Ecommerce marketing is a huge part of eCommerce success. There are many ways to promote your store online, from social media advertising to SEO. How do you choose between them?
There are many types of eCommerce marketing strategies, such as SEO, PPC, email marketing, affiliate marketing, etc. Each has its pros and cons, and each requires a unique approach.
You should always start with a strong foundation. If you don’t have a solid understanding of the basics, then you won’t be able to effectively implement other methods. This guide will teach you everything you need to know about eCommerce marketing.
Ecommerce Marketing: The Basics
What Is Ecommerce Marketing?
eCommerce or electronic commerce refers to any business that sells products or services over the internet. It’s an umbrella term for all businesses that sell their goods or services online.
The best way to describe it is like this: if you were going to buy something in person at a brick-and-mortar store, but instead of buying it there, you wanted to buy it online, then you would be doing eCommerce.
You can also think of eCommerce as being similar to traditional retail stores, except that they’re not physical. They’re virtual.
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How Does Ecommerce Work?
In order to understand how eCommerce works, we first must look at what makes up the internet.
The Internet is made up of two main parts: servers and browsers. Servers are computers that host websites on the internet. Browsers are programs that allow users to access those sites.
Servers and Browsers
A server is a computer that hosts a website. A browser is the program that allows people to view that site.
When someone goes to a website, they enter information into a web browser. That information gets sent to the server where the website resides.
After receiving the request, the server sends back whatever content was requested. Then the user’s browser displays that content.
This process happens every time someone visits a website.
Why Do People Use Websites?
People use websites because they offer convenience. For example, when you go to Amazon.com, you can shop without having to leave your house. You just click a button and your items show up on screen.
It saves you time and money. You no longer have to drive somewhere to shop, and you don’t have to pay sales tax on anything you purchase.
Another reason why people visit websites is because they want to research things before making purchases.
For instance, you might want to see whether or not a product is worth purchasing. Or maybe you want to read reviews so you can make an informed decision.
Or perhaps you’re looking for a deal. Maybe you found a coupon code online and want to take advantage of it.
Regardless of the reason, most people use websites to find answers to questions.
How Can I Sell My Products Online?
Now that you know what makes up the internet, let’s talk about selling online.
Selling products online is called eCommerce. When you sell products online, you become an eCommerce merchant.
To sell products online, you need to register with a payment processor. These companies handle the transactions between buyers and sellers.
There are many different types of payment processors available. Some charge fees while others do not.
Some require additional security measures, such as requiring buyers to verify their identity through a phone call or text message.
Other payment processors will accept payments from anyone who has an account with them.
Once you’ve registered with a payment processor, you’ll need to create a storefront. This is where customers come to browse your products.
Your storefront should include pictures of your products, descriptions, prices, shipping costs, and other important details.
To get started, you’ll need to choose a theme. There are several pre-designed themes available.
These themes usually include features like drop down menus, shopping carts, and other helpful tools.
If you plan to sell more than one type of product, you may also want to consider creating multiple stores.
You could have one store for each category of product you sell.
Each store would be associated with its own theme.
Alternatively, you could have one theme but multiple pages within that theme. Each page would represent a separate category of products.
What Are the Different Types of Payment Processors Available?
Payment processors are generally divided into three categories: credit card processing, bank transfer, and prepaid cards.
Credit Card Processing
Most merchants prefer this option because it offers the best protection against fraud.
When someone buys something using a credit card, both the buyer and seller receive a notification via email.
The transaction is then processed by a third party company that handles all the billing and customer service functions.
This means that if there’s ever a problem with the transaction, the person who initiated the order will be notified immediately.
Bank Transfer
This method allows you to send funds directly from your bank account to the buyer’s bank account.
In some cases, you may even be able to deposit funds into the buyer’s account.
Prepaid Cards
With prepaid cards, you buy a physical card in advance. The amount of money on the card cannot be changed once it’s been purchased.
After you purchase the card, you can load any amount onto it. You can reload the card at any time.
With these options, you’re free to set whatever price you want for your products.
However, you must decide which payment processor is right for you before you start building your website.
Shopify vs. Big Commerce
Shopify is a popular platform for small businesses looking to build an online presence.
It includes everything needed to run an online business, including a marketplace, inventory management, and marketing tools.
Big Commerce is another great option for those looking to launch a successful online business.
Like Shopify, Big Commerce provides a comprehensive suite of tools for managing your ecommerce site.
Both platforms offer similar functionality, so whichever one you choose depends on what you need.
Shopify vs WooCommerce
Shopify and WooCommerce are two popular choices for hosting ecommerce websites.
They’re both easy to use and feature robust add-ons.
WooCommerce is based on WordPress, while Shopify uses Ruby on Rails.
That said, they both offer plenty of customization options.
Shopify Vs Magento
Magento is a well-known ecommerce platform that’s used by many big brands.
However, it’s not as user-friendly as either Shopify or WooCommerce.
Conclusion
If you’re just starting out, Shopify is probably the best choice. It has everything you need to get started, plus lots of support resources available.
On the other hand, WooCommerce is a bit easier to use than Shopify. It features fewer customizations, but it’s still very powerful.
Regardless of which platform you choose, make sure you do your research first.
Before you sign up for anything, check out their terms of service, privacy policy, and security policies.
Also, read reviews about them on sites like Trustpilot, Google, Facebook, and Twitter.
These reviews should help you determine whether the platform works for you.
Good luck!
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