The Ecommerce Guide

If you have the desire to sell online, then one of the key skills is product research. In other words, you need to find out what you want to sell and then research that product.

If you are attempting to sell a product that only a few people want or a product that can be attained just about any where, then you are going to be very unsuccessful in your new venture. You need an ecommerce business solution that sells, a product that people want, and a product that is not offered by every other seller on the market.

This is where ecommerce business solution comes in and gives you the tools needed for a successful start, like this handy three-step research process:

• Gather information on the customer and competition to determine the demand for the product, locating the top competitors, and finding out what the average current retail prices are.
• Determine the potential for the product by setting up an account with a wholesale supplier. Find out actual wholesale prices.
• Fine tune your research with even more research into the ad possibilities and relevant key words.

The reason for this approach is to find which products have more demand but aren’t too competitively priced so that you can make a profit.

The Rules

Here are the six basic ecommerce business solution rules if you are having problems selling online:

Don’t try to sell your product in the ad. The ad is only to make the consumer want the product or to know more about it.

Use your ad to get people to act. Through your ad make them come to you to find out what it is you are exactly offering them.

Use your ad to provide a client list. When they come to you to find out about your product, you will also find out about them. By getting their e-mail address to send them more information is a good way to make an exchange, their address for your information. Soon you will have a client list.

Don’t just rely on a single webpage; set up two or even three. Make one that sells your more expensive products, one that sell your discounted products and one that is free.

Make your offer too good to refuse. Even if you barely break even on the price, two things will happen. One, your customer will be very satisfied and two, they will return for other not so cheap offers.

The best ecommerce business solution that is offered is this: don’t ever forget that this is your living. Scamming a customer is wrong and stupid. After all that time and money you put into your site and product, why would you rip him/her off and have to start the process all over?

This is where the online business venture begins – the ecommerce business plan. Without a plan of action, nothing of real value can ever be achieved. The ecommerce business plan will cover a number of features from the design of the website to the fulfillment service methods; each of these features should be the best available with a heavy bias towards the customer.

Product Criteria

The product, around which the whole ecommerce business plan will revolve, will have to fulfill certain criteria in order to make the online venture a success. These are:

• Homogeneity – the product, though obtained from different suppliers/sources will have to be of a homogenous quality and dimensions. Whether it is a mobile set or a book the item should be favorably comparable to the ones that are bought elsewhere.
• Ability to ship the product – before you launch your online venture you should find out whether the product can be shipped easily. This is will a daunting task if the product is bulky or very fragile. If the customer cannot get the product quickly and in tact, you will loose repeat customers and word of mouth advertising.
• Cost of delivery – in similar manner heavier items will cost more to deliver to the door step than lightweight items. The cost of delivery is an important factor that decides the customer uses when deciding whether or not to buy an item. Hence, keep this cost as low as possible.
• Cost of the product – many customers are attracted to the online shopping because they get many of their favorite products at a much lower cost than in the real- shops. You need to keep the cost at least 10 percent less than what is available in the brick-and-mortar market.
• Availability – do you plan to have a good stock of the product that you propose to sell or do you have a good tie-up with some supplier(s) which can provide you with the product on the spot. If the product is not available easily to the customer – after the payment is processed – you will have a very unhappy customer.
• Target market – think whether you need to address the needs of a certain age group, geographical area, or it is to be available for all people, all over the world.
• Payment options – what type of payment options you are offering will greatly influence the sale of your product.

All these and more will have to be taken care of right at the beginning; at the stage where the ecommerce business plan is completed.