An online-based business can make becoming your own boss easier than it was before. It’s now possible to operate a sole retail store. Brick and mortar stores need to be staffed by multiple people throughout the week and throughout the day to ensure that they run smoothly. Online stores require only one person to monitor email messages, orders that are received, and calls that can be outsourced.
With the belief that I have a unique fashion vision and years of experience in retail, I decided to launch an online store for women’s clothes. The decision was made after I learned that Shopify offers a $29 per month plan. I could take advantage of $29 per month without having full-time work (which I did not have in the beginning). This was when I started my journey towards the field of internet entrepreneurialism. Here are five things I wish someone had given me before I got started.
Hurdle 1. finding items to put in my shop.
Perhaps this is only me. However, I wanted my shop to be different and to only offer things that I know myself and my prospective customers, which I am would not go by without having a desire for. These are very limited. It can take a long time; I’d say about 3 hours to locate few products that meet my “is it hot enough” test. Therefore, I would suggest that you allocate at least six hours each week to fill your store with products, and you’ll not be prepared to begin opening.
Hurdle 2. social media isn’t all sweetness and glam in the case of your company instead of personal use.
Social media is a way to be the difference between success and failure for a company. You have a Facebook page with hundreds of followers that appear to pop up from out of the blue over a short of a time. Then, you create your business on Facebook, but you realize you have only ten friends who will follow your page. And you must pay for followers from prospective customers. Facebook ads can be effective. However, you’ll have to be paying for it. Make sure you are aware of your spending limitations and stop advertising that isn’t effective for your business. Make sure that your company’s name and message heard is the most effective method of attracting customers.
Hurdle 3. A lack of traffic is equivalent to no conversions
Set aside approximately 3 hours per week making contributions to forums, blogs as well as your own site to get traffic. It was my first time doing this, and it took me months to gain over 12 distinct visitors each day.
Hurdle 4. Shipping
It’s not something you think about very often until you’ve got an enterprise that relies on it for an online store. You may need to deliver directly from the supplier you are using to and then from you to your client. Double shipping is possible through drop shipping; however, then you’re trapped selling their goods. It is also possible to purchase inventory and then sell it, which will be way over budget. This means you need to pay for shipping by imposing a higher price on your product. Ouch. With free shipping becoming one of the “things” on the internet shops, this could be a problem for small-scale businesses. Adjust your prices until you have a balance that is O.K prices and you’re not paying a significant amount in shipping costs. You could still provide free shipping or state that you offer it. Add shipping costs to your pricing.
Hurdle 5. Carts abandoned
The process of bringing people to your site is one obstacle, but making them complete your checkout procedure is an entirely different issue. Customers online look extensively before making a purchase. Don’t be shocked to see them abandon your site during the checkout process. A lower price or a different color option offered on another website could cost you a sale. But your procedure could be the cause of the problem. You can go through the procedure yourself to determine what occurs. Make the process as brief as possible, a single page if you’re able to manage. The more times a user is required to click and sit on another page entering information and information, the longer they’ll have to consider not purchasing.
The majority of online stores have a rocky start; however, don’t be concerned and keep going and reduce costs whenever feasible. Make every obstacle an opportunity to improve and improve the user experience, or perhaps a better product.
