E-commerce is a business model that has impacted the current landscape in such a way that it has become one of the main methods of buying and selling for brands today.
Beyond selecting the products and the social media platform you want to specialize in, your first task to kickstart your e-commerce strategy is to define the business model you want to develop. In other words, choose the type of e-commerce you want to work with.
How many types of e-commerce exist?
Service E-commerce
This type of e-commerce involves the sale of services such as product insurance, tickets for live shows, cinema tickets, taxi services, food delivery, cleaning services, etc. It may also feature a mixed model that offers both products and services.
Business to Business (B2B)
In this e-commerce model, transactions occur between businesses, with no direct interaction with end consumers. This type is mainly implemented to foster relationships between brands.
Business to Consumer (B2C)
This is the most common e-commerce model, involving transactions between businesses and consumers. It can become a very powerful sales force for companies, and marketing strategies are used to build customer loyalty.
Business to Employee (B2E)
This e-commerce model involves businesses offering products or services to their employees. It is used to strengthen the employee-employer relationship by providing special deals or pricing for products.
Consumer to Business (C2B)
In this model, individuals or consumers leverage the products or services they have acquired and offer them to businesses via the internet. An example would be freelancers or independent contractors.
Consumer to Consumer (C2C)
Also known as online resale, this e-commerce model does not involve any companies. Instead, internet users who have purchased a product offer it to another user on the internet, typically through platforms like eBay or Craigslist.
General Product E-commerce
In these online businesses, tangible products like clothing, kitchen items, tools, furniture, or video games are sold.
Digital Product E-commerce
This model deals with products in digital format, such as e-books, PDFs, streaming services, music, images, applications, and more.
In Conclusion
To begin your e-commerce strategy, you should start by recognizing the type of e-commerce you want to have, who you want your operations to target, and the products or services you will offer in your e-commerce.
If you already have an e-commerce site and want more visibility, traffic, and sales, check out the following blog on SEO for e-commerce.