David Grimes, CEO of Manchester-based parcel comparison website My Parcel Delivery provides insight into his top-tips to help your ecommerce business really take off.
Launching your first business is a step into the unknown. It will likely be the culmination of months, or years, of planning and preparation. Having started my own venture from home many years ago, I know how this feels.Every entrepreneur goes through the same process – it’s daunting but exciting like nothing else.
Once you’re all set to put plans into action, there are still a few stumbling blocks that you will typically need to be wary of, however.The following five tips should help ensure you aren’t caught off guard, and that your business launches without any hitches:
1) Organisation – your new way of life
As the saying goes; ‘by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail’.It might sound basic but getting organised really does make a difference. It’s particularly important in the early stages, as you may be the only person taking care of all the day-to-day operations of the business.
Structuringtheworking day will help you to be more productive with your time. I like to tackle my chunkies tasks first thing in the morning when I’m feeling mentally fresh. Time management strategies will vary, but always remember to schedule in some time for yourself. Even with the never-ending to-do list that you’re likely facing,you still need to keep yourself physically and mentally fit.
2) Build an effective online store
Ecommerce has completely changed the game for shoppers – gone are the days of needing to traipse around the high-street. For business owners, though, the difficulty comes in making sure their online store stands out from the crowd and keeps shoppers onsite when they get there.If potential customers feel they aren’t enjoying a smooth browsing experience, they’ll leave.
There are a few basics that you should focus on to ensure this doesn’t happen. As a starting point, your site should be easy to navigate with minimum clicks to reach the checkout, include accurate product descriptions, and have an attractive homepage that grabs the customer’s attention.
3) Market yourself effectively
Internet-based businesses are presented with endless opportunities to market themselves. To start with, consider which free channels are available to help spread the word about your business launch. Social media is the obvious choice here, with Twitter, Facebook and Instagram being the most popular platforms for ecommerce businesses. They can build brand image, generate discussion and allow customers to provide feedback. Positive comments and reviews are an excellent way to boost your reputation and attract new customers, while negative comments provide opportunities to handle complaints well and turn unhappy customers into advocates.
4) Manage orders and delivery
When sending out products, you don’t need to get yourself tied up in knots with delivery. It can be an overwhelming task boxing up and shipping out items – especially as sales start to pick up.
An efficient packing system will make your life easier when you have hundreds of orders to fulfil at a time.Firstly, find out which package size suits each product and have plenty of these in stock.Then, create yourself a little parcel assembly line to start packaging up your orders, always making sure orders are secure for transit. For convenience, you could arrange for couriers to come and pick up orders, rather than wasting time with a trip to the post office. You can find the best courier rates on parcel delivery comparison websites. This extra flexibility will afford you more time for order preparation.
5) Set goals and targets for the future
Have a clear idea in your head of what your objectives are. What do you want to achieve with your business in one month, one year, and five years from now?Planning out how you’d like the business to grow will keep you motivated and focused moving forward. You’ll also be able to measure success against your original expectations further down the line.
Lastly, and most importantly, don’t forget to enjoy the ride and embrace the exciting opportunity that launching a new business presents!
