Making Your Business Omnichannel Ready: A Complete Blueprint

In our multi-screen, smartphone-obsessed world, selling in silos isn’t enough. For your store to be successful today, you need a presence on the web, social media, mobiles and a physical store (if you have one).

This is why “omnichannel” is the one word common to most high-performing e-commerce businesses in 2017.

Below, we’ve compiled a hand-curated list of articles on omnichannel selling. Read them to get a mini-MBA in omnichannel e-commerce and make your business future-proof.

Getting Started

Start off right by understanding what omnichannel e-commerce really is, and how to make it work for you.

Understanding Omnichannel

What exactly is omnichannel e-commerce? Is it just a fad or a trend that’s here to stay? Start off by understanding what omnichannel e-commerce really is and how to make it work for you.

• How to Sell Online in a Multi-Device World?
  Here, you will learn how technology is reshaping the way we shop, and how omnichannel selling can help you compete.
• Understanding Omnichannel: What it Really Means to “Sell Anywhere”
  What does “omnichannel” really mean? Learn the conceptual basis behind omnichannel selling and how to use it to sell anywhere.
• What is the Future of E-Commerce?
  What does the future hold for e-commerce businesses? What expectations do customers have when shopping online? Gaze into the crystal ball with this article featuring data from Ovum

Omnichannel and Ecwid

Ecwid was built from the ground-up to be omnichannel first. But how exactly can you use Ecwid for omnichannel selling? These articles will help you get started.

• How to Make Ecwid’s Omnichannel Potential Work for You
  Learn about all the ways you can use Ecwid to sell online — from websites and Facebook pages to in-store pickup and mobile apps.
• Omnichannel Best-Practices from Ecwid’s Rockstar Sellers
  See the kind of results Ecwid’s top sellers get from omnichannel selling. Borrow their best practices to get your best year ever online.
• Inspiration: 50 Stores Built with Ecwid
  Need inspiration and ideas for your Ecwid store? This article features 50 stunning stores that use Ecwid to offer stellar shopping experiences.

Selling on Your Website

Despite the popularity of mobiles and social networks, your website remains the “home” of any omnichannel endeavor. These articles will help you start selling on your own website.

Starting an Online Store

From selecting a domain to building a website, these articles cover every aspect of starting an online store.

• How to Bring Your Brick-and-Mortar Store Online
  Do you run a physical store and want to try e-commerce? This article will walk you through a step-by-step process for bringing your brick-and-mortar store online.
• How to Create an Online Store Even if You Don’t Have a Website
  Here, you’ll learn how to create an online store from scratch — even if you don’t have a web presence.
• How to Buy the Perfect Domain Name for Your Store
  Learn how to brainstorm store name ideas and purchase just the right domain for your online store.
• How to Sell Online for Free with Ecwid Starter Sites
  Want to sell quickly without spending time building a website? Read this article to use Ecwid’s Starter Sites to start selling in minutes for free.
• How to Add an Online Store to Your Existing Website
  Already have a website but need a way to add a store to it? Read this article to learn how to add Ecwid to your existing website in minutes.

Building a Website

Need a website but don’t know where to start? Read these articles to build a website using popular tools (free and paid) and integrate it with Ecwid.

• How to Choose a Site Builder for Your Ecwid Store
  Site builders offer a DIY way to build your website. Here, you will learn how to select the right site builder for your business. Read part 2 of the article here.
• How to Create an Online Store with WordPress
  WordPress is the most popular content management system in the world. Learn how you can use it to create an online store with WordPress + Ecwid.
• How to Quickly Design and Optimize Your WordPress Website
  WordPress might be popular, but it requires a lot of tweaks to make it look good. Here, you’ll learn how to optimize your WordPress website for online selling.
• How to Sell on Drupal with Ecwid
  Here, you will learn how to build an online store on the popular Drupal CMS with Ecwid.
• How to Monetize Any Website with Ecwid’s “Buy Now” Button
  Ecwid’s “Buy Now” button makes it possible for any website to turn into an online store. This article will share ideas on monetizing your newly built website with the Buy Now button.

Mobile E-Commerce: Taking Your Store to the Smartphone

The smartphone has taken over the world. Billions of consumers across the world depend on mobiles for everything from entertainment to shopping.

These articles will help you get your store ready for the mobile generation.

• Start Selling on Mobile with Your Own Ecwid Mobile App
  Ecwid’s mobile app gives any online store an easy way to start selling on mobiles. This article will walk you through the Ecwid mobile app and how to use it to sell online.
• How to Run Your Ecwid Store from Your Smartphone
  Want to run your store on the go? Follow this article to learn how to run your Ecwid store right from your smartphone.
• Using Ecwid Mobile for Android Phones and Tablets
  Not an iPhone user? Fear not — follow this article to learn about Ecwid’s Android apps for phones and tablets.

Getting Started with Social E-commerce

With nearly 3 billion users, social networking is critical to any online seller. These articles will show you how to sell on most popular social networks to offer true omnichannel experience to customers.

• How to Open an Online Shop on Facebook
  Facebook is the world’s largest social network by far. Learn how to sell to Facebook’s massive 1.7B users with your own Facebook Ecwid store.
• A Step-by-Step Guide to Facebook Business Manager
  If you’re selling on Facebook, you will spend a lot of time in the Business Manager. Read this article to get a step-by-step walkthrough this powerful tool.
• How to Run Effective Ads with Facebook Pixel
  To sell effectively on Facebook, you will need to use Facebook ads. Read this guide to learn how to create effective ads with Facebook Pixel tracking.
• How to Use Instagram Stories for Business
  Instagram’s visual nature and hungry audience make it the perfect place to sell online. Here, you will learn how to use Instagram’s Stories feature for business.
• How to Run an Effective Instagram Ad Campaign
  Instagram ads make it possible for anyone to reach Instagram’s 400M+ users for cheap. Learn how to create an effective Instagram ad campaign in this article.

Selling on Marketplaces

Marketplaces like eBay and Google Shopping give you access to millions of targeted customers. Learn how to start selling on marketplaces with these articles.

• How to Sell on Google Shopping
  Google Shopping is essential “Adwords for e-commerce products”. Learn how to sell on Google Shopping in this detailed guide.
• How to Sell on eBay with Ecwid
  eBay remains one of the world’s most popular shopping destinations. Learn how to sell your Ecwid store products on eBay in this guide.
• How to Start Selling on Price Comparison Websites
  Price comparison websites like Shopzilla and Nextag attract millions of shoppers every month. This article will show you how to get your products featured on popular price comparison sites.

Physical Commerce: Bringing Your Store to the Real World

A physical store is the last piece of the omnichannel puzzle. You don’t need it to be successful, of course, but it does offer its own benefits.

Read these articles to learn how to bring your online store into the real world.

Establishing a Physical Business

Pop-up shops, full-fledged brick and mortar businesses, or in-store pickup — learn how to establish a physical presence for your online store with these articles.

• How to Complement Your Brick and Mortar Business with E-Commerce
  E-commerce can help your physical business scale faster than you ever thought possible. Learn how to compliment your brick and mortar business with e-commerce in this article.
• Why You Should Open a Pop-up Shop
  A pop-up shop is an easy and affordable method to bring your online store into the physical world. Here, we’ll share some reasons why you should open a pop-up shop.
• What You Need to Open a Pop-up Shop
  Convinced that you need a pop-up shop for your business? This article will tell you what all you need to open your own pop-up shop.
• Why You Should Offer In-Store Pickup
  A growing number of customers are demanding in-store pickup for their online purchases. This article will share a few reasons why you should offer in-store pickup — even if you don’t have a physical store.
• How to Offer In-Store Pickup with Ecwid
  Did you know you can use Ecwid to offer in-store pickup for online purchases? Follow this article to learn how to do it in Ecwid.

Accepting Payments

If you sell in a physical store, the first thing you’ll need is a way to collect payments. These articles will show you how to use different payment methods in your store.

• How to Sell in Your Physical Store with Paypal Here
  Paypal Here brings Paypal’s proven technology and massive existing user base to physical stores. Learn how to use it in this article.
• How to Sell Anywhere with Ecwid Square Integration
  Square gives any business the ability to accept payments without using a complex POS. Read this article to learn more about the Ecwid-Square integration.
• How to Accept Apple Pay in Your Store
  Apple Pay is Apple’s payment technology. Learn how you can use it to accept payments in your store.

Conclusion

Omnichannel selling is the present and future of e-commerce. When you can sell on multiple platforms, screens, and devices, you maximize your revenues. Follow the advice in these articles to make your business ready for the omnichannel revolution.

Create your free Ecwid account today for seamless omnichannel selling.