How to Create an E-Commerce Plan

A strong e-commerce plan is necessary to transform your business in an orderly, constructive way. E-commerce solutions are generally technology products that make running your online business easier and more effective. Beyond such specific products and services, the overall impact of e-commerce has helped businesses create dramatic growth opportunities, while reducing physical infrastructure costs.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Set Goals for Your E-Commerce Transformation

1. Describe your business in detail and list five changes you want to see as a result of transforming your business through e-commerce.
2. Specify existing customers and the additional customers you want to attract. Make a plan for how you will reach them and what you need to do to change their habits regarding how and where they buy the products or services you sell.
3. Read Chris Anderson's "The Long Tail" to see how e-commerce has helped successful new business models to emerge with dramatic growth in product offerings and sales (see Resources below).

Define Where Operations can Change

4. Define areas where e-commerce can help you automate routine business tasks, such as shipping notifications, customer ticklers, auto responders and inventory updating from sales and returns.
5. Use integrated e-commerce solutions to create an electronic trail for record-keeping, customer and vendor communications and project management
6. Study your current operating statement (Profit and Loss) and make a projected statement based on six, 12 and 24 months of aggressive e-commerce transformation of your business. Set goals for resulting revenue growth and budget the additional funds you expect to spend to fund the transformation. Pay attention to which expenditures will be recurring and which will be one time expenses.
7. List the e-commerce solutions that will be crucial to your selling efforts, including e-products and the use of web based audio and video to promote your products.
8. Create an expanded selling plan based on additional product lines and types that you may be able to add to your inventory as a result of your e-commerce transformation.
9. Anticipate any obstacles you will have to overcome to change the culture of your business to an e-commerce model.

Tips & Warnings

• Distinguish between flash in the pan products and niche products that can help you to build your customer base. Don't ever build your business or infrastructure to accommodate a five minute wonder product. Once your store, online presence and traffic are established you will have the flexibility to act on short term selling opportunities.