Ecommerce Site: Unlocking Revenue Streams and Customer Reach

Ecommerce has become increasingly popular in recent years, with many people buying clothes, accessories, and other items online without trying them on first. However, not everyone is comfortable with this approach, and some people still prefer to visit physical stores to try on items before making a purchase.

• Many people prefer to buy clothes online without trying them on first
• Some people prefer to visit physical stores to try on items before making a purchase
• E-commerce has become increasingly popular in recent years

My mother, for example, is in her late 50's and refuses to purchase anything online. She believes that if you don't try on something, you don't know how it will look on you, and she would rather visit a physical store to try on items before making a purchase.

On the other hand, I am the opposite. I don't know how something will fit, but I know it will look good on me as long as it's small. Ultimately, it's not the clothes; it's the model, right?

Though many people, like my mother, prefer to try on items before buying them, many prefer the convenience of acquiring new items through e-commerce platforms. E-commerce has become increasingly popular in recent years, and this trend will likely continue to grow as more people become comfortable buying items online without trying them on first.

What is e-commerce?

What are the benefits of having an e-commerce site?

There are several reasons why business owners are now considering running an e-commerce site. This can be because of the following reasons:

• It can reduce the costs of owning and running a physical store. Think about it, having a physical store requires expenses such as rent, repairs to a building or equipment, payroll, travel costs, pension contributions, and employee benefits such as health insurance, accountancy, legal fees, property taxes, etc. The list could go on and on.
• It gives you the opportunity to sell worldwide. The Internet can be reached in many places around the country. This census stated that in 2017, among all households, 78% had a desktop or laptop, 75% had a handheld computer such as a smartphone or other handheld wireless computer, and 77% had a broadband Internet subscription. This is just in the US; let’s talk about expansion. What about selling internationally? Statistics show that over 4.33 billion were active internet users as of July 2019, encompassing 56 percent of the global population.
• Selling online reduces geographical barriers. Depending on the market you want to focus on, there are no limitations once you have all the logistics and a good e-commerce site built out. You can reach customers in areas where geographical barriers would have limited you due to physical retail locations. The bottom line, e-commerce allows businesses to reach more customers than physical locations alone.
• E-commerce allows you to attract new customers through online visibility. As you have probably heard before, Search Engine Optimization is a big deal in marketing. As I shared back when I wrote this blog, applying the correct techniques and strategic content on your site allows you to reach thousands of potential buyers across the internet.
• E-commerce allows you to adapt the message according to your buyer persona. Suppose this is the first time you hear the term buyer persona. In that case, it is defined in less than 100 words: A buyer persona is a semi-fictional representation of your ideal customer based on market research and real data about your existing customers. When creating your buyer persona(s), consider including customer demographics, behavior patterns, motivations, and goals. The more detailed you are, the better.
• Selling online through an e-commerce site allows you to adapt your message to the person you are selling to based on:
  • Geographical location
  • Age
  • Gender
  • Buyer’s journey stage
  • Relationship status
  • And many more!

Things to consider when running an e-commerce store:

How to begin?

Conclusion

So, in case you know anyone like my mom, now you are prepared to win a discussion over why e-commerce is much more convenient than visiting a retail store to purchase something (plus faster!). To be successful in e-commerce, you need a well-designed e-commerce website.

I hope this blog has helped you clarify some of your doubts regarding the benefits of having an e-commerce site. If you have any further questions or comments, let’s talk!