12 Steps for your E-Commerce Website

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Posted Tue, 09/13/2011 - 15:26 by monicadear
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Launching an e-commerce website can be a daunting process, but once you attain clarity on your target market, your desired sales, and a viable plan for how to get those sales, it's time to get your website up and running.

 
1) The Basics
You have a clearly defined mission, vision, values, and target market.
 
2) About Page
Your "about us" page has information about the founders or people behind the business.
 
3) Products Chosen and Ready
Your products are physically ready for sale: include packaging, brochures or cards, tissue wrapper, postal mail supplies. If you are doing drop-shipping, you also have that information handy.
 
4) Electronic Assets
You have your electronic assets completed: including a spreadsheet or full list of all product titles, description, SKU or internal code, price, and any measurements such as dimensions and weight.
 
5) Categories Set
You have some default "categories" for your products, or keywords to help people find what they're seeking on your site.
 
6) Product Photography Available
You've chosen some flattering product photos from multiple angles. Model photography includes people holding your products or using them.
 
7) Content Management System Ready to Go
You have a content management system so you can publish your own products.
 
8) Payment System Ready to Go
E-commerce is enabled through a shopping cart software. We use the Ubercart shopping tool on top of a Drupal content management system base. Choose PayPal, Google Checkout, or Authorize.net as the basics. Securitize your site, if needed.
 
9) Affiliate marketing
In place through an internal referral service or through ShareaSale.com or CommissionJunction.com Prepare your coupon codes if you're doing discounts: Who will you offer affiliate marketing or coupons to? How many products are available for these programs? How many times may a coupon be used by a single user?
 
10) Tracking
Google Analytics, AdWords, and other tracking mechanisms in place to review where your leads are coming from, and what kind of conversion rates you have.
 
11) Social Media in place
Get your Facebook Fans Page and Twitter feed ready.
 
12) Ready, Set, Go!
Check all your systems for quality control across browsers, and do a few test purchases. When you're confident, launch the site!