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If you're contemplating selling products online for the first time, there are some things to consider and decisions to be made. First, due to the ongoing pandemic, there has been an increase in online shopping. According to Adobe's 2023 Holiday Shopping Forecast, they expect online holidays sales to total at $222.1 billion dollars, which is a 4.9% increase from the year prior.
Each year, growth in e-commerce sales continues to rise. According to ComScore, the growth of online commerce has now outpaced the growth of overall commerce in the US. Entrepreneurs want to get in on this and profit from this growth.
So what does it take to sell products successfully online? First, you have to decide whether you want to set up your own online business or work with a third party.
Setting Up Your Own Online Business
Domain Name and Hosting
The first step to take when setting up your own online business is to choose a domain name and hosting. Your domain name should be strong and memorable. It will enable your visitors to find your online store more easily, remember it, and enable you to build your brand. In terms of hosting, be sure to consider your store's long-term goals before deciding on a provider, as there are many web hosting providers offering a variety of features.
Online Merchant Account
Since customers who shop online will often be using credit cards to pay for their purchases, setting up an online merchant account is essential. This will allow you to take and process payments and have the money transferred directly to your business bank account. You’ll most likely be required to work with a 'payment gateway' or payment service provider for security reasons. PayPal is another payment option that will allow your customers to use their credit cards, as well as other forms of payment if shopping internationally.
Your eCommerce Storefront
There are several storefronts to choose from depending on your particular needs. There are:
- Simple Platforms - good for a single product and payment method like PayPal.
- Hosted Platforms – good for businesses who need more bandwidth or simply don't have the time or money to host their own. Plus it provides fast and easy setup.
- Do-It-Yourself Platforms - offers robust shopping carts. These types of storefronts have a lot of commercial options you can choose from, but it may require you to purchase a license and open source products such as Opencart.
Your Products
Since your customers are not in a physical store where they can touch your products, it behooves you to replicate this experience as much as you can. You can do this by providing many details and descriptions of your products; including dimensions and weight. Include a zoom feature to enable customers a close-up look at your products. Also, having an online video showcasing and demonstrating the product is ideal.
SSL Certificate
By obtaining an SSL Certificate, you ensure to your customers that shopping at your eCommerce store is secure. This not only keeps the information of your customers’ safe, but also provides your small business with credibility.
Third Party Selling Opportunities
If you are looking to sell products online without having to set up an eCommerce website yourself, working with third parties might be best for you. These websites allow individuals and businesses to sell their products and earn commissions. There are some basic things you want to follow first to make the most of this option.
First, you want to determine what you wish to sell. You want to find products that are unique and offer a good market opportunity. Next, you will want to strategize as there is so much competition out there. You have so many options at your disposal; including big names like Amazon and eBay where you can set up shop.
Because you have so many options, it is important that you do your research and find a trustworthy provider. Not all providers are built the same. You want to go with one that is easy to work with, will offer reliable eCommerce solutions for selling your products, offer professional looking websites and one that is user-friendly.
In the end, you want to leave your customers with an amazing virtual shopping experience. Since they do not realize the instant gratification of leaving a brick and mortar store with a purchase in hand, you want to replace that by providing a great online shopping experience.
