Whether you’re using a streamlined platform like Shopify or building your site from scratch, what’s the one tip new entrepreneurs don’t want to forget when setting up their online store? Why? ?
These answers are provided by the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invitation-only organization of the world’s most successful young entrepreneurs. YEC members represent nearly every industry, generate billions of dollars in revenue and create tens of thousands of jobs each year.Click here for details yec.co.
1. Prioritize site performance
Whether you’re setting up your online store from scratch, or using a platform like Shopify, always prioritize website performance. This means getting the basics of your site right and looking into load times, navigation, broken links, unoptimized images, code density, content delivery network (CDN) issues, caching issues, etc. increase. Websites with clunky user experiences get you nowhere.
2. Consider the impact on consumption tax
One thing new entrepreneurs overlook when setting up their first online store is the impact of sales tax on online sales. Depending on your product and customer location, you may be required to collect and remit sales tax. Before you start your online store, meet with your CPA to make sure you understand sales tax laws and nexus regulations. It will save you a world of headaches.
– Sean Conrad, Number2 CPA Exam Resources
3. Think User Experience
Prioritize user experience to ensure success. A well-designed UX increases customer satisfaction and increases sales by making it easier for shoppers to navigate, find products, and complete transactions. Focus on clean layouts, intuitive navigation, mobile-friendly responsive design, and fast load times. This allows you to convert visitors into loyal customers and grow your business more effectively.
4. Stay up to date with security and browser trends
Stay up to date on security and browser trends. If a customer just visits her website and gets a warning, you’ve lost a customer. There are several steps you can take to ensure your online store is secure, including regularly updating your site and plugins, choosing a reputable hosting provider, and implementing SSL certificates. Once you have a secure site, there are no limits!
5. Include a Detailed Product Landing Page
If you’re starting your first online store, don’t forget to create detailed product landing pages. Include a list of features and benefits on each landing page. Users need to know how a product or service can improve their lives before making a purchase. A product page is the easiest way to communicate this information.
6. Build your mailing list as soon as possible
One thing to remember when setting up your online store is that it’s never too early to start building your mailing list. Create a Coming Soon page as a placeholder for your site until it’s complete. Promote your new brand on social media and ask people to subscribe for updates. If you have a mailing list full of prospects, you are much more likely to make a sale on the first day.
– Chris Kristoff, monster insight
7. Focus on Search Engine Optimization
One tip new entrepreneurs should keep in mind when setting up their online store is to prioritize search engine optimization (SEO) from the start. This includes conducting thorough keyword research, optimizing on-page elements such as title tags and meta descriptions, and building quality backlinks to your site. Properly optimizing your site for SEO can increase brand awareness and sales.
– Miles Jennings, recruiter.com
8. Implement practices to ensure user privacy
One of the key aspects to consider when setting up your online store is user privacy. This is because protecting customer personal information is becoming increasingly essential to building trust and maintaining a strong brand reputation. To ensure user privacy, you must implement strong encryption protocols, use secure payment gateways, and have a clear and transparent privacy policy.
– Kelly Richardson, infobrands
9. Keep it simple
Keep things simple and don’t get bogged down with all the features at your disposal. Early on, it’s best to focus on publishing a functional site where visitors can easily find and purchase what you’re selling. A simple approach eliminates distractions from your site and help ensure a smooth shopping experience.
10. Pay attention to the “checkout flow”
When setting up your online store, keep your checkout flow in mind. Most people leave a website with an item in their cart if the checkout process is tedious or if a key feature is missing. To maximize conversion rates, we recommend including an “always on” shopping cart, minimal payment forms, progress bars, and multiple payment methods.
– Daman Jeet Singh, funnel kit
11. Optimize for Mobile
Mobile optimization is very important when setting up your online store. With more and more customers using mobile devices to browse and shop, it’s important to make your website mobile-friendly and provide a seamless user experience. Failure to do so can lead to significant loss of potential sales and customers due to frustration while shopping.
– Andrew Saladino, kitchen cabinet king
