5 Tips and Tricks for Launching an eCommerce Website
Today, when virtually everyone has his or her own page on the Net, it can even be considered weird when a business does not have a means of selling their goods or services online. Setting up an eCommerce website can be tricky, as there are quite a few pitfalls. Fear not, for even a beginner can build their own page without spending a fortune on it. Here are 5 tips to help you sail through the process.
1. Use a platform that is best for eCommerce
An eCommerce platform is a must, since it enables you to use a wide range of features that are usually present in quality online stores. There is no option that should be preferred over all others because all of them have their pros and cons (as is the case with most things today). Depending on what your needs are, you can opt for, BigCommerce, Volution or Shopify (the giant of the industry!), or some other platform that has been praised by lots of satisfied users. Pricing plans start at around $19, but most basic packages cost $30 or more. You can read more about the most popular solutions here and choose the one to your liking.
2. Do research and choose the optimal hosting provider
Choosing a hosting provider to entrust your website to is even more difficult than choosing an eCommerce platform, because what used to be great a couple of months ago can become unreliable soon (software is a little bit more stable in this regard). That is why reviews are not the best source of information: some of them are outdated, others are paid, and negative reviews are often more numerous simply because it is more characteristic of people to complain rather than thank.
To find a reliable hosting provider, you will have to do some research. Use online tools that provide statistics on server performance, such as HRANK. HRANK monitors server uptime, response time, and the number of websites hosted. You can track a particular provider’s performance over the course of 7 months or so. For instance, you have found a hosting provider that appeals to you, read the reviews and want to find out if it lives up to what it claims to be. Go to its page on HRANK (for example, this one) and see if there have recently been any problems with uptime and loading speed. If there are none, the chances are this option is worth a try. Take all other aspects into consideration and choose a reputable hosting provider offering quality services at an affordable price. Great hosting is important for ecommerce, because when access to your website is hindered or impossible, business processes halt.
3. Identify your target audience
Once you have taken care of the technical aspects of your future ecommerce website, it is time to proceed to developing an image for it. What is your target audience? It is a very important aspect, because it determines what web design you should use, what products to offer, what voice to use (i.e. how information is presented on your page), etc. Every target audience has its preferences, and it is them that the majority of website constituents are tailored to. Do not skip this stage, as it will be difficult and costly to redesign everything afterwards.
4. Choose a good name
A domain name has a profound effect on how your page is perceived. Which website appears more reliable – goodplumber.com or plumbermaster1-cheap.td.biz ? For most people, it is the first option that looks better, because there are no numbers, hyphens or other unnecessary elements, and it is easy to remember. When choosing a domain name, keep your target audience in mind. If you are going to sell hearing aids, do not name your website as if what you are offering is Halloween costumes for teenagers. It can be tricky to find a good name (many are already in use), but given you have a vivid imagination, you can come up with something original.
5. Do care about those who visit your website
This is the most important part. Whatever the software, hosting and other technical things, what you should focus on is people. Not how to trick them into buying from you, but how you can improve their experience, make your products better and actually charge less. What do they need? Why do they need it? How can you make it easier for them to use your website? What delivery options are required? Is the quality of what I offer good enough? How can I help them? Being interested in your audience not in terms of how much money you can get from them but in terms of how you can become a better partner should be a priority. However strange it may sound, your project success depends more on this rather than all the other aspects.
