As a gamer, you know how important it is to press just the right combination of buttons at just the right moment. Running an online business isn’t all that different. You’ll have a lot of moving parts, but with a little practice you’ll know how to do the right thing at the right moment to make a success of your online video game business.
Design a store that people aren’t afraid to use
People buy from online sellers who look like they know what they’re doing, and they want to use websites that they don’t find annoying. You don’t have to be an advanced graphic designer to make a good storefront, but you do have to avoid designing a site that gives the impression it will take people’s money and disappear next week.
Use a reputable payment platform, like Apple Pay or PayPal, that has solid security. Then advertise that security directly on your site. This makes people feel comfortable buying from you.
Don’t underestimate how important it is to do a little proofreading. After all, if you don’t care about your site, will you care about your customers? Many people will interpret the misspellings and sloppy text on your site as a warning sign flashing: STAY AWAY.
Source quality products
Your website can be gorgeous, but if you don’t have the things people want to buy, what good is it? Find a source for wholesale video games that’s reselling quality goods from major venders, and then use some common sense and business smarts to advertise them on your site.
Always upload a high-res picture of games with a good description. Avid gamers are often browsing, hoping to land on a good deal or just be persuaded to try a new game. The way you describe the game can make all the difference.
Always be sure to leave room for buyers to leave reviews of the game that help other gamers make their decision. Check these descriptions and reviews regularly to remove spam or any offensive content. As your site grows, you may want to automate some of this.
Prioritize customer service
Customer service can really set you apart from everyone else in the field. Setting up an omnichannel contact center with the right software can dramatically improve your interactions with your customers without requiring you to hire extra people.
Omnichannel software integrates customer’s interactions with you across all possible communication channels so you can see at a glance what’s been going on via email or text interactions with any customer. This gives you the power to deliver a seamless experience that customers love.
As you expand, the software will deliver ever more sophisticated chatbot experiences so visitors can get their questions answered quickly; and the system can even be configured to direct calls to the person best able to deal with a given issue.
Set up your taxes
All businesses have to pay taxes, and most states now require even online businesses to collect state sales tax on their behalf. Things can get extremely complicated when it comes to taxes, but fortunately software is available that can automatically collect tax on each purchase based on the buyer’s location.
Even the most sophisticated software will still need you to configure the rules, and these will be based on your own business and its unique situation. You’ll need to know the tax rules for your state as well as any regulations that pertain to the particular business structure you decided to run with.
With good products, a clean, inviting site, a way to interact with your customers, and a simplified way to collect and calculate taxes, you’re ready to go. If you constantly improve your skills to deal with each aspect of your e-commerce business, you can expect your company to grow (and your bank account with it).
