In early 2014, my sister and I launched an e-commerce website. Maison du Maillot is a contemporary beachwear boutique which offers the latest swim and beachwear brands for the region and beyond.
We hold the stock in Bahrain and due to the convenient location, bridging Europe and Asia, are able to deliver items speedily to all over the world. Here are some of the things I am learning each day on this entrepreneurial roller coaster ride.
Google Analytics will become your best friend. From morning to night Google Analytics has supported us with vital information. From where our customers are joining the site, to time spent on each page and other useful data. Google Analytics is a crucial part of understanding our customers.
You will never again be in a wifi free zone, ever. Being offline is not an option when you manage an e-commerce site, whether it is to respond quickly to customer questions, manage orders and stock, reliable and speedy internet is our lifeline.
You will speak to your web designers and developer more than your own mother. Though you may spend weeks researching and planning your website, inevitably there are changes along the way. We are constantly learning and adapting to best suit our customer needs and this will most likely continue as the business and our understanding grows.
“Being offline is not an option when you manage an e-commerce site, whether it is to respond quickly to customer questions, manage orders and stock, reliable and speedy internet is our lifeline.
Alibaba is not your uncle, it is one of the most useful websites for your business. Unless you live under a rock you will have heard of Alibaba.com. It is the one of the largest websites in the world and is a business to business portable that connects Chinese manufacturers with international buyers.
You will become obsessed with MailChimp open rates. MailChimp is a fantastic resource for many companies and organisations to stay in touch with their customers. However, unlike the paper newsletter of yesteryear, today’s version can be emailed at an ‘opitimized’ time as chosen by your previous opens, you can monitor opens, bounces and deletes and also the links that people click on in an email.