Building a successful e-commerce website takes a good vision, plenty of planning, and a great deal of effort. That being said, things get much easier when you outsource parts of this process to professionals.
Contracting professionals to take care of certain parts of your website is a great way to get things done on time, but more importantly, get things done right. We’ve put together a shortlist of services you might want to outsource to professionals if you want to build a quality e-commerce site. Let’s get to it.
Setting Up the Site
Starting an ecommerce business from scratch can be challenging. There are so many different pieces that have to fall together in order for your new online business to be successful. That being said, one of the first things you need to do is build your website.
Building a website is a bit different when you’re using it as an e-commerce platform. Not only do you have to take into account how visitors react to the content on your website, but you also have to cover the technical side and iron out any potential issues. Doing that requires a great deal of knowledge and experience which is why this part of the job is often outsourced to professionals.
There are several platforms you can use to set up an e-commerce website. Magento professionals argue that Magento is the best way to get your store online and working in a short period of time. This platform offers all the tools you need to get your business on its feet. Another platform that you can set up for your ecommerce business is a google shopping API. It is a very useful tool as it enables to scrape shopping search result pages and product information. If you want to know more, click here to get a google shopping API for your ecommerce business.
Search Engine Optimization
Search engine optimization or SEO is often the defining factor that separates successful online businesses from those that fail. Building a website and having it go live on the internet is akin to opening up a brick and mortar store in the most remote part of town, in a dark alleyway with zero signs anywhere. No one will be able to find you.
In order to get people to your online store, you need to make yourself known. You need to post ‘signs’ all over the place that will point customers toward your business. This is done using search engine optimization.
The job of an SEO specialist is to rank your e-commerce business for keywords that match your niche. That is why it is very important that you will choose a specialist that will definitely give you success. You can click here for nyc media companies and you will find their services that will surely help your business. That way when someone searches for a specific service or product that you offer, it’s your business that will appear among the first results.
That being said, mastering SEO takes years of practice and experience. Especially since there is no clear manual on how optimization works. Sure, there are proven techniques and methods to get a good ranking, but at the end of the day, every website is different. A good SEO specialist is invaluable.
Product Images
Aesthetics play a major role when it comes to conversions. First impressions matter in e-commerce just like they do in person. One of the more common mistakes new e-commerce entrepreneurs make is not investing enough effort into making their website look professional.
A major part of that problem is found in low-resolution images of products being sold. To understand how serious this issue is, you need to put yourself in the shoes of a potential customer. Buying things online is more convenient in some ways, but frustrating in others.
Unlike shopping in a brick and mortar store, you can’t inspect the product you’re buying online. Instead, you have to rely on pictures. Now ask yourself, would you rather buy a product from a website that has 10 high-quality pictures of the said product, or a website that has one grainy, low-resolution image available?
Investing in a professional photoshoot of products you’re selling is a great way to boost your conversion rates and make your business look more professional. We strongly recommend that you hire a professional photographer for this job as you’ll want to get the best possible quality of images you can.
Invest In Your Business
Outsourcing the services we’ve mentioned above isn’t cheap. However, you’re running a business and all of these investments will help your business grow more successful. E-commerce is a highly competitive field, no matter what niche you’re in.
Whatever product or service you choose to sell, there will always be 10 or 20 other businesses just like yours trying to squeeze you out.
By investing in the services we’ve talked about, you’ll increase your competitive edge and stay on top of the evolving market trends. We hope that these tips have helped you recognize some of the key services required to run a successful e-commerce business.