What You Need To Know Before Setting Up An Ecommerce Site

The brick and mortar business is far from defunct. There are so many reasons people go into certain stores, whether to try products for themselves or get expert advice, among others. However, even the most traditional retailers are finding it necessary to at least offer ecommerce options. You may rely mainly on your brick and mortar outlet, but an ecommerce site will give your customers more options and bring in business from people who otherwise would not have made the trip.

That said, setting up a functioning ecommerce site is easier said than done. You need to take every detail into account, or you’ll end up frustrating and losing potential customers.

Here’s what you need to know before you set up your online store.

The right web hosting is crucial

Web hosting is not something most people pay much attention to. They see it as nothing more than the “space” which your website occupies. However, the right web hosting can make or break your website. By using the best Canadian web hosting, you’re setting yourself up for success.

This is because the reliability and seamlessness of your site experience is often a determining factor in whether potential customers decide to trust you. If your website goes down relatively often, they won’t want to risk not being able to get in touch at a crucial moment. If your site is slow, they may make the assumption that you haven’t really brought your business out of the past.

For eCommerce websites, you should choose web hosting that provides room for growth. As your site grows in traffic and products, you'll require more and more resources to provide an optimal customer experience. Try reading some real customer web hosting reviews to get a better idea if the host is a good fit for your business.

Hire a web developer

You may be tempted to build your website yourself, even though you’ve never done it before. While it’s not difficult to learn the basics of web development, you’re much better off hiring a professional. They know how to put together a website far more efficiently, and they are also more aware of what works and what does not.

Furthermore, they can dedicate their time to getting it right. Doing it on your own will leave you with less time to do what you’re good at. The same applies to copywriting and SEO. You can technically do it all yourself, but you are going to struggle to find accurate best practices, and it will end up causing you a lot of stress.

Let them complement each other

Your ecommerce website does not need to work in opposition to your brick and mortar store. On the contrary, you can combine the two and let them complement each other. For example, customers may be able to buy online with the option to pick up the product at your outlet, or even choose a size in person (if relevant). Alternatively, customers may see something at your outlet that they like but which is not available in their preferred size, color, etc. Make it easy for them to order the product online so that they can track its progress as you source it for them.

There are many possibilities when you take your brick and mortar outlet online. Don’t let it scare you – ecommerce can be the best thing that ever happened to your business.