How to create a successful online store

We decided to create step-by-step instruction for those who want to sell goods online, but do not know where to start.

First select a product. The online store is just a tool. Much more important is not how you will sell, but what. Let it be the most convenient site and excellent delivery, but if your goods are not needed by people, the business will burn out. So you need to start by looking for ideas.

If you are producing something, obviously this step will be easy for you. If you intend to resell the goods, you will have to carefully study potential competitors. It’s great luck to find a free niche, but in the third decade of the 21st century this is not so easy. Therefore, you will have to spend a lot of time to understand how you can compete with peers. For example, suggest:

wider range of goods;
faster delivery;
convenient return system;
bonus system.

Next, find suppliers. If you do not produce the goods yourself, you have to take it from somewhere. In order not to overpay for mediation and reduce the risk of fraud, it is best to go to the manufacturer or its official distributor.

But this is not always possible due to the volume of purchases. For example, if a factory ships only lots of 1,000 products, and you need 10 pieces, it makes no sense to conclude a contract directly for you. You have to look for intermediaries.

At this stage, you need to think about one more thing - do you intend to organize your own warehouse for storage or just act as an intermediary between the supplier and the buyer.

The second option is also possible, and it is called E-commerce. You promote goods, and the distributor delivers it from their own warehouses. Both options are working, you just need to determine the one that suits you.

Take photos of the goods. For catalog shooting, you need a white background and good light. Some products may require styling photos. For example, you sell a leather skirt of an unusual style. It will become much more understandable and attractive if you make several images with it and demonstrate it on the model.

And here you may need the services of not only a professional photographer, but also a makeup artist, hairdresser, stylist. In general, again come from a budget and common sense.

Set up a payment system and enter into contracts with delivery services. Choose companies with a good reputation. If the goods arrive late or in poor condition, you will be responsible for it.

Promote an online store. No matter how well you completed the previous steps, no one will know about your achievements without advertising. You will have to think about a marketing strategy at the stage of generating an idea. Necessary actions will depend on your product and your potential audience.

Obviously, glue for dentures and hype jeans are best offered at different sites. Use the power of social networks and advertise online store there. Connect the email newsletter. Attract customers with promotions and discounts.

An online store is a business. A working idea is most important. When people say that making an online store is easy, they mean the technical part of the question. And it's really not that difficult. Especially if you do it with Scalehat. However, before you go directly to creating an online store, think about everything you can think about.