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How to Start an eCommerce Business in the Current Competitive Market?

Manav Patel,

Ever since eCommerce has evolved from teleshopping to online; people are searching about ways to start an eCommerce business. The history of starting an eCommerce business is about 40 decades old. Amazon, Alibaba, PayPal, Shopify, Etsy, BigCommerce, and more have been a significant part of its history. 

eCommerce business is one of the fastest-growing businesses globally. It has evolved from a simple online store into a company with an online presence through online shops, mobile apps, social media marketing, etc.

eCommerce business worldwide has been snowballing, and there are a lot of opportunities for small business owners.

There are a million reasons to start an eCommerce business. eCommerce has the power to change the way consumers interact with the products and services they buy. But it can also have a considerable impact on small businesses that want to sell their products online but didn’t know how to start. 

In this guide, we’ll show you how to get your e-commerce store up and running with just a few simple steps. But first, let us look into the growth of eCommerce stores.

Why Are Businesses Adopting eCommerce Rapidly?

Why Top Brands Want to Start an eCommerce Business?

Customers demand digital stores

The world is changing, and consumers are demanding digital. They want to shop online. They want to be able to buy things on their phones. Moreover, they want to be able to get the best deals possible. And the constantly evolving eCommerce space makes it happen. 

The demand for eCommerce went over the roof when the pandemic forced retailers to close their physical stores. Lucky for retailers, they had a bliss in the form of eCommerce, facilitating the delivery of their products at customers’ doorstep. Consequently, retail eCommerce sales started to rise beyond one’s expectations.

As per a Statista report, retail e-commerce sales that amounted to approximately $4.9 trillion worldwide in 2021 are forecast to grow by 50% and reach about 7.4 trillion dollars by 2025.

B2B companies offering online ordering experiences like B2C

Many B2B companies have started offering an online ordering experience that is as close to a B2C experience as possible. They are doing this to appeal to customers who want the same level of service from a company, regardless of whether they are buying for their business or themselves.

Customer expectations have driven this change in eCommerce. Customers want to be able to purchase products and services quickly and easily, without needing to talk with a salesperson on the phone or wait for someone from the company to contact them.

Large retailers have no way but to go online

The growth of Retail eCommerce significantly impacts large-scale distributors. The trend has forced large retailers to enter the digital space and sell their products online as well.

In the past, these retailers had the edge over other small-scale retailers because they could afford to spend more on marketing. However, this advantage seems to disappear with the advent of internet marketing.

Large retailers have been losing customers to eCommerce sites. This is because large retailers are struggling to compete with the convenience of shopping online.

Hence, large retailers are now pushed to sell their products online because they can no longer compete with smaller-scale retail stores due to the cheaper prices offered by them.

The evidence can be seen in February 2019 when online sales slightly surpassed merchandise in brick-and-mortar stores, warehouse clubs, department stores, and supercentres.

Gain data to improve your products or services

The data collected from an eCommerce site can be used by the business to improve their products or customer services. This can be done by understanding what the customer wants and needs. 

Moreover, with the help of analytical tools, you can get insights into your consumer behavior and journey over your platform. Such insights tell you where your customers interact the most. Now, you can use all the data to enhance your sales and marketing strategies. 

Reduce cost and grow revenue

E-commerce has been a significant contributor to the growth of many businesses. Because it has enabled them to reach broader markets, reduce costs and improve revenue.

The internet has allowed businesses to access a global market. They can also use the internet to increase their visibility and reach out to more customers. Online stores are also more cost-effective than traditional brick-and-mortar shops, as they don’t require any physical space or maintenance costs. 

eCommerce allows businesses to offer free shipping and returns, increasing customer satisfaction. It also saves on marketing costs as these are done through social media channels or SEO rather than print ads in newspapers or magazines.

After exploring the impacts of eCommerce, let us move ahead on how to start an eCommerce business with the step-by-step guide.

Read Also: What does it cost to start an eCommerce business?

start an eCommerce Business from scratch

How to start an eCommerce Business from scratch: 5 step process

The process of starting a business from a personal perspective can be as simple as walking into a brick-and-mortar store or as complex as starting a business in a foreign country.  

When starting a business, you have to consider many different aspects of the business, from the name to the business location and the products that will be sold. Starting a business can be very intimidating, especially for the first-time entrepreneur. So, let us make it simple for you by breaking down the process into a few understandable steps.

Step 1: Figure out your niche

The first step to starting an eCommerce business is to figure out what you want to sell. If you’re a newbie, it cannot be easy to have product ideas because there are so many options. But if you’re already familiar with the world of business, it’s easier to narrow down your choices.

It will help if you start by asking yourself some questions, such as;

What products or services would be best suited for selling online? 

Do you have any experience in selling products or services? 

Are there any products or services your potential customers might want but don’t know they need?

Once you have honed in on your niche, it’s time to do some research! Look at the competition in your niche and see if any gaps aren’t being filled. You should also check out sites like Amazon and eBay to see what types of products sell well and why?

Read Also:  What are the best eCommerce business startup ideas for 2022?

Step 2: Research and Know Your Market Better

After figuring out your niche, the second step is to Research and Know Your target Market Better for your eCommerce business. Why is it important? Well.. it is important because you will be able to: 

  • Find out your competitors and analyze their marketing strategies; 
  • Get the picture of your competitors’ pricing and explore what their market positioning is;
  • Find out your competitors’ products and examine their quality;
  • Discover the demand of your niche;
  • Find out the possible ways to differentiate your business from your competitors;
  • Recognize the best possible way to reach your audience;
  • Figure out the right channel to communicate with your targeted customers;
  • Strategize your value-added services;
  • Understand your customers to make their buying journey engaging;

Step 3: Set up your business

When starting an eCommerce website, there are various things to think about in order to create a successful business. Because many things go into starting an eCommerce website. Below are some key points to consider:

Naming: 

One of the first and most important decisions is what to name the company. The name should be easy to remember and should match the products that will be sold on your website. Further, it’s highly crucial to come up with an unforgettable name for your eCommerce website. It should be something catchy and easy to remember. Additionally, you will want to make sure the domain is available.

Logo: 

The logo for your website should be simple yet memorable. It is vital to create a logo that will stand out from the competition.

Distribution channels: 

In order to reach the most customers, you will need to decide on distribution channels that lead you to a broad but relevant audience. It’s necessary to think about what platforms your company wants to sell on and whether or not you wish to have an online storefront and/or sell through other websites.

start an eCommerce business

Step 4: Build your eCommerce site

There are a number of factors associated with eCommerce website development you need to consider in this step as well. These factors include;

eCommerce platform

To start an eCommerce business, deciding which eCommerce platform to choose is crucial as this will be the ground you will develop and maintain your online store. You must analyze your requirements to know whether an all-inclusive platform like Shopify store or open-source software, such as Magento, will be the right choice.

The theme and design of the website:

The design of an eCommerce website needs to match the needs of the customer and brand. It should not be a mere replica of the business card or company brochure and should be user-friendly.

The features that are going to be developed on the website:

From sign up/in, add to cart, product descriptions, product pages to check out, and payment methods, you have to think through every feature that can make the shopping experience the utmost convenience for customers on your eCommerce site.

eCommerce trends:

If you want to stand out from the rest of the market, you shall embrace the latest technology trends to elevate your user experience and offer out-of-this-world customer support. For example, using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in your eCommerce platform can increase conversion, leads, revenue, and profits.

eCommerce development:

eCommerce development requires rigorous coding skills to ensure a high-performing and bug-free platform. So, if you do not know how to code, you can outsource your project from an offshore software development company or scale your team by hiring remote developers.

Whether you choose to outsource or develop your eCommerce website in-house, you have to draft a business plan. We recommend using the Lean Canvas business model template as it’s easy and helps entrepreneurs include every aspect of the business without fail. The business model will help your development team throughout the software development life cycle.

Step 5: Market your site

Once you have set up your eCommerce business, it’s time you brainstorm creative marketing strategies to attract and increase your customer base. You can market your eCommerce business using social media, email marketing, Search Engine Optimization, Copywriting, etc.

Although most people are aware of social media, many still do not realize that an eCommerce business can sell goods online through social media. However, you have to ensure the channel you choose to market your business is relevant to your audience and brand.

start your eCommerce business

Tips to help you start your eCommerce business successfully:

Starting an eCommerce business can be a daunting task. The field is quite saturated, but it doesn’t mean that you should stay away! In fact, there are a lot of eCommerce business opportunities out there. 

  • Start with precise goals

Before you start, you need to make sure that you have a clear goal of what you want to achieve with your business. With this, you will be able to focus on the right tasks, and you will avoid getting lost in the maze of opportunities.

  • Go mobile

When you plan your eCommerce web app development, do not forget that now the world is mobile-driven. People love to shop via smartphones as they can browse, wishlist, and checkout anytime, anywhere conveniently. Even many eCommerce websites have transformed into mobile apps to attract more customers. You can consider technology like Flutter to cost-effectively build your eCommerce web and mobile app.

  • Measure crucial KPIs

The success of an eCommerce website can be measured using key performance indicators (KPIs). However, tracking wrong KPIs won’t take you anywhere near your growth. Hence, you need to focus on the right ones, such as conversion rate, average order value, product page views, return rate, Referral Sources, and Cart Abandonment Rate.

Ready to Kick Off Your eCommerce Business?

Today, the eCommerce business is a vast market that is growing fast. The internet has made it possible for individuals to sell just about anything. And, it’s not just big stores selling a wide array of goods. It’s also individuals selling one or two items. The most successful eCommerce business owners have learned that online marketing is crucial for their growth. 

So, if you are among the smart entrepreneurs, you shall be setting up your eCommerce site right away.

Manav Patel

Manav Patel is the founder of Kody Technolab. His visionary ideas and passion for technology have backed Kody Technolab's success. He nurtures the team with his knowledge and skills.

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