Suppose you have always thought about building an eCommerce store, then now is a great time to do so. Online shopping is only getting bigger, and there are very few barriers to getting started.
If you have got no experience building a website, then it can be a daunting prospect, but there is lots of help out there that means you can create a great store without much experience.
When you do get started, here are five important steps you will need to take.
Choose a Platform
One of the first decisions you have to make when building your eCommerce store is what platform to build it on. Most website builders have eCommerce plugins which allow you to sell your products online, but commonly people go with a dedicated eCommerce platform such a Shopify.
Each platform has its own benefits, but once you’ve selected a platform, you can find the right developer to help you build your store with the help of blackbeltcommerce.com.
Pick a Theme
Your theme is going to dictate the basic layout of your website. While these themes are highly customizable, it is important you choose one that is fast and provides a good user experience.
These are two things the search engines will look for from your store, but they will also help increase your conversion rate. You need your website to load quickly and allow people to navigate easily through it, and your theme can affect this.
Add Your Products
Once you have got the basics of your store sorted out, then you can start to add your products.
This is some of the most important copy you’re going to write, so you must take time on this step. Make sure you’re putting high-quality images and video of your products and focus on how they solve the problems your target audience has.
Too many product pages focus on specifications, without expanding on the true value of the products. Be creative and tell a story with your product pages rather than just talking about details.
Sort Out Shipping
One of the major aspects of running a successful eCommerce store is getting shipping right. This is not just important for customers who are waiting for products to arrive, but it is also an influencing factor for prospective customers.
One of the drawbacks to buying online vs shopping in-store is that you have to wait for your products to arrive, so minimize this inconvenience by offering fast, affordable shipping.
Streamline the Payment Process
You want to make it as easy as possible for people to spend money in your store.
One of the reasons Amazon is so popular is because they put no roadblocks in front of you from the moment you decide to purchase your item to the moment you get the confirmation email.
If you can minimize the number of clicks it takes for people to buy your products, then you are going to find it has a positive impact on your conversion rate.
