There is so much in the world to see, and if you are passionate about exploring new places, well the world is humungous. Millennials are the reason for a lot of lifestyle changes in the world today. Travel is no longer a luxury but seen as a necessity for expanding your horizons and becoming a global citizen.

While this sounds all hunky-dory, travel requires money. You can take a sabbatical from work and travel part-time, or you can start an online Ecommerce business and be a full-time traveler.  

The good news is that in today’s digital age, this is not only highly possible but also pretty much the norm. Besides a great idea, passion, and dedication, you require only two tangible things to run an online business, a laptop and an internet connection.

Here’s a plan to help you build the life of your dreams

1. Choose a product

What will you sell?  Evaluate your personal interests but also consider market conditions to look for a product which you can monetize. Know your product and the product niche like the back of your hand. Choose a niche you’re passionate about but don’t ignore the profitability.

2. Find your target market

After you decide on a product, define your target market. This article will help you to define a target market for your eCommerce store.

All your future strategies will have to be built keeping this group in mind.

3. Build your eCommerce website

You have a product and a target market. Now you need a platform to sell. Your eCommerce website is what will set you apart from your competitors, build it wisely. Your website should clearly convey who you are, your story, your style, and showcase the product you want to sell.

Be judicious while choosing an eCommerce platform. Compare all the features and decide only after you’re completely convinced the eCommerce solution meets all your business needs.

Your life will be a lot easier if the eCommerce software provides XML integrations with supplier catalogs, rich content, and supports multiple integrations.

The reason integrations with supplier catalogs are important is because it takes away the need to manually upload and update your product feed.

You need to run your business while traveling, and a cloud-hosted platform will give you the freedom to manage your business from multiple devices.

Have a look at VARStreet’s eCommerce platform. We provide all the features of a modern-day eCommerce store at affordable rates. We also come with a ready product catalog from 40 + IT and office supplies distributors and can integrate with suppliers from other niches if you’re so inclined.

4. Search for the right dropshipper

Dropshipping has revolutionized eCommerce and is your best bet to run a business while travelling. How so? Because you do not need to stock inventory. Yes, that is the beauty of dropshipping and exactly why it so easy to run a business without being geographically tied down.

When you receive an order on your eCommerce store, you forward that order to the supplier you’ve tied up with. The supplier directly ships the product to your customer. You are not involved at all in picking, packing or shipping the orders.

You, however, are responsible to your customers to deliver quality products on time. And hence, choosing the right dropship supplier is of utmost importance to the success of your eCommerce business.

Here are a few tips to help you choose the right drop shipper supplier

• Choose a reputable drop-shipper

Google it or directly contact the manufacturer. Your suppliers should be reputable and provide quality service along with quality products. To minimize your efforts to find a distributor and then evaluate their reputation in the market, you can visit VARStreet’s distributor page. VARStreet has a list of 40 + IT and office supplies distributors who are verified and reputable.

• Order Samples

Order samples to get a first-hand experience of a supplier’s service, product quality and delivery times.

• Shoot all the important questions

Ask important questions like their payment terms, dropshipping fees, return, and refund policy. Enquire if they sell directly to the customer.

Don’t depend on a single supplier, keep your options open.

How to Find the Best Dropshipping Suppliers in 2019

• Market from Day 1

Every website needs marketing to drive traffic. Build a marketing strategy that not only drives traffic short-term but has a long-lasting impact.

• SEO

There’s nothing that works better long-term than a good SEO strategy. Research keywords, create quality content and invest in a professional SEO service if you do not have the technical expertise.

Here’s a quick read on The Importance of Search Engine Optimisation for E-commerce

• Social Media

Almost everyone is on Social Media. Analyze the best platforms for your target market and work on a social media strategy. Create a business account on different social media platforms and post relevant content. Your posts should grab eyeballs and be engaging. You can outsource your social media management to professionals or an agency.

• E-mail marketing

E-mail marketing is one of the most personalized ways of connecting with your existing customers and reaching out to new ones. You can automate your emails through MailChimp to ensure you are in regular contact with your subscribers.

• Take community help

Connect with other travelers who are digital nomads. Co-working spaces are an excellent way to meet and network with fellow e-tailers on the road like you.

• Automate and Outsource

The internet has various tools for automating different aspects of your business, make use of them. Automate and schedule your social media posts with the help of tools like Hootsuite or Social Pilot etc. We at VARStreet use Hootsuite for our social media management. You can automate your e-mails through MailChimp. Automate workflow processes with your supplier. Believe us, automation will be the key once your business scales and the orders start pouring it. Begin early so that you can iron out any creases before you go big.

Outsource what you are not good at. There will be tasks for which you may not have the expertise, outsource them to professionals instead of settling for mediocrity. Some tasks you can outsource are, clicking product pictures, writing product description, and social media. Outsourcing might cost you a tad more, but it will surely be worth it in the long run.

To conclude

Your business may take a little while to flourish, be patient and keep going. Learn from failures, but don’t give up.

VARStreet’s eCommerce platform is all you need to start selling online. We have built-in integrations with 40 + IT and office supplies distributors in the United States and Canada.

Our XML integrations with their product feed give you real-time price and inventory information. You also get rich content like images, tech specs and product description with your VARStreet subscription.

All these features eliminate the need to manually upload and update your product catalog. The task is well automated, as is the order management process.

VARStreet can truly let you leave the worries of running your eCommerce store behind and travel the world, knowing that your business is in good hands.

Call us today for a product demo or to speak to one of our product experts.

Learn More About eCommerce:

• Easy Tips to Build an Online eCommerce Store with VARStreet
• Ways to Increase Average Order Value for Your VAR eCommerce Store

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