Here’s How to Get Your Online Business Up-and-Running By Midnight
One of the great things about starting a business online is that you can get it up and running quickly. Just think about it: If you wanted to open a physical clothing store, you would have to find a location, apply for a lease, get the necessary papers, apply for financing, get approved, pay and sign the lease, and make sure electricals, plumbing, and heat are all in working order and up to code. Worst of all, that’s just what it would take to get your location settled and has nothing to do with gathering inventory or hiring employees!
To set your business up for success, you’ll need to have a website. While you’ll want to spend more than a few hours building it eventually, the good news is that website builders like Squarespace give you the ability to get a professional-looking website in no time at all. Select from any one of their beautiful templates so that you’ll stand out against your competition. Once you’ve launched your business, you can continue to polish it, but at the onset just make sure that you use Squarespace’s integrated eCommerce platform so you can start selling right away.
As you build your website and think about your business, you’ll need to come up with a niche or angle to your company. This can help you differentiate yourself from competitors and allows you to have a strong brand presence in your marketing. Take, for example, The Store. This website offers customers “ReStored” tech at steep discounts. Instead of paying full price for a new iPhone XR, The Store carries the same electronic as a certified, refurbished process. This allows them to pass on great savings to their customers and differentiates them from other online electronics websites.
You’ll also want to implement different tools so that you can track the customers who are visiting your website and making purchases. Customer relationship management platforms, also known as CRM software, are a great way to do this, as it can help you better advertise to consumers based on their shopping behavior and preferences. You can also use a CRM contact center platform to further field customer inquiries. Bright Pattern gives you the tools to engage with customers through a variety of channels. Best of all, it’s built in the cloud so that you can access the platform from any computer or mobile device with an internet connection, letting you take your business with you wherever you go.
When selecting the products you want to sell, it’s a good idea to find a distributor capable of drop shipping your merchandise. This allows you to avoid having to keep your wares in one space and pack and ship them yourself. Instead, you only need to focus on marketing your online store and fulfilling customer service inquiries. The dropshipping platform will handle all order processing and ensure that your products make it to your customers when they’re ordered.
With an online store, you can set up in a matter of hours and start reaching out to customers on the same day. Even better, you no longer need to be versed in a wide range of technical skills to be able to do this. As long as you have an internet browser and the ability to read and write, you’ll be on your way to starting an online business. Just keep the above tips in mind and you’ll be well on your way to raking in profits.