No matter what you’re selling or how long you’ve been doing it, managing your own online store will always be an entrepreneurial venture. Unless you’re in the fortune position to outsource certain aspects of your business, this will mean that you’re going to have to be a jack of all trades for at least a little while. Even if you can outsource, you need to know that the people handling any side of your business are doing a good job. You need to have your finger on the pulse. These quick tips will help you achieve that.
1. Fine Tune Your Resources
Not sure what PPC means? Do you cringe at acronyms like GIF, ROI and SSQL? To successfully run an online store you need to eat, breathe and dream about the finer points of online retail. This doesn’t have to be a chore – build a list of online resources, support networks, forums and tutorials that are inspiring. Find a way to indulge in the aspects of the business that excite you and you’ll very quickly pick up a broad working knowledge of the field.
2. Prioritize the Tools of the Trade
No carpenter would skimp on a good hammer, no accountant would cut corners on software like SAGE. This is the time to invest in the ideal laptop for working people, the peace of mind that comes from being able to rely on your equipment is essential. You want to make sure that it’s going to run smoothly, without error, and not need to be replaced within the next year or two. You should also find a way to become mobile – consider buying a netbook, absolutely have a smartphone, and make sure you can stay connected at all times.
3. Sell Yourself
It’s simply not enough to have stock, and this is perhaps the most common mistake that retail and sales people make on entering the digital arena. You need to attract footfall. You need traffic, without traffic, you may as well not have an online store. A marketing budget, and the means of utilizing it, cannot be underestimated or left to a convenient moment.
Selling online requires a broad knowledge of the online world, and how to maximize your presence and your impact on customers. You should think of the internet in exactly the same way that you would think of a high street – you want to be in a good neighborhood, with easy access, and a reason for people to come in off the information superhighway and browse.
