What Comes Next After Launching Your Website or E-Store? A Guide

In today’s interconnected world, leveraging free social media accounts and marketplaces like Amazon and Flipkart can be effective for businesses to establish a presence and sell products. However, relying solely on these platforms has its limitations. Owning a website or e-store is not just an alternative but a complement to these channels, enhancing credibility, providing better control over branding, and offering direct customer engagement.

Social media platforms are excellent for building communities and creating awareness, while marketplaces offer convenience and access to large audiences. However, having your own website ensures you’re not at the mercy of algorithm changes or platform policies. It provides a unique space where your brand’s identity can flourish, and customers can engage directly without distractions from competitors.

Choosing the Right Domain Name: Fresh vs. Premium

A domain name is your online identity, and choosing the right one is a critical first step. Most domain registrars like GoDaddy and NameCheap offer two main options:

1. Buying a Fresh Domain: Fresh domain names are newly registered and typically cost between $10 and $20 per year. These are ideal for businesses starting from scratch and looking for an affordable entry point.
2. Premium Domains: Premium domains are pre-owned or highly desirable names due to their keyword relevance, brevity, or branding potential. These domains can cost anywhere from a few hundred to thousands of dollars, depending on their perceived value. They can be purchased through registrars or digital asset marketplaces like Sedo and Flippa.

While fresh domains are budget-friendly, premium domains offer a branding advantage, especially for businesses seeking to make an immediate impact. The choice depends on your budget and long-term branding goals.

Building Your Website or E-Store: Scratch vs. Platforms

Once you have your domain, the next step is building your website or e-store. Here are the primary options:

1. Open-Source CMS (e.g., WordPress with WooCommerce): Open-source platforms like WordPress offer unmatched flexibility and customization. WooCommerce, a WordPress plugin, is a popular choice for creating e-stores. These platforms are ideal for businesses that want complete control over their website’s design, functionality, and scalability. The costs are generally limited to hosting and any premium themes or plugins.
2. Website Builders (e.g., Wix, Shopify): Platforms like Wix and Shopify simplify the process with drag-and-drop builders and integrated e-commerce features. While these are easier to set up and maintain, they are less flexible and can be more expensive over time due to subscription fees.

For those with the technical know-how or access to developers, building with open-source tools is often more cost-effective and scalable. On the other hand, website builders are ideal for beginners or those who prioritize ease of use.

Buying an Existing Website or E-Store

Instead of starting from scratch, you can explore buying an established website or e-store from digital asset marketplaces like Flippa, Motion Invest, or Empire Flippers. This approach offers several benefits:

• Established Traffic and Revenue: Purchased websites often come with an existing audience and revenue stream.
• Reduced Development Time: You can skip the initial setup and focus on scaling.

The cost of purchasing an established website can range from a few thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands, depending on factors like traffic, revenue, and niche. While it’s a significant investment, it can yield faster results compared to building from scratch.

Email Marketing: A Critical Next Step

Launching your website or e-store is only the beginning. To grow your business, you need to engage and retain customers. Email marketing is a powerful tool for this purpose, complementing efforts like SEO and social media marketing. It allows you to:

• Build lasting relationships with customers.
• Promote new products or offers directly.
• Drive repeat sales and loyalty.

Our Experience with Omnisend

In our journey as part of integrating email marketing, we implemented Omnisend using its free plan, which provides essential features like email templates, audience segmentation, and automated workflows. This integration has significantly boosted our ability to engage customers effectively and drive sales.

Starting with Omnisend is seamless, and the free plan offers almost all the features of its paid plans except lesser email and SMS credits. Over time, as our business scales up, upgrading to a paid plan will become a natural step to access more email and SMS credits.

Conclusion

Owning a website or e-store is a vital asset for any business in the digital age. Whether you build one from scratch or purchase an existing site, it’s an investment in your brand’s future. By complementing it with robust email marketing and leveraging tools like Omnisend, you can ensure sustainable growth and success.