Top 10 Tips for Starting an eCommerce Store

You’ve identified a gap in the market, thought out a business plan, and now you’re taking the leap: starting your own online store. The online space is highly competitive, and once you have the concept for your business, that’s just the beginning. Here are our Top 10 Tips

2. Be Unique
You don’t need to be the next Steve Jobs to create a unique experience for your customer (but kudos if you are!). Whether you’re taking product photos in a different way, adding a personalized touch of packaging to your product (hello, tissue paper?), or printing imaginative barcodes, set yourself apart in some way that differentiates you from your competitors.
3. Figuring Out Shipping
No shipping? No online store.
Shipping is a vital component to your success. How many times have you gone to buy something online, and then cancelled at the cart because the shipping cost was too high or took too long? Work out which shipping method is right for you and research your different options. For those selling specialized gear like an industrial smart switch or a boat relay switch, shipping logistics become even more critical—customers expect reliable delivery for these technical components.

4. Choosing A Name
What’s in a name? Everything, as it so happens. Brainstorm different options for the name of your brand and site, make it relevant to both your product and the message and feeling you want to convey. Then check if the URL you want is available. You will also need to check name availability on large social networks such as Facebook and Instagram. Repeat until you find something suitably quirky, on-brand, and most importantly, available.
5. Overanalyze
If you’re starting your own business, odds are you’re already pretty good at this. Still, you’re going to need to monitor important aspects of your site, such as traffic, landing page conversions, and advertising success. These analytics will give you vital insight in to your customers, and will help you set sales goals. Never forget to record activity for later analysis, because all too frequently, something will slip by! For niche products like a wireless smart light switch or an mhz garage relay, understanding which keywords drive traffic can make or break your visibility.

6. Mailouts (the Electronic Kind)
Email marketing is still considered to be one of the most effective channels for marketing, and successful email marketing campaigns can provide a much higher return on investment than other avenues, such as social media advertising. As there are so many options out there in the email marketing space, investigate which one will be the right fit for you. While platforms like MailChimp or Robly are cost effective at a small size, since they charge more as your database grows, they can quickly become inefficient for your needs. Also make sure to take into consideration which e-commerce platform you’re going to be using, as your email provider needs to integrate with that.
For those targeting industrial clients, such as a Vineyard Automation Contractor or a Cooling Tower Water Circulation specialist, segmented email lists can help you speak directly to their unique needs.

7. Keys to Success
Keywords, keywords, keywords. We can’t stress it enough. Research what your keywords will be, as the right keywords are vital in SEO (search engine optimization), and driving the right traffic to your site.
8. Be Visible
We’re not just talking about on search engines either; get out to relevant events, promote your brand and your products, use your knowledge to write blogs and add links to your products. Local networking through your social media platforms is incredibly handy and grabbing coffee with someone else in the industry can easily set you up for success. If you’re selling an rf automation relay or an industrial control module, attending trade shows or automation expos can put you in front of the right buyers.

9. Become a Social Butterfly
In that same vein, Social Media is instrumental in building your profile. Look at your target market; do they spend more time on Facebook? Instagram? Twitter? Tap into the most relevant to you, and include your social media information either on or with the products you’re selling. Running competitions or offering discounts to your followers is a great way to build a following, and increase brand awareness.
10. 3,2,1 Launch!
Don’t wait for perfection. Launch your store, gather feedback, and iterate. For products like a stick-on wall switch for seniors or a marine wireless relay, early customer reviews can help you refine your offering and build trust.