Even though lockdowns and restrictions have begun easing, consumers are still choosing to purchase products online.
Traditional brick-and-mortar stores aren't going anywhere though. Customers still want to experience the feeling of touching and testing a product before they commit to purchasing it. However, they are savvier than ever and will search online for the best deal before they hand over their hard-earned cash.
If you don't have a digital store, then there is a high chance you won't be in consideration. Fortunately, getting started isn't difficult. You can have a profitable online brand up and running in no time. Just follow these simple steps.
What are the Benefits of Having a Digital Store?
One of the biggest advantages of selling online is that you can reach a much wider audience than you would be able to through your physical store.
With a digital store, you can sell to people all over the world. It's also convenient for your customers. They can browse for as long as they want and purchase products when they're ready, all from the comfort of their own home.
How to Start a Digital Store?
You don't need to start with a complex digital store. Start small and build from there. Follow these four steps to help get your business online.
1. Choose a Platform
Thankfully, you don't need to be a coder or IT expert to build a digital store. There are many different platforms available that make it easy to get one up and running.
Shopify is one of the most popular websites for ease of operation and effectiveness. They offer templates that are easy to use and don't require any coding knowledge. This platform also allow you to integrate applications to simplify tasks like marketing and fulfilment.
2. Take Some High-Quality Photos
Online shoppers not only buy on emotion but also by what they see. So it's crucial you have high-quality that pop off the page and emphasise the features of your product.
You don't have to purchase an expensive camera. Most mobile phones can take excellent shots that are also easy to upload. But there are some techniques to master to ensure they persuade your buyer to add the product to the cart. Find out more about these methods here.
3. Set Up a Payment Gateway
One of the most important aspects of your digital store will be how you take payments. You're going to want to set up a gateway to handle this task. Two of the most common include Stripe and PayPal.
Stripe integrates with your online store to take payments. It is popular among small business owners as it is easy to set up and requires no technical knowledge. If you've used eBay, you might be familiar with PayPal. It allows customers to pay via their PayPal account or their debit or credit card if it's linked.
4. Choose a Fulfilment Solution
Lastly, you need to figure out how you will send parcels out to your customers. You can go and meet with all the different courier services and negotiate rates exclusive to your business. But this is time-consuming. Plus, all this hard work has already been done for you with the Interparcel Shipping Manager.
The Interparcel Shipping Manager integrates with all the major website platforms. Once installed, you can choose the parcel delivery service that meets your budget and needs to fulfil your orders. With our Branded Tracking page, you can even keep your customers up to date. It allows you to customise the theme to match your business and let your buyers know where the parcel is at all times. This means they won't be calling you up every day to find out where it is.
Now is the Time to Start a Digital Store
Transforming your physical store into a digital store doesn't have to be a daunting or time-consuming task. You can get it up and running quickly and easily by using the right platforms and integrated applications.
It will introduce your brand to a broader audience and bring in new customers who may have never had the pleasure of interacting with you. More and more people are buying online, so there's no better time than now to go digital.
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