How Can E-Commerce Boost Your Small Business Sales

The Internet has changed the world in every possible way, and everyone can engage in it! E-commerce has revolutionized small businesses through shopping and selling. Gone are the days where you had to go somewhere to shop; now, you can do it with a few clicks on your phone. What does this mean for small businesses? Many businesses can thrive online with endless customer reach and by giving them a storefront for those who cannot afford to be a chain or have an actual storefront. There are other ways e-commerce can boost your small business sales, and here is how:

Reach New Customers and Sell More Products

According to research data provided by Square and Mercury Analytics, 51% of shoppers prefer doing so online. Also, 67% of millennials and 56% of Gen Xers prefer to forgo the shops and place online orders. If they are your audience, this is important to keep in mind. 

Setting up a business website and selling your products online can make a difference in your sales volume. However, there are also advantages outside of merely extending your customer reach on your own. Through what is known as omnichannel selling, you can tap into online marketplaces and sell on places  like Amazon, Facebook, and Etsy to reach a new consumer base.

E-Commerce Increases Availability

Brick and Mortar shops have an opening and closing time; some big chains cannot afford to stay open all day. So there are extended periods of the day where your products are not flying off the shelves. Using e-commerce eliminates the limitation of ‘open hours’ as it remains open 24/7, letting shoppers shop at their convenience.

Lower Set Up and Running Costs Than An Offline Business

The cost of actually setting up an e-commerce website is lower than that of an offline business. This is because the whole sales system for your business is automated online. Therefore, you will save on staff, wages, and other business costs, which are usually an expense such as electricity, rent, and heating costs. The money you have saved can then be used to develop your e-commerce website and product range further.

Marketing Opportunities

Your website is one of the best marketing tools your business has. It’s your storefront and a way you can market your business. SEO when building your site leads to more chances of your business getting found in search engines. But a vast number of marketing techniques can also work alongside your website, including pay-per-click advertising, your social media marketing, and your email marketing, all of which can include links back to your website.  

To conclude, E-commerce has many benefits, but the main one is that anyone can engage in it. You can run a small home-based sales business and market your handmade products online. With the same success, if you have a physical store in the real world, so many new potential customers are available, with marketing opportunities, continuous availability, and all the potential a store on the high street has! Moving your business online may be scary, but is worth it.