It’s no secret that the ecommerce industry is huge! It’s worth trillions of dollars and is growing year on year. These days, if you run a business, it makes sense to sell your wares online.
We live in a digital age dominated by smartphones and tablets. More of us buy things using such devices, as well as with our PCs and laptops. If you want your business to survive, it has to evolve with technology.
So, how do you go about making money online? To some people, ecommerce is a scary prospect. But, the truth is selling on the Web can be as simple as setting up a new website! If you want to sell online, today’s handy primer will give you some pointers.
Choose a solid ecommerce platform
Before you begin, the first thing you need to do is select a good base to build your online store. There are many “off the shelf” products that you can install on your site. The only trouble is; they need a lot of customization before you can go live.
In practice, many serious ecommerce site operators have someone design them a bespoke solution. To make that happen, you’ll need to find someone well-versed in ecommerce website design. Ask to see some examples of their past work before you commit.
Set up an SSL certificate for your site
Next, you’ll need to make sure your site is secure against potential hacking attempts. One way to do that is by installing an SSL certificate. In layman’s terms, it’s a piece of code you install on your web server.
You don’t have to pay for an SSL certificate from your web host; you can buy them elsewhere. Just make sure the one you select offers at least 256-bit encryption.
There are various options there, depending on how much you wish to spend. They all offer similar levels of encryption, but the dearer ones include extras. Examples include organization verification and higher levels of insurance.
Organize payment services
OK, so you’ve now got the security on your ecommerce site arranged; excellent! The next step is to sort out payment acceptance. If you don’t set up this vital step, you won’t be able to collect payment for any online orders!
At this stage, you need to apply for a merchant account and payment gateway. Once you’ve got accepted by a vendor, you can then take secure card payments.
It’s also worth offering PayPal as a payment source. Doing so means that people can use their PayPal accounts for extra security.
Create some compelling product pages
Last, but not least, you’ll need to populate your site with product pages. It’s crucial you don’t take any shortcuts with this step. Your visitors are less likely to buy from you if your site doesn’t look good.
It’s worth investing in a copywriter to come up with the sales text. You should also hire a photographer to take some stunning product shots. Some people even hire video producers to create product demo videos!
The good news is you can hire these people on a freelance basis. So don’t worry if you think doing the above will cost a fortune!
Now you’re ready to start making money online. Good luck!