Nowadays, the world of electronic commerce or e-commerce is booming. More and more users are opting to buy online, and companies are deciding to invest in a virtual store. But why is it important to do so? What benefits does it bring? Here I will explain why investing in a virtual store or e-commerce is an excellent idea to grow your business, reach new audiences, and earn the mental positioning of your users.
What is a virtual store or e-commerce?
Before delving into the benefits of investing in a virtual store or e-commerce, it is important to understand what this concept is about. A virtual store is a website where products and services are offered through the internet. That is, it is an online space where products can be bought and sold easily, quickly, and securely.
It is a way of doing business online that has become very popular in recent years, as the internet allows us to break physical barriers, making it possible for people from all over the world to know your brand.
Why invest in a virtual store or e-commerce?
Increase in audience
A virtual store or e-commerce allows your business to have a much wider audience. Instead of limiting yourself to customers who can visit your physical store, a virtual store allows you to reach users from anywhere in the world, at any time of the day. Additionally, thanks to digital marketing and SEO, you can attract a specific and segmented audience that is interested in your products or services.
Lower operating costs
Another great benefit of investing in a virtual store or e-commerce is that operating costs are much lower than those of a physical store. There is no need to pay rent for a commercial space, costs of services such as: electricity, water, internet, among other expenses. It also reduces the need to hire additional staff to serve customers.
Comfort and ease of purchase
E-commerce also provides customers with greater comfort and ease of purchase. Users can browse products and make purchases from anywhere with an internet connection, without having to physically travel to the store. In addition, the purchase process is very simple and fast, which makes customers feel more comfortable and willing to buy.
How to create a virtual store or ecommerce
Now that you have seen the benefits of having a virtual store or e-commerce, it is time to talk about how to create it. Here are some relevant factors to consider:
Define your product and target market
The first thing you should do is define what products or services you are going to sell in your virtual store. It is important that you have a clear target market, your target user and that you study their online buying behavior. If you already have a physical store, it is important to also consider online sales as an extension of your business, not as a replacement.
Choose an ecommerce platform
Once you have a clear idea of what products or services you are going to sell, it is time to choose an ecommerce platform. There are many options available, from open source software solutions to full-service payment services. Some of the most popular platforms include Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, Vtex among others.
It is important that you choose a platform that is scalable, easy to use, and integrates with your marketing and customer management tools like CRMs, chatbots, payment gateways, etc.
In addition, you should ensure that the platform offers a good user experience, including easy navigation and a simple purchase process, and clearly allows you to include SEO modules so that you can properly optimize your site without depending on a web developer.
Design and develop your virtual store
Once you have your ecommerce platform, it is time to design and develop your virtual store. This includes choosing a design template, customizing the appearance and structure of your store, creating product pages, and setting up the purchase functionality, which should contain the payment gateway.
It is important that the design of your virtual store is attractive, intuitive, and reflects your brand identity. In addition, the interface design should allow for a simple and agile shopping experience to increase the likelihood that the buying/selling process is effective.
Do not forget that within the content you offer in your ecommerce, you must fully cover pre-sale, sale, and post-sale attention, as the vast majority of online stores only opt to cover the conversion funnel phase of the sale itself, this is a bad practice, as we are not providing enough information for the user to be certain and have the support that they are buying from a reliable site, and in terms of digital marketing, it limits the possibility of positioning with other types of keywords that will allow us to reach new audiences.
Set up your payments and shipping
One of the most important aspects of a virtual store is setting up payments and shipping. You should ensure that your store accepts the most common payment methods, such as credit cards, PSE and PayPal, and that it offers reliable and secure shipping options that the user can also track.
In addition, it is important that the return and exchange policy is clear and visible in your virtual store. This will help you build trust and credibility with your customers and avoid headaches with legal issues.
Promote your virtual store
Once you have your virtual store online and operating, it is time to promote it. Some of the most effective marketing strategies include online advertising, content marketing, email marketing, and social media marketing.
It is important that you ensure your marketing efforts are focused on reaching your target market and that you use tracking tools to measure and optimize your results.
In summary, investing in a virtual store or e-commerce can be a great opportunity to expand and improve your business. By having an online presence, companies can reach a wider audience, increase their reach, promote their brand and generally increase their sales and profits.
However, it is important to remember that creating and managing a virtual store requires time, effort, and resources. It is important to carefully plan the e-commerce strategy and consider all the implications it involves. Therefore, if you do not have the expertise, or definitely want to focus on the business strategy, we support you in the design, development, and maintenance of your ecommerce, having understanding sessions in which our experts can offer you the best alternatives for you to choose the ideal one and your online store is successful.
It is also important to keep your store updated with constantly evolving trends and technologies to ensure that it remains relevant and attractive to consumers.
