Last Updated on March 25, 2023 by
Because of the ease and accessibility it provides, online shopping has grown in popularity. With a revenue of US$31 billion in 2021 and predicted to increase to US$32.3 billion by 2024, Australia is the 11th largest e-commerce market. People in Australia are investing in e-commerce because it provides a profitable potential to produce additional revenue streams. Even if you already have a traditional brick-and-mortar store, launching an e-store alongside it will allow you to tap into foreign markets, broaden your worldwide reach, and ultimately increase your income. You can also hire an SEO Sydney company to help you with this process. You’ve come to the perfect place if you want to establish an e-commerce business in Australia but don’t know where to begin. Here, we will walk you through 5 things you need to know before you start an e-commerce business in Australia.
How to Get Started
Starting an e-commerce business in Australia is comparable to starting a traditional business in Australia, however there are many ways in which an e-commerce business differs from a typical brick-and-mortar business. The following steps are required to start an e-commerce business in Australia:
1. Conduct thorough market research
The first step is to conduct market research and choose the items or services you wish to sell. You must first establish your target demographic and market niche in order to understand the competition and scope. Choose a competitive niche but not one that is currently saturated. When conducting research, consider additional factors such as who your supplier will be and what type of production, inventory, and logistics will be involved.
2. Register your company
The next step is to choose and register a name for your company. You will be issued with an Australian Business Number. This step also includes developing your social media handles and registering your domain name on the internet. Create a distinctive company logo to attract clients’ attention. Another important point to remember is that if your yearly revenue exceeds AU$75,000, you must register for Goods and Services Tax (GST).
3. Build your online store
Choosing the correct platform to build your online shop is perhaps the most crucial component of starting an e-commerce business in Australia, since there are several e-commerce platforms accessible. As a result, you must consider their advantages and disadvantages. Here, we will review some of the most popular platforms, followed by some recommendations for selecting the ideal platform.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin that offers a user-friendly interface and a plethora of customization possibilities for your business. It is a good option for businesses because it is inexpensive, simple to use, SEO friendly, and provides payment integration options. It does, however, have certain speed limitations and restricted scalability.
Shopify
Shopify has an easy-to-use interface with several design options, built-in hosting speed and security, SEO features, and a variety of plugins. However, it is pricey, and customizing is tough for inexperienced users.
Magento
Magento is another platform that is SEO friendly, scalable, has a customizable design, and offers excellent shopping cart capabilities. However, it is extremely complex and necessitates programming and development abilities, as well as professional maintenance experience.
Choosing an E-Commerce Platform
When selecting a platform for your e-commerce business in Australia, choose the one that best meets your goals, not just the most popular one. The following things must be taken into account:
- Your company needs
- Experience and skill of the vendor
- The cost of the platform
- Search engine friendliness
- Scalability
- Security
- Maintenance and assistance
- Adaptability to mobile devices
- Self-hosted vs. cloud-based
Create a user-friendly e-commerce website with solid search options, different payment methods, and multiple delivery choices.
4. Select the appropriate payment options
In terms of e-commerce business in Australia, this involves selecting between credit cards, e-wallets such as Paypal, Mastercard, Visa checkout, POLi online banking, mobile payments, and bank transfers.
5. Create a comprehensive marketing strategy
Advertise your company with a comprehensive marketing strategy that includes e-marketing and growing your reach on key social media sites. The next stage is to create a logistics plan in which you can select a third-party logistics company to give you with several logistics and delivery options.
