6 Questions commonly asked before launching an ecommerce store

The internet has become the place to sell items online. Over the years, the internet has quickly developed from a place to look at cat memes, to a place where established businesses can make full use of the wide reach, easy usability and marketing opportunities the web has to offer.

Setting up an online store can be confusing and it’s likely you’ll have questions that need answering before you fully commit yourself to opening your ecommerce store. Here’s 6 common questions asked when it comes to ecommerce.  

What exactly is ecommerce?

Ecommerce, or electronic commerce, is the term used for business or commercial online selling. Unlike brick and mortar stores, ecommerce has no barriers, the web is open 24/7 and is available to everyone, meaning that websites are available anywhere at any time and offers more opportunities for businesses and consumers across the globe.

What do I need to start selling online?

First you need your idea, whatever your product or service might be, it’s important to research it and get a full idea of what your business will involve and what your competitors in that industry are also doing. Without an idea, it can be hard to move ahead.

There are a number of ways in which you can begin selling online. If you’re unsure about setting up an ecommerce store right away then it’s an idea to start selling on platforms such as Amazon and Ebay first in order to gauge your audience and research who is buying your products and from where.

If you know you want to set up an online store straight away then it’s best to get in touch with a team who can create you a professional and specialist ecommerce website, designed for the purpose of your business, with your needs in mind. Having an optimised website is the most important part of starting your ecommerce business, so it’s important you get it right.

How do I determine shipping costs?

If you aren’t going to offer free shipping to your customers then for many it’s often easier and more accurate to let your shipping carrier determine the price of your shipping. Most majors carriers will calculate your shipping costs, free of charge meaning you won’t be left to work it all out and possibly overcharge or undercharge your customers. 

If you would prefer you could also offer a flat rate when it comes to your shipping costs. This involves offering a standard price to every delivery, no matter what the order or where it’s too. Whilst not the most exact way to determine shipping costs, it is a simple way and doesn’t involve working out the weight or all your products to find out how much shipping would be per item. 

Should I allow reviews?

Giving customers the chance to review your products is a great way to offer your customers a place to talk about your products and services and can help increase confidence in your store, your products and ultimately your business. 

Positive reviews can lead to more sales and whilst you can risk negative comments, you can remove them or even respond to them in order to keep positive reviews more prominent. 

How do I build my stores reputation?

Building your reputation is based on a number of things, your customer service, the quality of your products or services. It’s important you offer high quality services across all aspects of your business, in order to show you are an all round great brand. If you aren’t credible then there’s no way you’ll be able to keep generating sales. 

How can I get my business found?

You can get your business found using a number of different techniques. From pay per click advertising, to SEO, to email marketing, there are a variety of ways you can  reach out to new audiences.

It’s important you research which marketing techniques you can use for your business in order to reach out to the correct audiences and also create the best marketing campaigns, to suit your business.

When it comes to selling online it’s important you ask the right questions and get the right answers. If in doubt why not speak to a professional today and get the answers you really need?