Getting started on e-commerce can be confusing and challenging. It doesn’t have to be! Here is a compact lowdown on the essentials of getting started with e-commerce website and that can help in B2B lead generation:

Before building the website: 

A lot goes on behind the scenes before a successful website is launched. Spend some time doing thorough research about the market that you are entering. The online business approach is different from offline in many ways and it is important to study on e-commerce design trends and what’s working or not within your industry and for your competitor before you jump in. Look for the niche that no one else has tapped into. A niche market grows quickly online. 

Fine Tuning fulfilling the sales process: 

Yes, you need to sort this before you get started on the website creation part. Do you have a warehouse from where you will ship your products or are you offering a digital product? From where will you source your product? How will you package it? How will you ship it? What would the timelines be like? What would be your return policy? Take time to clearly set up this process. 

Domain and hosting: 

As you would rent or buy a physical place for your store which would be your address, you will need a website where people can find you online. This starts by registering a domain name representing your business. It is recommended to use the same domain name as people who know of offline business. Hosting is the web space where you will upload your website and transmit it across the world wide web. 

Technical backend setup: 

Even if you hire a technical team to set up a website; it is important that you educate yourself about the various nuances involved so you can make informed decisions. This includes choosing the e-commerce platform wisely. Evaluating the impact it would have on your marketing efforts, customer experience, etc. What are the best layout practices? Including essentials in the layout like- review, search bar, social media shareability, etc. This is a foundation where your online store will stand and it is important to make the best decision.  

Setting up the store: 

Categorising, labelling, optimising your products with the right description and keywords as important as ensuring you have high-quality pictures and videos informing you about the product you are selling. It is good to set up a process to ensure you get all the information that needs to be fed into your e-commerce platform from the time your product first arrives. Investing in getting good pictures and videos helps your customer to make quick buying decisions. 

Ecommerce App: 

Today’s world is moved to mobile and tablets! Does your research show that making your business available as a mobile app is an added benefit? Users prefer shopping on the apps for a better experience. If you are diving into a niche then it is a good idea to consider developing simultaneously as you are making your website; so that you can have the users download your app from the start. Having an app comes with immense benefits like repeat customers, the ease with retargeting for b2b lead generation and so on. 

Marketing: 

Selling online and marketing online is different and fun! Before you launch your website; sort out how you would like to market your products; which online mediums would you use and when; what are your marketing goals and budgets like? Dive deep into e-commerce marketing guide before you launch your website; it will show you opportunities of attracting clients from the get-go. Explore each aspect of marketing totally- content, SEO, SMM, display, videos, audio, email, influencer, etc. Even if you are into the B2B domain, having a clearly laid out marketing strategy is essential for B2B lead generation. 

We suggest you take a printout of this blog and put it in a place where you see it at least a few times a day. This habit will help you take the necessary steps at the right time without missing out on the essential details. Make it a blueprint of launching your e-commerce website which can generate leads and conversions for your product and service with total ease. Do write to us if you found this helpful and if you need any help in setting up your eCommerce website.