Running a successful e-commerce business requires a combination of time, effort, and skill. When all three of these things are truly given by all involved on the team, then it is possible to thrive with an online business.
Learning all about the vast world of e-commerce before launching your own venture is a very sensible idea. It can be incredibly helpful to know about the history of the industry and how it is predicted to develop in the years ahead. This gives you the chance to get ahead of industry trends and to become a leader within your niche.
What is E-commerce?
E-commerce is essentially the sale of goods and services on the internet. It includes a wide range of different products, and it is taking place all around the world.
Within reason, there are no real limits as to what can be bought and sold online. Many sellers are offering physical products, whereas others distribute services for sale. You can either choose to sell products or services or a combination of both. The way in which you market your business will largely be the same regardless of whether you work with products or services, with a few noticeable and important differences.
The History of E-commerce
The world of e-commerce first came into existence around 40 years ago.
As the e-commerce industry itself has evolved over the last few decades, the ways that businesses market and promote their goods has also changed.
In recent years, the concept of mobile shopping on smart handheld devices has boomed in popularity. It is now possible to use a phone or tablet to shop online in the same way you would on a laptop or desktop computer. This means that retailers must adapt to embrace mobile technology if they wish to continue enjoying high sales figures.
Marketing and Promotion
Businesses who want to achieve genuine success in the e-commerce world must work to have a solid marketing strategy in place. It is natural that this plan will adapt and change over time, but it will be essential to have goals and plans to work towards.
For those who sell their physical products on Amazon, hiring an Amazon marketing company is a fantastic way to succeed. An Amazon marketing company will be able to guide sellers on this platform to make the best decisions regarding visibility and promotion.
Be an Expert
When you position your business as an expert within your niche, you will find that you are better able to build relationships with consumers.
You can demonstrate this expertise through the content that you produce for your website and social media channels. You should always create content that provides value to the customer and helps them understand your products’ purpose better.
If you do not feel as though you have time to manage this process in-house, then hiring an external agency can be a fantastic idea. Investing the resources to have a successful start to your marketing strategy can certainly pay off further down the line.
Author’s bio:
Ryan Flannagan is the Founder & CEO of NuancedMedia, an international eCommerce marketing agency specializing in Amazon. Nuanced has sold $100s of Millions online and Ryan has built a client base representing a total revenue of over 1.5 billion dollars. Ryan is a published author and has been quoted by a number of media sources such as BuzzFeed and Modern Retail. To connect with Ryan, check out @Ryanflannagan on Twitter or via Linkedin
