producing and/or sourcing your product won’t make it impossible to earn a profit.
• Do some market research so you know there’s a demand for your product.
• Check out the competition so you can be confident that what you are offering fills a need or niche.
• Find out what data analysts have to say about future trends in the ecommerce market and popular products.
• Don’t choose a sales product that is likely to be just a passing fad - make sure you are selling something that will remain in demand for some time in the future.

Use this to-do list for starting a business.

Many of the steps of launching an ecommerce business are the same you’d take when starting any kind of business, but there are a few extra steps also.

• Come up with a business name.
• Find a domain name. Smart Choice Domains can help you find a great domain name that is available, affordable, and aligns with your brand.
• Write a business plan.
• Register your business as an LLC in the state of California.
• Apply for an EIN.
• Apply for any licenses or permits you may need.
• Source or create your products and build inventory.
• Select a sales platform and build your online store.

Come up with a marketing strategy for your ecommerce business.

Having a great product is only part of the recipe for success. As with any other business, you also need a good strategy for marketing your store and your products.

• Optimize your online store for SEO - that is, make it easily findable by search engines.
• Find out free marketing options are available to you through the platform you're already using.
• Research the different online marketing strategies available to you and decide which ones to utilize.
• Use analytics to track your marketing campaigns and your sales, to see which strategies are working.

Implement ecommerce business best practices to grow your business sustainably over time.

If you manage your ecommerce business well, you ought to see healthy growth and increased profitability.

• Make a point of offering the best possible customer service, including prompt communication and quick shipments.
• Always set a budget and stay within that budget.
• Update your website and software regularly for optimum security and efficiency.
• Hire a cybersecurity professional to help you keep your site, your data, and your customers’ data as secure as possible.
• Make ordering and checkout easy and stress-free for your customers.
• Offer different payment options.

Once you have mastered the different aspects of ecommerce, much of business management will begin to feel obvious and organic. And that’s a sign that you are ready to expand or grow your business. Plan well and maintain best practices at every stage of your company’s growth, whether you’ve just begun or been in it for years.