When setting up a small business, most people start by setting up a small shop on sites such as eBay or Amazon. Although they are a great way to get up and running quickly, there are a lot of limitations to these sites, not to mention the cut of the profits they take.
Now is the time to take complete control of the selling process. Here is what you need to know about setting up your first eCommerce website.
How it works
The most important thing to consider is how your website is going to function. This part may seem the most daunting, especially if you have limited experience in creating a website. Platforms such as Magento give you access to lots of ready-built features that you can virtually drag around your page to create a professional-looking website.
Although these platforms take care of the technical aspects, there are still a lot of decisions to be made. It can be hard to decide which of the hundreds of features will be most suited to help show off your products. As this is the most crucial part of setting up an eCommerce, it is often best to seek the help of a web developer. For example, magento Manchester are professionals who can help guide you through this process. It is essential to choose a developer who is experienced in the software, creative and ideally based in the same time zone so you can have regular communications about the project.
What it looks like
Once you have got the functionality of the website sorted, it is time for the more creative part.
Almost everything about these tools is customizable, including the size, the shape, the color, and the fonts to name just a few. That is even before you consider whether to incorporate sound or video onto your page.
The best way to decide what you want your website to look like is to create a mood board. When choosing how to represent your brand, less is more. Choose just a couple of key colors and essential fonts to use throughout the whole website. Try and be consistent in your choices, so every page looks like it belongs to the same website.
Now your website looks professional, your products must do too. Take some time to carefully photograph each product. Take several photos from every angle you think your customer might want to see it. You do not have a professional photoshoot for this. Even if you just have a smartphone, you can create some attractive looking photos if you know how best to use your device.
How to attract customers
Now the most crucial part is to show off your new website to as many people as possible. If your business is already on Facebook or Twitter, schedule regular posts to let people know you’ve moved to your own website. Maybe even run a competition to encourage people to share these posts to their own feeds.
