For aspiring entrepreneurs and enterprising investors with a little extra cash, starting an ecommerce business can be extremely rewarding. You can get the freedom to work for yourself and do something you’re passionate about, and as long as you have a desire to work and the drive to be successful, you can start making good money. Economists project that the ecommerce market is expected to grow by as much as 13 to 25 percent by 2018, meaning there is plenty of room to accommodate even the smallest venture.

Even though it seems easy to get started in the digital marketplace, there are some skills you need to start and manage a successful e-commerce business. These tips, combined with a high quality product or service, will ensure that your business can thrive and you can enjoy the perks of being your own boss.

1. Keep it simple

Your website needs to be easy for customers to navigate so that the process for purchasing goods and services is straightforward and simple. The quicker your customer can complete their transaction, the more likely it is that they will return and become a loyal customer – and one who will recommend your business to their friends and family. Your software needs to be secure and marketable so that customers will feel confident and cared for when they use your website. Also, make sure customers don’t have to navigate through too many screens and form-fields before they can make a purchase.

2. Make it a real business

Since you don’t have a brick and mortar shop to visit every day where you will be interacting with customers and stocking shelves, it can be easy to treat your growing ecommerce business as a hobby. But if you want your enterprise to thrive, it is important to give your business the respect it deserves. Make it a priority, treat it like the big business you want it to be, and reap the rewards.

3. Know your customers

No matter what your industry, it is important to develop a strong relationship with your potential customer base. Using online marketing strategies, communicate with consumers on a variety of platforms like social media, search engines, and targeted advertising – making sure your brand is easy to recognize and attractive to the demographic you are looking to serve. And once you’ve built a loyal customer base, give them the opportunity to become ambassadors for your brand by collecting and sharing testimonials and reviews.

4. Keep in touch

Now that you know your target demographic, make sure to continue using digital marketing to encourage consumers to visit your website and take advantage of your products and services. Send out email newsletters with a personalized touch, post relevant and interesting information on social media, and create advertisements that will give customers motivation to come back to your company again and again. Even just using the right key words will direct more online traffic to your site.

5. Track your results

One of the perks of digital marketing is that it is easy to see how effective it is. Tracking your advertising investments means you can get a better idea of which strategies are driving sales and reaching customers. Staying on top of this means you can start earning money even as you sleep, selling products and services around the world using a single storefront – your website.

Aside from these tips, the most important thing for anyone starting out in ecommerce to be passionate about what you do. If you want to build your business, make sure you can provide a good product or service to your customers – whatever that might be. It takes time for a company to grow, so be prepared to put in a bit of effort while you are waiting for your new ecommerce business to take off.

After you’ve set up your first successful ecommerce business, doors will open for you to pursue other options – either expanding your new company, or even selling it to use the capital for an even bigger and better project. For anyone who is interested in being their own boss, ecommerce gives you the tools to get started – and you’re in control of achieving your own business goals.