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Taking the next step
Creating an online shop can be very rewarding, but what do you do next. Depending
on your product offering, your initial budget and your comfort level, there is
a way to start right now.
Do it yourself - Tight Budget ($100 - $2,000) / Few Products
1. Create your own web site or hire out a web design consultant to create several
pages highlighting your product offering. Write about your product, it’s advantages
and how it can be used. You may even publish an article on your web site on
the merits of your product or a 'how to' just like this ecommerce tutorial which
helps your clients by informing them. Make sure your images and are clean and
optimized for the web. Take a first pass at your sales copy or hire a writer
to spruce it up.
2. Create a paypal account and follow their tutorials on embedding ‘pay now’ links under your product images.
3. Learn about submitting your site to search engines to get your message
out there.
Do it yourself with assistance - Medium Budget ($2,000 - $4,500) / Numerous Products
1. View the service offerings of a hosted shopping cart site (see resources).
Select one based on your current and projected needs of one year.
2. Create professional web optimized graphics
3. Create professional product descriptions and copy
4. Use the hosted service payment service, or use paypal
5. Use the hosted services built in tools to submit your store to the search
engines
6. Write articles and find ways to market your store to a wider range of buyers
Professional High End Quality - Higher Budget ($4,500 and up) / Numerous
Products
1. Consult with a professional ecommerce web development firm to help define your web site presence,
a web design strategy and marketing plan
2. Have them create for you a unique/custom look and feel
for your web site
3. Have professional photographs taken of your products and have the images
and graphics optimized for the web
4. Have professional product and advertisement copy written establishing your
niche market
5. Establish a web hosting provider that can meet your transactional requirements
at least 6 months out
6. Purchase an SSL Digital Certificate with the highest encryption that your budget will allow
7. Write articles, publicly speak and create a buzz around your web site that
makes you an expert in your field that sells a high quality product
8. Hire a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Firm and educate yourself on the
techniques used by professionals for page rankings
9. Continually fine tune your web site with new products, news and other information
that is up to date. Keep the excitement high about your site.
10. After 1 year, re-evaluate your web site, make sure it is up to date and consider
doing an overhaul to keep it ahead of the pack.
This tutorial is just a starting place to eCommerce. Continue your learning
and knowledge of this subject by searching, reading and taking action. It
may take some time but it will bring you great rewards if you stick with it.
Good luck and good selling!
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