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Marina LippincottAccording to U.S. Census data , e-commerce sales are increasing at a rate faster than traditional offline retail sales, raking in approximately $190 billion in sales in 2011. So it’s no surprise that budding entrepreneurs and existing “bricks and mortar” businesses are turning to e-commerce as a business opportunity.
You only need to browse the SBA.gov Community Discussion Boards to see how many topics focus on how to start an e-commerce business!
Given this interest, I thought it would be useful to draw on the advice of Community members, many of whom are business owners themselves. So, if you’ve got questions about starting an e-commerce business, consider the following tips and recommendations, along with some useful links and resources that can help.
1. Decide what you want to do and define your niche
Knowing what you are going to sell, how, and to whom is a critical part of your business plan. Community members offer the following advice:
“ehrs” has this to say about finding your niche: “You really want to be ‘specific’ enough to get the right kind of customers and the least possible competition.”
“Lee Belcher” expands on this: “What I would recommend is first finding a niche in something you enjoy reading about or taking part in… The next thing you want to do is decide whether or not you are going to sell the products or be an affiliate of them.”
Lastly, “Jenr” reminds us that: “…(selling products) means you have added logistical issues such as shipping, storage and initial purchase of product.”
2. Have a plan
Starting any kind of business requires a documented plan. Without one, you’ll lack focus, overspend, and struggle to deal with the curveballs that starting and running a business throws. Community member “solsoly” learned this lesson:
“I started an online business two years ago… without any plan whatsoever, and I regretted it, because sooner or later you will find yourself in deep problems… not knowing what to do next. So! What I have learned is, make a plan!”
3. Fund your business at a low cost
Starting an e-commerce site needn’t be costly, as these two Community members explain:
“The only reason I can think of where you would need a loan is if you are actually stocking product to sell. Otherwise an online business should cost you next to nothing,” writes “Zholley”.
“Zoltan” adds this: “I would not suggest you [plow] any significant money into it until you have gained some practical experience and gained some revenue stream.”
4. Build a website
“…a major factor in your success will be the creation of a website. Not all sites are created equal. You can spend a lot of money on a website. It may look pretty and busy but may not help you sell your product,” states “Jenr”.
For low-cost eCommerce package Click here. You’ll also need to know how to set up a merchant account.
5. Drive traffic to your site
Driving traffic to your site and increasing search engine optimization (SEO) is essential and one of the trickiest aspects of doing business online. Here’s what Community members have to say:
“Wolverine63” offers this advice: “Technically, you have over 3 million potential customers (at any given time) that are going [past] your online store. They are not aware of you unless you start doing some form of promotion… Start reading up on the various ways to achieve a higher search engine result… If you have the cash for it, you can always hire one of the numerous SEO firms to help you.”
6. Don’t forget to follow the rules of the road
Don’t forget, you’ll also need to follow the basic steps involved in legally starting a business. These 10 Steps to Starting a Business can help.
Tech-savvy and innovative, Marina is a full-stack developer with a passion for crafting seamless digital experiences. From intuitive front-end designs to rock-solid back-end solutions, she brings ideas to life with code. A problem-solver at heart, she thrives on challenges and is always exploring the latest tech trends to stay ahead of the curve. When she's not coding, you'll find her brainstorming the next big thing or mentoring others to unlock their tech potential.
