Stepping into eCommerce Business. Its Advantages and Disadvantages
Online business has become an integral part of present-day activities and continues to flourish. One billion people buy products using their devices (smartphones, laptops, tablets, etc.). This amount grows daily.
Today, work on the Internet is not about clicking the links or playing online casino games. To start eCommerce business means:
- to sell goods: clothing, food, or equipment;
- to provide services: to take a photograph, to develop web applications, to write or to do advertising;
- to coach: to develop training sessions or webinars on different topics.
eCommerce business refers to the buying and selling of goods and services or the transmission of funds or data over the internet. Online business types are usually divided into business-to-business (B2B), business-to-consumer (B2C), consumer-to-consumer (C2C) or consumer-to-business (C2B).
eCommerce is a booming business with its advantages and disadvantages. There are not many disadvantages of online business.
Here are some of them:
- Unstable income. It is entirely fine for any new business to have some difficulties regarding profit. In the early stages of the business, it may not bring a lot of money, however, overcoming these difficulties, you can go to a satisfactory income. This disadvantage is the most essential.
- Irregular working hours. In the beginning, you have to work hard to launch and grow a successful project.
- Restrictions in the action field. In some countries and cities, it makes no sense to promote your products or services. Various reasons for that – underdeveloped market, low purchasing power, high competition, etc.
- High optimization costs. Upgrading computer systems, training personnel, and updating websites requires substantial resources.
There are a lot of advantages of business on the Internet. For example:
- The global range of activity. The website providing the services is available to any user. Negotiating with partners around the world is possible. This is perhaps the most important advantage of Internet business.
- Freedom of access. Nowadays, internet access is possible from almost any place in the world, IT development and new communication devices (smartphones, tablets) greatly simplify business management.
- Freedom of time. The owner of the business decides how much to work.
- Own boss. This type of business is perfect for those who want to work for themselves. Decision-making, implementation of ideas and tasks are entirely the responsibility of the business owner.
- No team to work with. If you are the one who is launching and growing the business, and you are a non-sociable person, this is ideal for you. After all, some people are easy to cooperate with, and some need an individual approach, so to avoid conflict situations, such people prefer to work on their own.
- Minimum project start-up costs. Opening a new business requires enormous costs compared to an Internet business, which requires a computer, Internet access and an inexhaustible source of knowledge and ideas. The maintenance, successful running and development of a business need fresh ideas and new approaches, flexibility in changing tactics of doing business.
- Income. The upper line of profit is not fixed, you can try to earn more or stop there.
- High service level. The convenience of using the services on the Internet is that there are no territorial borders. For example, a customer may receive an order by mail or courier if there are no products freely available. There is an opportunity to learn about the product or service, read reviews and discussions on the forums, payment for which can be made on the Internet.
- Competitive ability. New services can compete with services that have existed on the market for several years. Internet customers may accept the service from a “newcomer” who will quickly respond to demand, which sometimes cannot be delayed.
- Self-fulfillment. Creating an online store or your website is an excellent opportunity to realize yourself, applying all your knowledge and experience.
There are no universal instructions on the best businesses to start with. Still, no doubt, success will come to those who take advantage and compensate for shortcomings. Go on reading! The 50 eCommerce business ideas below must inspire you.
How to Launch Your eCommerce Business
For some users, the Internet is a platform for various kinds of entertainment, for others – an information resource, for others – a source of additional earnings. Therefore, the query «how to create and run a business on the Internet» remains one of the most popular on the Internet.
The Internet is filled with specialists of different levels and experience and those who want to start their business on the Internet from scratch. Each year we observe an increasing number of startups and investors, who are willing to work and earn online, sharing new eCommerce business ideas.
As per Scott Fox, the author of “Click Millionaires: Work Less, Live More with an Internet Lifestyle Business You Love”, Internet business gives a platform to do something more than making a living. It is a chance to share your unique service and implement your plan.
Our recommendations are for those who decided to start their own business. The main thing is to decide and start acting right now. Here are a few steps and instructions on how to start an online business.
- Distribute Your Time
Check your daily schedule and determine how much time you can devote to your new project. Take as much time as you can, but try to devote a certain number of hours a week to your best startup business. Make yourself do something constructive on a regular basis.
- Set the Budget
Start transferring funds (as much as you can afford) to a new project account. Save this money specifically for spending on new business research, training, development.
- Choose a Product or Service
First, you need to decide what product/service you want to sell. A business idea is the most complicated part of starting a new business. You can build a business around your own unique experience and help others to solve similar problems, develop an interest in your expertise area to consult people with similar hobbies. All this can be done using a blog, social networks, as an author of podcasts, etc.
- Do Research
Collecting information about the area you have chosen, as well as the competition that exists in it, is a good time investment. Check out the resources related to your topic and target markets — it will help you become an expert.
Research your competitors. Subscribe to a newsletter or blog, purchase products, or join a community of three competitors to know what they are doing and find ways to do it better. These steps will help you understand how to start an online business most efficiently.
- Write a Business Plan
A business plan is a document that brings your entrepreneur ideas and thoughts together and allows us to assess the decision’s effectiveness, planned activities, and to answer the question, whether to invest in the project.
- Set up Your Business
Name your product and create a logo. Start thinking about the domain names, as soon as you decide on the direction of the business. You need a name that is short, easy to write and remember, free and ideally with an extension”.com”. Get a good domain name, register it in the most popular social networks, using the brand name as a username. This is necessary to ensure that customers can easily find you. Once you are ready with the domain name, it is time to craft a logo. Build your online store and define key performance indicators (KPI).
TemplateMonster offers to build a professional and high-quality website at an affordable price. WordPress Business themes of your choice will be customized with your logo, colors, and up to 6 pages of content. Set contact form and then install it in your domain. As a result, you will have a ready-to-go live website designed the way you want. Get your ready-to-use website at TemplateMonster.
Also, you should understand the basics of search engine optimization (SEO) so that you can optimize your website for Google and other search engines.
- Launch your business
Once you are ready with the steps above, go ahead to launch your product. Hard work begins. Take the first customer! Pay attention to the marketing of your product to get serious and focused on the result.
- Do not be in a Flutter to Wait for Approval
We all seek approval from others. In business, the most important thing is the approval of the authorities, but the approval of colleagues, subordinates, and customers is also essential. If you want to feel good, you will also need the approval of friends, family, and spouse. Unfortunately, working alone is not easy.
You should develop enough confidence in your best business ideas, so you can implement them, even when over his shoulder you do not head. Continue your journey, and soon you will realize that real freedom is the ability to do what you like and be truly productive, rather than wasting time trying to impress colleagues or satisfy your boss.
Starting an online business is challenging. From choosing even small business ideas, evaluating viability and sourcing, building, launching, and growing sales. There’s a lot of puzzle pieces to put together. No guts, no glory!
From A Wannabe To A Startupper [Free EBook]
How To Find The Right Promotional Materials
The etymology of the word “marketing” takes up back to the 16th Century. Those days people used it to describe their buying and selling relationships. And their business would be much better if only they knew about the marketing campaign.
When crafted smartly, your promo materials can have lots of advantages. The most visible ones allow entering the global market. And it’s also the easiest way to attract new customers. That’s why startup owners all over the world have already started working on a holiday marketing campaign. As well as all the big players. Are you ready to join them?
Just take a look around! Everyone works on their marketing promo materials in 2020. No business or company can stay afloat without them. And, through December just started, you don’t have so much time. Today 8 in 10 holiday shoppers are influenced by search results before buying goods. Thus, before sharing a promo, make sure your business site is:
- Mobile-ready,
- Fast,
- SEO-friendly,
- Easy to navigate.
Never forget that your project should be shopper-oriented. It’s the best way to craft a successful holiday marketing campaign for today. Most marketers and business owners can’t wait for the magical season to come. Simply because they believe it to be the best time for business. So, let’s see what you can do this winter!
Here are my personal tips on how to get the right promotional materials for your online business. You can use these ideas not only for special occasions but sales too.
#1 Influencers Campaign
For starters, the simplest way to make a nice promo is collaborating. Look for influencers your would-be-clients are connected to. All in all, social media has a huge impact on fashion. It converts regular things into trends and makes old stuff vanquish.
You can never know for sure what is going to be popular tomorrow. However, you can be 100% sure it will be on SM. During the cold season, SM messaging rises over 30%. It is the very moment to start a holiday marketing campaign for all business niches. People look for presents for friends and family. And almost all of them do it online.
After you’ve found the influencer, ask them to promote your services. Work with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest… Or all the popular platforms at once. With it, you can get more social traffic to improve SEO results.
#2 Non-Stop Posting
When it comes to SM platforms, you can quickly guide people through the offer. And you can do it without running out of the budget. No secret, social media platforms are free. It means you can post as much as you want. So, here is what you can do to boost conversions.
- Get Google Analytics or any other supporting software. Use it to see when you have the biggest activity.
- Figure out which hours are best for posting. Don’t forget to check stats for at least a week-long period. Your happy hours are most likely to be different. It depends on the day of the week.
- Post at least twice every day. Create one publication in the morning. Plus, one more in the second part of the day.
- Use only relevant tags.
- Make sure you use all the popular platforms.
#3 Hashtag Campaign
What else can you do for a winning holiday marketing campaign? These days, many companies use hashtag campaigns to boost sales. It allows collecting user-generated content which you should display on SM. Besides, this promo type makes your business more recognizable.
The company’s audience automatically increases with the hashtag strategy. Here is how it works. Users post pictures related to your promo on SM accounts. You create a giveaway and send some free items to the winner(s). It’s possible to feature top images instead of awarding them. Still, this option fits only top-rated brands with millions of subscribers.
#4 Newsletter Campaign
Well, here is an old proven way to share the news with prospects. Newsletters are widely used for many reasons, including winter holidays. It’s always good to find new shoppers. Still, you shouldn’t forget about the old ones. Use email to share creative promotional materials with them. Here is what you need for a quality newsletter campaign.
- Various color blocks to visually divide info. It would make your promo email readable.
- Use infographics and graphics instead of the massive text blocks.
- Work on color schemes to create a beautiful contrast.
- Prefer bold and eye-friendly fonts.
#5 Loyalty Campaign
Long story short, you should make the recipient feel special. That’s the main goal of any newsletter campaign. Let’s go further! Nowadays you can improve sales with some loyalty offers. Create a campaign for regular customers. Provide them with free services or extra discounts. It will show people that their choice matters.
#6 Special Offer Campaign
In a word, this is the fastest way to get a shopper’s attention. Create a special offer related to the upcoming holiday season. With it, you may offer a lot of things. For example, make a sale for holiday products. Add a countdown timer to highlight the marketing and promotional materials. Here is what you can use:
- Exclusive discount codes,
- Last Chance offers,
- Special prices for online orders.
#7 Greeting Card Campaign
Also, you may want to try a greeting card campaign. Send holiday cards to your customers. It will remind them of your company. I recommend you to add discounts into the cards. It would attract people.
#8 Gift Ideas Campaign
Although we live in the age of rocket-fast shopping… Well, many users still look for last-minute gifts. Just because they put off shopping until the last minute. Let’s use it for your business! You can group the products into interactive quick presents selections. And don’t forget to make it shareable on SM.
#9 Landing Page Campaign
All well-known companies already have their websites in 2020. It’s an essential part of any business. What if you don’t have time to design a multi-page project? You can manage a landing instead! It perfectly suits the holiday marketing campaign needs.
#10 Ready-Made Campaign
Last but not least, I recommend you to search for premade campaigns. There are various bundles and element packs to view out. For example, by purchasing this digital marketing bundle, you get:
- Sorted by holiday templates,
- Animated banners,
- Typography,
- Landing templates,
- Icons,
- Illustrations,
- SM banners,
- Mockups,
- Logos,
- Newsletters,
- Flyers and brochures.
The item is suitable for all holiday occasions which is comfy. You don’t have to spend big money on a holiday marketing campaign now.
Top 50 eCommerce Business Ideas for 2020
If you plan to launch an online project, then you may find some of these 50 eCommerce business ideas, which are listed below, useful. Hopefully, one of them can be winning for you to plunge into eCommerce.
Make yourself comfortable and let’s start!
1. Smart Home Devices
Can you imagine a house where all the home devices are connected to the Internet? I mean clocks, door locks, cameras, alarm, audio systems, thermostats, lights, etc. Is it not a good idea to get the accessories connected to each other and follow your commands?! A great number of home devices are being delivered to our houses, and this number increases every year. People are getting used to them and realize their value. It is not a fiction; it is a key component of home automation and smart homes. Think about this type of startup business ideas.
SmartHome – AMP Home Electronics Magento Theme
2. AR/VR Headsets, Applications, and Accessories
This type of products is entertainment-oriented. These niche products attract a lot of users’ attention and have a massive potential for future development. Virtual reality changes the gameplay and its feeling, plunges you into the game itself or the movie, right in the center of events in a three-dimensional world.
RufusVR – VR Startup Responsive WordPress Theme
3. Fitness Store and Sports Nutrition
More people are getting engaged in a healthy and active lifestyle. Athletes, who want to increase muscle mass and burn fat, begin to use the so-called sports nutrition, which can accelerate metabolic processes and accelerate muscle growth. This niche includes various gym accessories and outdoor apparel.
IronMass – Gym, Fitness & Bodybuilding Website Template
4. Phone Accessories
Today, everyone is in need of cell phone communication, mobile devices and all kinds of accessories for them. Phone accessories include covers, cases, decor for phones, cables, chargers, screen protectors, headphones, headsets, accessories for iPhone and iPad, styluses and gloves, car accessories for phones, gadgets for smartphones and tablets, batteries, bags for tablets, etc.
Ismiler – Electronics Store WooCommerce Theme
5. Online Grocery Store and Fresh Meal Delivery
The lifestyle of business people is so active that it is much more convenient to order food online. Here you can get cooperation with a cafe or restaurant in your city: they cook, and you deliver and earn a price difference. You can cook yourself and then do lunch delivery to offices, government organizations, etc. You can cook such products as burgers, dumplings, and more. Such goods are always in demand. A catering company works with banquets, corporate events, and celebrations.
Free Food Delivery HTML5 Template
6. Auto-parts and Accessories
Every year the number of cars grows, this trend affects not only large cities but also small towns. A real car enthusiast takes care of his car, which means he is ready to invest money in it to ensure its functionality. Of course, many car owners want to express their individuality using car parts and accessories.
Auto Parts Responsive WordPress Theme
7. Online Coaching
This type of Internet business is for those who not only do something very well (paint, write, play guitar, or do yoga) but also can teach others. Shoot video courses on a variety of topics, conduct online consultations: people are willing to pay for the knowledge of competent professionals.
Speaker – Life Coach WordPress Theme
8. Application Development
It is impossible to imagine our modern life without a multi-functional gadget that accompanies its owner almost always and everywhere. Therefore, the development of mobile applications is a popular and relevant service. There are a lot of experienced developers who are willing to cooperate with the project. Make sure the area is adequately researched before you start a successful business.
Rocket – Mobile App Landing Page WordPress Theme
9. Jewelry and Accessories Business
Jewelry is a daily accessory for any fashionista or fashionistas. On the catwalks of Milan, you can see models with fashion accessories like chains, brooches, bracelets, and similar trinkets. A good idea is selling online. The product line may include handmade jewelry from the designers-beginners, unique accessories, and vintage items. As an option, you could also consider renting out your expensive jewelry for special occasions. Any unique business ideas can give a boost to a new successful company.
Jewelrix Jewelry Store Theme for PrestaShop Lovers
10. Clothing and Accessories Business
The idea of opening an online store is quite popular among modern people. This method of doing business is quite developed among entrepreneurs around the world. You can offer some unique and rare items, which are not offered widely in other clothing stores. There are some niches where entrepreneurs can get a good income:
- youth clothing with prints, or design solutions;
- clothes for kids is one of the leaders in this direction;
- women’s dresses are of enormous popularity, especially if the goods belong to the average price category;
- selling uniform – for example, camouflage for fishing or hunting.
Fusion
Demo | Download | Hosting
11. Blogging
Do you have many followers on social networks? Monetize it: different brands order advertising from popular online people, give products for tests and even sometimes order posts and other activities. The main thing here is to find your niche and regularly please your audience with compelling content (not only advertising).
Love Life – Responsive Personal Blog WordPress Theme
12. Photography
Friends put a lot of “likes” under your pictures? Well, maybe you can make money selling photos. Examine the requirements of the most popular photo stock resources, think about what subject you will specialize in, examine the queries of the clients, and go ahead!
Zoomin – Photographer Portfolio WordPress Theme
13. Your Own Startup
There is an idea of how to make the life of others better and at the same time earn money? Well, your path is a startup. Gather a team of like-minded people and start-up business! Perhaps in a couple of years, we will hear that Google or Facebook bought your company. Think about some startup ideas and go ahead.
Startup Company One Page WordPress Theme
14. Copywriting
It is the standard way to earn money for people who can write good texts. However, many people know how to write, but not all of them can monetize this activity. The advantages of this method are the ability to earn money without investments. You find the customer and provide him with unique content.
Freelance Writer WordPress Theme
15. Translations
Translations can be done by a person with excellent knowledge of foreign languages. The advantage in this area will be knowledge of non-standard languages, such as Arabic or Korean. The disadvantages of this method are complex technical texts with specialized terminology, which you also have to get acquainted with.
Penn – Translation Agency WordPress Theme
16. Web Design
Web design services can be provided by a person who successfully owns graphics editors and knows the basics of graphics and website development. The advantage of this type of business on the Internet is a high income. However, novice web designers will have to work hard on their customer base and portfolio.
Web Design Agency WordPress Theme
17. YouTube Vlogging
One of the most popular businesses on the Internet in 2020. Its popularity is still growing. YouTube is a free platform where everyone can create their own channel with unique content and make money on it (selling ads through YouTube itself or advertisers directly). However, standing out from the competition will be quite difficult So, this option will only work for the most creative.
SocialVideo – Viral Youtube And Vimeo Video Magazine WordPress Theme
18. Mobile Medical Screening
This type of startups is connected with the latest technology and its users. Do not you think this is a great idea to let people book their appointments with different doctors and healthcare institutions, schedule flu shots, vaccinations, book eyesight checkups using a mobile phone? Nobody enjoys standing in queues, so this business idea should be successful.
BeClinic – Multipurpose Medical WordPress Theme
19. Drones Delivery of Medicine and Food Products
Speedy/urgent delivery is challenging in 2020. This new technology allows delivering products in the shortest possible time. These products are small and lightweight, so this makes possible to implement the idea.
Intense Multipurpose Website Template
20. Robin Hood of the Hotel Industry
Pruvo is an example of a free automatic web service that tracks price drops for existing hotel reservations and notifies the customer once a better price for the same hotel room is detected. The best part is (besides being free) is that the customer does not have to provide their credit card details since they refer them to the 3rd party, well-known websites where they find the lower price. Pruvo has saved customers over $1,000,000 in less than two years of existence while having a marketing budget that is more similar in size to a grocery store bill.
Sky Booking – Travel Online Multipage Website Template
21. Voice Search
Digital assistants will dramatically affect the way consumers search. Intelligent assistants like Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple Siri, and Microsoft Cortana allow Android, Windows and Apple phone users to speak directly to their devices to operate their applications and search online. How consumers verbally communicate significantly varies from how individuals type out search queries. Because of this variation in behavior, you will begin to see more long-tail keyword queries; this will allow you to create much more accurate and intelligent key phrase strategies since more granular data will be available around consumer behavior.
EasyJet – Multipurpose WordPress Theme
22. Social Media Consulting
Today, social networks are not just a platform for communication, but also an effective channel for promotion of your products or services. It is an affordable “provider” of traffic to the website.
SMM consultant represents a company in different social media resources like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Social media campaigns usually involve the use of videos, blogs, forums, and other social media features.
Instructee – Consulting Services Elementor WordPress Theme
23. Affiliate Marketing Business
The goal of Internet marketing (online marketing) is to promote a product, company, and brand that uses Internet resources. Now online advertising has reached a new level. More often people read online resources. You promote a product and get your commission. To start this type of business, you need to have at least basic knowledge of copywriting and SEO.
Ascendio – Corporate & Business WordPress Theme
24. Dropshipping
You sell products through your website, though you are not involved in any manufacturing and shipping. You get a commission for each sale. Be ready to invest a small cash cushion in the $1,000 range to get your business launched and operational. You do not have any risk to buy a product and lose money if it is not sold.
Hugesale PrestaShop Theme
25. Resume/Cover Letter Writing
People are always searching for a job. Each job search starts with a resume. 70% of success in getting a job depends on it. The better you present yourself in the resume, the more likely you will be invited to the job interview. That is where you can offer professional help to create a top-notch CV to get them hired.
Web Designer CV WordPress Theme
26. Travel Booking Business
Travel booking resources offer a great variety of travel products like flight and cruise tickets and travel packages. Travelers are always happy to search such a website to get the best deal for a flight or hotel accommodation. After the product is booked, it is transferred to the corresponding travel partner. Your income depends on the traffic.
Travel Booking Website Template
27. Health and Beauty Business
Perfumery and cosmetic stores have become one of the most profitable types of business. This is not surprising, because we all care about our health and beauty, and in recent years this love is only growing. Experts believe you will be successful if you are an entrepreneur with organizational skills and business experience.
Natural Cosmetics – Cosmetics Store Multipage Website Template
28. Online Currency Exchange
This is an online resource, which allows exchanging one country’s currency to another one. This type of business connects banks, brokers, and traders. The service is popular among busy people, who would need a trusted online exchange they could go to.
Grandviz – Financial Company Premium WordPress Theme
29. Rental Business
Among the vast variety of opportunities to earn, the rental business takes a special place in the market. People always use these services provided by the owners of movable and immovable property, and other products, for a specified period for a fixed rent. Build a rental website to connect the people for renting purposes.
Villagio Property Rental
30. Recruitment Agency
HR (or recruitment) agency is a mediator between employer and future employee. The value of a staffing agency is a private base of trusted workers and reliable employers. Although it is not difficult to find an employer with the help of online platforms, a recruitment agency can undertake all stages of employee selection. Such services will cost much less than hiring a single employee.
Recruit Website Template
31. Online Secretary/Assistant
It is a very convenient service that you can provide from the comfort of your home. It is one of the best home businesses. An online secretary is the manager’s assistant. You will ask how to start a business online. It is enough to continually stay in touch and have some software products installed on your computer that will help you quickly navigate and provide the necessary information on demand.
Consulting Responsive Website Template
32. Car Booking Service
Most people wish to save time when buying a car. Now it is possible.
There is no need to look for a car available in the dealerships of your city and nearby regions. Now you can search for the cars available for sale in one service. The platform offers the cars available at the dealership or warehouses. Online catalog of cars makes the booking process fast and easy for the buyer.
Cars – Car Dealer Joomla Template
33. Daily Deal Service
This is a website that helps buyers around the world to find and buy the best local deals available. This is a marketplace that is beneficial for both – for buyers to get great deals and for sellers to get more customers. Get in contact with your local sellers to post their cool deals on your online resource and go ahead to attract new buyers.
Dealsy – Deals & Coupons Theme + Admin Website Template
34. Online Cinema
Would you like to watch new movies not in the crowded cinema hall, but on the cozy sofa? It is the ultimate dream of most moviegoers. Experts predict a constant increase in the popularity of such services. Also, it is the most suitable option for WEB-based platforms. Mobile devices and Smart TVs are more suitable for paid subscriptions. Therefore, the creation of an online cinema may be one of your entrepreneurship ideas in 2019, which will bring significant profits.
MovieLine – Online Cinema WordPress Theme
35. Insurance Online Broker
You will help your clients to save time on registration of insurance without waiting in queues in the regional divisions of insurance companies. After receiving the payment, you need to transfer the documents to the client by courier.
Online Insurance Services WordPress Theme
36. Remote Technical Support
Be prepared that users do not know some names of the network equipment, therefore, most often use such words as “the black box with wires.” However, it is possible to earn good money on this ignorance. Pay attention to this area as one of the small business ideas for men.
Home Repairs Responsive Website Template
37. Web and Applications Testing
Quality testing and competent reports will eventually turn you into a well-known expert who will control and improve the development process and the quality of software. Developed analytical skills and logic, understanding of the development process and thorough knowledge of the product are needed.
Web Development Joomla Template
38. Online Marathons
It is a good idea to convert your hobby into a business. The host of the marathon gives tasks, the participants perform, and the homework is checked. As a result, the participants learn something new or achieve their goals, and the host earns or receives loyal customers.
Magic – Multipurpose Creative WordPress Theme
39. E-book
When you consider the best small business to start, sometimes it is enough to write work or dictate it to an electronic device – and now you are the author of your own book. Also, the e-book, written by you, brings profit, can still attract customers, replaces the seller, and serves as an expert on a particular issue.
Paul Adams – Writer Website Template
40. Create Your Own Social Network
Creating your own social network is one of the most promising ideas for your best online business. As per the experts, the launch of such a project requires an excellent financial investment. This is needed to create a high-quality Internet website with advanced functionality, high-quality graphics, and support for various applications. Everyone has a chance to open a community uniting like-minded people.
Imperion – Multipurpose Corporate WordPress Theme
41. Buying and Selling Websites
Launching the first business with minimal costs, you can use online services. With their help, in the beginning, you can develop a small application in an editor that does not require programming knowledge. Then, sell it for little money. If you have the experience, you can fix and customize any unsuccessful project in the network and sell it after. Some knowledge of how to sell online is still necessary.
Web Design Responsive WordPress Theme
42. Healthy and Gluten-free Snacks
In our modern system of values, one of the key roles is assigned to proper nutrition and a healthy body, without which today’s happy existence is almost impossible. Every day we try to become healthier, more beautiful, stronger. We learn about new nutrition systems, diets, exercises, trying to make our life better and more comfortable. One of such systems is gluten-free nutrition. This type of food is recommended not only for people with gluten intolerance but also for those who want to avoid this disease, live healthily and happy.
Organica – Organic Food, Cosmetics and Bio Active Nutrition WooCommerce Theme
43. Sell Solutions to Problems Around You
People are searching for solutions for different problems. Create or find a solution to a particular problem and sell it.
Monstroid2 Multipurpose Website Template
44. Online Wedding Portal
Is not it a great idea to offer all the products and services together for your beautiful event? Everything from wedding planner to photographer, bridal dresses, jewelry as well as venue rental service.
Wedding agency WordPress Theme
45. Sell What Others Don’t
Such huge marketplaces like Amazon and eBay sell many different things, but there are some products they do not offer. Check out some products and services, which are not widely sold and go ahead.
StoreFlex – Responsive Multipurpose OpenCart Template + RTL
Varie Gated – Fashion Online Store Elementor WooCommerce Theme
Eveprest – Multipurpose PrestaShop Theme
Ketty – Fashion Store Magento Theme
Super Market OpenCart Template
Luxidor – Accessories and Apparel Fashion Elementor WooCommerce Theme
46. Online Learning Platforms
Despite there are many diverse educational resources on the market, you can launch your own. As you know, demand affects supply. So, this very niche has saved a place also for you. Plus, a topic of online learning can be absolutely different. Maybe you’ll open a learning platform for handcrafts or marketing courses, – such one where experts from all over the world share their ideas written tutorials or videos.
Online learning platforms are still evolving, which enables you to start your own business. All you have to do is to find students (your audience) who want to take online courses. Then conduct some analyzes of them and focus on an eCommerce website. And, we’ll help you to create this website.
Woostroid2 – Multipurpose WooCommerce Elementor Theme
Technotour – Education Courses Minimal Elementor WordPress Theme
Tutor – Online Education And Teaching WordPress Theme
47. Online Store of Baby Clothes
Isn’t this idea cute? Or, seriously, stats say that the number of searches for baby clothes in Google is impressive. Especially, people are interested in baby compers, maybe even in those that go with sweet rabbit or cat ears. Luckily, newborns appear to sea this world every day and, as the fashion changes, parents want the best outfits for their dear babies. If you feel it’s the right way to start a business, take care of the good quality of your clothes. As for us, we’ll ease the process of building an eCommerce site. Keep on reading!
Baby Store Responsive MotoCMS Ecommerce Template
BooKids – Kids Fashion Shopify Theme
48. Link Building to Content
Link building is an integral part of SEO. It’s a real art of connecting websites and getting them linked back to yours (or your client’s). If you’re a pro on your own, or more than that, has a team of qualitative specialists, it’s to let people know about you. So, why not stop giving pieces of advice to your friends and their friends and turn your skill into a profitable business? Yes, link building to content won’t leave without clients in 2020 and further years, as this process helps people to enhance their website’s positions in Google ranks.
Seomentro – SEO & Digital Marketing Agency Moto CMS 3 Template
SEOmix – SEO Company WordPress Theme
49. Sale of Selfie Drones
So, you are good at sales and wonder what a startup idea may boost your future. Why not sell selfie drones? First of all, they are absolutely trendy today. And, there is no surprise. Visual content is in need. Moreover, people do even more weird things to get attention than buying selfie drones. As for the last, they are useful in creating qualitative photos from different edges. Just think what a cool visual can be taken from a drone during some crowded party. Maybe this tool should in your arsenal also, or?
Secondly, selfie drones are helpful in agriculture surveying and mapping. Modern farmers use them to take an eye on their fields or cattle on the pasture.
Electronics Shop on Shopify – Apparelix Shopify Theme
Intromall – Mega Store WooCommerce Theme
50. 3D Assets Stores
Ready-made 3D assets are searched all over the Internet. Most of all that is so due to 3D games and AR/VR applications, as well there another reason.
So, it’s a good idea to arrange a space (an online store) where third-party designers can share their works. Moreover, if you create 3D assets on your own, it’s high time to make a catchy eCommerce website for them!
Edefy – React Js Digital Marketplace Website Template
GetNet – Internet Service Provider Landing Page Template
Conclusion
Do you dream about your own business? Do you want to try yourself as an entrepreneur? Are you looking for inspiration and the best small business ideas 2020? Any business starts with good business ideas. Still, some time may be needed to find it.
It is possible that you will get a new solution to an old problem, and this will be your competitive advantage! Work out various business startup ideas to build a prosperous company. Hopefully, our list of 50 best eCommerce business ideas will help you find your niche in 2020!
What are advantages and disadvantages of eCommerce business?
eCommerce is a booming business with its advantages and disadvantages. There are not many disadvantages of online business.
Here are some of them:
– Unstable income;
– Irregular working hours;
– Restrictions in the action field;
– High optimization costs.
There are a lot of advantages of business on the Internet. For example:
– The global range of activity;
– Freedom of access;
– Freedom of time;
– No team to work with;
– Minimum project start-up costs;
– Income;
– High service level;
– Competitive ability;
– Self-fulfillment.
What are the most successful small eCommerce businesses 2020?
1. Online Learning Platforms
Despite there are many diverse educational resources on the market, you can launch your own. As you know, demand affects supply. So, this very niche has saved a place also for you. Plus, a topic of online learning can be absolutely different. Maybe you’ll open a learning platform for handcrafts or marketing courses, – such one where experts from all over the world share their ideas written tutorials or videos.
Online learning platforms are still evolving, which enables you to start your own business. All you have to do is to find students (your audience) who want to take online courses. Then conduct some analyzes of them and focus on an eCommerce website. And, we’ll help you to create this website.
2. Online Store of Baby Clothes
Isn’t this idea cute? Or, seriously, stats say that the number of searches for baby clothes in Google is impressive. Especially, people are interested in baby compers, maybe even in those that go with sweet rabbit or cat ears. Luckily, newborns appear to sea this world every day and, as the fashion changes, parents want the best outfits for their dear babies. If you feel it’s the right way to start a business, take care of the good quality of your clothes. As for us, we’ll ease the process of building an eCommerce site. Keep on reading!
3. Link Building to Content
Link building is an integral part of SEO. It’s a real art of connecting websites and getting them linked back to yours (or your client’s). If you’re a pro on your own, or more than that, has a team of qualitative specialists, it’s to let people know about you. So, why not stop giving pieces of advice to your friends and their friends and turn your skill into a profitable business? Yes, link building to content won’t leave without clients in 2020 and further years, as this process helps people to enhance their website’s positions in Google ranks.
4. Sale of Selfie Drones
So, you are good at sales and wonder what a startup idea may boost your future. Why not sell selfie drones? First of all, they are absolutely trendy today. And, there is no surprise. Visual content is in need. Moreover, people do even more weird things to get attention than buying selfie drones. As for the last, they are useful in creating qualitative photos from different edges. Just think what a cool visual can be taken from a drone during some crowded party. Maybe this tool should in your arsenal also, or?
Secondly, selfie drones are helpful in agriculture surveying and mapping. Modern farmers use them to take an eye on their fields or cattle on the pasture.
5. 3D Assets Stores
Ready-made 3D assets are searched all over the Internet. Most of all that is so due to 3D games and AR/VR applications, as well there another reason.
So, it’s a good idea to arrange a space (an online store) where third-party designers can share their works. Moreover, if you create 3D assets on your own, it’s high time to make a catchy eCommerce website for them!
5 Powerful eCommerce Pricing Strategies for Instant Sales Boost
Having worked for more than a dozen eCommerce stores, ranging from small and fledging startups to established, niche-dominating online giants, I have had the chance to try out all kinds of digital marketing tricks.
Right from minor tweaks in design for improving conversion to web form validation and improved registration for reducing shopping cart abandonment, I’ve had the occasion to use different techniques for increasing conversion rates for web stores.
Just a couple of weeks ago, one of my clients shocked me by boosting his sales simply by messing about with pricing. We had been running a rather traditional social media campaign – mostly ads served to users in the right location – and were getting a good response.
Jack felt that fluctuating prices and deploying low-price options that lasted just for a few hours might produce good results. And boy, that did work! We saw 400% increase in sales within a week by deploying this simple pricing strategy.
As you can imagine, I researched the hell out of the subject and found out how different pricing strategies can work (and why they work). Here are some of the eCommerce pricing strategies that seem to give instant boost to sales. I hope you will play around with these and discover the one that works best for your products or services.
Let the Users Pick a Price
People are usually honest and pay well when given freedom.
Just half a kilometer from where I work, there’s an innovative restaurant run by social workers. The cook, the waiter and most of the staff is made of volunteers. Every day different people volunteer for the jobs. You are not given a bill once you are done eating – you simply pay what you feel like. Although the food is just about okay, most people pay more than they would in a glitzy restaurant.
What this got to do with eCommerce stores? Not much if you are selling conventional products, perhaps. But for stores selling a service or artists selling music, digital art, stock photos or similar commodities, the pay-what-you-want model of pricing can work like a charm.
For every person who tries out your product and doesn’t pay, there will be a loyal user who’d pay enough for three people – as long as the product or services is excellent. Plus, many visitors who might not be ready to pay for your product or services may take a liking to it after using it, and these people can turn into lifelong customers.
As I am bursting with stories today, please let me explain this point with another example.
Have you seen Richard Linkwater’s cult classic Before Sunrise? The main characters, sinking deep in love fast, are walking near a river. A haggard-looking poet with disheveled appearance approaches them and offers to write a poem for them. He writes one. His verse is not really a piece of art, but it centers on their experience. So, they are touched. And, they pay through their nose – happily, gratefully.
Purely commercial moral from the story: people pay for emotional connect & perceived value. The value of your product is as high as the user is willing to pay. So, in certain cases, pay-as-much-as-you want can work like a charm.
Folks, The 9 Thing Does Work
Human mind seems to view numbers through a haze.
Don’t you hate it when you see products that cost $1.99 or $39.99? Frankly, they annoy me. But, as human beings, we are hardwired to comprehend numbers in a certain way. You may tell yourself that 49.99 means 50.00. But, your mind will instinctively place the price in the 40s and not 50s. So, there is a reason why the number 9 dominates pricing.
However, most people are aware of the pricing strategy. Research suggests that the use of ‘9’ pricing works best when the users do not have any real idea of how much a specific product or service should cost. In case you are selling a product with a known price, this strategy may not be that effective.
But, you can still use the power of ‘9’ by listing the known, average price and then offering a discounted price. So, if the product actually costs between $45-55, you can list the main price as $51 and state that you are offering it for $49.9.
Offer Discounted Bundle Products
Sweeten the Deal and Sell More with a Heavy Discount on Bundles.
Bundling similar products together is a decade-old strategy. If someone is buying a laptop, there is a good chance that you can persuade them to buy a laptop bag and other accessories. If you can bundle the right products together, you are making things easier for the user. Instead of making several small purchases, the user can get all the related products in a bundle.
Most of the times, users tend to research one central product. After browsing around, they make the decision of buying that product. Buying related products is a combination logical decision-making process and impulsive buying at the same time – “I am sure I will need the laptop bag and the headphones for Skyping. I better buy it. But, I wonder, should I buy it now, or leave it for later?”
In order to tip the balance in your favor, it is best to offer a heavy discount on the bundled products, or create an impression that there is lot to be gained by buying them all together. By clearly showing the maximum price of the products, showing the total discount amount and the final amount, you can sway the tentative customer to buy the bundle.
The conversion success ratio can be increased by allowing the user to select from a bunch of related products for the bundle, instead of making it mandatory for her to buy all the ones chosen by you.
Offer Tall Discounts for a Short Time
Timed discounts convince impulsive buyers to grab a sweet deal.
Certain products and services have really high markups. While it may not make economic sense for you to sell such products at heavily discounted prices daily, there are times when selling in bulk can be profitable. Timed discounts on selected products for a day, or for a few hours, can convince buyers to buy instantly.
One of my clients sells innovative t-shirts with interesting designs and slogans. A t-shirt is made for every occasion – Batman release, Halloween, Christmas, you name it. Last Halloween, just a week before the celebrations, he offered 50% discount on Halloween-theme t-shirts and combined it with a social media marketing blitzkrieg. Needless to say, the sales shot up, and the same strategy has been working wonders for him this Christmas season. If you can combine timed and smart pricing with social media optimization, the results can be pleasantly surprising.
Bottom Line
At the end of the day, you need to conduct regular A/B testing for different pricing strategies. Sure, you may get lucky and the first pricing strategy that you try will work wonders. Usually, trying out different approaches and testing will help you come up with a pricing strategy that provides optimum value.
As online marketers or online store owners, many of us (at least I do!) tend to focus too hard on the design, SEO, SMO and other digital marketing aspects. However, there is lot to be learned from age-old traditional marketing strategies. By focusing on traditional marketing ideas and transplanting them to the online world, marketers and store owners can drive sales increase profits.
What’s your take on this? Please share your ideas, insights and experiences in the comments.
Top 50 eCommerce Business Ideas in 2020 FAQ
How do I start an eCommerce business?
Here are a few steps and instructions on how to start an online business:
DISTRIBUTE YOUR TIME
Check your daily schedule and determine how much time you can devote to your new project. Take as much time as you can, but try to devote a certain number of hours a week to your best startup business. Make yourself do something constructive on a regular basis.
SET THE BUDGET
Start transferring funds (as much as you can afford) to a new project account. Save this money specifically for spending on new business research, training, development.
CHOOSE A PRODUCT OR SERVICE
First, you need to decide what product/service you want to sell. A business idea is the most complicated part of starting a new business. You can build a business around your own unique experience and help others to solve similar problems, develop an interest in your expertise area to consult people with similar hobbies.
DO RESEARCH
Collecting information about the area you have chosen, as well as the competition that exists in it, is a good time investment. Check out the resources related to your topic and target markets — it will help you become an expert. Also, do research your competitors.
WRITE A BUSINESS PLAN
A business plan is a document that brings your entrepreneur ideas and thoughts together and allows to assess the decisions effectiveness, planned activities, and to answer the question, whether to invest in the project.
SET UP YOUR BUSINESS
Name your product and create a logo. Start thinking about the domain names, as soon as you decide on the direction of the business. You need a name that is short, easy to write and remember, free and ideally with an extension”.com”. Get a good domain name, register it in the most popular social networks, using the brand name as a username. This is necessary to ensure that customers can easily find you. Once you are ready with the domain name, it is time to craft a logo. Build your online store and define key performance indicators (KPI).
LAUNCH YOUR BUSINESS
Once you are ready with the steps above, go ahead to launch your product. Hard work begins. Take the first customer! Pay attention to the marketing of your product to get serious and focused on the result.
DO NOT BE IN A FLUTTER TO WAIT FOR APPROVAL.What are advantages of eCommerce business?
eCommerce is a booming business. It has many advantages.
For example:
– The global range of activity;
– Freedom of access;
– Freedom of time;
– No team to work with;
– Minimum project start-up costs;
– Income;
– High service level;
– Competitive ability;
– Self-fulfillment.What are disadvantages of eCommerce business?
eCommerce doesn’t have a lot of disadvantages. Here are some of them:
Unstable income;
– Irregular working hours;
– Restrictions in the action field;
– High optimization costs.
Source : Monster Post