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Description Not all online stores begin as stores. Blogs, social media accounts, and brands don’t spring from the ground fully-formed with goods to sell at the moment of inception. When your customers reach the point where they are ready to sell products, it will be your job to integrate purchasing options into an already-existing platform.  Sometimes the transition is easy. A simple “buy” button or shopping cart integration is all it takes. When the new store isn’t so simple, it might be wise to host the store externally, or build something new from scratch. Part of your job as the store builder is to guide the growth of the website to the option that best serves your client.  On this episode you’ll hear: When and why your customers will want to add a store to their websiteHow to add simple purchase options to your websiteWhat to consider when building a new store from scratchCommon mistakes to avoid when integrating a new storeBest practices to incorporate throughout the process If you are interested in the best ways to build purchasing options into your already existing platforms, then this is one episode you won’t want to miss! Resources Liquid WebAdd Ecommerce to Any Website with the New Shopify Buy ButtonAdding Ecommerce to an Existing Website

Description If you are looking to find customers and expand your reach there are several ways to do that. One way is to generate quality content and attract traffic, increasing your website’s visibility. However, that process is long, slow, and requires the creation of a lot of content. What if there was a faster way to find your customers? Enter Facebook. Social media is most likely where your customer base is, and paid advertising through Facebook is a great way to market directly to consumers. In addition, Facebook makes it easy to track your ads and understand the customers you’re targeting. Today, we bring on a guest to talk about the benefits of paid Facebook advertising and some strategies to help you get started.  In this episode you’ll hear: A philosophy of advertising to guide your thinking on this subjectThe benefits of paid advertising on social mediaWhat you need to know about your audience before launching your campaignsThe content your paid advertising should includeHow you should expect to pay for this advertising If you are looking for ways to quickly attract and retain a customer base, then this is one episode you won’t want to miss. Resources Liquid Web: https://www.liquidweb.com7 Common Facebook Advertising Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)Audience Insights 

Description If you’ve been designing websites for a period of time, you’ve probably been approached with some offer of a partnership. It’s common for people and companies to want to request your services and offer you benefits that don’t take the form of traditional compensation. Maybe you have even extended some of these offers to others.  The possibility of engaging in a mutually beneficial partnership is real and very appealing. There are a lot of good, talented people out there that you have access to. So how do you know if a partnership is right for you? How do you set it up to ensure that it stays that way?   In this episode you’ll hear: What a partnership looks like and the types of partners you might connect withHow to assess if a partnership is good for youHealthy boundaries to set up at the beginningBooming industries that may be looking to partner with youSkills that will be in-demand in these booming industriesThe power of word-of-mouth marketing that results from partnerships If you’re looking to establish some powerful partnerships this year, then this is one episode you won’t want to miss.  Resources  Liquid Web: https://www.liquidweb.com5 Ways to Create a Winning Business Partnership and Agreement: https://www.thebalancesmb.com/create-a-winning-business-partnership-2951168Millennials and Peer Recommendations: https://woocommerce.com/posts/millennials-and-peer-recommendations/Recurly: https://recurly.com

Description Starting a discovery project with a new client is an exciting time. You’re setting the scope of your work, building relationships, and uncovering a vision for a new project. There is a sense of anticipation and excitement as the work gets under way.   Just like anything else, there is a way for these projects to get off course. Visions might conflict. Expectations may be unclear or even unknown by some of the parties involved. And some people miss the opportunity to partake in a discovery project altogether. It’s time we talked about discovery projects, why you should engage in them, and what you can do to make it a positive experience for all concerned.  In this episode you’ll hear: What discovery projects are and why this should be a fully-funded part of your workThe questions you need to ask your clients during this projectHow to facilitate conversations about the vision of the projectHow to strike a balance between being clear and being flexibleTime constraintsApps that can help facilitate communication If you’re ready to take your discovery projects to the next level, this is one episode you won’t want to miss! Resources Liquid Web: https://www.liquidweb.comLeading Successful Discovery Sessions: Set the Stage for Client Projects: https://www.shopify.co.uk/partners/blog/discovery-sessionAudioNote App: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/audionote/id369820957?mt=8Rev Voice Recording App: https://www.rev.com/voicerecorder

Description There are many ways to market your online business and connect with your customers. Creating your own content is only one way of doing this. Another route you can take is sharing user-generated content with your customers. In today’s online marketplaces, customer reviews are more impactful than ever.  There are several things to consider in order to do this effectively. What kinds of feedback should you consider? How do you find it? Once you get it, how do you use it? In today’s episode, you’ll hear: What user-generated content is and why it is helpfulWhat good user-generated content looks likeHow to find and share this content from your customersThe role of social media in this processLegal issues involved in using customer-generated content If you’re looking for some exciting ways to leverage your customer-created content, then this is one episode you won’t want to miss! Resources Liquid Web: https://www.liquidweb.comUser-Generated Content: How to Rally Customers to Create Content with You: https://www.shopify.com/blog/user-generated-contentGetting Permission for User-Generated Content: What Do I Need to Know? https://www.shopify.com/blog/user-generated-content-permissionTrustpilot MopinionBazaarvoiceReevooReziewYotpo

Description The product page is one of the most important elements of the websites you will build. It’s more than a page with information about your products. It’s a place where you get to design the shopping experience for your visitors. It’s a place to tell your story. It’s a place where you can turn visitors into customers.  You may know about the technical elements of web design, but it’s also important to ask important questions about how your customers experience your product pages. What kind of an experience do you want them to have? How does your knowledge of your customer shape the presentation of your products? What is the end goal that you have in mind? On this episode you’ll hear: The basic elements you should include on a product pageThe goal of a product pageThings to consider regarding your call to actionWhat writing should be included on this page If you’re looking for the best way to convert visitors into customers then this is one episode you won’t want to miss! Resources Liquid Web: https://www.liquidweb.com7 Effective Ecommerce Product Pages: How to Turn Visitors into Customers: https://www.shopify.com/blog/16204608-7-effective-ecommerce-product-pages-how-to-turn-visitors-into-customersHow To Optimize Your Product Pages For More Sales: 11 Expert-Recommended Tips: https://www.shopify.com/blog/expert-advice-improve-product-pages

Description It’s one thing to have your skill set and another thing entirely to know how to market your skills. How should your clients pay you? How much should you charge? What will the arrangement be?  There are many factors to consider when you’re trying to set up a sustainable online business. In this episode, Chris defines the sustainable business model and weighs various factors freelancers and online stores need to consider in order to create profitable enterprises. If you’re looking for the best way to monetize your online services and store, or wondering how that might change over time, then this episode is right for you!  In this episode you’ll hear: The definition of sustainability and why it serves as the main goal of our online businessThe pros and cons of different fee structures. Chris considered different reasons for charging a flat rate vs payment by the hour, and how those should change based on your experience and the tasks you’re being asked to do. The ways your price and fee structure might change over time, depending on your clients, expertise, and economic performance.  References and Resources Liquid Web Website: https://www.liquidweb.comHow to Price Your Product: What You Need to Know About Pricing Before You Launch https://www.shopify.com/blog/how-to-price-your-product

Description How safe do you feel about your online store? Although there are many ways to secure your business, there are also significant risks associated with doing business online.  Many of us are aware of the risks and rewards of online business. But where should you start? This episode covers the practical habits that can become part of your regular operation to ensure that you and your clients are operating safely in an online environment. In this episode you’ll hear: An upside on web security and the relative safety of doing business onlineHow to use password managers to navigate safely between websitesSome simple ways you can use encryption to protect your informationThe role of Web Application Firewalls or “wafs” in protecting websites If you’re looking for ways to increase the security of website you own, manage, or build, this episode is for you.  Resources Liquid Web Website: https://www.liquidweb.com5 Ways to Improve Online Security and Protect Customer Data: https://www.shopify.com/blog/76002693-5-ways-to-improve-online-security-and-protect-customer-data

Description In this episode of The Store Builders Podcast, we outline a few small decisions or technical tweaks you can make to generate a big improvement in store performance. Now, there are a lot of different ways we can define performance, but the tips that we share have implications for just about every metric your clients care about – search engine rankings, site speed, conversion rates, and on and on and on… So, if you’re looking for small changes you can recommend or implement that will generate big results for your clients I highly encourage you to give this episode a listen. You’ll get actionable advice related to: How images and videos can negatively affect your website speed (and what to do about it)How you can shrink the distance between your customers and the information they want without exposing yourself to bugs or downtimeWhy your website hosting choice should not be a “set it and forget it” decisionOne small tweak you can make related to strategy and client communication to improve profitability References and Resources: ShinolaTinyPNGKrakenCloudFlareShopifyBigCommerceWooCommerceMagentoCraft CommerceSchemaLiquid Web

Description Many Store Builders think their job is just to build the store and hand the reins over to their clients, but if you want to increase your earning potential, you’ll become an expert in continuing to support them through their store or product launch. In this episode, we talk about a few of the most important considerations when planning for and supporting a product launch, common roadblocks you should watch out for, and the tools and resources you’ll need to effectively deliver on all of these responsibilities. You’ll get actionable advice related to: What the Store Builder’s role is during a product launchHow you should treat the launch of a new store compared to the launch of a new productSome important technical and logistical items you should pay attention to when preparing for the launchHow you should communicate with clients before, during and after the launchCommon roadblocks or stumbling blocks that Store Builders and their clients often overlook References and Resources: Liquid WebMandrillSendGridMailGunTradeGeckoHeap AnalyticsZoomLiquid Web

Description In previous episodes, we have talked about why Store Builders should expand their service offerings beyond just the strategy, design, and development stages. Ultimately, your clients quantify the value of their relationship with you by the number of sales they generate through their store. If you want to make yourself indispensable, you have to add value at multiple levels of the business and position yourself as close to revenue-generating activities as you possibly can. There aren’t many better ways to do that in the eCommerce space than to become an email marketing expert. In this episode, we share our best advice and resources for increasing conversions and generating more sales through email marketing. Email marketing is far from dead. Listen to this episode of The Store Builders podcast to start capitalizing on this opportunity ASAP. Click to Tweet You’ll get actionable advice related to: Why email marketing strategy and execution is an attractive service to offer Some of the common implementations of email marketing in the eCommerce space What tools you should research, experiment with, and become well-versed in A specific case study of the dramatic difference between entry-level and advance email marketing tactics References and Resources: Drip Klaviyo ConvertKit ActiveCampaign WooCommerce Liquid Web Jilt RightMessage FirstClassFlyer The post Episode 10: Email Marketing Strategies For New (and Mature) Stores appeared first on Liquid Web.

Description Direct referrals are typically the highest converting lead generation channel for service based businesses. So why do most Store Builders put “nurturing relationships with potential referral sources” on the back burner? If you don’t make referral networking a consistent part of your operational cadence, you’re eventually going to fall victim to the dreaded “feast or famine” cycle. Make it a priority, and you’ll see your pipeline fill up with high value, pre-vetted client leads. In this episode, we focus on how Store Builders can tap into their existing network – and make some new connections – to ensure that they have a consistent stream of new client leads coming in every month in the form of direct referrals. You’ll get actionable advice related to: Why you should be interested in referrals in the first place Where you can go to find that perfect referral source How you can make it easier for people to send you referrals How you can do all of this without feeling awkward or desperate References and Resources: Liquid Web – Managed WooCommerce Hosting The post Episode 9: How to Generate More Client Referrals appeared first on Liquid Web.

Description Have you ever had a current or past client come to you asking for help with something just outside of your “wheelhouse?” Maybe they want to incorporate digital product sales, courses, or a community platform. You might be inclined to pass on the opportunity, but we’re here to tell you that leveling up your ability to serve clients beyond your usual project scope is easier (and more profitable) than ever before. In this episode, we share our best advice and resources for adding a new skill set — or two — to your arsenal. Imposter Syndrome is something that most entrepreneurs struggle with, but in order to reach your full potential you have to get past it. Here’s our best advice for doing just that. Click to Tweet You’ll get actionable advice related to: Identifying and adding a new service capability to your portfolio Overcoming fear or imposter syndrome when learning a new skill Tools and resources that can help you get the job done quickly and profitably Next best alternatives if you’re still not interested in taking on the work yourself Using these strategies, you’ll be able to expand existing client relationships and increase the scope of future projects by offering much more than the traditional “store building” experience. References and Resources: Wikipedia.org – Imposter Syndrome WooCommerce – The Ecommerce Platform for WordPress WooCommerce Memberships Plug-in by SkyVerge WooCommerce Subscriptions Plug-in by Prospress The post Episode 8: Increasing Your Revenue by Expanding Your Service Offerings appeared first on Liquid Web.

Description Most Store Builders are open to taking on just about any project that comes across their desk, but the most successful Store Builders focus on providing “best in class” service to clients in a specific niche. In this episode, we talk about the benefits of specializing your business and how you can take the first step toward specialization today. You’ll get actionable advice for how to: Identify a niche that is full of opportunity and aligns with your skills Charge a premium rate for a premium service Communicate your new positioning in a variety of formats Avoid the common mistake that most Store Builders make when niching down their positioning Using these strategies, you’ll be able to go from being an eCommerce generalist to a technical expert who is well-versed in a particular field or platform. That will translate into more trust and authority, better clients, and a higher number of inbound referrals. If your client qualification process is one question — Can they pay me? — you’re not doing yourself any favors. Check out our best advice for accelerating growth through branding and positioning. Click to Tweet References and Resources: ARTICLE: Outdoor Voices built a $100 million company by finding a market gap Liquid Web – Managed, Dedicated Servers and VPS Services WooCommerce – The Ecommerce Platform for WordPress BigCommerce – Ecommerce Software and Shopping Cart Platform Shopify – The Ecommerce Platform for Non-Technical Entrepreneurs Under Armour – Manufacturer of Athletic Apparel and Equipment The post Episode 7: Branding and Positioning for Store Builders appeared first on Liquid Web.

Description If you think your job as a Store Builder is done on launch day, think again. eCommerce consultants and agencies who hand over the reins to a beautiful store and walk away are literally leaving money on the table. In this episode, we talk about how you can continue to add value for your clients after their store goes live. We cover a handful of specific metrics that you can optimize to drive more traffic, sales, and referrals. You’ll get actionable advice for how to improve: Site speed and page load times Revenue and customer lifetime value Website traffic and top-of-funnel prospects Trust and authority in the eyes of potential customers Prospect and customer retention Using these strategies, you’ll be able to not only improve the performance of your clients’ stores, but also increase the value of each client engagement by continuing to serve them past their launch date. As a store builder, your job is to get results for your clients. Here are five ways you can improve Ecommerce performance and increase the value of your client relationships. Click to Tweet References and Resources: CloudFlare – Web Performance and Security for ECommerce Stores Study: More Than Half of Visitors Spend Less Than 15 Seconds On Your Site Nuraphones: Chris’ Favorite New Over-the-ear Headphones Start With Why by Simon Sinek Jilt – Cart Abandonment Solution for WooCommerce, Shopify, and EDD The post Episode 6: 5 Key Factors for eCommerce Performance appeared first on Liquid Web.

Description When it comes to driving results for your clients, it can be easy to get caught up in figuring out how to convert more prospects into customers. What most Store Builders overlook is the impact that referrals from existing customers can have on store performance. In this episode, we talk about how you can better serve your clients by making sure that THEIR customers have an outstanding purchasing experience — from start to finish. The best Store Builders drive results for clients by serving THEIR customers. Improve store performance by delighting customers every step along the way. Click to Tweet You’ll learn how to turn cold prospects into raving fans by delighting them at every stage of the customer journey: Discovery – How do you make a great first impression? Familiarization – How can you solve problems or satisfy needs? Consideration – How do you stand out from the crowd? Approval – How do you support them post-purchase? Advocacy – How do you make it easy for them to send friends your way? Using these strategies, you’ll be able to leverage one of the most effective sales channels that exists today – referral marketing. Put these tips into practice, and your clients will want to do business with you again and again. References and Resources: Tent site with great product photos Article: It Takes 6-8 Touches To Generate a Viable Sales Lead The Most Funded Kickstarter Projects Of All Time Dozens of Copywriting Templates – Including the Pain-to-Gain Example Chris Suggests Article: How Powerful Is Word-of-mouth Marketing, Really? Article: Six Examples of Referral Program Structures The post Episode 5: Turning eCommerce Customers Into Advocates appeared first on Liquid Web.

Description When most people think about eCommerce stores, copywriting probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. They probably picture a storefront with beautiful product images, a few bullet points about features, an eye-catching price, and a nice big buy button. But copywriting is a requirement at every stage of an eCommerce conversion. From the Facebook ads that drive awareness, to the on-page copy that inspires a purchasing decision, to the abandoned cart emails that convert customers who were previously on the fence. Copywriting can quite literally be the difference between a sale and a missed opportunity. That’s why we sat down today to talk about the most common copywriting mistakes that Store Builders make and how you can amend or avoid them in your own work. Get your notepad ready, because this one is full of insights! Don’t make the same copywriting mistakes that most Store Builders fall victim to: https://ctt.ac/931a3+ #StoreBuilders #WooCommerce Click to Tweet Key Takeaways It’s All About Perspective Far too many stores approach copywriting from an “inside out” perspective. That is to say, they use the knowledge that exists inside of their organization — things like product specs, features, and awards — to sell their products to customers on the outside. Instead, we advocate for a model where Store Builders find where their customers are congregating and listen to what they are saying about the product and the problems they need solved. Then, produce copy that speaks directly to those needs, wants, and pain points and eventually tie it back to your product as the solution. People Buy From Other People, Not Brands We cover several tips that center around the core concept of injecting personality into your marketing copy. Since the dawn of time, people have been engaging in exchanges of currency, goods and services in a face-to-face setting — the bazaar, the marketplace, or the port. Technology has enabled use to exponentially increase the frequency and volume of these exchanges, but it has also forced us to lose our grip on the personal touch along the way. There are several ways that you can make your copy more personable and increase conversion in the process, and we walk you through each of them. Copywriting Is Not A “One and Done” Initiative Most Store Builders look at copywriting as an item on a to-do list that exists solely to be checked off. Taking that stance will almost certainly ensure that you leave money on the table. Instead, marketing copy is something that should be drafted and revised frequently when new information becomes available. This includes both pre and post-launch for individual product, collections, categories, or stores. Failing to seek out new insights about your customers and leverage those learnings to continuously iterate on your marketing copy is a fast track to sub-optimal store performance. Resources and Recommendations Significant Objects – An experiment where people are taking low value items and selling them for large multiples online by adding an emotional story to the listing. MailChimp Style Guide – An example of a corporate brand that provides guidelines for injecting personality into copywriting throughout their organization. The post Episode 4: 5 Copywriting Mistakes That Store Builders Make appeared first on Liquid Web.

Description Creating a great-looking digital storefront is easier than ever before, but the work of launching a thriving eCommerce business doesn’t stop there. You have to fill that store with products that your audience has shown a demonstrated need or interest for. So, how can you accomplish that for yourself or your clients? Do you get into the manufacturing business and produce your own goods? Do you hit the market and find products that you can sell as an affiliate? Do you find generic products that you can re-brand or white label? Each options comes with its own set of merits and flaws, so we produced this episode to help you determine which eCommerce sourcing model is right for your situation. We talk about the most common strategies for creating or sourcing products, equip you with information to help your clients make an educated decision, and share a few resources for getting the process started quickly and painlessly. Which eCommerce sourcing model is right for you or your clients? We’ll help you decide in this episode of the Store Builders podcast. Click to Tweet Key Takeaways There Are Two Primary Types of Customers You Have to Think About As a Store Builder, you’re going to be dealing with two types of customers – the Curator and the Creator. The Curator has an existing audience that they want to leverage to sell pre-existing products that are produced by other people. Think of a men’s fashion blogger who wants to promote his favorite shoes, watches, ties, etc. The Creator is someone who has a strong brand and/or messaging that they want to leverage to create custom products that will appeal to their audience. Think of a private membership community that wants to put their logo/slogan on t-shirts, stickers, or mugs. We talk about how to identify which situation your client is in and what implications that might have for the sourcing model you recommend. Dropshipping Isn’t All It’s Cracked Up to Be When people talk about sourcing items for an eCommerce store, the conversation usually turns to dropshipping pretty quickly. Chris helps me understand the truth behind the dropshipping model and why it’s probably not in the best interests of you or your clients. You’ll want to listen closely to this part of our discussion, because it provides plenty of material for your next strategy call or store builder meet-up. Getting Started Is Quick and Easy Most importantly, all of the sourcing recommendations we make are easy to integrate with popular platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce. You can plug into existing directories of physical goods and, if necessary, customize them to meet the needs of your clients. Now that you don’t have the overhead of solving annoying technical challenges, you can have more strategic conversations with your clients and start delivering value in other areas of their business. Establish yourself as a trusted advisor rather than a technician and your balance sheet will thank you for it. Resources and Recommendations TeeSpring Oberlo AliExpress ShipBob Shopify WooCommerce Printful ScalablePress Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) The post Episode 3: eCommerce Sourcing Models (and Which One is Right For You) appeared first on Liquid Web.

Description Starting an eCommerce site has never been easier, but that doesn’t mean you can ignore the usual requirements of running an online business. From website development to inventory management to sales, marketing, and performance tracking, it takes a lot to power a high performing eCommerce store. If you’re a freelancer, consultant or agency who has thought about branching out into serving eCommerce clients, but get overwhelmed thinking about the number of tools available, fret no more. We’re here to give you the confidence you need to close new projects and build beautiful, high performing eCommerce stores in days, not weeks. In this episode, we covered all of the bases and pulled out a handful of “best in class” tools from each category that you can choose from. You’ll have everything you need skip past the research phase and start making informed decisions about how to launch and grow a new store for yourself or your clients. Key Takeaways Most Fears About Expanding Into eCommerce Are Unjustified A lot of freelancers, consultants, and agencies are hesitant to branch out into eCommerce work because they don’t necessarily have a “checklist” to reference. They don’t know the best tools to use. They don’t have established and vetted processes to follow. They are worried about being held liable for something like unexpected website downtime. The truth is, it’s never been easier to launch and grow an eCommerce site than it is right now. There are a host of tools and resources available to help you create a beautiful, profitable online store that runs smoothly 24 hours a day, seven days a week. So, if you’re worried about not being able to deliver on expectations, don’t be. Choosing the Right eCommerce Platform Depends on Your Specific Needs Right now there are dozens of eCommerce platforms to choose from, and selecting the right one depends on how much flexibility and control you want over things like site design, product inventory, site performance, and third party integrations. We talked about the various options available and some of the criteria you’ll want to use to determine which one is right for you. Attracting and Converting Customers Doesn’t Have to Be Rocket Science After you’ve built a beautiful store, your clients are going to say something like, “Great. Now how do we get customers?” If you want to be prepared to answer that question with confidence, you’re going to want to listen to this episode. We talk about how to drive new leads by tapping into existing communities and also how to convert more website visitors into customers by leveraging on-site and off-site touchpoints to keep your brand and your products top of mind. Not All Analytics Platforms Are Created Equally Most people default to using the reporting functionality that is offered through their hosting platform. What they don’t realize is that running that through the same servers that manage and present your storefront can drastically slow down your site. If you want to set up robust reporting and analytics without compromising on site performance, you’re going to need to leverage an off-site solution, and we’re here to give you a few top shelf options to choose from. Resources and Recommendations Miva SquareSpace Shopify BigCommerce Magento WooCommerce Liquid Web Quora OptinMonster Jilt Mixpanel Heap Analytics Glew The post Episode 2: The Best Tech Stack for eCommerce Stores in 2018 appeared first on Liquid Web.

Description Starting an eCommerce site has never been easier. With just a few hours and a few dollars, you can build a beautiful web store from scratch. In this episode, we share some tools, processes, and resources to help you do just that. If you’re someone who has been on the fence about trying out eCommerce as a business venture or client service opportunity, you’re going to want to listen to this. Key Takeaways An Introduction to Chris and Liquid Web Chris tells us a little bit about his work at Liquid Web and how we plan to serve eCommerce store owners and consultants through The Store Builders Podcast. What Makes eCommerce and Attractive Business Model in 2018 In today’s market, more and more people are selling online. Whether they are selling their knowledge, their skills, access to a membership site, or physical goods, the overarching industry of eCommerce is growing like a weed. Now that tools like Shopify and WooCommerce are available, it has never been easier to tap into this world of abundance. The sky is the limit, and the effort and resources required to get started are lower than they’ve ever been. Maybe the better question is, “Why wouldn’t you try out eCommerce as a business venture?” It’s never been easier (or cheaper) to start an eCommerce shop than it is right now. Here’s our advice on how to launch your first store TODAY. Click to Tweet Different eCommerce Models and Their Pros/Cons Gone are the days when you had to store inventory in your home, storefront or warehouse in order to sell products to your customers. While that is certainly still an option, most people are choosing to outsource inventory management and fulfillment by using alternative models like dropshipping or fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). We talk about the merits of each option so that you can make an informed decision about which one is right for you. You Can Build Your First Store From Scratch TODAY As we mentioned before, the barrier to entry has never been lower. You can start your first eCommerce store today with just a few hours and a few dollars. Modern eCommerce platforms usually have pre-built themes and drag-and-drop interfaces that make designing your store a breeze. From there, you can pull your first products from pre-existing inventories and start promoting the first version of your storefront the same day. Whether you’re worried about start-up costs, time requirements, not having a large audience, or lacking the business acumen to run a digital business, we’re here to help you work through each concern. You Don’t Have to Have It All Figured Out From the Start A lot of aspiring store builders fail to take action because they are overwhelmed by the assumed requirements for starting an eCommerce shop. It’s important to note that you don’t have to launch with a robust offering on Day 1. We share ways to get started with a “minimum viable storefront” so that you can validate things like you target audience, product selection and price points before investing too much time, money, or energy. Resources and Recommendations Liquid Web WooCommerce Printful AliExpress WooDropship Shopify BigCommerce ChrisLema.com Store-Builders.com Chris’ Twitter Profile(@ChrisLema) The post Episode 1: Finally Launch Your eCommerce Store (Without Breaking the Bank) appeared first on Liquid Web.