ecommerce selling to the world

How to sell to the world with your e-commerce website. Selling your products or services online opens your business up to infinite possibilities. However, while this may lead to massive growth for some businesses, these possibilities are not advantages for all businesses. You have to consider if the products or services you offer have a worldwide demand, a nationwide demand, or perhaps your best growth potential is focusing on your local area. There are many other factors to consider. This article should get you thinking.

Think about this.

You are planning to engage in “eCommerce”, to take your business online. So, you need to learn a new set of business rules, a new way of doing things, because online business is “different”, right?

Well, actually, no, not really. You still have a product or service to sell. You still have a store with a shop “window” (your website) and you still need the customers to visit your store, in order to buy whatever it is that you are selling.

The only major difference is that (continuing the analogy) your local store window can only be seen by a small group of people, whereas your online business can be seen by the whole world. By engaging in eCommerce, you can take your business “global”.

For many businesses, this is truly an advantage, representing a wonderful opportunity.

But that is not the case for everyone, particularly for companies who sell a physical, tangible product. When planning to go online, therefore, you should spend some time thinking about your product and exactly who your target market is, because this will be a crucial factor in determining whether your venture is a success or a failure.

What is it that you plan to market on your eCommerce enabled website, and who will want to buy it?

Some products will, by their very nature, not be totally suited to a worldwide market. Pork based food products, for example, will not be popular in Muslim countries, nor will wine, whisky or beer. Sales of open-toed sandals may be disappointing in Iceland, Greenland and the frozen polar North.

Secondly, give very careful thought about how you will get your product to the customer. For example, if you were to make laser toner cartridges in Asia (as one of my client companies does) there is absolutely no sense in trying to sell one or two cartridges at a time to a customer in the USA, because of the cost of delivery.

So, if your product is bulky or heavy, selling outside your locale may not be practical.

Import Duty

Furthermore, you need to consider that, whilst most countries use the same Standard International Trade Classification (S.I.T.C) codes for deciding on how much import duty to levy on a particular product, the actual duty to be paid varies from country to country, and such variations can (and will) lead to disputes. Again, using my client as an example, they sold a consignment of toner cartridges to a customer in Finland, which got held up in Customs for several weeks on arrival in Helsinki, because of a dispute over the Import Duties to be paid.

Whilst this was not the fault of my client or his customer, nevertheless, the result was an unhappy customer, who obviously did not become a regular customer.

Providing a Service Online

Likewise, if you plan on selling a service online, can that service be provided outside your local area in such a way that you still make money? Do you need to have one of your own staff actually work with the customer (in which case, you need to stay local) or can the work be easily subcontracted on a global basis? Would it be easy to find such a local subcontractor capable of supplying your advertised service in such a way that both you and the customer are happy? How much would such a subcontractor cost?

Unless you can get positive answers to all of these questions, then, again, it may pay you to keep your services local, rather than overreaching, in order to become a global player.

Take a look at House Of Solace Spices’s website and e-commerce store and our Smart Gadget Store which we built. These could be a glimpse into what your own business could have.

You take care of aiming high and creating goals, we have the skills to make them a reality. 

The possibilities don’t stop there. Take a look at all the services we can provide to grow your business and give it the look and online presence it deserves. 

Share:

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
LinkedIn
On Key

Related Posts

Tips to Make Your Website More Accessible

Mastering Website Maintenance: Essential Strategies for a Smooth Operation

Ensure the smooth operation and optimal performance of your website with our expert maintenance services. From regular updates and bug fixes to security enhancements and performance optimization, we’ve got you covered. Contact us now for professional website maintenance and enjoy a hassle-free online presence that keeps visitors engaged and your business thriving.

Unlocking the Power of Responsive Web Design Benefits You Can't Afford to Miss

Unlocking the Power of Responsive Web Design: Benefits You Can’t Afford to Miss

Unlocking the Power of Responsive Web Design: Benefits You Can’t Afford to Miss. A website is not only a representation of a brand, but it also serves as a tool for communication, marketing, and sales. With the increasing use of mobile devices to access the internet, it is important to have a responsive web design. In this article, we will explore the benefits of responsive web design.

How to use WordPress and Benefits of using WordPress for Blogging

How to use WordPress for Blogging

How to use WordPress and the benefits of using WordPress for blogging? Starting your first blog is an exciting idea. You’re going to make your presence known to the world

Skip to content