With the explosion of online stores and marketplaces, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the number of options available. But don’t worry, being able to run an online store simply means you’ve got what it takes to succeed in this environment.

Since the beginning of this decade, the world of e-commerce has shifted to cloud computing and decentralized storage. As a result, traditional methods of selling online – like showing pictures of items or walking customers through a series of small-ticket items – are no longer effective strategies. And that’s why today’s online stores need to innovate to survive.

If you’re looking to set up an online store, here are a few tips to help you succeed:

Consider Your Target Audience

When you set out to create a digital marketing plan for your online store, the first thing you need to do is consider your target audience and the type of content they’re likely to value.

Are you selling baby clothing? Maybe you should consider creating an online store for expecting mothers or parents of young children. With the right mix of content and offers, you could encourage them to share their journey – from first trimester to new babyhood – with you.

On the other hand, if you’re selling adult toys, you might want to target males between the ages of 18 and 24. And if you’re selling luxury goods, you could aim your efforts at affluent shoppers.

Whatever your product or service, you should always consider your target audience before you start creating content. This will help you determine which content platform is best suited for your business. You might want to try and establish yourself as an authority in your industry or become a go-to source for content. Whatever the case, you need to find a way to connect with your target audience.

Content Is King (or Queen)

Although e-commerce is a lucrative industry, generating billions of USD in annual sales, it’s still a relatively young industry. We’re only just beginning to see the impact of the internet and social media on traditional retail. As a result, much of what we know about online marketing and sales relates to the early days of the web when internet speeds were slow and file sizes were big.

Back in those days, an e-commerce store would typically host all their products on a single web page. Customers would then browse the site, purchasing items as they went along. While this method of selling is still effective, it’s not the most effective way of utilizing the internet today.

The way we purchase products and the way we communicate has changed. Thanks to platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Shopify, which provide various online stores and marketplaces. Nowadays, when we want to purchase something, we typically go to a retailer’s website, browse their products, make a purchase, and then either go back to the website or continue on to a different retailer’s website. This is called digital retail shopping.

If you’re just getting started and don’t have big budget to spare, you might want to consider a content-based marketing method. Why? It’s relatively low cost and very effective. Instead of investing in expensive ads or paying for expensive social media platforms, you can simply create content and make money down the line. Plus, you can always adjust your content marketing strategy as you learn more about your target audience’s behavior.

Mobile First

If you’re reading this, you’re almost certainly aware of the importance of mobile marketing. After all, 70% of all Google searches are now performed from a smartphone. And 96% of Americans use their phones to access the internet, compared to 89% who use a computer. As a result, marketing on mobile is more important than ever.

With over 2.9 billion Americans using smartphones, the number of potential customers just beyond your reach is massive. To reach them, you need to make sure your business exists on their smartphones. And to do that, you need to focus on mobile first. This means creating content for mobile devices first and then scaling your efforts up as you learn more about the effectiveness of different platforms. As an e-commerce store owner, this means creating content for small screen phones first and then moving up to bigger screens as you learn more about your customers’ behavior.

Deciding what to put in a mobile commercial and which platform to use to distribute it can be tricky. You might want to start off with an app since it’s the most accessible and profitable platform for mobile marketers. And if you decide to try and become a publisher on a smaller platform like TikTok, you could reach a huge audience with your ads. But if you want to be able to measure the ROI of your mobile marketing efforts effectively, you might want to consider a content publishing platform like Shopify that provides analytics within its dashboard.

Go Live

With the proliferation of online stores and marketplaces, it’s easier than ever to set one up. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy to run a successful one. Especially when you’re just getting started. If you’re looking to make your online store a success, you first need to consider your target audience and what they want – which is usually something simple and straightforward. With that in mind, it’s time to move into action. On to the next step.