It’s never been a better time to own an online store
Many international businesses have been thriving online since e-commerce came to the scene in the early ’90s. It’s reasonable to consider that South Africa is only now starting to boom with bright prospects for the future regarding online shopping and e-commerce.
In order to thrive in the new millennium, an online presence is a necessity for any business. The internet allows everyone and anyone with access to it to learn about your company’s products or services without them ever meeting you first. And while having an online platform may seem daunting at first, there are many tools that can simplify the process and make it less overwhelming.
And we’re here to tell you that e-commerce is set to explode in South Africa with limitless potential.
1. What is e-commerce and why should you care?
E-commerce is a form of business that allows the sale and purchase of goods or services over electronic systems like the internet. There are many benefits to having an online store for your company, as it makes buying easier while also allowing you to sell products at any time without needing employees on site.
This means that when customers come online to your website, they’ll be able to browse through the products you offer before buying them.
For many international businesses, this has been a huge factor in their success with e-commerce over the last two decades, and it’s not hard to see why: people around the world are starting to shop online more than ever before.
In the US alone, e-commerce sales were worth $374.54 billion in 2017 – this is a whopping increase of 19% since 2016 and has continued to grow exponentially in the years since.
It’s reasonable to consider that South Africa is only now starting to boom with bright prospects for the future regarding online shopping and e-commerce, especially during these challenging times when people are social distancing and avoiding crowded shopping centres.
With the pandemic, many businesses immediately jumped on board the e-commerce train and we’re here to tell you that it’s not too late to join them!
It’s never been easier to set up your own online store to allow people to buy from you with a few clicks.
2. Why the time has never been better to get your business online
NOW is the time to get your business online because the internet is becoming more accessible, with a steadily increasing number of users and mobile connectivity. This means that it’s easier than ever to get your business online and start making money!
Online shopping will only continue to grow in popularity as the years go on – meaning there are no better opportunities for you right now. People are already familiar with shopping on big platforms like Amazon and Takealot and are becoming more comfortable shopping from their phones.
Think about the fact that both Facebook and Instagram are prioritizing online shopping. Heck, Instagram recently added a dedicated button for shopping! This show the direction that social media – and shopping habits – are headed.
Some of us old fogies might be reluctant to enter our credit card details online, but trust us when we say the millennials have no such reservations! And that’s exactly the type of market you want to tap into because they love instant gratification! (sorry for generalising.. but it’s true, not so?)
Instead of fighting change – embrace it! Because the entrepreneurs and business owners who are proactive when it comes to setting up online shops are going to reap massive rewards. What’s the saying… you snooze, you lose? Well, we don’t want that for you which is why we’re sharing this information!
3. The benefits of getting your business online in South Africa
There are so many benefits to having an online shop:
– It’s cheaper to run, and there are no expensive retail rents.
– There is a reduced risk of theft because you don’t need stock on hand for people to physically steal from your store – they can only purchase what’s available online!
– Your store makes money for you while you sleep!!!
– You can offer a wider selection of products than you would be able to afford with your physical store, and there’s virtually no limit on what you can sell!
4. How to get started with an e-commerce website
You may be wondering how to start the process of getting your business online. It’s pretty simple, actually!
In order to have an e-commerce website, you need a domain name. Luckily, this is pretty cheap – with most companies starting at R199 per year for the first year (depending on which domain you buy) and going up from there depending on your desired level of service after that.
This allows you to choose what kind of URL you want for your website and to make sure it’s easy for people to find you. If you already have a website, you will replace it with your online (Shopify or Woocommerce) store.
Next, you need a website builder such as Shopify or WooCommerce which will allow you to build your own store from the ground up without needing any special coding knowledge – there are loads of tutorials on YouTube and other paid platforms that can help you.
Finally, you’ll need a payment gateway to process your transactions – and this will allow anyone with internet access to buy from you without any complications! Remember to sign up for as many payment options as possible to make it easy for people to purchase via their preferred method of payment.
You’ll also need to integrate your store with a delivery fulfilment partner such as UAfrica, who will courier your goods to your customers so they don’t have to wait for them in a queue at the post office!
Now is the time to get your business online as e-commerce is set to skyrocket!
5. Costs to get your business online
If you’re good with tech, you can buy an online course that teaches you how to set up your online store. Remember, most of the platforms work with themes that can be customized and you’ll need to add all your stock images, product descriptions, sizes, colours and so forth. This is a matter of data capture and it does take some time to do, especially if you have hundreds of products.
You can also outsource the creation of your online shop to an industry expert. If you go this route, then we recommend that you find a company that is very experienced – ask to see previous examples of work they’ve done.
Be sure to find out exactly what they will and will not do for you once the store build is completed. Will they charge you to do updates (eg: if you add a new product or range), or do you need to do that yourself? Will they train you so that you can make basic changes yourself or do you need to keep them on retainer so that they can always assist you with the maintenance of your store? These are just a few things to find out beforehand so that you know exactly what you’re paying for.
6. Marketing your online store
As amazing as it is to have an online store, you’re still going to have to market it! This could be in the form of a regular email newsletter as well as paid advertising on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and/or Google. Paid online marketing is what we specialise in at Big Domino Marketing – everything from strategy and funnel building to running your online ads for you. If you want to know more, visit our website and book a free consultation.
Closing thoughts
Online shopping is a huge industry, and it’s only set to grow. Why not take advantage of this and get your business online sooner rather than later? With the tools you need readily available at affordable prices, now is the time for your business to get online STAT!
E-commerce is the future of retail and it’s time to get your business ahead of the curve!
BONUS!
Get your free eBook “Sourcing Winning Products – How to Find the Best Products to Sell Online” by e-commerce guru Warrick Kerns by clicking here.
