Having an online shop is vital for any growing retail business. If your company is looking to expand, you may want to set yourself up in e-commerce and you might be wondering where to start. Regardless of whether you are selling designer watches or allowing access to Field hockey drills on videos such as those found at https://www.sportplan.net/drills/Hockey/ , the first step is usually finding a company that can help to build your e-commerce platform. You may want to work with someone local so that you can attend face-to-face meetings, and the first step is to search for a company that can help you. You can also find agencies that will work with you from a distance and they will liaise with you via email, telephone and in some instances skype.
Make sure your customers stay
An article in the Guardian discusses the need for businesses to keep customers on their website and complete their purchase. Customers often leave items in their basket and don’t bother to finish their shopping, either because the process is too long or difficult or because they don’t have their credit card to hand. Make sure your website is easy to use and that your checkout is fast and convenient.
Offer different payment methods
An article from the BBC offers some basic advice on different payment methods and electronic money. As already mentioned, customers can lose interest if paying is difficult; therefore, make sure that you include options to pay by debit and credit cards, PayPal, and even by cheque.
Make sure your customers come back
Customers can be fickle – if they don’t feel that they have had a good or memorable experience, they may not come back again. Make sure your site is engaging, such as by featuring blog posts and multimedia. If you are a fashion retailer, include style advice and outfit ideas. Make the most of sale periods and special offers, and encourage people to join a mailing list. All these things will help to make customers return.
Think of the cost
Some retail and e-commerce websites can be expensive to run, and maintenance teams may be needed for large sites in case anything goes wrong. A professional web design company will let you know the associated costs before starting the project.
With these tips your new online business can grow and develop into a successful e-commerce shop.
