IMAGE: Getty Images
Millennials are increasingly going into business for themselves. Conservative estimates put eCommerce growth at a whopping 16 percent per year. It's easier than ever to setup an eCommerce store because there are so many easy ways to do it. Organizations like CloudCart
are making it easier to install complex templates to create eCommerce
stores in practically any sector. Many templates are even free to use.
This guide will show you 11 ways millennials can start their own eCommerce store.
1. Use a Free Template
The easiest way is to use one of the many free templates on offer today. These can be installed at the click of a button. Their customization options are somewhat limited, but it's by far the fastest way to get started. It can take mere minutes to have the platform you need.
2. WordPress Works
WordPress powers more than half of all English speaking websites on the planet. There's a reason for this. It's incredibly flexible and allows you to do what you want with your website.
It can be manipulated to make it into an eCommerce store. This allows you to keep your existing site, while creating a buying platform as an add-on.
3. Premium Templates
If you have the money to burn, you can use premium templates. These will give you more options and give you access to many alternate eCommerce platforms. Premium templates are less likely to be replicated and may be industry specific.
4. Personalized Design
Companies with a lot of startup funds may take the decision to employ a professional web designer to do the job for them. This gives you the most flexibility when it comes to your eCommerce store. You can define exactly what you want and get it.
Crucially for many companies it gives them total uniqueness. Nobody can copy their template by downloading the same one. This is your unique template.
5. Alternate eCommerce Networks
You don't have to make your own UI or settle with WordPress. There are many alternate eCommerce networks, such as Opencart. These offer a different experience and their effectiveness depends on the industry you happen to be operating in.
Most alternate eCommerce networks require building from the ground up and tend to charge a fee to use.
6. Use an Existing Buying Platform
There's no reason why you have to settle for a new buying platform. Many millennials are deciding to get started on an already existing platform. In this case, you may decide to use something like eBay or Amazon. They allow you to create your own store within the brand.
The big benefit of this is you already have an existing user base to market your products to.
7. Get a Partner
Unwilling to take on all the risk?
Decrease your exposure by getting a partner to help you with the process. They can contribute some of the cost and have a say in how the store is setup and run.
8. Sell in Someone Else's Store
Sometimes you simply don't have enough products to get started with your own store. This doesn't mean you can't get your brand off the ground. Start off by working with someone else. You can sell your products to their users and give them a cut of the profit in return.
9. Website Add-On
You don't have to get started by working with a new website. You can use an existing website and simply add an e-commerce store to it. This is ideal if you happen to be running an operation where you already have an established user base and you are simply testing the waters.
10. Sell on Social Media
It's becoming more common to sell on social media. People are starting Facebook groups in order to sell their items without setting up a full eCommerce website.
11. Use Brand Specific eCommerce Networks
Are you in the business of selling crafts or other niche products?
A dedicated eCommerce website may be the wrong decision for you. An alternative to this is to use a brand specific eCommerce network to build your brand. The biggest example of this is Etsy, which helps people setup their stores in order to sell handmade products, such as jewelry.
Last Word
Millennials have more options than ever before for setting up eCommerce websites. They no longer have to setup a dedicated website. It gives them more options for testing the waters and more flexibility for creating the buying platform they want.
There's more control available over brands than ever before. Take advantage of it by setting up an eCommerce website now.
This guide will show you 11 ways millennials can start their own eCommerce store.
1. Use a Free Template
The easiest way is to use one of the many free templates on offer today. These can be installed at the click of a button. Their customization options are somewhat limited, but it's by far the fastest way to get started. It can take mere minutes to have the platform you need.
2. WordPress Works
WordPress powers more than half of all English speaking websites on the planet. There's a reason for this. It's incredibly flexible and allows you to do what you want with your website.
It can be manipulated to make it into an eCommerce store. This allows you to keep your existing site, while creating a buying platform as an add-on.
3. Premium Templates
If you have the money to burn, you can use premium templates. These will give you more options and give you access to many alternate eCommerce platforms. Premium templates are less likely to be replicated and may be industry specific.
4. Personalized Design
Companies with a lot of startup funds may take the decision to employ a professional web designer to do the job for them. This gives you the most flexibility when it comes to your eCommerce store. You can define exactly what you want and get it.
Crucially for many companies it gives them total uniqueness. Nobody can copy their template by downloading the same one. This is your unique template.
5. Alternate eCommerce Networks
You don't have to make your own UI or settle with WordPress. There are many alternate eCommerce networks, such as Opencart. These offer a different experience and their effectiveness depends on the industry you happen to be operating in.
Most alternate eCommerce networks require building from the ground up and tend to charge a fee to use.
6. Use an Existing Buying Platform
There's no reason why you have to settle for a new buying platform. Many millennials are deciding to get started on an already existing platform. In this case, you may decide to use something like eBay or Amazon. They allow you to create your own store within the brand.
The big benefit of this is you already have an existing user base to market your products to.
7. Get a Partner
Unwilling to take on all the risk?
Decrease your exposure by getting a partner to help you with the process. They can contribute some of the cost and have a say in how the store is setup and run.
8. Sell in Someone Else's Store
Sometimes you simply don't have enough products to get started with your own store. This doesn't mean you can't get your brand off the ground. Start off by working with someone else. You can sell your products to their users and give them a cut of the profit in return.
9. Website Add-On
You don't have to get started by working with a new website. You can use an existing website and simply add an e-commerce store to it. This is ideal if you happen to be running an operation where you already have an established user base and you are simply testing the waters.
10. Sell on Social Media
It's becoming more common to sell on social media. People are starting Facebook groups in order to sell their items without setting up a full eCommerce website.
11. Use Brand Specific eCommerce Networks
Are you in the business of selling crafts or other niche products?
A dedicated eCommerce website may be the wrong decision for you. An alternative to this is to use a brand specific eCommerce network to build your brand. The biggest example of this is Etsy, which helps people setup their stores in order to sell handmade products, such as jewelry.
Last Word
Millennials have more options than ever before for setting up eCommerce websites. They no longer have to setup a dedicated website. It gives them more options for testing the waters and more flexibility for creating the buying platform they want.
There's more control available over brands than ever before. Take advantage of it by setting up an eCommerce website now.
Post a Comment