Start Selling Online : Step-by-Step Guide on Launching an Ecommerce Website

Globally, Emerging Stronger projects that ecommerce sales will grow 20% during 2021 to $5.2 trillion with 19% growth in 2022 to $6.2 trillion. People can buy everything online from fresh groceries to prescription glasses – without ever leaving the comfort of their home. 

Investing in an online store can be a valuable addition to your revenue stream. The strength of ecommerce lies in its convenience as potential customers can find your business from anywhere with an internet connection. As more Canadians turn to online shopping, you can get your business in front of shoppers who are currently browsing online.

Step-by-Step Ecommerce Guide

Before anything else, you need to lay the groundwork with some pre-launch preparation. The best way to start selling online involves a plan, similar to an overall business plan, specifically focused on ecommerce. It doesn't need to be complicated. However, it does need to outline the essentials for getting your online business up and running.

Now that we laid the groundwork, the next step is to choose the right ecommerce solution for your business. Every small business has specific needs, while different platforms have their strengths and weaknesses. An essential factor in selecting the best ecommerce solution is whether it offers the right features for your business.

Now that you've identified your market, nailed down your shipping strategy, and picked an ecommerce platform, we can focus on essential tips for creating your store.

Now that you've identified your market, nailed down your product photography, and picked an ecommerce platform, we'll focus on setting up your ecommerce store with Moneris Online and enable shipping with UPS. Our guide encompasses everything from website to sales to shipping, so you can focus on running your business while we take care of everything else.

Ready to take your business online? Harness the power of Moneris Online to build your website in minutes. You’ll get everything you need to easily build your website, accept online payments, and manage your online store! 

Help Prevent Fraud From Hurting Your Online Sales

The world of ecommerce has grown dramatically, as businesses have begun to include online shopping as part of their standard business model. Unlike traditional brick-and-mortar stores, detecting fraudulent behaviour can be difficult. The fact that 88% of Canadian businesses reported experiencing at least one cyber-attack in the last year alone shows that all businesses are at risk, including yours. 

Fraud prevention tools within your ecommerce solution might sound like an expensive or tedious feature that only the big businesses can afford to do. Still, you might be surprised that this isn't the case. Implementing fraud prevention tools is one of the easiest ways to minimize your exposure to online credit card fraud.

Kount, a Moneris partner, helps ecommerce businesses boost sales by reducing fraud and allowing you to accept more orders from more people in more places than ever. Moneris collaborated with Kount to expand fraud protection services to small businesses by building an easy-to-use fraud solution that reduces chargeback risks from online transactions. 

With Moneris Kount Essential, you can get out-of-the-box fraud protection for your ecommerce business. It uses predetermined risk parameters based on your business size and industry to assess potentially fraudulent transactions in real-time.

Accept All the Online Payment Methods

With the expansion of ecommerce and the need for secure payment methods, online shoppers are embracing digital wallet payments. Digital wallets have seen a surge in popularity in the last few years, not only for the security they provide but also for the great convenience involved.

To meet the changing preferences of consumers, online business owners need to evolve their websites and provide a smooth shopping experience. While a mobile-friendly website is a big part of it, you also have to offer a seamless checkout experience with alternative payment methods.

The information in this article is provided solely for informational purposes and is not intended to be legal, business or other professional advice or an endorsement of any of the websites or services listed. 

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Moneris Team

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Moneris is a leading provider of payment processing solutions in Canada. Our blog is your go-to resource for insights into the ever-evolving world of payments. We cover everything from the latest industry trends and technologies to practical advice for businesses of all sizes. Our blog's mission is to spotlight small businesses and provide resources that help them succeed in today's economy. Blog articles are written by members of Moneris' in-house marketing team with support from internal product and industry experts.