We live in an age where we can make contact with someone on the opposite side of the world within seconds. We can send them messages, hear their voices and even see them when we’re talking to them. Technology has come leaps and bounds in the past two decades to allow these kinds of interactions. But why leave this to the confines of personal and social life? You can use the worldwide web to the benefit of your small business too. Think about it. If you can make contact with people all over the world almost instantaneously, then that means you can expand your potential customer base to individuals all over the world too! You no longer solely rely on people window shopping and popping into your store on the high street anymore. You can showcase your goods directly in someone’s home or in their pocket on their smartphone. What’s more? With e-commerce, customers have access to your products twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. You are no longer confined to the typical nine to five store opening hours. So, if you want to increase your sales and spread your brand name throughout the world, it’s time to set up your business online. It’s relatively simple. Here’s everything you need to know for a quick and easy start up.
Choosing a Platform
You may have a personal blog or website through a free web hosting business. This includes platforms such as WordPress, Blogger, and Tumblr. But when you’re looking at a page for your business, you will want things to look a little more professional. So it’s advisable that you use a private web host, such as PAC Web Hosting. Private hosting gives you so much more control over your website and its appearance. You can purchase your own, private domain name. This makes your business appear more legitimate to potential buyers. You can ensure you have secure payment services and you can have the added extra of a business email add on. This means that customers can contact you without going through your personal email address.
Setting Up a Mailing List
When customers enter your site, ensure that there is a pop up allowing them to join your mailing list. You might want to entice them with a special offer, such as 10% off their first purchase when they sign up. Once you have their email address, you will be able to contact them about sales, events and special offers, which will increase chances of future sales.
Offering International Shipping
Offer international shipping on all of your products. This means that people far and wide can have access to your products. You never know where your best market might be! Offer discounts or free shipping when customers spend over a certain amount. This will encourage multiple sales, as people will be more likely to purchase more than one item to save on shipping costs. At the end of the day, this is all extra money in your pocket!
