Starting an online business is not easy.
From choosing a product to sell to building your online presence and attracting customers, there is a lot to do. Additionally, you also need to choose an ecommerce platform to set up your online store or build your ecommerce website using a website builder.
All of this takes immense time, effort, and dedication. But is that all?
No, you also need to be aware of the right process and strategies to follow while starting your own online business.
If you’re wondering where to look for useful tips, I’ve got you covered. In this article, I’ll share the steps you should follow to set up your online business and start selling your products.
Read on to learn about everything you’ll need and the process you should follow.
Table of Contents
Choose a Niche and Find a Product to Sell
Plan and Register Your Business
Build Your Ecommerce Store and Promote It
Focus on Enhancing Customer Satisfaction
Ready to Take Your Business Online and Boost Sales?
Choose a Niche and Find a Product to Sell
The first step to starting an online business is to decide which products you want to sell.
Do you want to sell clothes? Are you going to promote handmade products by local artisans in your area? Will you sell pet care products or hiking equipment?
You should pick a niche that you’re interested in. This will help you stay motivated.
Check which types of products are trending in the niche market you choose. You can use social listening, Google Trends, and other forum sites for this.
Choose products that are trending, have high consumer demand, and can offer higher profit margins to you.
Once you’ve finalized your product, work on sourcing it from manufacturers and wholesalers, or producing it on your own (whatever suits you the best).
Plan and Register Your Business
The next big step in starting an online business is to figure out the basics. From coming up with a brand name to purchasing a domain and registering your business entity with the state, you need to do it all.
You should choose a brand name that is:
- Relevant to your niche
- Easy to read, type, and pronounce
- Unique and memorable
- Brandable
- Available as a domain name
Once you’ve finalized a name, it’s time to create a logo and other branding collaterals.
And the most important part – You need to register your business with the state and also obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)/Tax ID. The good news is that the business formation packages by GovDocFiling can make this process hassle-free and quicker for you.
Build Your Ecommerce Store and Promote It
To sell your products online, you need to set up your ecommerce store. From choosing the right ecommerce website builder to taking high-quality product images and writing captivating product descriptions, setting up your online store is a lot of work.
When it comes to choosing an ecommerce store builder for your business, you have two options. You can either choose a hosted platform such as Shopify and BigCommerce or a self-hosted platform like WordPress.
Most of these website builders come with easy-to-use, drag-and-drop builders. You can easily set up your store and list your products without any coding knowledge and expert help.
However, you might decide to build a custom website with the help of professional developers, once your business grows. For now, concentrate on starting with a simple yet elegant store theme.
The most challenging part about selling your products online is that buyers cannot touch or try out try your product. In such a scenario, engaging product photos and videos can be your greatest asset. I recommend that you invest in product photography.
You need to write product descriptions that can compel visitors to buy your products. The descriptions should include all of the information a potential buyer may need and they should be optimized for relevant keywords.
Don’t forget to include clear yet compelling calls-to-action (CTAs) and place them in all the right places. Your CTAs should draw in the visitors’ attention and convince them to make a purchase.
Last but not least, promote your ecommerce business and products to your ideal buyers via different channels.
You should:
- Improve your search visibility.
- List your business in startup directories.
- Build a presence on social media.
- Promote your products via social media, emails, and blog posts.
- Collaborate with micro-influencers in your niche.
Focus on Enhancing Customer Satisfaction
Customer service plays a crucial role in the success of any business. Therefore, you should keep them happy at all times. It is also a good idea to reward high-value customers with impressive loyalty programs.
You should see what customers are saying about your products and online selling services. Spot feedback that you can use as an inspiration to improve your products and overall customer satisfaction.
Are people facing issues with the checkout process of your online store? Is a particular product leading to complaints? What add-ons do your customers want?
You should respond to both positive and negative feedback immediately. Work on resolving complaints and overcoming issues.
If you want to provide 24/7 support to your customers and cater to their requests and questions instantly, you should deploy an AI-powered chatbot on your ecommerce site or store. You can also integrate the bot with messaging apps like Facebook Messenger.
Ready to Take Your Business Online and Boost Sales?
Building an online business can be challenging, but doing it the right way can be rewarding as well.
You should choose your niche and product wisely, figure out how to source or manufacture it, set up your store, and market and sell your products to potential buyers. And most importantly, focus on delivering exceptional customer experiences, retaining customers, and encouraging repeat business.
Are you ready to set up your online business and start selling? If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments below.
Author Bio
Brett Shapiro is a co-owner of GovDocFiling. He had an entrepreneurial spirit since he was young. He started GovDocFiling, a simple resource center that takes care of the mundane, yet critical, formation documentation for any new business entity.