Being an entrepreneur can be really satisfying. You get to make all the decisions and have no boss. What could be better?
Things are even easier nowadays, when anyone can take advantage of the internet and start an online business, without investing too much.
However, this can also be a challenge. When it comes to ecommerce businesses, things are a bit different from traditional businesses. There are certain methods that need to be used and you need to do your research first.
If you are planning to become one of the entrepreneurs that has their own profitable ecommerce business, here is a short guide that should help you.
1. Choose the right ecommerce products
The first question you should answer is: “what do you want to sell?”.
It is very important to make this choice before you think about any other details. Discovering the right products or the right niche is not an easy thing to do and you should make this decision after you do some research.
You will need to find something that is not that easy to find at any of your competitors’ websites. Since your business is a new one, it will be hard to compete with rivals that have more experience but offer the same products. Therefore, you should focus on discovering something unique that others are not able to offer.
Even after you do find a specialised product, you should think about your choice carefully. Ask yourself if your competitors will be able to replicate that product easily. Come up with some other advantages that will differentiate you from the others, such as better customer service or a website that is easy to buy from.
You can also explore the current trends in other ecommerce businesses. One of the best ways to do that is by looking on social media. There you can see exactly what people love at the moment. However, you have to make sure that the trend you choose won’t fade away too quickly.
2. Prepare your ecommerce website
The website represents your actual store, so you have to make sure that you offer the best experience for your clients.
First of all, choose a clean design that is attractive at the same time. Then, make sure that the design is functional as well and can handle people buying products through the website.
All the features must work properly before you launch the website. Use images for all your products, making sure that they are high-quality photos.
Additionally, you should come with some smart descriptions that provide all the information a customer might need.
3. Buy an existing ecommerce business
If you think that the entire idea of creating your own ecommerce business is too much for you, there is always an alternative. Many website owners sell their sites and you can purchase one.
There are more ways to buy an online business, but I recommend you use an online marketplaces like Exchange by Shopify.
There you will find a whole range of available websites and you will even be able to search for the niche that you want. You will also receive all the needed data about the site you want to purchase, and that includes financials and the traffic, so you’ll know exactly what you’ll get.
These are just some ideas to get started with running an eommerce business. What tips do you have for starting a profitable ecommerce business?
I enjoyed reading about your 2 week trip. I am going very soon
and the information was very useful, THANK YOU!
Glad you enjoyed - and have a great trip to Japan!
Thank you for this! I planned my two week itinerary around this.
Thanks, Stephen! How was your trip? Where did you go in your two weeks?
Thanks for such a great and informative write-up…especially the “Rest of Japan” notes. I have been trying to narrow down and pick and choose places for my first trip to Japan. I have been interested in Japan for a while and am a solo traveler, so this helps me with my planning for a trip in 2015.
That’s a great write up! I only did Kyoto for a week when I went to Japan - mostly temples, Arashiyama, and lots & lots of food. Can’t wait to go back. It was amazing. Next time I go, I’m taking your itinerary with me.
This is what happened on my crazy trip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I6Ku0tY9SM
Hey this was great! I’m currently wading through information on the web (OK,I won’t complain - it’s my favorite hobby), in order to plan a two-week visit to Japan. You included a lot of useful information plus a very realistic itinerary. Thanks!
Thanks, Linda! Definitely better to pack less in, but take in more of the places you do visit.
Let me know if you write about your trip 🙂
Hello Ben. Just to let you know that I came back from Japan yesterday, and I followed a lot of your advice! In fact, I even had a photocopy of your information with me (and dumped another one which was way too intensive). I pretty much followed the same itinerary, but because I had sixteen days I added a little more time in Kyoto and went to Kanazawa. After reflection, I took the JR pass for 14 days and used it until the last day, although I could almost have done as you did. I took your advice and went to a hotel in Ueno - and I really liked that neighborhood! Returning to Tokyo on my last three days (two nights) I stayed in a business hotel which was right in the fish market, so I had no excuse not to go see it - and I could go back to sleep for a bit at 6:00 am when they let us out.
I really loved Japan! In every way….it was just such a pleasure to walk around and discover. I’m a big fan of Buddhist (and Shinto) temple architecture - it just fascinates me - and I really got my fill of this. Sorry for my friends who have to see the photos! I had hesitated about going all the way to Hiroshima but I think it’s well worth it, and Miyajima was just beautiful.
I’m a Miyazaki (great animation) fan and on my last day, went to a museum called the Tokyo-Edo Open-Air Architectural Museum; they had a special exhibition of background paintings from the films. However, I discovered that this museum was really interesting in it’s own right - they actually moved houses and shops to this sight that you can’t see anywhere else in rebuilt Tokyo.
As far as keeping to a budget, because I live in France and was changing euros, I think it was rather favorable against the yen. I don’t know if that’s the same for other currencies. Japan overall was cheaper than France and I even did some clothes shopping to save money! I think a lot of money went into temple and museum visits, but that can be curbed on a tighter budget. And like you said, there is lots of inexpensive food available.
By choice, I travel solo at least once a year - and I do sometimes think of contributing to the sites specializing in solo travel (there’s even one for women who travel solo). However, I don’t know if there’s anything particular to say about solo travel in Japan. Perhaps people were more willing to help me? A few times, being a little lost, I just put on a lost face with my map in my hand, and people actually conducted me to the right bus stop or in the right direction. Don’t think the Japanese get the same treatment in Paris!
So thank you again for the information which I followed from the beginning and throughout my trip!
Did you stay in tokyo and take day trips out of tokyo?
Hey Jerel,
Yes, we stayed in Tokyo. Was a great experience.
We did a day trip to Nara - well worth it to see the deer and the giant Buddha!
This is very interesting and I enjoyed reading your experiences and where you went. May I ask, what was your budget like for the 2 week trip?
Thank you so much, really hopeful guides. I was planning for weeks to think of a route for my 2 week trip in japan but am thinking to do osaka - kyoto - tokyo. just worried how it would be like spending christmas in japan. heard they don’t really celebrate it
So how much did it cost you?
Hi John, this was a few years ago now, but I think it cost in the region of $1,500 per person per week - and that was on a budget. Thanks!
Thanks for the awesome post! Just curious, what’s the approximate budget you spent with this two-week itinerary? A range is much appreciated!
Hi KT, this was a few years ago now, but I think it cost in the region of $1,500 per person per week - and that was on a budget. Thanks!
Hi - I loved this post. Like the other replies, I’d really like to know WHAT the budget actually was that you did all this with? Can you provide the amount in USD $$?
Hi Kelsey, this was a few years ago now, but I think it cost in the region of $1,500 per person per week - and that was on a budget. Thanks!
Hi Ben, I would like to second the others on a range for what this trip costed you. Its hard to guage an accurate picture.
Thank you
Hello, this was a few years ago now, but I think it cost in the region of $1,500 per person per week - and that was on a budget. Thanks!
Triangle sushi thingy… Onigiri?
Yes, that’s it 😉
Hi I loved to details, but I’m just wondering how much would you need for the two weeks ?
Hello, this was a few years ago now, but I think it cost in the region of $1,500 per person per week - and that was on a budget. Thanks!
Hi Ben,
Is Mount Fiji included in the plan?
No, we didn’t make it to Mount Fuji but got a good view of it from the bullet train out of Tokyo!