Hey friends! So you want to start selling stuff online? That's awesome! Selling online can be really fun and rewarding. You get to be your own boss, make your own hours, and make money anywhere with just a laptop and internet connection!
But e-commerce can also be challenging if you're not prepared. There's a lot to learn when starting an online business.
Not to worry! In this post, I'll explain the 5 most important things to know before starting your e-commerce adventure. I'll use simple words and examples so you can understand easily.
Let's get started!
1. Know Your Niche
The first step is deciding what types of products you want to sell. This is called your "niche."
Your niche is like your special area of expertise. For example, some common e-commerce niches are:
- Fashion and accessories.
- Toys and games.
- Beauty and cosmetics.
- Electronics.
- Home and kitchen.
Picking a focused niche makes things easier for beginners. You can really learn about your niche customers and what they want.
Trying to sell too many unrelated products makes things hard. So start with a niche you know and love! You can expand your catalog later once your business grows.
How to Research Your Niche
Look at top sellers in your niche on sites like Amazon, Shopee or Lazada. See what's popular and in demand.
Search Google for "[niche] trends" to find the latest hot products.
Check Google Keyword Planner for high traffic keywords related to your niche. This shows what people are searching for.
Survey friends who are into your niche about what products they'd love to buy.
2. Source Good Suppliers
The products you sell need to come from somewhere! As an online seller, you should source wholesale suppliers with low prices and good quality.
Places to find suppliers:
Alibaba - Large directory of Chinese manufacturers offering wholesale pricing. Just make sure to vet suppliers carefully.
Vietnamese marketplaces - You can find local Vietnamese suppliers on sites like Shopee, Lazada or Sendo who can dropship products directly to your customers.
Trade shows - Attend local trade shows to network and meet potential suppliers in person. Exchanges like Vietnam Expo are great for this.
Vietnamese factories - Consider contacting factories directly, especially if you want custom branded products.
Tips for vetting suppliers:
Check how long they've been in business and their reviews from other buyers.
Make sure they can provide sufficient order volumes for your needs.
Ask for samples to check product quality.
Clearly negotiate pricing, lead times and shipping fees.
Start with small test orders first before placing bulk orders.
Finding reliable suppliers is very important! This ensures steady product availability for your e-commerce store.
3. Choose Your E-Commerce Platform
Another big decision is which e-commerce platform you'll use to launch your online store.
Some top options to consider:
Marketplace platforms
Shopee - Most popular platform in Vietnam. Huge buyer traffic.
Lazada - Owned by Alibaba. Second biggest platform.
Tiki - Main competitor to Shopee and Lazada.
Marketplaces pros:
- Built-in buyer audience.
- Handled payment processing and fulfillment.
- Pay only small sales commissions.
Marketplace cons:
- Less customization and branding options.
- Need to follow platform rules and restrictions.
Independent platforms
Shopify - Easy-to-use SaaS platform. Lots of themes and customization.
WooCommerce - Build a store using WordPress and WooCommerce plugin. Very customizable.
Magento - Open source enterprise e-commerce platform. Advanced capabilities.
Independent platform pros:
- 100% control and customization over your brand.
- No sales commissions taken.
Independent cons:
- Must handle all fulfillment and marketing yourself.
- Requires more technical skills.
There are pros and cons to each approach. Marketplaces are best for beginners, while your own site offers more branding control. Consider your skills and product types to choose what fits best.
4. Optimize Your E-Commerce Store
To succeed online, your e-commerce store needs to wow customers. Make sure to optimize:
Visual design
Use high quality photos and videos of your products. This builds trust and entices customers to buy.
Create an attractive, mobile-friendly store theme that expresses your brand.
Make navigation and checkout process very simple. Remove any friction in buying.
Product listings
Write detailed titles and descriptions for each product highlighting benefits and features.
Include specifications like size, color options, materials, etc.
Set competitive prices by researching other sellers and your profit margin goals.
Customer experience
Provide multiple payment options like bank transfer, card, cash on delivery, installment plans.
Offer fast and reliable shipping with tracking.
Publish return and exchange policies to assure customers.
Take time to perfect your store for a great user experience. This leads to higher sales and organic growth through word of mouth.
5. Promote Your E-Commerce Business
The final step is getting customers to your spiffy new online store!
Marketing and promotion tactics to try:
SEO - Rank your products higher in Google through search engine optimization.
Google/Facebook ads - Create pay-per-click ads to reach buyers in your niche. Start small to test what works.
Influencer marketing - Pay popular social media influencers to showcase your products.
Social media - Promote your products actively on platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok.
Content marketing - Create a blog with informative content related to your niche.
Email marketing - Collect emails and send promotions, offers and newsletters.
Partnerships - Team up with complementary brands for cross-promotion opportunities.
Don't get overwhelmed! Start with 1-2 affordable promotion channels and expand over time. The key is testing to see what brings sales and conversions from your audience.
Go Forth and Sell!
And there you have it - the 5 essential things every new e-commerce seller needs to know before getting started!
Choose your niche, find good suppliers, pick an e-commerce platform, design a killer store, and promote it to your target audience. Do those things and your online business will be off to a great start!
E-commerce can be challenging but also super rewarding if you tackle it right. I hope these tips give you a game plan and confidence to start strong. Wishing you amazing success! Now get out there and start selling something awesome!
Let me know if have any other e-commerce questions. I'm always happy to help fellow entrepreneurs. Just contact us at Here or start a chat on our site Ecomax.vn. We offer free e-commerce consulting for anyone interested in starting their own online business.
Thanks for reading!