The best businesses are motivated by passion, so if you’ve got ambitions of being your own boss and building a business from the ground up, start with what you know and love. If that just so happens to be cars, you’re in luck as there is a huge range of accessories and supporting products which you can sell online relatively easily. Selling online or ecommerce is one of the most successful ways to trade nowadays but you’ll need to ensure you’ve got everything in place before the money starts rolling in. Check out these simple steps to opening a successful online business.
Decide What Products to Sell
The first step is to decide what kind of products you want to sell online. If you choose the automobile industry, you should opt for goods that you have some knowledge about and that you know there is a high demand for. Maybe start off with just a few products and build up your range over time? If you don’t have a supplier for the products yet, consider using drop-shipping providers as you can simply choose from their product list and sell them on your own website.
Choose a Domain Name
Your website should have a relevant domain name and URL, i.e. the web address where customers find your online store. Try and choose a domain name which is short and memorable and describes your business. You then choose whether you want it to be a .com, .au, .net etc. and register with a domain name provider.
Choose the Best Ecommerce Platform for You
While building your website, you also need to decide how customers will pay you for your goods. Some start-up companies choose to redirect customers to external payment tools, but it is more professional and much simpler to be able to accept credit card payments directly on your website. An ecommerce platform enables you to sell online via your website.
Find a platform which is simple to build and manage use, so you don’t have to spend too much time on it. There are several leading options for you to choose from so be sure to compare what each will enable you to do. For example, Big Commerce vs Shopify Plus is a common choice people face. Depending on your budget, choose the solution which is ideal for your store. You’ll also need to open a merchant account which the money can be paid into.
Build Your Store
Depending on the type of website and ecommerce solution you chose, you’ll want to spend some time getting used to its functionality and how to edit the design. Start creating your most important pages, including a home page, your product and category pages and perhaps a blog. Branding and design are key so don’t neglect the way your website looks and functions from the customer’s point of view.
Start Marketing
When you’re satisfied that your website is ready and your ecommerce system is functioning, the last step is to market your business. You need to drive customers to your online store and illustrate why they should make a purchase from you. Possible marketing methods are email marketing, social media and getting some experience with SEO (Search Engine Optimisation). Whatever you choose, it should be as easy as possible for your target audience to find your store.
