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How to set up an e-commerce shop

Having an online shop is vital for any growing retail business. If your company is looking to expand, you may want to set yourself up in e-commerce and you might be wondering where to start. The first step is usually finding a company that can help to build your e-commerce platform. You may want to work with someone local so that you can attend face-to-face meetings, and the first step is to search for a company that can help you. If you live in Somerset, for example, you might search for ‘web design in Taunton’ to find a local business. You can also work with a company remotely via email and Skype.

Make sure your customers stay

An article in the Guardian discusses the need for businesses to keep customers on their website and complete their purchase. Customers often leave items in their basket and don’t bother to finish their shopping, either because the process is too long or difficult or because they don’t have their credit card to hand. Make sure your website is easy to use and that your checkout is fast and convenient.

Offer different payment methods

An article from the BBC offers some basic advice on different payment methods and electronic money. As already mentioned, customers can lose interest if paying is difficult; therefore, make sure that you include options to pay by debit and credit cards, PayPal, and even by cheque.

Make sure your customers come back

Customers can be fickle – if they don’t feel that they have had a good or memorable experience, they may not come back again. Make sure your site is engaging, such as by featuring blog posts and multimedia. If you are a fashion retailer, include style advice and outfit ideas. Make the most of sale periods and special offers, and encourage people to join a mailing list. All these things will help to make customers return.

Think of the cost

Some retail and e-commerce websites can be expensive to run, and maintenance teams may be needed for large sites in case anything goes wrong.
With these tips, your new online business can grow and develop into a successful e-commerce shop.