We won't bore you with the usual statistics regarding online shopping development; it's a given that eCommerce is evolving and that growth is unavoidable. However, mastering an online company and capitalizing on this rapidly expanding retail market can be challenging. After all, it seems that everybody and their mother now have an online company. How do you break through the clutter and achieve success?

SmartShyp has collaborated directly with thousands of sellers on Jane, a women's boutique marketplace, over the last three years. During that time, two main factors emerged as common factors among the fastest-growing eCommerce businesses. Whether you're just starting or have a thriving online business, focusing on these two elements will yield immediate results.

Photography First

Photography is essential for catching the customers' attention. You have a few seconds to entice an online customer. You may have the best product in the world, but if the images don't show that, your sales will suffer. If there is one thing, we advise people to invest in when starting an online company, it is photography. While photography appears to be simple—and iPhones make us all feel like professionals—a good photographer is priceless. Capturing the best visual representation of the goods is critical for increasing conversions.

• Quality: A quality image is used to convey a quality product. Don't just settle for an "okay" photo to post.
• Context: Demonstrate how to use the items. To help tell a complete story, use lifestyle shots that address the who, what, and where of the product.
• Relatable: Too often, we believe that the buyer will understand the product in the same way. Be sure to visually contrast the product with what the buyer is familiar with. For example, if you're selling vitamins, compare the pill's size to a penny, another drug, and so on.

Shipping Matters

When competing against more giant corporations like Walmart and Amazon, it's critical to have a flawless customer experience from beginning to end. If you like it or not, the eCommerce company competes directly with Amazon. Amazon Prime has over 100 million customers in the USA. Customers have been "Amazon Spoiled," expecting free two-day shipping.

When fine-tuning your own shipping experience, make sure to compare it to Amazon's. You can't always compete with Amazon in terms of delivery times, but you can create a smooth and pleasant shipping experience. Begin by estimating delivery times and selecting the best carrier for the best customer experience. We suggest USPS as the carrier of choice for most companies. Although other airlines exist, many of them still rely on USPS to deliver the package for the final mile. Furthermore, USPS offers 1–3-day delivery for both First Class and Priority Mail, comparable to Amazon's service.

Make sure you haven't forgotten to "surprise and delight" your customers by submitting a handwritten note or including a random free product sample, in addition to delivering your goods through the correct carrier. Customers pay attention to the finer points of a product. For those small investments to pay off in a significant way, all it takes is a few consumers to post them on social media. Both of these after-sale procedures contribute to a good delivery experience. We also recommend the following post-purchase practices:

• Defining your return policy
• Sending a callback or email with a discount for return shoppers
• Call-to-Action for shoppers to post about their purchase or follow you on social media

Using a shipping platform like SmartShyp, you can figure out the best shipping approach without sacrificing the customer experience. You can quickly build and set automation rules for each product's best shipping process. Since this level of detail eliminates the guesswork from the shipping process, you'll be able to build labels faster. As a result, you'll have more time to think about new ways to impress and entertain your clients. SmartShyp will help you have a consistent experience for your customers and, as a result, reduce your shipping costs. If you stick to these two principles, the company will expand steadily. Keep in mind that Rome was not built in a day! It will take time for you to develop your eCommerce empire.