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If you are thinking about opening an Online Store, first of all you have to know the general information on this topic. Many aspiring entrepreneurs naively believe that it is very simple to open such a business: create a website, fill it with goods and get a good profit. The truth is that online store is as a complex business as any other and its creation is not so easy, but the result is worth it.
The advantages of online store are great: relatively small difficulties of entry into the business; greater efficiency in business management (mobility); fewer inspections and administrative barriers on the part of state agencies; lower price of goods (as a competitive advantage) due to small monthly costs.
Promoted shops in the network are almost deprived of the problem of low confidence on the part of customers. For example the American market successfully operates online shoe store “zappos.com”. When the company was entering the market, many people said that the project would fail, because the shoes should be tried on before buying. However, today the cost of this company is one billion dollars! All the founders of such large-scale businesses have overcome a long way and they took years of hard work. But you should not be afraid of such difficulties.
Where do people start opening an online store? They find the niche on the market. To do this look at the number of requests for a potential product, using search engines on the Internet.
Before creating an online store, start to develop the design and functionality of your future trading platform. You should determine for yourself what you want to trade and whether this product is in demand on the market.
Online stores can be divided into several types with respect to the method of trade, assortment and sales volumes: retail and wholesale. Often only wholesale stores sell goods to the same entrepreneurs who will not use it for its intended purpose, but will resell for profit. This is the so – called stores “b2b” (business to business).
A business plan is a compulsive stage for the start of any business. Proper planning of the advertising campaign is the key to the success of your Internet-shop. Depending on what you sell you can use different types of advertising: contextual, banner, teaser.
When the ad starts to work, you will have the first buyers. At this stage, it is important to serve them efficiently and take feedback about your work. This is necessary primarily for you to understand how you can improve the service of your project.
Do not hesitate to ask your customers why they chose you, what they liked and what can be improved. Your clients know best what they need, and you will simply implement it step by step in your online store in the future.
After you have received the first profit, be sure to reinvest part of this profit in the project. Improve its functionality, increase the advertising budget, increase the service, so you can eventually turn flank your competitors. Good luck!
