Starting an e-commerce business is said to be, and probably is, one of the quickest routes to a profitable side hustle. However, before rushing in armed with nothing but an inadequate budget and a wealth of enthusiasm, there are some things you need to know.

While following these steps won’t guarantee success, they will ensure that you don’t make the kind of rookie errors that could turn your dream into a nightmare before it has really got anywhere.

#1 Know what to sell to make a profit

If you want to sell products online, you need to find ones that will give you a decent amount of profit. Just liking a product is usually not enough, and running the numbers can be much more important than gut feeling.

You need to start by seeing how much others are selling similar products for and then find out how much you can get them for from a wholesaler. You then need to add in all your other costs, and anything left is your profit.

#2 Build a professional-grade online store

Now that you have something to sell, you need somewhere to sell it. A DIY website is unlikely to cut it, and even if you’re confident about your web design skills, an e-commerce store is a different beast entirely.

You’ll need to enlist the help of professionals like MageCloud.agency, who will provide you with the right site for your niche and a product range that will look attractive to customers and be easy for you to manage.

#3 Invest in customer support to answer queries

Your customers are bound to have queries, so providing the right answers quickly is important so they don’t go elsewhere to find the products they want. By investing in either chatbots or human agents to cover this vital base, you’re likely to cut down on abandoned carts and even increase repeat visits due to customers having an enjoyable experience on your site.

#4 Don’t cut corners when it comes to shipping

Customers will want to get what they’ve ordered on time and in one piece, so you shouldn’t scrimp on packing and shipping orders. Whether you’re doing it yourself or outsourcing, you need to provide adequate protection for your shipments and find the right courier for the job. This is vitally important if you’re going to be sending oversized or fragile items that don’t suit conventional postal methods.

#5 Don’t forget the aftersales experience

Once the item has left your building, your responsibility doesn’t end there, and you need to keep your customer informed of tracking numbers throughout the delivery process. This helps the customer to feel more confident that they’ll get what they’ve bought, and they’re more likely to leave a positive review online. A good experience can lead to repeat orders, which you probably can guess are the best type to get.

A few final thoughts

As with anything, there are a few golden rules that give you a better chance of success, and starting an e-commerce business is no different. At the front end, you need good products and a great website to sell them on, complete with top-notch customer support to take care of any queries. This will bring sales, and this is where your backend becomes vital. Don’t scrimp on packaging or finding the right courier, and don’t forget to encourage feedback so you can continue to improve.