How to Turn Your Physical Store into an Online Shop?

The e-commerce sector has been booming in recent years. It’s now easy to see sellers and consumers meeting online. Sellers find it more efficient and seamless to sell products and do business with customers via digital platforms. On the other hand, customers find it easier and more convenient to shop online, place orders, and get items delivered right at their doorsteps. It’s safe to say how e-commerce businesses have been beneficial to both sellers and consumers.

From Brick-and-Mortar to Click-and-Order Business: Turning Your Physical Store into an Online Shop

The e-commerce industry has further flourished amidst the COVID-19 crisis. In fact, e-commerce sales have significantly spiked during the pandemic. The pandemic restrictions have forced individuals and families to rely on online businesses to supply their needs. For this reason, many entrepreneurs have ventured into the e-commerce business. Even brick-and-mortar stores have transitioned to click-and-order stores.

That said, here’s how to turn your physical store into an online shop:

1. Study your market

Before taking the plunge into your business transition, you must study your market first. It takes research and due diligence to see if your e-commerce business plan is a good idea. First, check if your business belongs to a thriving industry, especially during this pandemic. Also, assess your consumer needs and see if the e-commerce platforms work best for them. Lastly, evaluate if the e-commerce sector best suits your business type and the products you offer. If you tick all these boxes off, you can go ahead and start the transition.

2. Come up with an online business plan

Once you see that your e-commerce business looks promising, you can start with your business plan. It’s time to sit down, consider all business aspects, and carve a detailed blueprint. Chances are, you’ll give up your physical store, tools and equipment, a handful of employees, and other resources. But on the other side of the spectrum, you have to consider your internet connectivity, e-commerce platform, digital tools and technologies, and even warehouse for storing your products. That said, be sure to tackle all these essentials for your e-commerce business.

3. Reinvent your products

As you’ll transition from a physical store to an online shop, consider reinventing your products as well. This time, you’ll no longer cater to your local customers. You may reach out to global customers with the help of shipping services. As such, there’s a need to offer goods or items that cater to a wide range of customers. Ultimately, the goal is to create quality products that suffice consumer needs.

4. Create or update your business website

As a click-and-order business, you must have an online store. You can either choose an e-commerce platform or create a website for your business. If you already have one in place, be sure to update it. You want to ensure its overall aesthetics and functionality to achieve a robust website with an excellent user experience (UX). Take note that your website must have a well-structured interface, streamlined elements, easy navigation, a fast loading time, and seamless transaction. Finally, employ responsive web design to ensure that it’s mobile-friendly.

5. Start implementing your e-commerce SEO

It’s not enough that you have a solid e-commerce website. You also want to ensure the online visibility of your business. If you have an online website, you want potential customers to find it on the search engine results pages (SERP). If you’re using an e-commerce platform, you want your e-commerce business and products to stand out. That’s where search engine optimization (SEO) comes into the picture. As it can be a little bit complicated, consider hiring an e-commerce SEO company.

6. Employ digital marketing strategies

SEO doesn’t work alone in connecting with customers and promoting your products. You must employ other forms of online marketing. First, use email marketing to reach out to old and new customers. Let your regular customers know that you now run an e-commerce business. For prospective ones, send them promotional emails with calls-to-action (CTAs). Also, harness the power of content marketing. Know that it can boost your customer engagement. Lastly, implement social media marketing as these channels present your e-commerce business with plenty of opportunities.

At this point, you now know what it takes to turn your physical store into an online shop. Consider the e-commerce business strategies discussed above, from studying your market to updating your website to employing digital marketing strategies. With all these in mind, you’ll have a smooth and seamless transition from a brick-and-mortar store to a click-and-order business. Ultimately, capitalize on the e-commerce sector for boosting your profits and growing your business over time.