Starting an online business is easier than ever. In less than an hour, you can create a website capable of selling your wares. It used to be that going into business for yourself required a lot of capital. This is no longer the case. Anyone who has a PayPal account and access to the internet can set up an e-commerce environment. That doesn’t mean that there’s no work involved. You have to figure out many things. For instance, what about shipping to the Bahamas? Or Europe? Or Africa? The internet is a global village. Some of your customers might be outside the U.S. Do you know how to reach them?
BluePostal, an international package forwarding company notes that: “Many U.S. online retailers and auction site sellers do not ship purchases overseas, charge too much for international shipping, or do not accept international credit cards. Consumers and business owners worldwide benefit from establishing a U.S. address with BluePostal.”
Savvy customers will figure out how to get their hands on your products but what about the ones who aren’t? It’s one of the many logistical issues that you need to think about when you set up your business.
Take a look at this checklist to see what else you have to do.
Choose Your Name
Your business name matters. A good one will connect with your customers while a bad one will turn people off. If you’re stuck, try using your first or last name. In the age of social media, everyone is their own brand. It’s your business so it’s not vain or selfish if it focuses on you and what you want. Names are tricky, however. You might have to try out a few options. Remember, you’ll need a website name too.
Hire a Programmer
Are you a skilled programmer? If the answer is no, you need to hire one. There are many programs that let you build a website and e-commerce store from scratch. These are fine to start out with.
But as your business grows, you’re likely going to need some custom code. With an online business, you don’t have a physical storefront. People who want access to your goods need to visit your website. That’s why you need to keep your site functioning. Glitches or slow load times will kill your revenue.
Pick Your Product
It almost doesn’t matter what you sell. Are you trying to hawk glitter-dusted toothbrushes? Great! The internet is perfect for you. More important than what you’re selling is HOW you’re selling it.
Of course, you still have to pick something to sell. And since you don’t have a traditional store, you have to think about inventory. You have to make sure that you’re able to comply with any orders that come through. Nothing will destroy your e-commerce store faster than problems with the product. Depending on what you’re selling, it might be a good idea to stock up.
Write a Plan
A business plan is a good idea for all business owners. You can’t move forward if you don’t know where you’re trying to go. Your business plan should be explicit. You should dive into every aspect of your work.
Once your business plan is in order and you’ve got a name figured out, it’s time to get a business license. This will ensure you stay on the right side of the law. Your business plan is for you. If you have investors, you might show the plan to them as well.
Start Marketing
Chances are, people aren’t going to stumble on your website accidentally. You need to try to direct traffic. To do this, you need to create a killer marketing campaign. It’s easier to do with money but there are marketing strategies that won’t cost you anything.
The key is to commit. Really throw yourself into your marketing efforts. There’s not going to be any foot traffic. If you let people forget about your business, you won’t make any profits.
The type of marketing strategy that your business needs depend on the industry. Banks benefit from being traditional. Sturdy. A company selling hipster clothing, however, can try a unique marketing campaign.
The internet is the great equalizer. You don’t have to be rich or well-connected to start a business anymore. You don’t even need a good idea. You just need five minutes to throw together a website. Successful e-commerce store is quite a bit of work. But it will give you freedom. The dream of working for yourself has been unattainable for most people. Until now.
