Ready to launch into digital superstardom, eh? You’ve come to the right place. Starting an eCommerce business is certainly no small feat, and it takes a special kind of tenacity and follow-through to find long-lasting success in such a competitive — but exciting! — industry. 

As a logistics partner to online merchants of all shapes and sizes, it’s safe to say that we’ve been around the block enough times to shine a helpful spotlight on the ins and outs of eCommerce. To make sure you’re prepped and primed for one of the biggest chapters of your career, we’ve compiled six tidbits and considerations for the scrupulous entrepreneur (that’s you!).

Without further ado, let’s dive in!

It’s a Hard Knock Life (Kind Of)

It’s true — some markets are as saturated as the cerulean waters of the Pacific ocean. But here’s the catch: that doesn’t always have to be the case. Upon closer inspection, what may have initially seemed like stiff competition could actually turn out to be a goldmine of potential. In other words, don’t mistake volume for difficulty — do a little digging and you’ll often find needs to meet and problems to solve.

Think Big by Starting Small

You can’t run before learning how to walk, and you can’t walk before learning how to crawl. Ambition without execution often leads to biting off more than one can chew, and that’s definitely not what you want when you already have a million things to worry about. 

In practice, this could mean, for example, slowly but steadily growing your inventory instead of adding lots of items all at once. Or, perhaps, getting acquainted with each of your intended sales channels one by one. Although expansion is the end-goal, you’ll find that taking it step by step is the smartest (and fastest!) way to get there.

Marketing Is King

Without a strong marketing strategy, even the most amazing products run the risk of being buried in the graveyard of missed opportunities. 

Prior to takeoff, try giving some thought to these popular tactics:

• Affiliate marketing
• Content marketing
• Email marketing
• Influencer marketing
• Paid advertising
• SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
• Social media marketing
• Word-of-mouth marketing

The trick is finding a concoction that works for you, and the key is seamlessly implementing that into your day-to-day. Again, it’s better to do a few things really well than many things poorly.

Embrace Change

The eCommerce sector has and continues to experience extraordinary growth and innovation — just think about what retail looked like a mere ten or twenty years ago. But, because of this, it’s impossible, and downright prejudicial, to stay stagnant. Maintaining a presence in such a dynamic landscape, by definition, requires a willingness to adapt and respond to changing customer trends and breakthrough technologies.

Walk a Mile in Your Customers’ Shoes

Throughout the process of launching and running an eCommerce business, it’s imperative to adopt a customer-centric approach to everything that you do — after all, these relationships are central to the longevity of your business. So, before launching a new product or deciding to do a website overhaul, try to anticipate the impact your decisions will have on both new and existing shoppers. 

Success Takes Time

It’s tempting to be sucked in by enticing stories of overnight success. And sure, they’re impressive, but these stories often fail to paint the full picture. What seems to happen in an instance is actually the culmination of years of hard work, and getting (or not getting) a lucky break at the end doesn’t erase that. Comparison is the thief of all joy, so protect what you’ve built and don’t get distracted by what could or should have been.

Starting an eCommerce business isn’t for everyone, but we trust that your passion for what you do will help you navigate the twists and turns of this new chapter.

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