Nibletz Staff
Opening an online store is a dream-come-true for many. Who knows, it could turn into a million-dollar business. We’ve seen it happen, as popular e-commerce sites take off, and attract thousands of customers. You can start the whole enterprise from your bedroom, selling hand-made crafts if you wish. Online shopping and e-commerce is still growing in an enormous way. You can take advantage of this, and hop aboard the train. Don’t worry, it’s easier than you think to get started.
- Choose your product and niche
The first step is deciding what sort of store you’d like to open and run. This is your chance to choose something you’re passionate and excited about. Remember, your online business should be your escape! It’s a chance to make money from something you love. Having said that, choose a niche that has real market value. Take a look at your potential rivals and competitors. What can you sell that is different to others? Getting this part wrong is one of the biggest reasons for business failure.
- Make connections with wholesalers
You have two main options when starting an online store. The first option is making and selling your own product. If you’re into crafts, then you might want to make and sell your personal creations. However, most shop owners use wholesalers to get their hands on goods. This means purchasing products at low value to sell on your online store. For example, you might want to approach fashion wholesalers to choose a particular range of clothes to sell.
- Creating the website
If you’re going to set up an online store, you need a website! Don’t worry, this is easier than it sounds. You can do the hard work yourself, using one of the various website builders and online store templates. However, it’s often better to commission a professional online store design. You’ll get a unique and custom design that matches your brand and vision. Remember a good web design is optimized for sales, and that’s best left in the hands of the experts.
- Marketing and promotion
By now, you’ll have a beautiful new website, and a variety of products to sell. All that’s left to do is get people interested! Without visitors and customers, you won’t make a penny. The best place to start is social media. You can begin to create a community around your business on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. You can even pay for online adverts to promote your new shop.
- Finances
Of course, don’t forget to keep a keen eye on your budget and finances. Remember, this is a business, and it should be run like one. That means keeping track of orders, budgeting for supplies, and managing the income. At the end of the year, you’ll have to file your tax return, and keep your accounts in order. If things start going well, you’ll have to consider registering your business with the government too.
See, that wasn’t as tricky as it seemed, right? If you’ve got a great idea for an online store, try it yourself. You might become the next big success story!
