ECommerce has forever changed the way people do their shopping. ECommerce websites mean gone are the days when you’d have to drive to a shopping centre or a store to get what you needed. Now, you need to do a quick search on your mobile device, and you’ll find many options for what you’re looking for.
What does this mean for brick-and-mortar businesses, though? Well, it’s clear that any business, big or small, needs to have a strong online presence to stay afloat. This truth rang louder when the pandemic started, and businesses had no choice but to close their doors.
If your business has a physical store and you still haven’t worked on your online presence and built your eCommerce website, now is the best time to do so.
Read on as one of the trusted web design experts in the UK shares what you need to know about this topic:
Why Do You Need to Make an ECommerce Website Now?
As the world slowly starts to reopen after the lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses are wondering if they need to make an eCommerce website now.
The answer is a resounding yes! Even if brick-and-mortar shops are now open again, an eCommerce website allows you to reach a significantly wider audience than you ever could before. An eCommerce website is a perfect way to keep your business running smoothly and efficiently – no more missed sales or customers leaving empty-handed because you’re out of stock in store!
Here we share a few of the reasons you should make an eCommerce website now:
You’ll Reach a Wider Audience.
With an eCommerce website, you’re not limited by location. Anyone with an internet connection can easily land on your website and purchase your products or services – no matter where they are. This is especially relevant now that thousands of people are still working from home and may not be able to or feel comfortable visiting brick-and-mortar stores.
You Can Sell 24/7
An eCommerce website never closes! This means that even if your physical store is closed, your website can still be open for business. This is an excellent way to increase sales and ensure you never miss out on a potential customer.
You’ll Save Money
Running an eCommerce website is often much cheaper than running a physical store. For example, you won’t have to worry about high rental costs, utility bills, or inventory storage fees. Not to mention, you’ll save on staffing costs as you won’t need as many employees to run your website as you would a physical store.
You Can Offer a Better Customer Experience
An eCommerce website allows you to offer your customers a better overall experience. You can provide more detailed product information, customer reviews, and even live chat support to help answer any questions they may have. You can also offer some loyalty programs and discounts to encourage customers to keep coming back.
How to Smoothly Move Your Brick-and-Mortar Business Online
Here are some of the steps that you can follow to ensure a smooth transition to eCommerce:
Choose an ECommerce Platform That’s Right for You
Before all the other steps, you first need to choose an eCommerce platform that’s right for you.
There are several different eCommerce platforms available, and each one has its own unique features and benefits. Determining the right one for you will depend on your specific needs, preferences, and budget, among others.
Register Your Domain Name
You need a domain name for your online store to create a professional and unique web presence. Your domain name will be your store’s unique address on the internet. Customers will use it to find you online, and it’s an integral part of your store’s branding.
There are several things you have to keep in mind when choosing a domain name for your store:
- Keep it short and easy to remember.
- Avoid using hyphens or numbers.
- Make sure it’s relevant to your store’s products or services.
Get Your Website Professionally Designed
A professionally designed website will look more professional and polished than one that was created by a novice. It will also be easier to use and navigate, which is essential if you want your visitors to stick around long enough to learn more about your business.
Making a good first impression is key to success in any business venture. If you want your eCommerce website to look professional, build trust and make a good impression on your visitors, you need to have it professionally designed.
Add All Your Products
There are a few ways to add products to your website. One is to add each product, which can be time-consuming manually. Another is to use a product feed, which is a file that contains all of your product information. This method is quicker, but it requires you to have a product feed in the correct format.
Once you have your products on your website, you need to ensure they’re organised. You can do this by creating categories and subcategories. For instance, if you sell clothes, you might have a category for men’s clothing, women’s clothing, and children’s clothing.
Set Up Your Store’s Payment Methods and Shipping Options
If you are ready to get your product into the hands of your customers, your next step is setting up payment methods and shipping options for your store.
When it comes to payment methods, you have a few options. You can use PayPal, a credit card, or methods.
When it comes to shipping options, you have many options as well.
Add “About Us” and “Contact Us” Pages
Adding an “About Us” page is a great way to let your visitors know more about your company or organisation. This page can include information about your mission, your history, your team, or anything else you want to share.
A “Contact Us” page is also essential so that your visitors can easily get in touch with you. This page should include your contact information, such as your email address, phone number, or social media handles.
Advertise Your Website
Creating a website and then not advertising it is like building a house and not putting up a sign – it’s a waste of time. No one is going to know it’s there.
There are a number of ways to advertise your website. The most common are online methods such as search engine optimisation (SEO) and paid advertising, such as Google AdWords. Other methods include offline advertising, such as print ads and radio commercials, and word-of-mouth marketing.
Conclusion
Any brick-and-mortar shop should have an eCommerce counterpart in order to stay competitive and reach a larger audience. In addition, ECommerce allows customers from anywhere to shop from the comfort of their own homes and can be a more convenient option for some customers. If you want to ensure that your eCommerce site meets all the needs and expectations of your customers, make sure that you get the best team of web designers to create it for you.
Easitill EPoS Systems offers eCommerce website services, including web design. Get in touch with our team to learn how our experts can help you!
