How to Set Up an E-Commerce Store: All you Need to Know

If you are getting disheartened with your 9-5 job and you would like to join the many UK citizens who now make a living online, this article was written with you in mind. It might sound more than a little daunting to do everything that is necessary, but with outsourcing, anyone can do it, and in this article, we will explain the process step by step.

Choosing your products

The most important decision of all, you must be absolutely sure that there is an adequate demand for what you are planning to market, which might take some market research, and if you have some prior knowledge of the products, so much the better. You are advised to move into the hi-end product range, as cheap, inferior products simply won’t take you where you want to go, plus you must be price competitive.

Web Design and Maintenance

Once you have chosen your line of products, you can approach a web design company, preferably a leading company such as Move Ahead Media, who happen to be an established UK SEO provider with web design, maintenance and digital marketing services, which you most certainly need. Most e-commerce platforms run on Magento, and your website then must have a domain name, something the web designer can handle on your behalf, plus they will provide essential web hosting services. Unless you happen to be a whizz with IT, you should outsource site management to your hosting provider and they will update the site and manage cyber-security, another essential service you will require.

Digital Marketing

It is essential that you enlist the help of a leading digital marketing agency, one that specialises in small businesses, and they will compile an effective digital marketing plan that will provide you with your sales. If you are interested in business risk protection, here is a great article that offers ways to protect your enterprise against a number of risks.

Some of the SEO services you might need are:

• Search Engine Optimisation – By boosting your site’s rankings within a Google search, this will enable many potential buyers to find your e-commerce platform. There are millions of consumers that use search engines to source products online, and by employing a number of strategies, your website will creep up the rankings until you reach that coveted first page. Once you are at the top of the tree, it will require ongoing SEO work to retain your top spot, due to the ever-changing nature of the World Wide Web.
• Social Media Marketing – SMM is a very effective way to make the best use of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and with an SEO expert handling all your SM accounts, you will soon enjoy a considerable following. If you find any real issues, here is a UK government site that offers business support for entrepreneurs.

Third-Party Logistics (3PL)

If you outsource all of your picking, packing & deliveries to a reputable 3PL company, all you have to do is send your products and packaging to the logistics expert, who is geared up for fulfilling orders, then you can email your orders as they come in.

All of the above information should help you make all the right choices and hopefully, your new business will enjoy sustained growth.