When you think of ordering products online, Amazon might be what automatically comes to mind, but digital commerce has become so easily accessible — and in such high demand — that many small businesses are now jumping on board to meet the demands of modern consumers.

In fact, many of those small businesses found themselves forced to adapt throughout 2020. Although demand for digital commerce — which refers to any buying or selling products or services via the internet — has been steadily increasing for years, many small businesses didn’t feel as if it were feasible or even necessary. They told themselves it was too complicated or too expensive. Besides, plenty of consumers still preferred to go out and shop in person.

But when lockdowns and stay-at-home orders due to the coronavirus pandemic forced businesses to either close down completely or limit their hours and the number of people in their store, these business owners realized they had to find a way of making themselves available to their customers.

Businesses Adapt to a Changing World

Nobody can really say what normal life will look like after the pandemic is over, but it’s likely that digital commerce will be one of those changes that stick around. People like the convenience of being able to do whatever they need to do from the comfort of their sofa at home, all with just the click of a button. This is especially true if they are able to get whatever they need delivered right to their doorstep within a day or two (or in some cases, a matter of hours).

But it’s not just retail shops that have switched to digital commerce — small businesses that offer services, programs, and memberships had to adapt as well. Many gyms set up their trainers and workout instructors to give group classes or one-on-one lessons over Zoom or social media platforms like Instagram Live.

Businesses that specialized in consultations had to make the same changes. Banks, lawyers, business coaches, dietitians, tutors, and other professionals started to meet with their clients over the internet instead of in person.

Even grocery stores started to push their online shopping options. Customers could select the items they wanted, and then those items were bagged by an employee and brought out to the curbside for pickup.

How Can I Start Selling Via Digital Commerce

Maybe you’ve been holding off as long as you can to start selling via digital commerce—but now it’s inevitable. Or maybe you have a side hustle you put on hiatus but you’re itching to get it started again. Or maybe you’re just planning to launch an online business sometime in 2021. Whatever the reason is—you’ve got questions.

And having questions is okay. For the longest time, digital commerce seemed like the type of thing that only big businesses could engage in. But that’s no longer the case.

Let’s say you’re an independent artist who is looking to sell your work online. You’ve never had an actual store of your own—you’ve simply consigned them with a local retailer, or you’ve attended art shows and craft fairs where you’ve been able to set up a booth. Now you’re ready to set up your own online store where people can order your work and have it shipped to them.

If you have a Facebook page or Instagram page for your business (which you should), then you have the option of selling products straight through the social media platform. Instagram and Facebook have already integrated ways to offer in-app purchases with digital catalogs you can fill with as many or as few items as you want.

But you want to give your customers as many options as possible. Even in 2021, some people still are not on social media. In those cases, setting up a shop on Shopify or Etsy could be a great option. These sites have a user-friendly interface with easy-to-follow templates you can use. You’ll have the option of offering different shipping rates, accepting different payment options, and automating the tax you charge on your products. Shopify and Etsy are especially great because it’s easy for you to use a plug-in and add them to your own website — then customers can order from your landing page instead of being directed elsewhere.

Things to Consider

Before you launch your new online shop, make sure you:

• Figure out your shipping options. Will you be mailing out the product yourself, or will it be shipping from a third-party manufacturer? What shipping timeframe can you guarantee, and how much of the cost will you have to pass along to your customer?

• Do you have a return and exchange policy? Returns get especially tricky with digital commerce. In some cases, you might have to absorb the cost of having the product sent back to you. If your product gets lost in transit, how will you go about refunding your customer’s money?

• How will your customers contact you? The beauty of in-person shopping is you can ask questions from a sales associate and get immediate answers. Many businesses want to replicate this convenience as efficiently as they can. Make sure you list an email address, phone number, or a messaging platform where you’ll be available within 24 business hours.

Need help setting up an e-commerce website? The team at Ann’s Social Media & Marketing would love to help you out. Reach out today by calling 443-679-4916 or emailing ann@asmmdigital.com.