Developing an ecommerce management strategy

A word of advice if you're feeling overwhelmed by ecommerce management: start small. Your first port of call should be to identify the skills you’re missing in your ecommerce business. Then you can look at ways to bring those skills into your business.

For example, your team might be masters of product development but lack the marketing skills to show off your store. Or, you could be comfortable handling your accounting with the help of software like Xero, but missing a finance expert who can help you decide where to invest your money.

It’s essential to document your processes and systems – and you might already be doing it subconsciously. Something as simple as a checklist for fulfilling new orders can help you stay organised and bring structure to your business. Documenting what you do and how you do it also makes it easier to pinpoint processes that work and ones that need improving.

Figure out which skills will contribute the most to your business. For example, if your existing audience spends a lot of time on social media, a content creator could help you find more prospective customers like them. Most ecommerce businesses have to work within a budget, so prioritise the skills and hires that will contribute the most to your business.

Lastly, consider alternative hiring options to secure new skills. Instead of adding another person to the payroll, try outsourcing or working with freelancers to test out if you do need a full time employee. It’s also worth looking at tools and software that could automate processes.

Typically, a freelancer will work with you for a single project or ongoing retainer. You can scale up or scale down the work as your budget allows. And by engaging them on a project basis, you can measure the impact of their work against a fixed timeline.