Introduction to E-commerce for first-time small business

Introduction: Welcome to the blog dedicated to assisting small businesses, like mine, that specialize in digital goods. This document aims to share insights that might prove beneficial to others. The primary focus, for now, revolves around the setup of e-commerce using hosted platforms, starting with the simplest and most economical options such as Amazon, Draft2Digital, and Apple. Moving forward, we’ll delve into the next level with platforms like Gumroad, Payhip and others, and work up to Sellfy and Shopify.

Realistic Expectations: It’s important to set realistic expectations from the start. This blog will firmly try to avoid the notion of a quick get-rich scheme, emphasizing that success in this domain is often a gradual process. Getting rich is slow, if it happens at all. This isn’t a red-hot area where drastic financial decisions like selling your car or remortgaging your house are warranted. Yes you will need luck and persistence, but hopefully I can help you with more practical advice than affirmations and finger-crossing.

Justifications: Major e-commerce platforms like Amazon operate on a business-to-business relationship, claiming a significant percentage of the customer’s payment. Additionally, these platforms limit your control over pricing and customer information. The blog underscores the challenges posed by this relationship, especially in terms of advertising. It introduces the distinction between business-to-business and business-to-customer relationships, emphasizing that, even in the realm of affiliates and other business-related topics, you remain a client.

Free Services and Trade-offs: The blog highlights the principle that free is never entirely free; it comes with trade-offs and compromises. While the ideal is to keep expenses to a minimum, the author acknowledges the possibility of trading time for money. The importance of discerning the value of time is stressed, laying the groundwork for the journey ahead.

Conclusion: The blog’s mission is to document the author’s personal journey, with potential expansion into additional topics based on popularity. Stay tuned for insights into setting up e-commerce for small businesses, navigating through platforms, and embracing a realistic approach to success.