Over the last few years, e-commerce has become a significant part of the economy and is only going to grow even more in the future. We are all aware of the incredible success stories of how some businesses started small with their e-commerce store and online services, only to rapidly grow and gain success in a very short space of time. However, many businesses have tried to do the same but failed to make it. Those planning an e-commerce venture can learn a lot more about what to do from those who went wrong than they can from the well known success stories.
E-commerce success is not as simple as just setting up a site and waiting for customers to flock to it. Planning and preparation are key to success in your online business. If you have a concept, here are two important aspects to include in your planning.
– Focus on core clients.
Everyone would love to establish the business that’s described as “the next Amazon” or “the new eBay”. There’s nothing wrong with holding these ambitions, but many people only tend to see the success these sites possess now, and not consider how they got to where they are. Amazon, for instance, started off solely as a site where customers could buy books that their local stores didn’t have the space to carry.
Rather than rushing to try and sell anything that anyone might want to try and buy online, identify the products or services that are in demand and will have a measurable target market. Aim high with ambitions, but don’t spread your plans too thinly over too wide a market.
– Build a site that you would trust to use.
Online shopping is usually associated with being able to access goods and services at a lower cost than you could find at a retail store. That’s one of the reasons why people are increasingly turning to online shopping, but it doesn’t mean they will happily give money to any site that has what they want for a cheap price.
All too often good e-commerce business plans have failed because they’ve used a generic, bland template for their site. A basic site will not instil confidence in potential customers, as they want to know they can trust the business they’re giving their hard-earned cash to. The design of your e-commerce site must focus on professionalism, ease of use and visual appeal.
A quick and easy way to test this is to consider the look, appearance and feel of sites you use yourself. Does your website create the same sense of security, trust and confidence that led you to use them?
Our web design and content team have time and again helped all kinds of businesses with their e-commerce plans. We’ve delivered many successful sites that incorporate all of the above factors and many more. If you want the greatest chance of success with your e-commerce ideas, we are here to help you achieve your goals.