3 Strategies for eCommerce Websites

When it comes to starting a business and setting up an eCommerce platform, picking a strategy can be difficult. However, there are aspects of your business that may lend a helping hand when making your decision. In this post, we’re going to discuss three different proven types of eCommerce strategies.

Limited Product Offerings

The first online business strategy we’re going to talk about is the limited product offerings approach. With this approach, your business offers a very limited line of products to your customers. Generally speaking, this would look something like a mattress business that sells three to five different versions of mattresses ranging from regular to premium.

This strategy is often pursued by newer businesses that want to focus on their key product offering. Often businesses that pursue this strategy will eventually move on to the second strategy that we’ll talk about.

Fulfill a Niche

Another strategy for online retail is fulfilling a niche! This is the idea that you’re the “go-to” shop for a relatively thin market segment. Generally speaking, businesses that use this strategy online have spent years building their brand around being top of mind when it comes to selling their original product. The business then uses that built customer trust to branch out into being a broader supplier for their market.

An example of this approach would be something like the brand Tushy, who built their success around becoming the top-of-mind brand for installable bidets. They started with the first strategy we discussed selling only their original bidet in multiple options. Since their original success they’ve pivoted into becoming more of a broad restroom supply company selling everything from their original bidet, to their own version of the squatty potty.

The Superstore Approach

Last, but not least, there’s the superstore approach. This strategy is pursued least often out of the three that we’ll be discussing, or at least it isn’t quite as successful. Businesses that use this strategy often begin by using one or both of the two previous strategies and eventually pivot into being an “everything store”. If you were using this strategy, you would have essentially no limitations on what you sell or ship. The only problem is that this strategy is used by some of the biggest players in the game, so there’s some seriously stiff competition.

Generally speaking, for small to medium sized online stores, this is an approach that you should avoid. That’s because focusing on a limited product offering or fulfilling a niche is a much easier way to build an audience and grow trust for your brand.