what do i need to start a ecommerce web site?
flopsyjoyce asked:
I’m starting a clothing company and would like to sell online. I’m clueless and do not want to get screwed.
I’m starting a clothing company and would like to sell online. I’m clueless and do not want to get screwed.
This first thing to do is create a strong business plan.
The success of any business is not just being able to sell online or produce that next great product, but how the entire process flows and having a good plan that deals with any problems that may show up.
A great resource for business plans is the Small Business Administration:
As far as setting up an e-commerce site, its actually very easy. ( I do not work for Yahoo or am connected to the company in any way but.. ) Yahoo Small Business E- Commerce is the most complete and easiest process for setting up a full featured site that provides not only the site creation and backend features ( like a shopping cart and catalog ) but also the payment processing that is the most important and actually most complicated aspect.
The link is:
Just use the wizard to set yourself up and I feel that the ease and complete features makes the pricing very competitive.
You can also use the wizard as a learing process and not even purchase anything. That way you will be aware of everything is needed and you can save a little money by shopping around the the different pieces from other resources. Warning: Trying to save money and break up the process can get complicated.
Bottom line: Be prepared with a good plan and research, then go with a hosting company the offers complete packages and an affordable price. Don’t forget to make sure that payment processing is built in.
Your business plan should include the following basic essential considerations:-
1. Revenue models – ways to generate income. e.g. On-demand model, advertising model, affiliate model, subscription model, merchant model, intermediaries (brokerage) model, infomediary model, name-your-price model, forward auction model, and etc. Do some research on how to implement these few revenue models for you EC storefront.
2. Technical infrastructure needs for the e-storefront, e.g. server space, domain registration, database connectivity, security facilities and tools (digital certificates, SSL connection, session cookies), web design, shopping cart, and etc.
3. Content – this would be your product and/or services information/ details. You need to consider all the file formats needed to dispaly your text, image, animation, sound, and video files.
4. Competitive strategies (advantages) – use a combination of positional and growth strategies. e.g. differentiation, innovation, niche, strategic alliance, and etc.
WARNING: Price leadership is not a competitive strategy!
Also, find out your competitive neccessity to run your business so that you can be competitive enough to stay in that particular industry. Competitive necessity is the basic and minimal requirements to run you business in your industry.
5. Marketing strategies – do your market analysis and studies on this. You need to understand and decide on segmentation. Must understanding your customers needs and wants. Who are your specific types of customers? Are they bargain shoppers, price-sensitive shoppers, comparison shoppers, time-sensitive shoppers, hunter-gatherer shoppers. new technologists shoppers, focused shoppers, single shoppers, brand-loyal customers, and etc.
Start off your e-storefront as a simple web site first and slowly growing it to conduct much more complicated transactions such as: online registration, online communication, online ordering, online payment, online fullfillment, back office information system intergration, real-time database intergration, etc.