As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to sweep across the country, 2020 saw an influx of eCommerce businesses begin as Americans were advised to stay home.
Since the economy and job market still have unpredictable futures, the concept of working remotely is becoming more appealing. As websites continue to offer low rates to build an eCommerce website, it is no surprise that thousands of website based businesses were launched in the past year.
If you are someone who is considering starting a small product business this year, here are some of the things you will need to consider to ensure your business is a success.
Make your website easy to navigate
People are migrating from their local shopping malls to online retailers, allowing businesses to create a strong digital presence. Based on the trends of 2020 and the beginning of 2021, the use of online shopping will likely continue to grow.
But as people browse online, they expect an easy process; Viewing an item, its price, and size, adding to their shopping cart, and then submitting their credit card information. Their expectations do not stop there. The customers also expect to receive their items virtually at the speed of light. We have all been there; Tracking your purchase in real time as it moves from state to state and delivery truck to delivery truck.
People also expect attentive customer service (even if we cannot be face-to-face). That means responding to each customer’s message, utilizing social media to reach out to lost customers, and help them with delivery information and tracking updates. The long-term success of your small business depends on what your customers think of you in the early days of creating your business.
The trend of supporting small businesses
It is no secret that some small businesses were negatively impacted due to the pandemic. But as the country continues to work together through the ups and downs of Covid-19, customers are increasingly driven to support their local businesses and “shop small”.
When small businesses share unique stories of their “why”, it attracts customers who can relate to their story, or that are interested in helping their cause. Businesses that do not have an eye catching story will have a harder time getting customers to buy from them.
Know what your niche is
While the timing of creating an online business is good, the marketplace is extremely crowded. If you wish to diversify your business from others, you must create a clear niche.
If you are unsure, utilize time to research more about your business before setting up (online) shop. Research your potential competitors, the trends of your business, and what is projected to occur in the future (although as we all know, this will change). Your idea does not need to be groundbreaking and brand new, but you need to have a solid idea of your target market and why those people should buy your product.
If you have more questions about the viability of your small business venture, contact us at Hurley Law.
