Are you planning to launch your own eCommerce website? Like everything else these days, more and more businesses are closing their doors to open online storefronts. However, it’s not as simple as it sounds. When it comes to running an online business, taking the eCommerce route can be incredibly overwhelming. It takes a lot of time and effort to ensure that you are setting up your business for success.
Here at Envision Digital, we understand the complexities of running an online business. That’s why we compiled a few important do’s and don’ts to take into account when launching your own eCommerce website. Read on to find out more!
Do: Have a Business Model
While it seems like a straightforward concept, developing a business model involves more than just in-depth planning. Business owners need to consider how technology and innovation are changing the way a business operates. Nowadays, business models are expected to keep up with an ever-evolving industry to continuously create value for modern-day consumers. But what exactly is a business model?
A business model is basically the framework of a company. From concept to plans for growth, a solid business model enables companies to acquire additional funding, identify potential weaknesses, and – most importantly – make sound business decisions. Without a business model, it would be burdensome for businesses to manage growth and develop new strategies to take advantage of opportunities in the market. Remember, everything is moving at such a rapid pace right now. Make sure that your business can keep up!
Don’t: Pursue a One-Size-Fits-All Approach
A one-size-fits-all approach is never a good idea when running a business. It is important to understand that your business is different from other businesses even if you’re operating in the same niche. Before launching your online storefront, make sure that you understand who your customers are and what engages them to click and purchase your product. Focusing on customer engagement means you are considering each buyer segment and how you can address their unique needs.
Do: Pay Attention to Your Site’s Usability
User experience (UX) is critical to eCommerce success. Contrary to popular belief, UX is more than just a website’s design. From the initial visit to checkout, an excellent UX considers how customers navigate through your eCommerce website. A quality UX design features logical features that ultimately influence a customer’s buying decision and guides them through the entire process in an effective and efficient manner. Here are some considerations when planning your UX:
- Take the mobile experience into account – don’t forget to optimize your online storefront
- Focus on implementing a minimal yet compelling design
- Put emphasis on ease-of-use to enable your customers to easily sift through your products
- Allow customers to leave feedback
- Include clean images to accompany your content
- Never underestimate the power of search engine optimization (SEO)
Don’t: Underestimate SEO
Never, ever, underestimate the power of the search engine. Search engine optimization, or SEO, is a vital part of your eCommerce operation. It refers to the constant improvement of your eCommerce site to increase the relevance of your online content and improve the quality of your website traffic. Moreover, SEO enables you to rank higher in search and boosts the likelihood of consumers clicking on your products.
Do: Have a Digital Marketing Budget
Put simply, a digital marketing budget is an investment. While it’s true that marketing costs can vary depending on the size of a business, eCommerce businesses should always allocate a part of their budget to marketing and advertising efforts to ensure that they are reaching their intended audience. Marketing allows you to increase brand awareness, improve your market reach, and effectively set yourself apart from the competition.
Don’t: Forget to Measure Your Performance
The rise of big data has given businesses the ability to tailor individual experiences that can lead to growth. To stay ahead of the curve, eCommerce businesses are beginning to put more emphasis on measuring their progress through key performance indicators (KPIs) that provide insight into the market, portray customer behavior, and identify areas of opportunity. Additionally, having a better understanding of the data you have helps you measure the effectiveness of your marketing efforts and uncover critical risks.
And there you have it! While this is not a comprehensive list of the do’s and don’ts to keep in mind, it’s a great place to start! How about you? Do you have any other tips that you would like to share? Let us know in the comments below!
