{"id":5378,"date":"2022-03-22T15:59:45","date_gmt":"2022-03-22T22:59:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/?p=5378"},"modified":"2023-12-14T13:55:59","modified_gmt":"2023-12-14T20:55:59","slug":"how-to-start-an-ecommerce-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/how-to-start-an-ecommerce-business\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Start an Ecommerce Business: Complete Guide 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many aspiring entrepreneurs possess a desire to build a business that will eventually allow them to live their best lives. Needless to say, it takes a lot of work to successfully launch a website that will grow and prosper long-term. So, once you decide what type of business you want to launch, keeping in mind that the possibilities are endless, you\u2019ll want to consider objectively looking at the subcategories we\u2019ve highlighted below.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Brands have more opportunities than ever before to thrive and grow in a world where so many purchases are carried out online. It\u2019s no surprise that businesses are shifting, if not starting, with eCommerce stores, rather than the outdated brick-and-mortar models. Needless to say, the future of eCommerce is promising and so is the flexibility to be your boss. With so many entrepreneurs springing forth at the chance to create influential products and services, it can be daunting to compete in with those who\u2019re already established online. But, don\u2019t let that thought stop you! If you want to know more about how to start a&nbsp;successful eCommerce business, you\u2019ve come to the right blog.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/how-to-start-an-ecommerce-business\/#SELECT_THE_RIGHT_PRODUCTS\" >SELECT THE RIGHT PRODUCTS&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/how-to-start-an-ecommerce-business\/#SELECT_YOUR_BUSINESS_MODEL\" >SELECT YOUR BUSINESS MODEL<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/how-to-start-an-ecommerce-business\/#WHAT_TYPE_OF_RESEARCH_DO_YOU_DO_BEFORE_LAUNCH_YOUR_STORE\" >WHAT TYPE OF RESEARCH DO YOU DO BEFORE LAUNCH YOUR STORE?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/how-to-start-an-ecommerce-business\/#Suppliers\" >Suppliers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/how-to-start-an-ecommerce-business\/#Website\" >Website<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/how-to-start-an-ecommerce-business\/#Shipping\" >Shipping<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/how-to-start-an-ecommerce-business\/#Marketing\" >Marketing<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/how-to-start-an-ecommerce-business\/#Customer_Service\" >Customer Service<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/how-to-start-an-ecommerce-business\/#Search_Engine_Optimization\" >Search Engine Optimization&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/how-to-start-an-ecommerce-business\/#User_Experience\" >User Experience<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/how-to-start-an-ecommerce-business\/#Conversion_Optimization\" >Conversion Optimization<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/how-to-start-an-ecommerce-business\/#Scaling_Vs_Growing\" >Scaling Vs. Growing<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/how-to-start-an-ecommerce-business\/#Automation\" >Automation&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/how-to-start-an-ecommerce-business\/#Integrations\" >Integrations<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"SELECT_THE_RIGHT_PRODUCTS\"><\/span><b>SELECT THE RIGHT PRODUCTS&nbsp;<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Whether you\u2019ve discovered a need within society and found a way to fill that demand with an item of your creation or you simply want to take an existing product and make it bigger and better, it\u2019s essential to start your eCommerce journey with a hot-selling commodity. So, how do you select the right product?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Follow your passion:&nbsp;<\/strong>It\u2019s always a great idea to breathe life into a business that interests you, so if you\u2019re an avid motor enthusiast or perhaps an animal lover, your successful eCommerce investment could lie in your favorite hobbies or personal experiences. After all, since you already possess the knowledge, it\u2019s a lot easier more enjoyable to build a prosperous venture using that idea.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Look for trends:<\/strong>&nbsp;If you\u2019re striving to be a business owner and are still on the hunt for a little inspiration, have a look at products and services that are trending. Finding out what people search for on Google, or even which items are moving up to a prominent place on Amazon users\u2019 wish lists, will help you to spark an idea for a business.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Simplify a task:<\/strong>&nbsp;One of the best-selling points that could skyrocket your business strategy is creating a product that makes life a little easier. Isn\u2019t everyone always looking for ways to further simplify their lives? This means that instead of coming up with a wide lineup of items to sell, start by only offering one or two products using a direct-to-consumer model to make their shopping processed speedily by limiting choice and cutting out the grueling interactions with salespeople.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"SELECT_YOUR_BUSINESS_MODEL\"><\/span><b>SELECT YOUR BUSINESS MODEL<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A key element of a successful eCommerce business is determining which model works best for the idea and resources that you have available.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Dropshipping:<\/strong>This eCommerce fulfillment method is a great option for those who don\u2019t have the storage space to hold their inventory. How it works is when an order comes in, the retailer transfers the customer\u2019s details and shipping information to a third party, such as the manufacturer or wholesaler, and then that company will ship the products to the customers. This is a great model for those who want to sell niche products on their website but don\u2019t want the hassle of handling the shipment process.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Wholesale:<\/strong>&nbsp;This eCommerce fulfillment method will require some money to get off the ground and running because the business owner will have to purchase and manage their inventory of products. So, on top of managing the company, you\u2019ll be responsible for storing the inventory, packaging and shipping products, and finally, tracking the orders to ensure they reach the customers.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Private Labeling:<\/strong>&nbsp;If you\u2019re one of many that possess a great idea for a new product, but you don\u2019t have the resources to manufacture it, you simply find a manufacturer to create the product for you. Once your products are ready, they will then be shipped to you, or directly to your consumer.<\/li>\n<li><strong>White Labeling:<\/strong>&nbsp;This type of business model allows you to select a product that\u2019s already being sold by another company, but you will re-brand it and make it something personal.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Subscription:<\/strong>&nbsp;It\u2019s common nowadays for businesses to follow the subscription-based model and send customers a monthly box (or set interval) of selected products. This model is great to ensure you have ongoing conversions and keep happy, long-standing customers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"WHAT_TYPE_OF_RESEARCH_DO_YOU_DO_BEFORE_LAUNCH_YOUR_STORE\"><\/span><b>WHAT TYPE OF RESEARCH DO YOU DO BEFORE LAUNCH YOUR STORE?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Cool, you\u2019ve got a great idea and have committed to one of the above business models, now you need to do some research before you contact an<a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/#utm_source=Blog_February2020_SuccessfulECommerceBusiness\">&nbsp;eCommerce development company<\/a>&nbsp;to start working on a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/design-c-320#utm_source=Blog_February2020_SuccessfulECommerceBusiness\">thought-provoking design<\/a>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Check out the competition. It may motivate you to find a different angle to separate your products and services from the rivalry.<\/li>\n<li>Select your marketplace. While a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/plan_comparison.html#utm_source=Blog_February2020_SuccessfulECommerceBusiness\">self-hosted store<\/a>&nbsp;is always the best option, don\u2019t be afraid to branch out to options like Amazon or eBay.<\/li>\n<li>Pick a crafty business name. Your brand\u2019s identity will depend on it.<\/li>\n<li>Take the time to drive into a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/trek.marketing\/what-we-do\/#utm_source=Blog_February2020_SuccessfulECommerceBusiness\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">well-developed business plan<\/a>&nbsp;and highlight your strategy, identify any roadblocks and prioritize tasks to help you launch and grow your successful eCommerce business.<\/li>\n<li>Brainstorm with a professional graphic designer and come up with a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/design-graphic-design-c-320_395\/logo-design-sv-780#utm_source=Blog_February2020_SuccessfulECommerceBusiness\">logo design<\/a>&nbsp;that stands out!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Suppliers\"><\/span><b>Suppliers<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you\u2019re first starting out as an e-commerce business owner it\u2019s important to lock in a fulfillment method that works for your business. Essentially, everything coordinates through the network of a supply channel that\u2019s activated when a purchase has been made on your site, so, while this distribution method is decided upon by the business owner, there are elements to consider if you hope to effectively manage your supply chain.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supply chain management focuses on a range of activities that are needed to plan, coordinate, schedule and control the production and delivery of products to the customer. While it\u2019s the backbone of e-commerce, it\u2019s also a crucial part that contributes to the growth of the business, which means that its efficiency ensures cost reduction and an enhanced experience for the purchaser.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSelecting a supplier can be difficult and anyone that\u2019s new to business without a pre-existing supply chain needs to be careful when putting faith in a supplier given that the success of the business may rest on this one aspect alone,\u201d said <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feargal Harris, Client Success Manager with Numinix Web Development Inc.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, how does supply chain management work, you ask?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Suppliers &gt; Procurement &gt; Production &gt; Delivery &gt; Customers<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before you can decide how you will orchestrate your supply chain strategy, you much first understand how it\u2019s managed. For starters, you must decide where the source of your products will come from. This means that you will need to outsource them from a manufacturer or make them yourself. Then you must decide the fulfillment method. Will you order your items in bulk and store them away as inventory or will you drop ship the customer\u2019s order and seek fulfillment from another company, relying on them to ship the product out on your behalf?&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s no one-size-fits-all strategy and depending on what you want to achieve with your business, you will need to ask yourself what business model works best for you. There are factors you will need to consider such as how much time you have, if you have the physical space for inventory storage, if you want to take charge of the packaging and shipping, and how much your volume of sales is? Once you\u2019ve answered these questions, you\u2019ll be fit to decide your supplier sourcing, whether it consists of using local retailers, directly sourcing from large-scale manufacturers or following the drop shipping model that we explained.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThis is where a risk assessment will make a lot of sense. You\u2019ll need to evaluate the risk of fronting the cost of goods, so you can distribute yourself in a timely manner, against relying on a supplier with a pre-existing distribution network. There is also a higher margin to be made when stocking your own inventory and fulfilling orders yourself. Just find out if the risk outweighs the reward to you or vice versa,\u201d he explained.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Website\"><\/span><b>Website<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Only business owners who aren\u2019t interested in growing their brand neglect to invest in an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/development-c-397#utm_source=Blog_February2020_HowToRunEcommerceBusinessPT.1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">alluring, e-commerce website<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. After all, most consumers expect a digital-savvy way to shop around and it provides a safe space for them to read <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/display_all_testimonials.html#utm_source=Blog_February2020_HowToRunEcommerceBusinessPT.1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">testimonials<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, navigate the descriptions of your products and compare prices between similar items. So, while a website gives business owners a way to influence public perceptions, it also increases conversions and allows them to showcase why they\u2019re the best of the best.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re relying on this blog to tell you how to run a successful eCommerce business, simply keep in mind that no website is ever complete without <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/design-c-320#utm_source=Blog_February2020_HowToRunEcommerceBusinessPT.1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">professional design<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and development must-haves. However, the bare basics that a business owner must decide upon is which <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/shop-by-ecommerce-platforms-c-179#utm_source=Blog_February2020_HowToRunEcommerceBusinessPT.1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">e-commerce platform<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to use and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/plan_comparison.html#utm_source=Blog_February2020_HowToRunEcommerceBusinessPT.1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">how much they want to spend<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYou can get set up online quite easily with eCommerce platforms like WordPress or Shopify, but you\u2019ll usually only succeed if you stand out from the crowd. Unless of course, you have the best idea in the most niche field, then you\u2019re laughing,\u201d noted Harris.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI\u2019d expect a company with an existing store and a good customer base to spend around $7-10k for a well-designed website that will entice their customers online and open them up to a whole new market. You could then spend up to $5k per month adding new features and doing basic marketing to ensure the long-term profitability of the site as long as you are in the right hands.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After the above decisions are made, you move forward to the design stage where you\u2019ll have an opportunity to bring your dreams and desires to the table. Keep in mind that while your website should align with your industry standards, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/design-c-320#utm_source=Blog_February2020_HowToRunEcommerceBusinessPT.1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Numinix\u2019s team of designers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are happy to break the mold and find a comfort level that suits your budget and brings your business ideas to life.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nevertheless, rest assured that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/plugins-c-381#utm_source=Blog_February2020_HowToRunEcommerceBusinessPT.1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">innovative, development plugins<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are just as important as your web design. So, whether you\u2019re excited to learn more about the advantages of an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/plugins-seo-c-381_386#utm_source=Blog_February2020_HowToRunEcommerceBusinessPT.1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SEO plugin<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&amp;search_in_description=1&amp;keyword=speed%20optimization#utm_source=Blog_February2020_HowToRunEcommerceBusinessPT.1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">speed optimization plugin<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or some profitable <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&amp;search_in_description=1&amp;keyword=Google%20Shopping#utm_source=Blog_February2020_HowToRunEcommerceBusinessPT.1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Shopping plugins<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, you\u2019ll be even more surprised to learn just how well these investments do in offering business owners a generous return.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Shipping\"><\/span><b>Shipping<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re perplexed about <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/plugins-shipping-c-381_389#utm_source=Blog_February2020_HowToRunEcommerceBusinessPT.1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">e-commerce shipping<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> it\u2019s always best to tackle this important feature head-on to find a strategy that works for your online store. That being said, keep in mind that in terms of shipping functionality, less is always more.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Customers enjoy a simplistic shipping experience because they want the best bang for their buck. This means that just because there\u2019s a range of options that are available at your fingertips, doesn\u2019t mean that you need to waste the time and money developing something that may end up frustrating your clientele. This means that you will want to invest in a plugin that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/plugins-shipping-c-381_389\/free-shipping-average-weight-per-unit-dl-750#utm_source=Blog_February2020_HowToRunEcommerceBusinessPT.1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">easily calculates shipping costs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and makes <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/plugins-checkout-c-381_382#utm_source=Blog_February2020_HowToRunEcommerceBusinessPT.1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">checkout<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> a breeze so that customers are free to proceed seamlessly, without wondering what their desired products will cost them. Also, consider raising the bar by offering options for a quick order fulfillment!<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe best way to manage the customer\u2019s expectations in this regard is to give them the options to receive the best shipping methods you can offer. All major companies like FedEx, UPS, USPS, etc. have plugins for most major platforms that will return live rates to the customer in the cart before they checkout out. You can offer the Next Day Delivery by FedEx, but the customer will have to pay for it. This puts the onus back on them, and they can decide for themselves what shipping they are comfortable with,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Marketing\"><\/span><b>Marketing<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While this is a no-brainer, marketing is the most important thing that can assure your business maintains a long-lasting relationship among your niche audience. So, since there\u2019s no one-time way to advertise your products and services, consider an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/trek.marketing\/#utm_source=Blog_February2020_HowToRunEcommerceBusinessPT.1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ongoing, engaging strategy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to help your online business flourish.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s a range of digital marketing efforts that each serve their purpose and presence in your company\u2019s growth cycle, however, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/trek.marketing\/what-we-do\/#utm_source=Blog_February2020_HowToRunEcommerceBusinessPT.1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">search engine optimization, pay-per-click advertising, email marketing, blogging, and social media marketing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> all come with varied opportunities to offer a return on investment. Although all of the above marketing efforts can be done in-house, it\u2019s essential to invest in a professional agency that will be dedicated to your marketing needs.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYou know when you ask for something to be done, that it will be done to the best of the ability of the person specializing in that field. What more could you want?\u201d explained Harris.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, whether you\u2019re looking at how to run a successful e-commerce business short-term or long-term, it\u2019s important to consider marketing as a way to sustain your online business objectives and build up a degree of trust with your customers.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Customer_Service\"><\/span><b>Customer Service<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While it\u2019s no secret to e-commerce owners that customer service is one of the backbones of their business, what they likely don\u2019t know is that it could cost way more for them to start attracting new customers, rather than retaining the relationship that they currently have with existing customers. In turn, providing excellent customer service translates to increased sales and profits and with so many exceptional ways to provide <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/plugins-customer-support-c-381_383?utm_source=Blog_March2020_SuccessfulEcommerceBusiness\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">customer service online<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, there\u2019s really no reason your business shouldn\u2019t be on-board.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201ceCommerce businesses can thrive and fail by their customer service,\u201d explained Feargal Harris, Client Success Manager at Numinix.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAs online shoppers have reviews at their fingertips, and some may have already made the decision to trust you before they\u2019ve even made it to your site. It\u2019s important to champion your customer service efforts and make sure you have a lot of happy customers who will, in turn, promote your business, products, and brand.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While different businesses possess a variety of expectations when it comes to customer service, popular, high-purchased brands have promised and orchestrated a higher degree of service among the consumer population, so it\u2019s essential as a business owner to align with these retailers and manage your consumers\u2019 expectations in the same way that they would receive from these large-scale brands.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cInforming your customers and managing their expectations is important,\u201d added Harris.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cPreemptive measures, like announcing delays or flagging products on backorders can help with this, as well as having a range of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/plugins-shipping-c-381_389?utm_source=Blog_March2020_SuccessfulEcommerceBusiness\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">shipping options<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to allow the customer a choice in what service level they wish to receive.\u201d&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Search_Engine_Optimization\"><\/span><b>Search Engine Optimization&nbsp;<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Online users trust search engines to give them the best search results using the keywords that they have provided, which is why this technology is important to utilize on your eCommerce site.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cPracticing good SEO is extremely important because it directly affects where you show up in search results. Great SEO will have you at the top on the front page, where the click-through rate is 31%, meaning three out of 10 people will click on to your site. Whereas having bad or no SEO will leave you so far back that people don\u2019t even know you exist.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSEO is a no brainer for eCommerce websites. Information is at our fingertips and whether we\u2019re looking for a restaurant or a new hat, we\u2019ll whip out our phones and use a search engine to find what we\u2019re looking for.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The main problem with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/trek.marketing\/what-we-do\/ecommerce-search-engine-optimization-services\/?utm_source=Blog_March2020_SuccessfulEcommerceBusiness\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">search engine optimization<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is that it involves a lot of skills, which is why most companies opt to outsource the service, so that they\u2019re able to achieve the same benefits as other growing businesses. Nevertheless, since SEO implementation takes years to master, it\u2019s essential to select a company that complements your business and specializes in an expertise that gets you where you need to be, and beyond.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"User_Experience\"><\/span><b>User Experience<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re a business owner who\u2019s invested in fulfilling the needs of your customers then you can devote both time and money to providing a positive user experience (UX). With so many options available for our online shopping needs, if you\u2019re looking for a consumer base with a sense of loyalty to your brand and products, then you will need to measure your business success by the user experience you can provide for both visitors and returning customers.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThere\u2019s a science behind UX and small changes that aren\u2019t obvious to the naked eye can make a significant difference to the conversion rate of your website,\u201d noted Harris.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For starters, you need to ensure that your current website meets the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/design-c-320?utm_source=Blog_March2020_SuccessfulEcommerceBusiness\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">design standards of your niche industry<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, keeping in mind that these can change daily, meaning that your website should receive a redesign every three to five years.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIf your design hasn\u2019t changed for more than five years, it\u2019s likely hurting your sales by having a bad or outdated user experience,\u201d he explained.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also, many businesses focus their home page efforts on advertising their highest performing products, so it makes it easy to add them to the cart and quickly proceed to checkout.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAs well as you\u2019re ensuring the page is not cluttered\u2026 make sure <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&amp;search_in_description=1&amp;keyword=page%20speed&amp;utm_source=Blog_March2020_SuccessfulEcommerceBusiness\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">your site doesn\u2019t take too long to load<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, or you could be losing out on guaranteed sales if your site is not being maintained to a high enough standard.\u201d&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conversion_Optimization\"><\/span><b>Conversion Optimization<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re looking to lower your customer acquisition costs and get more value from your visitors and users who are currently making purchases, then it\u2019s worth diving into conversion optimization. Essentially, by optimizing your conversion rate, you\u2019re able to increase visitor revenue, acquire more, prospecting customers, and grow your business overall.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI would recommend <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/?utm_source=Blog_March2020_SuccessfulEcommerceBusiness\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hiring a web developer<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to review the speed reports and fix all the issues that are slowing down the load time and page speed of your website. There are also <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/plugins-c-381?utm_source=Blog_March2020_SuccessfulEcommerceBusiness\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">plugins<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that you can buy on eCommerce platforms, but it\u2019s always best to have someone manage that for you, especially if you depend on your site&#8217;s uptime for revenue.\u201d&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cA good web developer can optimize your website to reach its full potential in converting visits that are coming in from your SEO and digital marketing,\u201d explained Harris.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since we\u2019ve established that the commencement of an eCommerce business requires a multitude of niche research, financial resources, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/development-c-397?utm_source=Blog_May2020__ECommerceOperationPart3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">professional web development<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to get it off the ground and running, we will discuss the elements of scaling and growing, automation, and online integrations now.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Scaling_Vs_Growing\"><\/span><b>Scaling Vs. Growing<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While your insight into the world of eCommerce is partially based on unique perceptivity, there are key elements about your business that will ensure the profitability of your company and its continued success. That being said, the first step to understanding the difference between scaling and growing is through their applied definitions.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cGrowth is usually viewed as the increase of resources to meet the increase of demand that your company can generate, while scaling is seen as increasing the amount of output you can achieve with your existing resources,\u201d explained <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feargal Harris, Client Success Manager with Numinix Web Development Inc<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIdeally, you want to scale your company and grow at the same time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Outsourcing is a cost-efficient way for you to scale your business, investing in professional web development services that will create customer value and increase your website\u2019s conversions. And, when your business performance finds that perfect balance between scaling and growth, you\u2019re able to climb your industry ladder and become a leader in your field.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Automation\"><\/span><b>Automation&nbsp;<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Otherwise known as a labour-saving technology, automation allows websites to perform without human assistance, giving business owners more flexibility to conduct other affairs. So, as your company grows, this high return on investment is a profitable step that\u2019s a reflection of the success of your eCommerce business.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cDemands add up and as a business scales or grows they look to Numinix to automate sales and marketing. With <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/plugins-c-381?utm_source=Blog_May2020__ECommerceOperationPart3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">modules and plugins<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that are designed to send products directly to Google, Facebook, and Instagram, as well as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&amp;search_in_description=1&amp;keyword=optimization&amp;utm_source=Blog_May2020__ECommerceOperationPart3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">services that manage the optimization of campaigns<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,\u201d he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cTwo of our top-sellers in terms of automation are <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&amp;search_in_description=1&amp;keyword=newsletter&amp;utm_source=Blog_May2020__ECommerceOperationPart3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">newsletter sign-ups<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&amp;search_in_description=1&amp;keyword=shipping%20label&amp;utm_source=Blog_May2020__ECommerceOperationPart3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">shipping label generation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8230; small tasks and fulfillments within the company\u2019s goals.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether you\u2019re looking for a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/development-c-397\/wordpress-zen-cart-integration?utm_source=Blog_May2020__ECommerceOperationPart3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WordPress<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/woocommerce_development_services.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WooCommerce developer<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/platform_zen_cart.html?utm_source=Blog_May2020__ECommerceOperationPart3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zen Cart specialist<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, or an entire team of experienced developers to focus on <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/platform_magento.html?utm_source=Blog_May2020__ECommerceOperationPart3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Magento<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/platform_bigcommerce.html?utm_source=Blog_May2020__ECommerceOperationPart3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Big Commerce<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/platform_open_cart.html?utm_source=Blog_May2020__ECommerceOperationPart3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OpenCart<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/platform_shopify.html?utm_source=Blog_May2020__ECommerceOperationPart3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shopify<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Numinix has you covered!&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Integrations\"><\/span><b>Integrations<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">eCommerce integration addresses the coordination between a business website and the back-end accounting and inventory system. So, with such a critical role to play, it\u2019s essential to have a professional web development team establish the flow of information between these two systems.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThose who are bogged down fulfilling orders and neglecting other areas of their business should turn to the technology, vast knowledge, and experience of the Numinix team,\u201d noted Harris.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s an abundance of benefits within eCommerce integration, but \u201cfor me, the greatest benefit has got to be the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&amp;search_in_description=1&amp;keyword=product%20feed&amp;utm_source=Blog_May2020__ECommerceOperationPart3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">product feed<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It\u2019s a machine reachable format of products offered on an eCommerce website. These feeds can be used for Google, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Amazon, eBay, and many more marketing platforms and marketplaces.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIt opens you up to a wealth of opportunities and so much exposure for your business.\u201d&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>==<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Once all of the above suggestions have been tackled, it\u2019s now time to start the venture of building your online store. The best way to tackle this huge task is by sitting down with a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/#utm_source=Blog_February2020_SuccessfulECommerceBusiness\">web development company<\/a>&nbsp;and outlining your hopes for functionality, colour schemes, and even details such as content. You may also want to consider contacting a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/trek.marketing\/contact-us\/#utm_source=Blog_February2020_SuccessfulECommerceBusiness\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">digital marketing company<\/a>&nbsp;at this time to help you get noticed in the world of vibrant advertising.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Many aspiring entrepreneurs possess a desire to build a business that will eventually allow them to live their best lives. Needless to say, it takes a lot of work to successfully launch a website that will grow and prosper long-term. So, once you decide what type of business you want to launch, keeping in mind&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":269,"featured_media":5337,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[877,818,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5378","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-e-commerce-business","category-e-commerce-platforms","category-marketing-strategies"],"modified_by":"Nurul Afsar","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Online-shopping-ecommerce-concept.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5378","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/269"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5378"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5378\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5337"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5378"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5378"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.numinix.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5378"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}