Five Things To Consider Before Selling Online

Online shopping is fast becoming the preferred method for many Australians. Just over 60% of the population are shopping online at least once a month, so integrating e-commerce into your business model has become one of the fastest ways to expand your market and grow your business. While it may seem as simple as setting up an online store, careful planning and implementing the right strategies are imperative to the success of your business. If you’re planning to sell your products or services online, here are five key things you need to consider.

1. The best platform for your business.

E-commerce platforms are not one-size-fits-all. There are many options available, each with unique features that you need to consider. Platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce are popular due to their easy-to-use interface, customisation features and range of payment options available to customers. While other e-commerce platforms are designed with specific product types in mind, like Thinkific for online courses. Considering short and long-term factors such as budget, product type, marketing needs and future scalability requirements will save you time and resources in the long-run.

2. Creating a website that converts.

A good quality website isn’t as simple making it look nice. You also need to create a positive experience for your customers. A well-designed website is one that is intuitive, easy to navigate, and optimised for mobile devices. You should consider specific elements that contribute to sales conversions, like clear call to actions (CTAs), a simple check-out process and incorporating trust builders like return policies and reviews.

3. Online marketing strategy

There’s no point creating a brilliant website if no one knows it’s there. Most online shoppers begin their buying journey online so having a great digital marketing strategy to promote your business is vital. When choosing the best strategy for your business, it’s important to consider your budget and goals. Some strategies that can help boost conversions for e-commerce businesses include:

• SEO – Find out what your target customers are searching for online and incorporate these key words into your product pages to rank higher on search engines and attract more visitors.
• Social media – Create business pages on social media platforms so you can engage with your customers, promote your products and tell your brands story.
• Email marketing – Building a strong email list helps keep your customers updated on new products, promotions and special offers. Personalising these emails using customer data such as location, birthdays and purchase history adds to the positive experience and boosts conversions.

4. Image and copy quality

One challenge for online shoppers is the inability to physically experience the product before purchasing. You need to help your customers visualise what they are purchasing through the images and copy on your website. Product images should include multiple angles, zoom functionality and highlight the key features your customers are looking for. Good quality copy should be clear, concise and persuasive. Rather than telling customers what the product is, focus on why they should buy it. Consider why they should buy your product over a competitor or how it addresses a specific problem your customer has. Prioritising benefits over features when writing copy can transform a browsing customer into a converted one.

5. Launch your website

Now that your website is ready, it is time to go live by changing the status to public. Once live, you will need to monitor your website’s traffic and analytics to gain insights about your site’s engagement and usability. For example, if visitors are only remaining on key pages for a few seconds, this may highlight a user experience issue on that page. These insights will need regular monitoring as you adjust your design and marketing over time.

Need further support to get your online shop up and running? We are delivering a free ‘Selling Your Products and Services Online’ workshop next week that will cover the basics of setting your business up for success online. You can also access further support with four hours of one-to-one advisory with a Digital Action Plan.