Transitioning your physical business online and on Amazon is a big but necessary step in today’s market. With so many shoppers going online for their purchases both big and small, there’s a lot of room for growth for the right online businesses. It’s not enough to just have a website for your business in today’s market. Now, you need the right strategy to really make a mark online with your business. Here’s how to transition your physical business online and on Amazon.
Online Business Website Platform
Your first step is to choose the right website platform for your business. You can use a pre-existing platform like Etsy or even eBay for your business, but be aware that these come with limitations. The best option is to start your own website. It’s easier than ever to start your own website nowadays, no matter your budget. You can use an e-commerce platform to integrate your products or services online. While in-person businesses need to research card machine costs & fees, online businesses need to research the right selling platform for their website.
According to Search Engine Journal, e-commerce websites need to be easy to use with a mobile-friendly design. Most platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce come with a mobile-friendly design that is easy to customize. Before launching your online business, review your website to ensure it’s easy to use no matter the screen size. Include high-quality images to elevate your website to new heights, and focus on the customer experience. As a small business, you can afford to spend time on the user experience. This is what will set you apart from bigger brands or industry competitors that might not dedicate as much time to each customer.
Successfully Selling on Amazon
As one of the biggest selling platforms, it’s a good idea to place your products on Amazon as well as on your own business website. Selling on Amazon is about more than uploading your products and waiting for the reviews to pour in. Like with your website, you need a strategy. BusinessNewsDaily.com argues if you want to be successful on Amazon, you need to start by building your brand. You need to know your niche and how you can communicate effectively to your audience.
Amazon is competitive. CNBC reports over 75% of online shoppers shopping on Amazon. There are a lot of businesses fighting for the same customers. You can stand out by, once again, delivering the highest level of customer service. Even though you’re selling online, you can still give a great experience and level of service! Customers want an in-store shopping experience online, so keep the focus on your customers! Finally, give your customers the peace of mind of having your business backed by Amazon. You can set up Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) which means your products are stored and shipped from an Amazon warehouse. This is just another way to deliver a great customer experience!
Online Business Success in 2018
It’s more competitive online than ever before. As more businesses transition online, it’s up to you as a business owner to keep your strategy ahead of the curve. Be proactive with your business, and don’t be afraid to try new things to stand out! The most important way to appeal to customers is by staying authentic and human in your interactions! You don’t want to seem like a robot online! Just because you’re transitioning your business online doesn’t mean you can’t bring your in-store level of service!