How to successfully run an eCommerce business

Many people believe that running an eCommerce business doesn’t require much effort and is achievable by virtually anyone. And although that statement may not be far from the truth, learning how to successfully run an eCommerce business is far from an easy task. Whether you’ve been in the eCommerce world for a while or are considering joining it, you need to know what can go wrong and how to prevent and fix it.

For instance, you may witness low revenue due to several reasons, including:

Running a website that’s not responsive, and therefore forcing mobile users to shop elsewhere,
Using an outdated design, causing visitors to leave your website,
Running a website with poor user experience, which can significantly increase its bounce rate,
Paying too much for Pay-Per-Click (PPC) ads without a proper strategy, etc.

This list can go on and on, but we’re here to focus on practices that will help you successfully run an eCommerce business:

1. Don’t rush into launching

In case you still don’t have an online store, this is a step you shouldn’t neglect. Provided you’ve got all the insights on how to build an online store and have successfully built one; it’s vital not to rush into its launching. Many impatient eCommerce entrepreneurs make this mistake by revealing too much too soon. You get one shot at launching your store, so it’s essential to do it right. Therefore, before the grand opening day, you’ll need to lay the substantial groundwork, including SEO, paid advertising, content marketing, social media strategy, etc.

2. Focus on your users

This step is also crucial for the newbies in the eCommerce industry and those who have been around for a while but forgot how much their buyer persona matters. For instance, knowing your target audience means not wasting your money around paying for marketing that will never convert. Next, by understanding your customers’ preferences, you’ll be able to use it to your advantage and offer them an experience they won’t be able to find at your competitors. You’ll also find a way to speak directly to them and make connections to ensure a loyal customer base and the good old peer-to-peer marketing. Simply put, getting to know your customers can have an immense impact on your overall revenue, and it is one of the eCommerce best practices.

3. Get your customers

Launching an online store and waiting for your customers to come in has never paid out. Instead, you’ll need to find different ways to raise brand awareness and attract your potential shoppers. You can achieve this in numerous ways, including:

Optimizing your website for search engines to increase visibility,
Creating engaging and attractive content,
Smartly investing in marketing strategy, because not everything pays off,
Creating eye-catching product photos,
Utilizing social media and influencers (we’ll get to that in a moment),
Use the existing data to build a buyer persona and reach out to new customers,
Make promotional offers, giveaways, offer discounts for the first purchase, free shipping, etc.
Use blockchain-oriented eCommerce platform that can bring neophiliacs to your e-shop, this is how it works.

As we mentioned above, social media platforms can play a significant role in attracting new customers. For instance, they allow you to find online places where your potential customers hang out. This will enable you to interact with them discretely, offering irresistible products that they need. Another essential feature of social media is that most of them now provide special business accounts and provide their marketing tools and access to some vital analytics. Lastly, social media influencers act as an intermediary between you and your customers, offering their reviews of your products. And let’s face it - hardly anything beats a peer-to-peer recommendation from one human to another.

5. Make your website responsive: go mobile

This step is not negotiable; considering the number of online shoppers who purchase via a cellphone, you can’t afford to neglect to make your website responsive. It’s also safe to assume that the number of those users will only continue growing since millennials find their mobile phones to be a preferable option for online shopping.

6. Consider going multi-channels

Once you’ve established a stable and prosperous online store, you may want to consider expanding your business to other channels as well. This could mean setting up your shop on Instagram or Facebook, listing your products on an online marketplace, or selling on cryptocurrency-based eCommerce platforms. For example, by setting up a shop on Instagram, you’re able to reach your target audience easier than ever. Plus, the fact you’re offering them an option to purchase your products without leaving their app will be a massive advantage to your business. And selling on online marketplaces allows you to reach customers worldwide, using an already established platform and showcasing your products in a blink of an eye.

7. Keep on top of SEO

Search engine optimization is a broad and complex subject. That’s why we won’t talk about all of its features here but instead focus on its importance. Keeping on top of SEO should become your daily task of eCommerce business owners, as it shouts go big or go home. The eCommerce industry is already a crowded place, and it’s only getting more and more crowded each day. Therefore, if you want to be visible and climb and stay on the top of search results, you’ll need to ensure that every element of your SEO works superbly at all times.

Final thoughts

These few guidelines we stated above can be a valuable foundation for learning how to successfully run an eCommerce business. From here, you can easily do additional research regarding any particular subject we mentioned and expand your knowledge as you go. Assuming you’re entering the eCommerce business world to stay and grow, you’ll need to remain up to date with the latest trends at any given moment. The eCommerce industry has shown us many times it’s here to stay, and investing in it is an excellent decision at this time. However, it’s constantly evolving, and this phase includes blockchain, cryptocurrencies and safe ways to sell online. That's why you can’t sit back and let customers and revenue come to you.