51ÊÓƵ

SoÌýyou have aÌýdream: toÌýstart your own online business. Welcome toÌýtheÌýexciting world ofÌýentrepreneurism. IfÌýrecent history has taught usÌýanything, it’s that anyone with anÌýidea, theÌýright tools, andÌýgood guidance can start aÌýbusiness online andÌýsucceed asÌýanÌýecommerce entrepreneur. You have anÌýidea. You have theÌýdesire. SoÌýlet’s dive right in.

What Does itÌýTake toÌýbeÌýaÌýSuccessful Entrepreneur?

Passion. People with dreams are always theÌýmost exciting toÌýtalk toÌýbecause they radiate enthusiasm forÌýsomething they’ve created, while simultaneously wanting toÌýfill aÌýneed they see inÌýtheÌýworld. Your passion, convincingly communicated, will draw customers toÌýyou. This leads toÌýour next point…

Articulation. ItÌýcan sometimes feel like good communication isÌýaÌýlost art. But successful entrepreneurs rely onÌýpeople understanding their vision andÌýwanting toÌýbeÌýpart ofÌýit. One ofÌýtheÌýbest skills toÌýlearn asÌýyou pursue your dream isÌýhow toÌýwrite compelling copy that’s both informational andÌýexciting toÌýyour audiences.

Being detail-oriented. From your idea toÌýyour choice ofÌýecommerce, andÌýfrom fulfillment toÌýfinances, there are aÌýlot ofÌýthings toÌýkeep track of. But don’t ·É´Ç°ù°ù²â—w±ð’r±ð here toÌýhelp. There are countless resources available toÌýhelp you get your online business upÌýandÌýrunning. Once your online presence isÌýlive, your job will beÌýtoÌýspend asÌýmuch time onÌýour next point:

AÌýsense ofÌýtheÌýbig picture. There are aÌýlot ofÌýdetails toÌýkeep track ofÌýwhen you start your ecommerce business. InÌýorder toÌýcontinually build onÌýyour success, theÌýbest entrepreneurs understand that looking atÌýyour business asÌýaÌýwhole, andÌýtheÌýprogress you are making, isÌýaÌýgood way toÌýstay motivated. This skill also helps you from getting paralyzed byÌýtheÌýdetails.

Skills toÌýPractice toÌýbeÌýaÌýGreat Ecommerce Entrepreneur

Understand good design. Not every business that someone starts requires them toÌýcommunicate asÌývisually asÌýecommerce entrepreneurs do. It’s aÌýcrucial quality that you can present your products andÌýservices visually with great photography, illustration, animation, video, orÌýwhatever visual medium you choose. The way you dress says aÌýlot about you, just asÌýtheÌýway your visuals are perceived byÌýyour customers will either enrapture them orÌýturn them away.

Think like aÌýbuyer. Running anÌýonline business isÌýabout giving people what they want when they want it, andÌýtheÌýway they want it. SoÌýlearn toÌýlook atÌýyour business every step ofÌýtheÌýjourney aÌýpotential customer will take. How andÌýwhere will they first encounter you? What value are you providing them? When you send them toÌýlearn more, does theÌýnext chapter build theÌýstory andÌýcontinue toÌýexcite them? And isÌýevery step along theÌýway easy, including things like customer service andÌýreturns? Treat your buyer like you would want toÌýbeÌýtreated.

µþ±ðÌý²¹²Ô²¹±ô²â³Ù¾±³¦²¹±ô. The beauty ofÌýrunning anÌýecommerce business isÌýthat you can continually capture data atÌýevery step ofÌýtheÌýcustomer journey toÌýanalyze andÌýmake your online shop better. There are aÌýlot ofÌýfree tools out there toÌýdoÌýjust thatÌý— find them andÌýuse them. There are also countless videos onÌýYouTube that will walk you through theÌýusage ofÌýthings like Google Ads, Facebook marketing, andÌýGoogle Analytics. Look forÌýrecent videos that feature screenshot walkthroughs ofÌýtheÌýtools you will beÌýusing. And once you are comfortable with theÌýtools, check-in daily toÌýsee where you should beÌýmaking improvements. Even small fixes can result inÌýbig wins forÌýyou andÌýyour customers.

µþ±ðÌý±è²¹³Ù¾±±ð²Ô³Ù. IfÌýyou’re only improving your conversion rate byÌýhalf ofÌýaÌýpercent, theÌýincreased revenue you will get will gradually pay back theÌýtime you invested orÌýtheÌýtools you paid for. IfÌýyou add aÌýlive chat box toÌýyour site andÌýnobody uses it, keep inÌýmind that eventually someone willÌý— andÌýthat person will likely become aÌýcustomer andÌýtell others how easy getting service is. ItÌýeven takes time sometimes toÌýget paid. Stay focused onÌýyour two-year plan andÌýcongratulate yourself forÌýevery little win along theÌýway. Make patience your friend andÌýally.

Recommendations Before You Start anÌýOnline Business

Depending onÌýwhat your business is, you may have some slightly different requirements, but make sure you’ve planned forÌýthese things before you get too far into creating your online store.

DoÌýyou have aÌýbusiness plan? Though it’s true that many ecommerce entrepreneurs simply dive inÌýandÌýstart running anÌýonline business, anyone who has been inÌýbusiness will tell you that aÌýbusiness plan isÌýanÌýinvaluable tool. Not only does itÌýmake sure you’ve taken care ofÌýall theÌýrequirements toÌýlaunch your business without anyÌýissues, but itÌýwill help you set expectations toÌýkeep you from getting frustrated orÌýoverwhelmed.

DoÌýyou have aÌýbusiness license? You may beÌýsurprised toÌýknow that simply setting upÌýanÌýonline store andÌýtaking money may require aÌýbusiness license, even ifÌýyou’re simply operating out ofÌýyour home. BeÌýsure toÌýcheck with your local city requirements.

DoÌýyou have aÌýbank account? ToÌýoperate with your own business name andÌýuse your business license, it’s aÌýgood idea toÌýhave aÌýbusiness bank account. This will make filing your taxes more straightforward asÌýwell. Search your local area forÌý“free business checking”Ìý— theÌýbest accounts have good online banking forÌýaccepting money andÌýpaying bills.

DoÌýyou have ecommerce hosting? It’s essential that wherever you host your website, itÌýisÌýonÌýaÌýfast andÌýsecure web host. Your site needs toÌýstay upÌýreliably. ItÌýshould beÌýautomatically backed up. And itÌýshould beÌýeasy toÌýwork with andÌýget service for, without hidden costs orÌýfees.

DoÌýyou have analytics inÌýplace? You will want toÌýmeasure what users are doing onÌýyour website andÌýbeÌýable toÌýsee how your online store isÌýperforming inÌýorder toÌýmake tweaks. Make sure you have analytics installed andÌýconfigured accurately forÌýecommerce analytics.

DoÌýyou have anÌýemail platform? These days there are aÌýlot ofÌýemail platforms toÌýchoose from. Email isÌýcritical forÌýanyÌýecommerce business because itÌýcan beÌýused forÌýresales, upsales, abandoned cart reminders, promotional campaigns, andÌýcountless other things. Make sure your email platform integrates with theÌýaspects ofÌýyour store. You will find many low-cost options out thereÌý— many that come with free tiers ofÌýservice toÌýhelp out new online businesses.

How toÌýChoose theÌýRight Ecommerce Platform

Easy setup. Let’s face ¾±³Ùâ€Â£´Ç³Ù aÌýlot ofÌýpeople have aÌýlong history ofÌýrunning aÌýsuccessful online business. This isÌýwhere you should rely onÌýtheÌýexpertise ofÌýyour ecommerce provider toÌýhelp you. The best ecommerce platform forÌýyou will beÌýone that isÌýeasy forÌýyou toÌýset up, even though itÌýmay have hundreds ofÌýfeatures.

Price. AnÌýout-of-the-box ecommerce business may sound like aÌýgood idea, but this can often come atÌýaÌýpremium. Look forÌýanÌýecommerce platform that gives you aÌýfree trial andÌýlets you test out how your business will run.

User experience. Every ecommerce entrepreneur knows that user experience isÌýkey toÌýcapturing andÌýholding onto customers. Make sure that your ecommerce platform provides anÌýeasy, intuitive browsing andÌýcheckout process.

Ease ofÌýcheckout. There are many factors toÌýconsider forÌýyour online store’s checkout process. Real-time inventory, real-time shipping quotes, coupon codes, upsells andÌýpackages, no-surprise pricing, lots ofÌýpayment options. Make sure your ecommerce business handles all ofÌýthese completely andÌýwith ease forÌýboth you andÌýyour customer.

Social media selling. Your ecommerce store isÌýone destination forÌýyour customersÌý— social media isÌýanother. Many buyers prefer toÌýconduct business onÌýtheÌýsite they are currently onÌý– Facebook, Instagram, Google, Amazon, Pinterest, TikTok. Your job isÌýtoÌýprovide theÌýability forÌýyour customers toÌýbuy from you noÌýmatter where they choose toÌýtransact. Look forÌýanÌýecommerce platform that integrates with these sites.

Easy backend management. Whether setting upÌýcoupons orÌýchanging inventory, your ecommerce platform should beÌýeasy forÌýyou toÌýsee andÌýchange what isÌýhappening onÌýtheÌýfrontend forÌýyour customers with anÌýeasy-to-navigate andÌýcomprehensive backend interface.

Final Thoughts

There’s aÌýlot toÌýthink about when pondering life asÌýanÌýecommerce entrepreneur. But choosing theÌýright ecommerce platform can help you better understand theÌýlay ofÌýtheÌýland. And that’s where 51ÊÓƵ comes in.

We’ve helped build thousands ofÌýsuccessful online businesses andÌýhave done aÌýlot ofÌýtheÌýthinking forÌýyou along theÌýway. Let usÌýhelp you navigate how toÌýbecome anÌýecommerce entrepreneur who succeeds inÌýwhatever niche you choose. You’re inÌýthis togetherÌý— ifÌýyou succeed, they succeed. Ultimately you are inÌýpartnership not only toÌýgrow together but toÌýcreate aÌýworld ofÌýhappy customers.

Ìý

• What IsÌýanÌýEntrepreneur?
• How toÌýBecome anÌýEcommerce Entrepreneur
• I’m anÌýEntrepreneur, andÌýIÌýHave aÌýBusiness Plan: Now What?
• Must-Have Software forÌýEntrepreneurs
• Examples ofÌýtheÌýMost Successful Entrepreneurs
• The Best Way forÌýanÌýEntrepreneur toÌýDecrease Business Risks
• Why Are Entrepreneurs Important ToÌýThe Economy
• What IsÌýtheÌýIndustrial Entrepreneur Memorandum (IEM)
• Female Entrepreneurs: The Challenges Women Meet Pursuing Their Passion