The internet is a beautiful invention. It has opened up opportunities for millions of people to start their businesses and sell products worldwide.
However, it can also be a daunting experience when you’re not organized enough to manage your online store well. Keeping your website updated with new inventory, orders, and customer service will take up most of your time if you don’t have someone else on staff or an automated system in place that does these tasks for you.
To avoid wasting precious hours every day, we’ve compiled some tips to help you stay organized and focused on what matters: growing your business.
Optimize and maintain your website regularly
Your website is often the first impression customers have of your store, so it’s essential to keep it updated with the latest information. However, this task can be challenging to do without a specific routine.
To keep everything organized, consider creating an editorial calendar for your company’s blog and decide which tasks you want to do ahead of time and which ones you can do as needed.
Consider how often you can make changes to your website. You want to make sure you add new inventory every week so that search engines and browsers can quickly find your products. Some websites might only need maintenance every few months, but others that are very image-heavy or blog-based may require updates more frequently.
Arrange your inventory system for easy access
Having a consistent way to list and organize your inventory will make it easier for customers to find the products they’re looking for. It will also make it easier for you to manage your inventory.
Consider creating a spreadsheet with every item arranged by category, brand, color, size, and other identifiers. It can be helpful if you have hundreds of products because finding them will be quick and easy. You can also make these changes in your online store by using tags or categories to organize your inventory.
It’s also best to consider how you display your inventory online. Will you list items by newest first or oldest first? Will you show multiple images of each product, and if so, will they be the same size and quality? These considerations depend on the most important for your customers: ease of use or obsessive completeness.
Make time for routine consultations
It’s often difficult to know the right questions to ask when managing your e-commerce business. When you feel stumped, schedule time for a consultant or adviser to tell you what they think is wrong or how they would solve problems.
Professional core web vitals consultation helps eCommerce business owners to understand their current website performance. This data dictates what changes you need to make to ensure the best possible customer experience. It also assists in marketing your products in some way.
You might also consider hiring a coach who will work with you as your business continues to grow. A coach won’t do the work for you, but they can help you ask the right questions and prioritize tasks to keep your website organized.
Outsource services in other areas
There are many activities that you don’t have to do yourself, especially if you are starting with your online store. Consider availing services in your area to manage your social media, accept payments, answer customer questions, or gather customer reviews.
In the long run, you’ll save time and money if you can delegate tasks to other people so that they don’t eat up all your time. If you are too busy to hire permanent employees or can’t afford them right now, see if you know anyone who might do the work as a volunteer or trainee. This way, you can also try new people before committing to them for the long term.
Avoid skipping your business finances
Business finances are often challenging to manage because of how quickly money moves in and out of your company’s bank account.
If it worries you, consider hiring an accountant who will keep track of your finances for you. You should also become familiar with your business checking account so that you know what your funds are being used to pay for and so that you can identify if any problems arise in the future.
If you happen to make a mistake in managing your company’s finances, remember that it is possible to correct them.
Managing your eCommerce business can be a lot of work, but you can stay organized and make the most of your time by following these tips. Implementing these tips can help you grow your business and keep it running smoothly.