It’s easier than ever to setup a website today. You will find that there are a lot of companies that publish content, and advertise through a variety of methods promoting their services, and talking about how you can sell online with ease.
The truth of the matter is simple, these low cost solutions will not get you moving very far (or fast). If you want to really make a splash online, you’ll want to hire a professional eCommerce Web Design Company in Warrnambool to get you heading in the right direction and making a steady income from the World Wide Web.
The direction necessary to setup a highly effective shopping website today requires serious effort, especially if you want your customers to be regular users.
Playing With The Big Boys
The largest sites in the world today are eCommerce ready. Think about the shopping that people do online, and you’ll see that millions upon millions of items are purchased on the web. These large online organisations are not using “FREE” or “low cost” shopping carts, or website builders.
They have authority online, they have trust, longevity, and competing with them can seem very difficult at first glance. However, don’t be put off selling your products or services online. Effective eCommerce doesn’t necessarily mean expensive!
While it may seem difficult to compete with them, you’ll realise that hiring a professional web designer will provide your business with the necessary tools to get a shot at the big time. It’s so lucrative, that you will find yourself being able to sell just about anything to anyone, and streamline the process of eCommerce with relative ease.
HELP! I NEED A NEW WEBSITE
Streamlining Inventory and Sales
One of the most important aspects of eCommerce web development is the ease at which you can update your page with new products, services, and prices. This can turn into a big mess if you don’t have the required Content Management System (CMS) to streamline the backend for you.
If you don’t want to pay someone to update every product (or do it yourself), one by one, then you will definitely want to look at the custom, easy to manage solutions offered by a professional CMS. The difference is night and day between the low cost, free options, and what is delivered by a high quality Content Management System.
What is a Content Management System (CMS)?
“A content management system (CMS) is a computer application that allows publishing, editing and modifying content, organising, deleting as well as maintenance from a central interface. Such systems of content management provide procedures to manage workflow in a collaborative environment.”
To put it simply, a content management system (CMS) allows even novice Internet users to easily update and edit their products online, whilst also managing sales, customers, inventory and orders from an easy to use admin panel. A content management system is essential to the efficient operation of an effective eCommerce website and should be the first thing you consider when organising an eCommerce strategy.
10 More Must Have eCommerce Features
- Responsive Design
- Social Media Integration (Like, Share, Tweet Products)
- One-Page Checkout
- A Variety Of Shipping Options
- Product Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
- Security Certificates
- Social Media Customer Login
- Blog
- Customer Reviews
- Contact Information
Ok, I’m in. Where do I start?
So you’ve decided to dip your toe into the world of eCommerce. Don’t worry we’re here to help.
Figure out what you’d like to sell
Deciding what products to sell is the most important step in starting an online store.
The tricky part is knowing how to figure out what items to sell online based on what will also fit with your marketing campaigns, display well on your website, and generally make sense within the context of your brand.
Consider the needs of your customers, check out what your competitors are selling and decide what will be the most profitable range for your business.
Decide how much your products will cost
Pricing your products is an important consideration that should be taken into account from the start.
It’s important to understand how much you need to charge to ensure your business is profitable, but also enticing to customers.
There are three straightforward steps to calculating a sustainable price for your product.
- Add up your variable costs (per product)
- Add a profit margin
- Don’t forget about fixed costs
Identify online products that customers will buy repeatedly
Sometimes one-off online orders are the best, but if you’re choosing products with small profit margin, relying on many people buying your product once is not the best strategy for longevity.
Think of online products that people will repeatedly buy from you over time and build brand loyalty with them.
The lifetime value of these customers can be higher than all your one-off customers.
I NEED TO SPEAK TO A PRO
Get retail ready!
Once you’ve figured out your product range, price point and promotional strategy, ensuring your products are ready to hit the online shelves should be your next priority.
The most important considerations include:
- Product Name
- Product Description
- Product Features (think bullet points)
- Product Photography
- Product Category (if you have a large range)
If these things aren’t properly displayed or organized on your page, it will surely disappoint a potential shopper.
Think about your brand’s story
A brand story is the motivation, the spark, the quest or one-time accident that led to creating your products; the values, the vision for the future and the challenges behind your ecommerce business.
You’re building a brand, not just offering goods. The story frames how your offerings are used, why you created them, the mission behind your company, and much more. Everything you tell someone or want them to know about you and your company is part of the story.
Start writing this story. You can publish emotive blog posts, educational articles and news stories, all of which help build brand loyalty.
Engage a local web design company
The team at WestVic Web, Warrnambool’s No. 1 Web Design Company, are a highly talented bunch of eCommerce web designers who have been successfully designing & developing websites for more than 10 years.
With our specialist web design expertise extending to online marketing, we also help set up your website for unprecedented success. We get you inspiration. We get you growth. We get you noticed.
We’re Australia’s own Web Design, Marketing & Hosting Company, WestVic Web. Work with the online experts to create an eCommerce website strategy that delivers results!
