Introduction
If you're reading this blog post, chances are eCommerce is something that interests you. eCommerce businesses have been growing exponentially in the past few years, and for good reason! eCommerce offers a lot of opportunity for people looking to start an online business. But before jumping right into it, there are a few things you should consider first. In this blog-post we'll go over some questions to ask yourself when thinking about starting eCommerce business, so read on!
What is an E-Commerce Business?
An eCommerce business is one which facilitates online transactions by offering products for sale. It can also be called an e-business or an online store. eCommerce originated in the late 90s and early 2000s. It was made possible by eCommerce business models, such as Amazon, eBay, Etsy etc., which allowed users to sell products online.
An e-commerce business can be run from a great variety of different types of platforms -from your own website or blog (blogging), through marketplaces like eBay, Etsy or Amazon (third party marketplaces), to your own website built on a platform like Shopify.
How does eCommerce work?
By describing eCommerce as a business model, it becomes easier to understand how eCommerce works. The e-business sells their products on the Internet through an online store and all transactions are done electronically via internet payment gateways or third party platforms like PayPal.
How does eCommerce work? What does running an eCommerce business look like?
In eCommerce you can operate a business from your own home or anywhere that has an Internet connection. eCommerce businesses may have a dedicated eCommerce store or sell through third party marketplaces like Amazon, eBay and Etsy (or any other marketplace e-business)
Pros and Cons of an eCommerce business model
Pros: eCommerce allows you to sell your products anywhere in the world. e-businesses can start with very little capital and operate from home, depending on the eCommerce business model they are using. These businesses are quite flexible and eCommerce business owners can choose to run eCommerce as a part of their main business or they can keep eCommerce separate.
Cons: Operating an eCommerce business is difficult as most of the labor takes place outside the actual website build itself (content marketing, SEO, eCommerce website design etc.) eCommerce businesses require in-depth knowledge of the eCommerce business they are using.
The Future of E-Commerce in the US
The eCommerce industry is constantly evolving. As technology advances, e-commerce platforms are growing at an exponential rate and consumers are embracing the changes wholeheartedly. The future of e-commerce in the United States looks promising and eCommerce professionals are working tirelessly to make the e-commerce industry one of the most important and influential industries in America.
In order for e-commerce platforms to succeed long term, they must adapt as consumer behavior changes over time. One way e-commerce professionals can ensure a platform's success is by building relationships with other companies that have similar goals and values within their respective industries or niche marketplaces. Companies will not only survive but thrive when collaboration becomes part of their strategic plan rather than an afterthought due to lack of planning on how data will be shared between different programs across each company's internal system. With open communications and understanding about what both businesses need from each other, integration efforts should be much smoother and eCommerce professionals can focus their efforts on the consumer instead of preparing for technical difficulties.
As eCommerce continues to grow, so does ecommerce fraud by cyber criminals looking for shortcuts into business systems. It has become increasingly important that businesses protect themselves from these risks while still being able to provide consumers with a great online shopping experience. Businesses should keep an eye out for multi-factor authentication technology as one way they can combat e-fraud. Multi factor authentications is designed around providing additional layers of security through verification beyond just usernames and passwords before allowing transactions or access into a system like placing your order on an eCommerce site In addition, implementing machine learning algorithms and anomaly detection technology are being used to fight eCommerce fraud as well.
Another e-commerce platform, such as Shopify is an eCommerce site , allows for consumers can have a fluid shopping experience due to the integration with many platforms across several different industries including Salesforce which makes it easy to share data between these two business systems in real time so they work together seamlessly. This collaboration has helped both companies grow exponentially and allowed them to serve their clients better than ever before. As eCommerce continues its move toward mobile commerce, this type of digital ecosystem will be crucial enabling businesses like Shopify and other innovative eCommerce platforms continue growing while helping small businesses become successful online retailers too.
Common Mistakes to Avoid when Starting Your Own E-Commerce Business
Starting an e-commerce business from home can be a great way to earn extra income or even take your existing business online. But, before you start building anything there are some common mistakes to avoid when starting an eCommerce business:
Focusing on the Wrong Products
There is nothing worse than putting in all of that time and money into your eCommerce store only for it not to generate any sales. Do thorough research first – make sure people actually want what you have to sell! If I was looking at opening my own eCommerce shop today I would probably focus on high margin-lightweight products like t-shirts. Find products with high demand (and not cheap eCommerce knock-offs either!).
Poor Photography
I always say that it is worth spending money on good quality photos for your eCommerce store and I stick by this. Don’t be tempted to cut costs here, instead invest in high quality images of the products you are selling. Customers will notice if there are poor or blurry product images and they may take their business elsewhere regardless of price point etc. Keep your eCommerce stores front end upmarket! Use large professional looking studio shots rather than amateur selfies taken with a smartphone camera – more expensive but better value in my opinion as well as being better for SEO too which means more customers find you online quicker! Check out sites like Fiverr where you can find eCommerce photographers and other eCommerce related services for very cheap prices.
Incorrect Pricing
I have been in the eCommerce business industry long enough to know that you do not want to be a competitive marketer, you always need to offer your customers something different! Make sure your products are priced differently from their competitors as this can help set up apart from them and stop people looking elsewhere first – remember it is all about capturing those potential sales early on (which will then lead into repeat custom). You might also consider offering a small discount off high volume orders too which will encourage more spending. Also think about how much product information you include with each item price-wise: there’s point adding every last feature of your eCommerce product if it bumps up the price and puts people off.
Not Listing All Products
This is very important when starting an eCommerce business: make sure you list every single item that you have for sale! Customers want to know what they are buying, how much something costs etc. If a customer comes on your ecommerce store only to find out there isn’t anything available at the moment then this can result in them taking their custom elsewhere so try and avoid this as best you can by listing everything from day one (even if some of your products aren’t selling well). Also – be aware of seasonal trends too which might increase or decrease sales over certain time periods; don’t get caught out by not having the products your customers want in stock.
Conclusion
What are you waiting for? You're already reading this blog post, so why not go ahead and start your eCommerce journey. There's never been a better time to be an entrepreneur with the rise of online business opportunities like we have today. So what are you waiting for? Get started today!
