Starting an e-commerce business can be a great way to make money while working from home. But before you get started, there are a few things you should know. In this post, we’ll list the ultimate things you need to know before starting your own e-commerce business. So whether you’re just getting started or are looking for ways to improve your business, read on for tips and advice from the pros!
What is e-Commerce
e-Commerce refers to the process of buying or selling goods and services online. It’s a broad term that can encompass everything from online retail to digital marketing. e-Commerce businesses can be operated entirely online, or they can be brick-and-mortar businesses that sell items both in-store and online. e-Commerce has revolutionized the way we do business, and it only continues to grow in popularity.
There are many different ways to make money through e-commerce. One popular method is dropshipping, which involves setting up an online store and partnering with a supplier who will ship products directly to your customers. This can be a great way to get started in e-commerce without having to invest in inventory yourself. There are also many e-commerce platforms, such as Shopify and WooCommerce, that make it easy to set up and manage an online store.
Whether you’re looking to start an online business or just want to find a way to make some extra money, e-commerce offers a lot of possibilities. With a little effort and some creativity, you can find a way to succeed in this growing industry.
In this article, we will focus on the online side of e-commerce and discuss different types of e-commerce such as Amazon stores, eBay stores, and other custom online stores.
Different types of e-Commerce
There are different types of e-Commerce businesses that you can start. In this paragraph, we’ll discuss a few of the most popular ones. We’ll also talk about the pros and cons of each type, so you can decide which one is right for you. So, whether you’re an entrepreneur looking for a new venture, or a stay-at-home mom looking to start a business online, read on to learn more about the different types of e-Commerce businesses!
1 – Amazon FBA/FBM
When it comes to selling items online, Amazon is one of the biggest players in the game. With its Amazon FBA (Fulfilled by Amazon) and FBM (Fulfilled by Merchant) programs, it has made it easy for entrepreneurs to get their products in front of a large audience. Let’s take a closer look at how these two programs work.
With FBA, Amazon takes care of all the shipping and handling for you. They will pick up your products from your warehouse, package them, and ship them to the customer. This service has many pros: first of all, it’s very easy to use. You simply send your products to Amazon’s warehouse, and they take care of the rest. Additionally, FBA offers great customer service. If the customer has any problems with their order, they can contact Amazon, and they will take care of everything. Finally, FBA is great for SEO. Since Amazon is such a popular site, being on their platform will give your products more exposure and help you to sell more items.
The downside of using FBA is that it can be expensive. Amazon charges fees for both picking up and shipping your products and these fees can add up quickly. Additionally, FBA is not available in all countries, so if you want to sell internationally, you may need to use FBM instead.
FBM is the cheaper alternative to FBA. With this service, you are responsible for shipping and handling yourself. This means that you will need to set up a warehouse where you can store your products, package them up when they sell, and then ship them out to the customer. The pros of using FBM are that it’s more affordable than FBA and it’s available in all countries. The downside is that it requires more work on your part. You need to handle everything yourself from packaging to shipping. Additionally, if something goes wrong with an order- for example, if the product is damaged during shipping, you will be responsible for dealing with the issue yourself.
So which service is right for you? It depends on what kind of business you have and where you’re located. If you’re looking for an easy way to get started selling online and have access to Amazon’s massive customer base, then FBA is definitely the way to go. However, if you’re on a tight budget or want more control over your orders, then FBM may be a better option for you.”
2 – eBay store
There are a few different programs that eBay offers to help sellers. The first is called eBay Basics. It is a guide that teaches new sellers how to sell on eBay. The second is the Selling Manager program. This program is for sellers who want to take their business to the next level. It includes features like automatic shipping and tracking, automated listing tools, and more. Finally, there is the Premium Selling program. This program is for high-volume sellers who want the most out of eBay. It includes features like guaranteed shipping times, discounts on fees, and more.
Ultimately, the selling program that is right for you will depend on your needs and how much you plan to sell on eBay. Review the programs carefully and choose the one that best suits your needs.
3 – Custom Online Stores
When it comes to selling online, Amazon and eBay are two of the biggest names in the business. Both platforms offer entrepreneurs a great way to reach a wide audience of potential buyers, and they provide a lot of helpful tools and resources to help sellers run their businesses effectively. However, this comes with a fee that can sometimes greatly reduce your profits. Additionally, you don’t have any control over the platform; also customers on these platforms are not yours, and if per adventure you are banned, you will leave with NOTHING.
So as a solution to this problem, you can build your own website store and have total control over everything. Most people use the following applications for their custom online stores
Shopify store
Shopify stores are a great way to start and run your own online business. They are easy to set up and you can start selling products immediately. You can also create a custom store design to make your store stand out from the competition.
Most people use Shopify to build their dropshipping business. Shopify stores come with integrated payment channels, so you can start taking orders immediately. You can also add a blog to your store to attract more traffic and build a following. There are various apps that you can install on your store to bring out the desired features and functions of your choice.
If you are looking for an all-in-one platform that will make it easy to start and run your online business, then Shopify is a great option for you.
However note that because of the many features that Shopify provides, you will be paying a monthly subscription which comes in 3 plans: Basic, Shopify, and Advanced.
Shopify also offers a free trial period where you get to try the application to make sure it fits your needs. One way to take advantage of their big discount is to do annual payment. You get 50% off when you go with the yearly/annual plan.
Woocommerce store
WooCommerce stores are also a great way to start and manage an online business. They are easy to set up and maintain, and they offer a wide range of features that make them a great choice for online businesses of all sizes.
One of the biggest advantages of WooCommerce stores is the wide range of plugins and extensions that are available for them. These plugins and extensions allow you to add features and functionality to your store, making it easy to add the features you need to run your business.
Another advantage of WooCommerce stores is the wide range of themes that are available. This allows you to find a theme that matches your branding and style, making your store look professional and polished; and there are no monthly subscriptions for using Woocommerce.
One disadvantage of WooCommerce stores is that they can be more complex than other ecommerce platforms. This can make them difficult to set up and use for beginners as you will need to install WordPress, themes, and other extensions by yourself.
With Shopify and Woocommerce stores, you have to build the website yourself. But don’t be scared if you don’t have the technical skills to build a website. You can hire professional website designers like abelkodesigns.com to build your professional websites/stores.
Choose a niche for your business
Once you have figured out what type of e-commerce business you want, you need to choose a niche. A niche is a specific market that you will be targeting with your products or services.
For example, if you want to start an online store that sells health and beauty products, your niche would be “health and beauty”. If you want to sell pet supplies, your niche would be “pet supplies”.
Create a website and design a logo
For you to showcase your products or services to the world or to your potential customers, you need a website. Your website and logo are the first impressions and determine if someone should buy from you or not. Therefore your website must be professionally designed and properly optimized for desktops, tablets, and phones.
Like I said earlier, you don’t have to do this by yourself. You can easily hire the services of a professional to get the job done for you.
To build a website you need 2 major things: domain name and hosting service. Fortunately, these 2 can be gotten from the same hosting service provider like Hostgator or Bluehost.
Find suppliers for your products
Now you need to find a supplier. Depending on what type of e-commerce business you choose, you will to get a manufacturer from Alibaba.com or a seller from aliexpress.com.
If you decide to go with Amazon FBA or FBM, you will need to contact a manufacturer on Alibaba. In this case, you will order a large quantity of the items and have them shipped to Amazon warehouse or to your own warehouse.
Note that this requires you to have the capital to invest in the business right from the beginning.
If you choose to dropship with your custom stores, you can dropship from either Amazon or Aliexpress.
Conclusion
There are many things you should know before starting an e-commerce business. You need to have a clear understanding of your target market, what you’re selling, and how you’re going to reach your target market. You also need to have a solid business plan and a well-developed marketing strategy. If you can answer these questions, you’re ready to start an e-commerce business.
