Make It Your Own
How to Brand Your Online Store
May 14, 2008
Wouldn't we all love to have an experienced web designer build us a beautiful online store that perfectly reflects our web business? Sure, if we all had thousands of dollars! Web development and design is big business, and that means high prices for reputable web professionals.
Ecommerce platforms like WebStore by Amazon are great options to start an online business - they provide you with customizable templates, backend order management features, and marketing tools, usually for a relatively low monthly fee, such as WebStore by Amazon's $60/month program. The problem many online store owners experience is figuring out how to brand stores on ecommerce platforms. Here's some tips to make your web business all your own and sell online:
- Logo - Every web business should have its own logo. Make it attractive and eye-catching, and place it in the same spot on every page of your site. Most online stores place it in the upper left hand corner of the page, and link it to the homepage.
- Domain Name - Choose a domain name that people will remember and associate with your business. Many business owners choose a domain name similar to the actual name of their business.
- Colors - Choose colors that reflect the particular industry your online store is in. For example, if you're selling men's clothing, pastel colors are probably not a good choice for your store. The same goes for women's clothing - dark reds and blacks may not be that appropriate for some women's clothing.
- Content - Include a paragraph of two of content on your homepage that talks about your store and the type of products you sell and some information about your web business. It's also important to have an "About Us" page with your contact information and a biography of your business.
- Newsletters - Email your customers every month or so and tell them about new products you're offering, sales, and any information you feel they would find relevant. Make sure the email looks similar to the design of your site, and consider using an e-mail marketing service. Newsletters help keep your store alive in customer's minds and update them on new features on your site.
