Currently, the development of an online business is, for many entrepreneurs, an approach to consider or a project that must finally be realized. And for that, eCommerce development solutions can play a vital role in transforming your business into eCommerce that will lead you to success.
The unprecedented crisis we are experiencing is forcing entrepreneurs to review their business models and their service offerings. Is creating a commercial site only for producers and distributors of consumer goods? What are the different options for developing e-commerce?
What are people looking for on online shopping sites?
Before leaping e-commerce, it’s best to know the types of products and services that online shoppers are looking for.
Google Trends and Google Shopping are exciting tools to find out what is most searched by Internet users.
For example, in the 30 days leading up to April 7, 2020, the most searched items were:
- Office (we don’t wonder why almost everyone had to switch to telecommuting mode!)
- Bicycle
- Purple / hydro-alcoholic solution (due to shortage in stores!)
- Plants
- Tools
- Video games (yes, young people need to be bored!)
- T-shirt / clothing
- Computer screen
- Freezer
- Tumble dryer
This report reflects the drastic change that Quebec has experienced in the space of two weeks, where specific goods have become essential for many. However, this example serves to demonstrate that one can see trends over a number of weeks and months and see what most in demand is.
Proceeding this way builds a needs-based online business rather than trying to port our current products and services into an online store. However, be aware that there are many online shopping sites on the Web and that you must therefore surround yourself well to make your e-commerce store profitable. Several aspects are, therefore, to be considered:
- Development of an adequate supply system;
- Costs and storage space (unless you are dropshipping );
- Shipping (except dropshipping );
- Importance of customer service;
- Setting up the online store
- Development of marketing strategies to generate traffic on the site.
Sell online with marketplaces
In order to minimize the risk, some decide to go into e-commerce using marketplace platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy.
While it is true that you are taking advantage of these brands’ strengths to attract customers, that also comes at a price. The most significant advantage of “market places” is immediate access to customers. However, to protect its customers, marketplaces impose very strict rules on sellers.
If you do not follow these rules, inadvertently or on purpose, your account can be suspended overnight for days and even weeks.
Also, as you know, the Amazon of this world makes money by receiving a commission on your sales. From 15% to 20%, this commission is calculated on your turnover and not on your net income. When calculating fixed costs, the margin is often very slim!
You also have to take into account the number of items per basket.
With its e-commerce site, it is possible to encourage customers to continue shopping online using remarketing techniques (advertising retargeting). This approach increases the average value of a shopping cart, but it is impossible to do so for your products on marketplaces.
Images of amazon eBay Etsy
Other factors to keep in mind
Shipping costs: the more items we are able to sell, the lower the fixed shipping cost, because the shipment is priced according to a weight scale on the packages. Adding one or two items sometimes doesn’t change the shipping price, but allows you to have a better profit if you are able to sell more.
Customer loyalty is where it gets tough because customers are retained by the “marketplaces and not by you. If you decide to develop your e-commerce store later, the customers who bought your products through a marketplace will stay with it.
Transfer your products and services online
If, for you, it is out of the question to change your business area, but you still want to make the jump to online sales, know that it is possible to create an online store in minutes for various services.
In the coming weeks and months, online training sites will be popular thanks to the measures announced by the government, which will cover the costs of in-company training and employee salaries until September 30, 2020.
Obviously, you don’t set up an e-commerce site in two days, but if you already had the idea of developing an online training platform as an independent consultant, you have to do it quickly.
Whether you are an accountant, IT specialist, foreign language specialist, occupational therapist, etc., your training program can help workers re-qualify, develop the skills necessary for the pursuit of their company’s activities or follow mandatory training according to their professional order.
Even though the government program has only been announced for a few months, distance education will undoubtedly continue to gain momentum in the coming years. And with the help of a good web marketing strategy, your online sales training site can become profitable after a while.
To show creativity
If you’re not a trainer at heart, you could create eBooks for sale online based on your area of expertise. The DIY fad is definitely here to stay, so take the opportunity to explain to people:
- How to create a vegetable garden to feed a family throughout the summer and to make reserves for the year thanks to permaculture;
- How to make your own personal care and cosmetic products using natural products;
- How to recycle old furniture for a home makeover;
- How to develop a budget to pay off debts and plan for retirement;
- And any other ideas that will help people get through the looming financial crisis!
It’s just a matter of getting creative to find a way to transfer some of your skills and competences in a way that you can monetize them on the web through an online store.
All you have to do is a partner with the best eCommerce Solution Provider to support you in your transition to e-commerce!
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