Have you been thinking that you should get started in eCommerce? Are you excited to get into gear and make the dream happen?
Many people get caught up in the rush of the digital age. They all want to become instant millionaires, driven by the call of the Internet glow. It looks so easy to get started in eCommerce. It seems so simple to set up shop online and just watch the dollars come pouring in.
Sure, there are a lot of aspects of online business that have been made so easy by advances in technology. It’s not all wine and roses, though. You need to know that it’s right for you to get started in eCommerce. Otherwise, you will end up miserable, whether or not you are able to make a few bucks from your living room couch.
Are you hesitant to get started in eCommerce because you aren’t sure if this is the right move for you?
Here are 10 signs that will show you if you are in fact ready to get started in eCommerce – and able to enjoy the kind of lifestyle that it entails.
1. You are computer and tech savvy.
If you really want to get started in eCommerce, you need to have more than a little computer know-how. eCommerce relies solely upon technology, and a lot of it, in many different shapes and sizes.
The first sign that you are ready to get started in eCommerce is your ability to work with computers. If the digital world is your friend, then you will get along just fine. When you struggle to get your laptop to cooperate, however, you might want to think about developing some tech skills before you take the leap.
2. You enjoy a remote life.
So many people agree that the life of a digital nomad working from home or some café or on an isolated beach is THE DREAM. Not everyone is as excited by the idea of the anywhere-office with sand between the toes, however.
The second sign that eCommerce is the right lifestyle choice for you is that you are eager to go remote. If you love the notion of having the option to work from anywhere, then you will thoroughly enjoy being an eCommerce business owner.
Note also that when you get started in eCommerce, you will find yourself moving around a lot. Sure, it’s all online, but there are so many other things to do to prepare for business online. Moreover, if you’re the type who needs to be in an office setting to stay motivated, you might want to keep your excitement in check for the time being.
3. You love shopping online.
Do you spend hours just browsing on online marketplaces, not really buying but enjoying the variety? Do you find it stimulating to get online to look for obscure sites that sell interesting products? eCommerce involves a lot of this, so you need to love it if you plan to get started in eCommerce.
The third sign of someone who will fit into the online business world is the thrill of the search. Almost everyone shops online these days because it’s just so convenient. Many of these online shoppers can even agree that they are able to spend hours browsing without tiring. But few can honestly say that they gain the most pleasure out of the search itself. We usually visit Amazon or eBay or Etsy when we need something. Setting up camp there just for the heck of it indicates a rare passion for products in general, whether you want to buy them or not.
4. You’re interested in consumer buying trends.
This is where it gets a bit technical. Some night even say boring. And wait, consumer buying trends? What’s that?
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, then you need to get on Google right now for a bit of research. Consumer buying trends are a huge part of eCommerce success. You need to not only know about the numbers that drive sales, but you need to see them as titillating figures that dance in your head and push you to fever pitch. They can’t be the dry figures that put you to sleep faster than a bottle of Bordeaux.
The fourth sign that you are a good candidate to get started in eCommerce is that you love knowing who is buying what – and when, and where, and how they’re doing it. If you even enjoy digging further to puzzle out the why, then you are a born entrepreneur.
5. You see a future where the majority of retail is online.
The Internet is all abuzz with the digital revolution and what this means for commerce. Buying and selling is the foundation of many an economy, and online business depends on more and more people staying out of the neighborhood to shop on the Internet instead.
Are you fine interacting with a static screen rather than the warm bodies at the mall? More importantly, are you psyched that the business world is moving online? This is the fifth sign that you were made to get started in eCommerce.
When you can envision the future of buying and selling happening online, then you are ready to get started in eCommerce. Brick and mortar stores may never really phase out, but if you know in your gut that the future is digital commerce, then you are in the right mindset to become an online entrepreneur.
6. You are passionate about a particular category of products.
Here’s where we start diving into the specifics of what it takes to get started in eCommerce. Getting a kick out of browsing for whatever just to see what’s out there isn’t enough to ensure your survival as an online seller. There needs to be this one particular category of products that inspires you.
The sixth sign that you were born to run an online business is that you go all eager beaver at the mere mention on one of the above products. If you want to make that million before you give up the ghost, you need to be able to say right now – or rather, not be able to stop yourself from talking about – what products you need to be selling, like, yesterday.
7. You like solving problems.
When you get started in eCommerce, there’s going to be a lot of bumps along the way. You can learn a lot about selling online from the Internet and get up to speed on all the different models that you can use. Your business is still going to be unique, however, and that means a learning curve.
The seventh sign that you can get started in eCommerce without hurting yourself is that you are a problem solver. You may not be a natural, but if you can derive satisfaction out of finding solutions, then you are good to go. Problems can take all the joy out of running a business, so staying positive as they roll in and being able to go with the flow is essential.
8. You love learning on the fly.
The Internet and computers and technology don’t stay the same for a minute – literally. There are changes happening constantly in real time. It’s the nature of the beast, and eCommerce is no different.
The eighth sign that eCommerce is right for you is that you love being on the fast track. You need to learn a lot as you go along, and won’t often have the luxury of scheduling a training session. If you’re good on your toes, then at his point I think you can safely let loose your excitement to get started in eCommerce.
9. You want a passive income that runs itself.
Being able to sit back and watch your money pile grow is definitely a good life. Not many people wouldn’t want to have the option to stop the daily grind and start really living.
Passive income is the key to a privileged life, and the ninth sign that you should get started in eCommerce is the desire to pursue it. You have to be relentless on this point, though. Building a passive income is no walk in the park. You have to want it really badly if you’re going to get though what it takes to make it happen.
10. You are prepared to spend 6 months to get to where you want to be.
As I’ve been saying all throughout, starting and running an online business can be as tough for an entrepreneur as it is rewarding. Any business owner has to put in a lot of long hours to get it to the point where it starts paying out.
The tenth and final sign that it’s right for you to get started in eCommerce is that you are willing to dedicate at least half a year to building your eCommerce startup. I don’t know of any business whose owner could call it their pride and joy during the first 6 months. It’s a rough time, and it requires your patience and steadfast commitment to get through.
Will You Get Started in eCommerce?
I can’t guarantee that even if you score a perfect 10 out of 10 on this list you’ll be the next Jeff Bezos or Bill Gates. I can’t even guarantee that you’ll come out of your first year unscathed. What I can say with all certainty in my experience – and I know that Connor agrees with me on this – is that it’s definitely worth giving it the old college try. If you are passionate about these points and are willing and able to get started in eCommerce, there’s nothing more that you could hope to have to set you on your way to success.
