How to Build a Thriving Ecommerce Business with E-Commerce Elite

By the end of 2024, the ecommerce market is projected to reach a staggering $6 trillion. Beyond its lucrative potential, entrepreneurs are drawn to online businesses for the freedom they offer. Unlike managing a physical store with long hours, an online store can be run from virtually anywhere, with much of the work automated, providing flexibility and independence.

However, launching a successful ecommerce business requires strategy and effort. With an estimated 80-90% of ecommerce sites failing within 120 days, standing out in a crowded market of over 26 million sites is no small feat. Success hinges on understanding consumer needs, driving traffic to your site, and delivering efficiently. To help you navigate this competitive landscape, the E-Commerce Elite - 12 Month Membership offers a comprehensive course and live coaching program designed to scale your store to $30,000 per month in sales. Below, we’ll guide you through the essential steps to build your ecommerce business and show how E-Commerce Elite can accelerate your journey.

How to Build Your Ecommerce Site

Starting an ecommerce business can feel daunting, but with the right foundation, you can set yourself up for long-term success. Here’s how to get started, with insights on how E-Commerce Elite can streamline the process.

1. Purchase a Domain Name

Choose a memorable, easy-to-spell domain name to establish your brand identity. Platforms like GoDaddy offer domains for $10-$20. E-Commerce Elite provides expert guidance during your 1-hour onboarding call with Shav and the team, helping you select a domain that aligns with your brand and market goals.

2. Find a Web Developer

Hire a skilled developer to create a professional site quickly. Vet them by reviewing their past ecommerce projects and timelines. With E-Commerce Elite, you gain access to behind-the-scenes videos of multimillion-dollar ecommerce accounts, offering insights into site design and functionality that you can share with your developer to ensure a high-converting website.

3. Get Your Paperwork in Order

Register your business, secure a vendor’s license, and obtain a seller’s permit for taxable sales. Consult a local attorney to navigate legal requirements. The E-Commerce Elite community on Skool connects you with experts who can recommend trusted professionals to handle these steps efficiently.

4. Select Your Hosting Platform

Opt for user-friendly platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, or BigCommerce to save time and money. These platforms integrate easily with plugins and payment systems. E-Commerce Elite offers tutorials on optimizing these platforms, ensuring your site is set up for scalability from day one.

5. Set Up a Payment Gateway

Choose a secure payment gateway like PayPal, Stripe, or Authorize.net to handle credit cards, recurring billing, and mobile payments. Ensure your site has a privacy policy, return policy, and clear shipping methods. E-Commerce Elite provides step-by-step guidance on setting up secure checkouts, reducing cart abandonment, and enhancing customer trust.

6. Take Your Website Live

Launch your site early, even with just a homepage, “About Us,” and contact page to establish legitimacy. E-Commerce Elite’s live coaching helps you craft compelling content for these pages, making it easier to negotiate with vendors and attract media attention.

7. Leverage Media Outreach

Sign up for tools like Connectively and Pitchbox to secure media coverage. Personalize pitches to journalists and build relationships with vendors. E-Commerce Elite’s private community offers templates and strategies for effective outreach, helping you land valuable press and vendor partnerships.

8. Set Up Google Shopping and Facebook Product Catalog

Use Google Shopping and Facebook’s product catalog to display your products in search results and social feeds. E-Commerce Elite includes plugins and tutorials to automate these feeds, maximizing your visibility and driving traffic to your store.

9. Establish Shipping and Storage Protocols

Decide whether to use drop-shipping or store inventory in a warehouse. Choose reliable shipping partners like USPS, UPS, or FedEx, and select appropriate packaging. E-Commerce Elite’s coaching includes proven strategies for optimizing logistics, ensuring cost-effective and timely deliveries.

10. Implement Retargeting

With U.S. ecommerce conversion rates at 2.5-3%, retargeting is critical to re-engage visitors. Place a pixel on your site to track users and serve targeted ads. E-Commerce Elite provides advanced retargeting techniques, helping you convert browsers into buyers and boost your sales.

Setting Marketing Goals for Your Ecommerce Site

To thrive in a competitive market, set clear marketing goals from the start. E-Commerce Elite’s full course equips you with actionable strategies to attract and convert customers.

Here are key areas to focus on:

Product Page and Search Engine Optimization

Invest in SEO to boost your site’s visibility. Build credible links to increase domain authority, a process that can take over a year but pays off with higher search rankings. E-Commerce Elite offers SEO masterclasses, guiding you through link-building and keyword strategies to drive organic traffic.

Social Media

Leverage platforms like Instagram and TikTok to reach your target audience. Tag products in posts to drive direct sales. E-Commerce Elite’s behind-the-scenes videos reveal how to create viral content and target niche demographics, maximizing your social media ROI.

Sign-Up Forms

Use email sign-up forms to capture leads and nurture them with personalized offers. E-Commerce Elite provides email templates and automation strategies to convert hesitant shoppers into loyal customers.

Upselling and Cross-Selling

Increase order value by offering premium products (upselling) or complementary items (cross-selling). E-Commerce Elite’s coaching helps you identify opportunities to implement these techniques effectively.

Abandoned Carts

With 70% of shoppers abandoning carts, streamline your checkout process by saving billing information and minimizing forms. E-Commerce Elite shares proven tactics to reduce friction and recover lost sales.

Customer Loyalty

Build a loyalty program with discounts and exclusive perks to retain customers. E-Commerce Elite’s community offers case studies on successful loyalty programs, helping you design one that keeps customers coming back.

The Importance of Accessibility

An accessible website expands your customer base and enhances user experience. Follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to address common issues like low-contrast text, missing alt-text, empty links, and missing form labels. E-Commerce Elite includes accessibility checklists and developer tips to ensure your site is inclusive and search-engine-friendly, boosting both SEO and customer satisfaction.

Providing Excellent Customer Service

Exceptional customer service sets you apart in ecommerce. E-Commerce Elite’s live coaching teaches you how to create memorable customer experiences. Key strategies include:

• Meet Customers Where They Are: Offer support via social media, email, chat, and phone. E-Commerce Elite provides scripts for handling inquiries across channels.

  
  

• Speed Up Response Time: Respond within 12-24 hours to keep customers satisfied. E-Commerce Elite shares tools to automate and prioritize responses.

  
  

• Encourage Reviews: Incentivize customer reviews to build trust. E-Commerce Elite offers strategies to collect and showcase reviews effectively.

  
  

• Build a Loyalty Program: Reward repeat customers with exclusive perks. E-Commerce Elite provides templates for creating high-impact loyalty programs.

  
  

• Track Progress: Use software to monitor response times and support tickets. E-Commerce Elite recommends tools to optimize your customer service workflow.

  
  

Crafting a Consumer-Friendly Return Policy

A clear, generous return policy builds trust and loyalty. E-Commerce Elite guides you in creating a policy that encourages purchases while minimizing returns. Tips include:

• Make It Easy to Find: Add return policy links on every page or create a Return

• Center. E-Commerce Elite provides examples of user-friendly return pages.

  
  

• Extend Return Periods: Offer longer return windows, like Zappos’ 365-day policy, to boost confidence. E-Commerce Elite shares data on how extended returns drive sales.

  
  

• Use Plain English: Write concise, clear return instructions. E-Commerce Elite offers templates to simplify your policy.

  
  

• Ask for Feedback: Follow up post-return with thank-you notes and surveys. E-Commerce Elite provides feedback strategies to improve your policy.

  
  

10 Expert Tips to Grow Your Ecommerce Business

Scaling your ecommerce store requires strategy and innovation. E-Commerce Elite’s 12-month program, including a 1:1 onboarding call and access to a private Skool community, equips you with the tools to grow to $30,000 per month in sales. Here are 10 tips to get you there:

1. Think Like a Customer: Build inventory based on demand to avoid overstock. E-Commerce Elite teaches you how to analyze market trends.

   
   

2. Intertwine Email and Social: Use tools like Connectio to sync email and social campaigns. E-Commerce Elite provides automation tutorials.

   
   

3. Learn by Doing: Embrace the “act, fail, learn” cycle to iterate quickly. E-Commerce Elite’s coaching helps you turn failures into growth opportunities.

   
   

4. Convert with Email: Use CRM tools like Keap to monetize email lists. E-Commerce Elite shares email strategies for higher conversions.

   
   

5. Maximize a Funnel Approach: Track and optimize the customer journey. E-Commerce Elite provides funnel templates to streamline sales.

   
   

6. Choose a Scalable Backend: Select a POS system that grows with you. E-Commerce Elite recommends systems suited for scaling.

   
   

7. Map the Customer Journey: Understand how customers move from discovery to purchase. E-Commerce Elite offers journey-mapping tools.

   
   

8. Sell Uniquely: Target niche audiences to reduce ad costs. E-Commerce Elite shares creative marketing strategies.

   
   

9. Stay Up to Date: Optimize ad campaigns daily. E-Commerce Elite teaches real-time optimization techniques.

   
   

10. Use Video Ads: Leverage video on social platforms for high ROI. E-Commerce Elite’s videos show you how to create engaging ads.

    
    

Why Choose E-Commerce Elite?

The E-Commerce Elite - 12 Month Membership is your all-in-one solution to building and scaling a profitable ecommerce business. With access to a full course, live coaching, a 1:1 onboarding call with Shav and the team, and exclusive behind-the-scenes videos of multimillion-dollar accounts, you’ll learn proven strategies to reach $30,000 per month in sales. Join the private Skool community to connect with experts and peers, ensuring you have the support to succeed. Don’t let your ecommerce dream fail—enroll in E-Commerce Elite today and fast-track your journey to success.