6 Questions to Ask When Creating an Online Ecommerce Store

Online customers are a force to be reckoned with. In 2010 alone, they increased U.S. online retail sales for 12.6 percent.  Forrester Research estimates that online retail sales will grow by 63% by the mid-2015. See Forrester Research & Online Forecast. Although launching an online store may be challenging, in reality it is much simpler than establishing a brick-and-mortar shop. The answers to these six questions will help you set your course for a moneymaking online store.

 

Where do I start when wanting to open and ecommerce shop ?

If your budget allows it, you can hire a professional developer to build a custom online store just for you. Alternatively, you can hire one of many ecommerce vendors that can help you set one up, step by step. By using templates that allow you to upload your images and catalogs, you can avoid tampering with code, hosting, and maintenance of your own online store. If you’re looking for ahead start getting your ecommerce setup then
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How should I handle the payments?

For startup online retailers, is the safest and easiest way of accepting online payments. This third-party processor is popular, because it doesn’t take any monthly charges. PayPal only charges the transaction fees of 2.9% on the total sale amount plus 30¢ per transaction. However, since many customers are used to paying with their own credit cards, it is wise to obtain a merchant account with individual credit card companies.

 

How to establish ecommerce customer service?

Choose an ecommerce vendor that provides a comprehensive customer relationship management tool. These CRM tools manage the interaction between merchants and customers, documenting contact information, purchase history, pending orders, and filed complaints.

Setting up a 24/7 live chat in your online store is a great option to distinguish your online business as trustworthy and customer-friendly. According to eDigital’s customer service benchmark, only 24% of customers use live chat; but it carries the highest satisfaction level for any customer service channel.

 

 

What can I do to attract shoppers?

Once you set up your store, the next step is to spread the good news. Include your store’s web address on your company’s home page, and conduct an email newsletter campaign. Don’t forget to create account on social media like Facebook and Twitter; as well as image and video sharing sites like Pinterest and YouTube. Make your social media presence more attractive by updating it daily with useful content, giveaways, and special offers like Amazon promotional codes.

 

How should I advertise my ecommerce products?

Online shopping has a little bit of a disadvantage; the consumer can’t touch, feel, or taste your products. You want to focus on the sense that your online customers can use; their vision of course. You should provide each item with short and detailed descriptions, accompanied by clear and professional product images.

Unless you want to hire a professional photographer each time, invest in a pro-grade DSLR camera and a lightbox. With a bit of practice, the images of your products will be hard to resist.

 

Should my customers rate their shopping experience?

By giving the customers the ability to leave comments on your products, you are showing that you stand behind your products.

However, these reviews and social media shares cut both ways. While positive ratings can boost your sales, a single negative comment can turn a score of potential shoppers away.

The life of an online store starts by aligning your business strategy against your customers’ needs. Once you establish the promotion channels, set up the logistics for customer handling and secure transactions. Finally, remember that (especially in online retail), the customer always comes first.

To learn more about instant chat and look at some statistics, check out Instant chat increases sales for small businesses. And to get more information on our ecommerce web design solutions click this link.