Taking your business online

So you now need to take your business online, so what can you do? 

If you are getting someone to make your website for you, you will still need to provide them with content. Or you might be doing it yourself to save money.

Either way, you still need to write the content for;

• An about page 
• A frequently asked questions (FAQ) page
• Size guides if relevant
• Term and Conditions (T's & C's) page.
• Product Descriptions

About page 

Your about page is not about you, it is about your customer. It should include 5 key things;

- Who you are

- Who you help

- Why you have to help your target market

- What breaks your heart about your target market

- What transformation your customers will get from using your products.

Frequently Asked Questions

This sound quite obvious, think about all the questions people ask you on a daily basis about your products. Add the ones that reoccur a lot. Make it easy to read and break up each point. Also, consider the points below;

- Post & Packaging pricing

- If you deliver internationally

- Returns policy

- Do you sell gift vouchers

- Do you have a shop

- Where are your products stocked

Size guides 

If the products you sell come in different sizes it is always good to have sizes guides with comparisons to international sizes. You want to make it easy for the customers to make a purchase with you.

Terms and conditions

It is always important to provide a terms and conditions page.  Take a look at your competitors for some inspiration, don't copy directly but use them as a guide. If relevant include;

- Tax Charges

- How to make a purchase/methods of payments accepted

- Delivery information (Where you deliver to)

- Delivery Time Scales

- Backorders for out of stocks (if you accept them)

- Refund and exchange policy

- Returns address details

- Guarantees

- Privacy policy

- Infomation your website collects

- How to get in touch

Product Descriptions

Each product will need to have a product description, make them all slightly different as google doesn't like copy and paste jobs.

- Include product care instructions

- If the item is available in other colours (e.g. tee-shirt)

- If the print is available with different products (e.g. bikini, tankini, swimsuit and sarong)

I know it can seem like quite a lot to do, remember it doesn't have to be perfect and you can go back and tweak and update at any time. 

" Once I had a collection of swimsuits for sale with no product descriptions, just pictures, prices and images for two weeks before I realised. No one died, but I probably would have made more sales if I had provided more information. "

It doesn't need to be perfect. You don’t need to launch with every product, start with you best sellers then add more products each day.

Other things to consider

Product Images - Try to include 1-5 photos for each product.  Flat lay or white background, close-up, lifestyle and portrait images and landscape for banners. (Always resize the images to the suggested sizes of the website). 

Mailing list - have links throughout your website for people to join your mailing list. If you don’t have one, you need to set one up.  The free versions of Mailerlite or Mailchimp will do to start.

Contact your customers - The best customers are the ones you already have. Send out an extra email or two, let them know if are launching your website give them a discount as soon as you have launched.  

Make sure the links work - Check they work then also ask a friend to check your website links work before you tell the world your website is live.

Don't be shy - Be present online on social media and in groups with your target audience and tell them once your website is live ( you need customers).

" During times of uncertainty, it’s really important not to get overwhelmed or stressed out. I know that’s easy to say, so having a plan of action really helps. Just improve your website little and often. "