Ecommerce is an exciting field full of opportunities. Many people are taking advantage of the power of ecommerce to build their own online businesses, but other would-be ecommerce entrepreneurs are discouraged from even starting.
If you want to create an ecommerce website, the only thing really holding you back is your self-imposed limitations. The obstacles you think are standing in your way are really not as big as you make them out to be. Thankfully, there are so many tools and resources available online today that can help you create your ecommerce website with ease. Though, just because resources are available to bypass the coding task, doesn’t mean you won’t encounter difficulties in your ecommerce journey.
Here are a few common sources of discouragement that stop people from creating an ecommerce website, and how to overcome them:
Lack of Technical Confidence
Probably the most common challenge for aspiring ecommerce entrepreneurs is a lack of technical confidence. Building an ecommerce website sounds like a big, complicated ordeal. There are so many things to consider when launching a website like hosting, domains, design, inventory, and so much more.
Fortunately, building and running an ecommerce website has gotten a lot easier in recent years. Popular ecommerce platforms like Shopify make it so simple to get up and running your own store online. Plus, there are detailed guides, tutorials, videos, and articles to help you every step of the way. If you have basic computer skills and a willingness to learn, you can run an ecommerce website.
Don’t Know What to Sell
Before you can start an ecommerce business, you need to have something to sell. Many would-be ecommerce professionals get stumped trying to figure out what to sell on their website. The fact that you could sell pretty much anything can be very overwhelming!
There are a lot of great resources for finding product ideas or choosing a niche for your ecommerce business. Do the best research and planning you can, but don’t let that prevent you from jumping in and experimenting to see what works.
Think Marketing is Evil
A big part of running an ecommerce business is marketing and selling your products. A lot of people are uncomfortable with sales and marketing. They have a negative image in their mind of a sleazy car salesman or a spammy internet marketer.
The good news is that marketing online is actually one of the least invasive methods of selling. Think about it. People go online to search for products. People sign up for email lists to express interest and stay informed. Your goal is simply to get your products in front of people who are already interested and looking for what you have to offer. No sleazy grease required.
Overwhelmed with Payment Processing
To run a business, you have to process payments. That’s just how things work. For those new to business, or online business in particular, it may be overwhelming thinking about how to manage payments for your ecommerce store.
A lot of ecommerce platforms come with payment gateways built in to the system. There are also payment processors like Stripe or PayPal that can easily integrate with ecommerce websites. In terms of bookkeeping, apps like FreshBooks and Quickbooks provide seamless, integrated solutions for tracking your finances.
Feel Vulnerable to Security Threats
Lastly, many people read about hackers in the news and feel afraid to do business online. What if your ecommerce website gets hacked? An SSL digital certificate provides peace of mind for you and your customers. You can also seek additional security from third-party providers, but a lot of ecommerce platforms have security built right in.
If you’re hesitant about creating an ecommerce website, don’t worry. There are so many tools and resources to help you along the way. There’s no reason not to get started!
