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Whether you’re using a streamlined platform like Shopify or building your site from scratch, what’s one tip new entrepreneurs don’t want to forget when setting up their online store? why?
These answers are provided by the Young Entrepreneurs Council (YEC), an invitation-only organization of the world’s most successful young entrepreneurs. YEC members represent nearly every industry, generate billions of dollars in revenue each year, and create tens of thousands of jobs. Learn more at yec.co.
1. Prioritize your site’s performance
When setting up an online store from scratch or using platforms like Shopify, always prioritize your website’s performance. This means getting the basics right for your site and looking for issues like your load time, navigation, broken links, unoptimized images, code density, content delivery network (CDN) concerns, and caching issues. A website with a cluttered user experience will get you nowhere.
– Jared Atchison, WPForms
2. Consider the sales tax implications
One thing that new entrepreneurs tend to forget when setting up their first online store is the sales tax implications of selling online. Depending on the location of your products and customers, you may be required to collect and remit sales tax. Before starting your online store, check with your CPA to make sure you understand sales tax laws and communication rules. Saves a world of headaches.
– Shawn Conrad, Number2 CPA Exam Resources
3. Think about the user experience
Prioritize the user experience to ensure success. A well-designed UX enhances customer satisfaction and increases sales by allowing consumers to easily navigate, find products and complete transactions. Focus on clean layout, intuitive navigation, responsive design for mobile and fast loading times. This can help them convert visitors into loyal customers and grow their business effectively.
– Ginny Hygin O, Wander
4. Make sure you stay up-to-date on security and browser trends
Stay up-to-date on security and browser trends. If a customer is getting a warning by accessing your website, you’ve lost a customer. There are many steps you can take to ensure your online store is secure, such as updating your site and plugins on a regular schedule, choosing a reliable hosting provider, and implementing an SSL certificate. Once you find a secure site, the sky’s the limit!
– Shu Saito, SpiroPure
5. Include detailed product landing pages
If you are in the process of launching your first online store, don’t forget to create detailed product landing pages. Include a list of features and benefits on each landing page. Users need to know how your product or service will improve their lives before they make a purchase, and product pages are the easiest way to convey this information.
– John Turner, SeedProd LLC
6. Build an email list as soon as possible
One thing to remember when setting up your online store is that it’s never too early to build your email list. Create a “Recently” page as a placeholder until it’s finished on your site. Promote your new brand on social media and ask people to subscribe for the latest updates. If you have an email list full of prospects, you’re more likely to see sales on the first day.
– Chris Christopher, MonsterInsights
7. Focus on search engine optimization
One tip that new entrepreneurs should keep in mind when setting up their online store is to prioritize search engine optimization (SEO) first. This includes conducting in-depth keyword research, optimizing on-page elements such as title tags and meta descriptions, and building quality backlinks to the site. Properly optimizing a site for SEO can help increase brand awareness and sales.
– Miles Jennings, Recruiter.com
8. Implement practices to ensure user privacy
One important aspect to consider when setting up your online store is user privacy. This is because protecting your customers’ personal information is becoming more important to building trust and maintaining a strong brand. To ensure user privacy, you should implement strong encryption protocols, use a secure payment gateway, and have a clear and transparent privacy policy.
– Kelly Richardson, Infobranch
9. Keep it simple
Keep things simple, and don’t carry all the bells and whistles. Early on, it’s best to focus on having a functional site that makes it easy for visitors to find and buy whatever you’re selling. A simple approach will help remove distractions from your site and help ensure a frictionless shopping experience.
– Ian Blair, BuildFire
10. Pay attention to your ‘Checkout Flow’
When setting up your online store, pay attention to your payment flow. Many people abandon a website with items in their cart if the checkout process is messy or missing key features. I suggest including an “always on” shopping cart, a minimal checkout form, a progress bar, and multiple payment methods to maximize your conversion rate.
– Daman Jeet Singh, FunnelKit
11. Optimize for mobile
Mobile optimization is crucial when setting up an online store. As customers use their mobile devices to browse and shop, it’s important to ensure that your website is mobile-friendly and provides a seamless user experience. Failure to do so can result in significant losses for sales and customers due to frustration during the purchase process.
– Andrew Saladin, Kings of the kitchen cabinet
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