Thursday 13 September 2012

The Benefits of Going Solo in E-commerce




More and more budding entrepreneurs in the UK are venturing down the route of the internet-based start-up. The accessibility and immediacy of the internet means it is an easily-wielded tool for any new businessman or businesswoman. If you can sense a palpable demand for your proposed product or service then you have the hardest part out of the way. There are two main options for turning your
marketable idea or hobby into a genuine online business: cooperating with an established e-commerce site, or setting up your own online business platform. Choosing the appropriate strategy for you and your business depends on how highly you value ease-of-use versus independence.

The buyer/seller dynamic of eBay is a tried and tested, well-established culture but it can be truly daunting for any new seller. Indeed, it is easy to get swallowed up in the saturated static of the website’s community and many find it difficult to get off the ground. You may find Amazon provides a far less cluttered route to business growth, but you will likely be deterred by some of the commission rates (which can approach the 15% mark).

If your product or service is fairly specialised then it will be worthwhile to look around for a specialised selling platform. Companies such as Etsy – which deals exclusively with the buying and selling of handmade products – is a brilliant option if you are one of the many new e-commerce businesses in Britain joining the digital ‘car-boot sale’ agenda. Pulley is another superb specialised platform, catering to all forms of downloadable art, software, music, photography and video. Creatives will find that this is a far more profitable option than the big-hitters.

But what if you require greater independence? What if your ambitions stretch beyond the realms of the ‘marketable hobby’? You could, and probably should, consider setting up your own website. Many people are surprised at how cheaply this can be done – with the purchasing of a domain name more economically viable than ever before. Constructing a site is naturally more difficult than buying a domain but since small business is all about B2B relations why not enlist the services of a small web developer start-up? Or even a web design graduate? I guarantee you will be impressed by the results and the change you have left over.

Starting your own e-commerce website has one major benefit: the ability to grow into new markets. Joining established selling platforms such as Ebay and Amazon create the illusion that your business is going global, when it really isn’t. Creating your own platform allows you to tailor your online presence to each new market as you grow outward. British start-ups can employ the services of a reputable London translation agency and really improve the quality of their e-commerce platform. Taking a meticulous approach to translation will ensure that you have an opportunity for success in any new nation. This is the single greatest benefit to going solo in e-commerce, because we now live in a truly global market. If you feel that you can take the independent approach then go for it - don’t limit yourself. Search about London translation and translation agency.




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