Article Contributed by Marc McDermott
Starting a web store can be a very profitable venture. Every day millions of people across the world turn to the internet for their shopping needs. Your e-commerce store can be just what they’re looking for. Here are the top 5 things to know when starting an e-commerce store.
#5. It Pays to Drop Ship
Drop shipping is the process in which online stores send products to their customers from a centralized warehouse in a different location than the actual store. When a customer buys a product from your store, the drop shipping company sends the product to the customer. The e-tailer never has to carry inventory or worry about shipping. They simply pay a fee to the drop shipper, who handles all of the inventory management and shipping. They will even ship the product with your company’s logo on the package.
#4. You Can Build Your Store Without Breaking the Bank
Many new entrepreneurs think that they need a fancy website to attract customers. While a great design may be eye-catching, you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on expensive graphic design services or a dedicated web designer. There are many sites that offer low-cost templates that you can use to set up your store instantly. Simply replace the stock pictures with your own photos and you’re in business. A great place to start is ThemeForest for templates and Magento for a free store platform.
#3. A Merchant Account is a Must
When you set up your store, make it easy for customers to pay for their purchases. A merchant account will allow you to accept major credit cards on your site, and encourage your customers to spend more money. Studies have shown that customers spend more when they use credit cards, so make it simple for them. Merchant accounts are easy to set up and, in most cases, can be set up within a few hours. Sign up for a merchant account today and watch your sales skyrocket.
#2. Be the Master of Your Domain
A catchy and short domain name is one of the fastest ways to drive customers to your site. Although most one-word domain names have been purchased, you can add in a local word to attract attention. If you’re selling pet clothing, try www.dallaspetclothes.com for example. This will make it easier for search engines and customers to find your site.
#1. They Can’t Buy if They Don’t Know It’s There
Many e-commerce business owners spend thousands of dollars in fancy websites and new inventory but lack the customer base to make their business profitable. The most important part of starting an e-commerce store is to market your business. If nobody knows about it, they can’t find it. Brush up on your SEO (search engine optimization) skills and join a few social networking sites and watch your business flourish.
About the Author
This guest post is contributed by Marc McDermott, who writes on the topic of small business, ecommerce, and credit card processing. He welcomes your comments at his twitter id.