Adding eCommerce to a Retail Business

eCommerce has been a fast-growing aspect of business for years, and with the recent outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic causing massive spikes in online shopping, there is no better time for business owners to add eCommerce to their site. Under “normal” circumstances, adding online retail to your business model is a great way to boost your brand, but in the current climate, it’s not only a good idea, it may be a crucial aspect of keeping your business up and running.

Even as lockdowns and quarantines start to lift nationwide, there’s speculation that Coronavirus may have created permanent change in the way that we live and navigate our post-pandemic lives; boosting the digital world and increasing how much the average person does online rather than in person. If you want to stay ahead of the game and add eCommerce to your retail business, here is an essential guide on how to expand your business beyond brick and mortar.

Do Plenty of Pre-Launch Prep

Before you launch your online business, make sure you are prepared for what is to come. The good news is, if you already have a business up and running, you are likely to have a solid idea of the products you are selling and your target customer base.

You will want to apply what you already know to your eCommerce platform. If you already have a primary customer base, that is a great start. Generally speaking, primary customers who were already interested in your brand will be interested in your website.

Find a Platform and Domain

It is important to pick a domain and a platform that not only suits your brand but also fulfills your needs and allows you to run your online business as smoothly as possible.

If you know a little something about web development, you can build your website from the ground up. This is tricky to do if you do not have the experience, but it does have the benefit of total customization, not to mention you can save yourself some money on monthly fees.

However, there are also plenty of pre-built eCommerce platforms that make it straightforward to get started such as Squarespace or Shopify. Facebook even has their own eCommerce platform now as well. Pick a platform that you can easily navigate and that allows you to customize your online store the way that you want to.

Know What You Are Selling

This may seem obvious if you already have a business up and running, but bear in mind that it might not be profitable or feasible to sell every single product you offer through your online platform. You also do not want to throw yourself in the deep end and set yourself up for failure by overwhelming yourself right off the bat. It is a good idea to use sales data to determine which products you should offer online and showcase your best-selling products effectively. It is also important to keep it simple in the early stages. Offering your best-selling products through your online store will give you a chance to get a handle on different aspects of eCommerce, such as shipping and inventory.

Marketing, Marketing, Marketing

It makes perfect sense; the more people who have exposure to what you are selling, the more likely you are to sell high numbers of products. It is a good idea to focus some time on marketing and advertising (especially in the beginning) so that you can increase traffic to your website. Email marketing can work well to your advantage, as can a well implemented content marketing strategy such as blog posts. Of course, using your social media to promote your products is also a sure-fire way of generating traffic.

Customize Your Platform

Keep an eye on the competition, learn what they are doing, and then beat them at their own game. There is a myriad of businesses selling millions of different products online. If you want to stand out, you need to create a platform that is unique and draws people in. In order to stand out, you need to know what everyone else is doing, so it can be helpful to spend some time researching competitors. Then, once you have an idea of how you are going to make your business stand out, customize your platform to give potential shoppers a unique and unforgettable experience that is in line with your brand.

It is more important now than ever for businesses to have an online presence. In the current climate, and moving forward into the future, the way that many people shop for items and products has been permanently changed. Offering your products online will allow you to stay ahead of the game and keep your business up and running, and hopefully make it exponentially more successful in the long run.

Want to maximize your eCommerce presence? Get in touch with eCommerce marketing specialists at Rizzo Young Marketing.