If 2020 taught us anything, it was the importance of bring resourceful!  For many, this included being able to react to the needs of the ever-changing marketplace while responding to consumers’ needs and demands.  All the while, creating new streams of income.  Enter, e-commerce and e-commerce entrepreneurism!

While the pandemic confirmed the importance of establishing an online presence to succeed in the highly competitive e-commerce area, many would be e-commerce entrepreneurs faced a steep learning curve in terms of launching their e-commerce websites and businesses.  As consumers continue spending more time shopping and buying online, both established brands and newly launched businesses are investing more time and money into refining their e-commerce websites and offerings. 

Whether you are new to the e-commerce arena or an established brand looking to capitalize on the opportunities e-commerce presents, here are five things to consider before launching an e-commerce business in 2021! 

Product

As with any new business launch, before entering the e-commerce area it is imperative you conduct your market research and make sure that the product(s) you want to sell are not already in an oversaturated niche. 

Google Trends is a powerful free tool you can use to check keywords on the intention to purchase a product in a specific time frame. You can also use Amazon to check if the niche you are considering is already full of similar products with many reviews. 

When evaluating the results of your market research, bear in mind that having competition is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it can be a positive, especially if your product(s) are highly in demand.  In this case, it is important to position your product(s) to offer a unique selling proposition, especially if you are new on the market.  You may also consider adding product extensions to your core product offerings.  For example, if you’re an artist, you may consider converting your work to stickers, posters, or gift wrapping paper!  The same could be done with clothing designs as many apparel companies have enjoyed great success with adding stickers to their online market.  The opportunities are virtually endless!

Platform

Next, you need to pick the right platform. While the market is flooded with e-commerce software and apps, the integration opportunities are equally as important. 

Shopify offers one of the best and easiest to use platforms with a huge apps ecosystem. It also integrates with many other websites, in case you need to scale your business in the future.  Order Desk is also a great choice as it is fully customizable and easily integrates with Shopify and a variety of other shopping cart applications. 

If you are considering adding product extensions to your e-commerce website, or are interested in partnering with a third party that affords you the opportunity to integrate additional products into your e-commerce store, it is imperative you look for a partner that offers a customized API that easily integrates into your e-commerce platform.  The API should be tailored to fit your e-commerce website and meet the specific needs and challenges of your business.  We offer just that!

Promotion

On a daily basis, people are spending hours on social media!  While each platform has its own audience and demographic, it is imperative you establish a presence on the platform(s) where your potential customers are present.

Facebook and Instagram have a large and wide audience with several placements available, but they might not be the best options if you are trying to reach a younger demo. TikTok, for example, is the most popular app among Generation Z. Pinterest might be an option if you are targeting females over 25.  On social media, you are essentially targeting passive buyers who might be interested in your product(s).

Google Ads is also one of the best ways to increase sales as it allows you to targeting people looking for a specific product. With Google, you are targeting active buyers who are already looking for a product and might be ready to buy. 

Shipping

When you launch an e-commerce brand, shipping is one of the most important things to deal with!  Partnering with a third party, who will deal with the handling and shipping for you, is highly recommended.  These partnerships are ideal for businesses and e-commerce entrepreneurs who either do not have their own warehouse and fulfillment center or simply do not want to deal with the hassles of shipping their own products.  On-demand options are perfect for this! 

Customer Service

Last, but certainly not least, is customer service!  This may be the most important element of your e-commerce success.

If you want to build a sustainable brand, you need to focus on fast and effective customer care that keeps your customers satisfied.  Like shipping, you may consider partnering with a third party that is also able to handle the customer service end of order fulfillment and product delivery, so you can focus on the front end customer service.

While there are many things to consider when launching an e-commerce business or brand, we believe these five are among the most important!  And while these actionable tips are great, it is even better to start and test. Let’s collaborate!  StickersAndPosters.com can help you create the most unique, ingenious print products to add your new, or existing, e-commerce website.