Online stores are huge in America and China, but this trend is also on the rise in SA. An eCommerce report by PayPal together with research firm Ipsos, believes that the online market in SA will grow by R17 billion over the next two years (currently R43-billion).

Being successful online requires several things of which a user-friendly, visually-pleasing website, with a memorable domain name and fast, reliable hosting forms the basis. Naturally, you also have to market your store via social media and other platforms to boost visibility etc., but there are a few other important factors that can contribute to the success of your online store, namely:

1.Safety
According to a study by Sabric, SA has the third-highest cyber attacks in the world. Making your site safe for your shoppers is therefore non-negotiable. Encrypt your online store with an SSL Certificate and be sure to make use of anti-virus software that can protect you, your company and your customers from ransomware.

2. Payment options
People have diverse likes and dislikes when it comes to many things, including how they wish to pay for goods. With an online store the “less is more” mantra doesn’t work well. Provide your customers with at least three different and diverse ways of payment. The more options you give, the more convenient the shopping experience for your customers and the wider you will be able to cast your net. A good option to include is Instant EFT through OZOW, which allows customers to securely do an EFT payment without “leaving” your store or needing to log into their bank accounts. Shoppers log into their online banking profile in real-time while on your site.

3. Service
Online stores are popular because they have the ability to feed the human need to shop at a whim from anywhere at anytime. It is utterly convenient. Delays when it comes to processing and delivering orders are therefore unacceptable. Customers will return to your store if you give them a pleasurable shopping experience from start to finish.

4. Eco-friendliness
A greener approach to literally everything is a trend that is here to stay. eCommerce should follow suit. Think outside the box when it comes to your packaging. Do you need such a large box plus a bag or are there other greener ways to wrap your products safely for delivery?

5. Product displays
Give your sales a boost by working harder to engage with your customers on each of your products. Utilise product descriptions, multi-angle imagery, video and styled photographs to showcase your products in all their glory.

At Domains.co.za, we want to make it easier and more cost-effective for startups, small businesses and entrepreneurs to sell online. Our Sitebuilder website builder allows individuals to create a website quickly and easily by making use of drag and drop plugins.

Chantel Venter

Chantél Venter is a creative writer, strategic thinker, and a serious gesticulator. She’s passionate about storytelling, small businesses and bringing color to the world ­– be it through her words or wardrobe.

She holds a four-year degree in Business and Mass Media Communication and Journalism. She’s been a copywriter and editor for the technology, insurance and architecture industries since 2007 and believes anybody can run a small business successfully. She therefore enjoys finding and sharing the best and most practical tips for this purpose.