Ecommerce Stores

What is an ecommerce store?

An online storefront that sells goods and services.

A typical online store will put up a website, listing an assortment of products for sale from which customers can purchase. The site may also have the option to send customers to partner sites where certain items may be found at a lower cost. Some stores provide the option for shoppers to make purchases by mail order, telephone, or email. Online stores are classified as being both B2B (Business-to-Business) and B2C (Business-to-Consumer). Some stores provide their shoppers with interactive help desk or live chat capabilities.

Ecommerce websites can use a variety of payment systems such as PayPal or credit cards, EFT, bank transfers to complete transactions.

There are many ways that people make money online with ecommerce stores. Some are more expensive than others and some are easier than others. There are also varying degrees of designing an ecommerce store, even if you don't know how to design websites, there are tools available for you to use that will do the work for you. If you want to learn how to design your own website then we have listed various sources for tutorials on how to create your own ecommerce store designs at the end of this article under 'Additional Resources'.

You will need a variety of skills to achieve success with your ecommerce store venture. The most important of which is knowledge in the area of marketing and sales. If you can understand what customers want, how much they are willing to pay for it, where and how often they shop for it and why they choose one provider over another then you are half way there. The other half is finding out how to best reach your audience through the platforms available to you.

A successful ecommerce store requires more than just a product with a price tag on it. There are many things to consider before you open for business, so let's get started...

What you need to open an ecommerce store:

Website Designer/Developer: You will need a website designer or developer to make your site functional and user-friendly. Once you have picked your theme, it's time to design the layout of your store. The designer will help you choose the best design elements that will best attract your ideal customers. A good ecommerce store is simple, offering only what it needs to be attractive and effective. Expert advice can help steer you in the right direction and save both time and money. Try checking with a local design school or community college if you cannot afford professional assistance but are looking for guidance.

Commercial Space: Unless you are planning to work out of your home, you will need a location to house your business. Since both the store and office space are likely to be expensive, try looking into using a warehouse or industrial space near your home or work. These spaces usually have large open areas with high ceilings and can be quite affordable. By keeping these costs down, you can put more money into the things that take time, like products and branding.

Build Your Online Branding: When people think of an "online store" they may think that it is not as professional as a physical store in town.

Conclusion: Online stores can be a great idea, but take the time to plan and you will reap the benefits. Although it is a risk, you may be able to have a profitable business in the end.

The first thing that people tend to do when they want to start an ecommerce store is go out and buy a domain name and get their website up and running; however, this could result in you not having a site at all or having one that is not functional enough for your goals. Instead of doing this, you should try looking into using an existing domain name from your hosting company. This will be easier, less expensive and give you an opportunity for customizing your own site.