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E-Commerce Best Practices

I’m Jeremy Bloom (a.k.a. the Internet Farmer). Being a software nerd of over 25 years, I’ve helped small-scale farmers and food business owners with their online needs. I have experience working on farms and creating some of the first co-op buying software out there. After teaching a class on E-commerce Best Practices for the recent Ag and Food Producers Academy I thought I would share some of the main takeaways. We’ve come a long way in recent years with E-commerce thanks to the pandemic, and in the local food scene it’s become a game changer. It’s been an interesting twist to the online sales world during this odd time in our history. 

1. Cyber Security

This includes your domain name access, usernames/passwords and webmasters.

Control your domain name. 

  • Which means, have a username and password for access to your domain so you can make changes if need be. If you don’t have access, question who you are working with. 
  • Why do you need access? When your site goes down because your friend didn’t renew it and has left to sail the open sea, you’re not going to be happy when you’re offline until they get back.

Manage your usernames and passwords

  •  E-commerce connects to banks, emails, personal customer information, and is the lifeline to your sales. 
  • In many cases, you can set up a user name and password to give limited access to someone you’re working with. It can be a pain, but remember to change the password when the person is done working with you. 
  • Get a password manager like LastPass. This tool saves tons of time on so many levels of managing usernames and passwords.

Friends and family can be webmasters, but not professionally. 

  • Software is fun to tinker with and anyone can set up a domain and website that looks awesome on the surface. But are they thinking of your best interest for the long haul? 
  • Whether it’s your friend, a family member or a webmaster, do not let them set up a domain if you don’t get a username and password to it. You want to have direct control over the billing. 

2. Analytics 

E-commerce helps you see successes and can correct errors in your thinking.

Google Analytics example

Track past performance  Read more E-Commerce Best Practices

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Questions to Ask When Choosing an eCommerce platform

Have you considered adding an eCommerce platform as a sales channel for your small business? Perhaps you’re eager to reach new customers or have better online visibility. There are many moving parts to consider when choosing an eCommerce platform that best suits you and your products. Thankfully, there are many resources to help get you started. 

We like the chart developed by the CSA Innovation Network because it takes a very complicated landscape of choices, and helps entrepreneurs clarify their needs. Once you’ve done that, it’s possible to eliminate platforms that don’t achieve your goals. Researching the answers to these questions will set you well on the path to finding a solid eCommerce solution for you.

(chart found through thelandconnection.org, click chart to zoom)

If you enjoyed this chart, check out the Farmer to Farmer Exchange eCommerce Platforms Report.

Deciding on a platform for your business can be daunting, but the Local Foods team at CCE St. Lawrence County can help to point you in the right direction. Stay tuned to learn more about the new Ag and Food Producers Academy we are offering this winter which will cover business development and marketing skills.

Lauren grew up in neighboring Vermont exploring and loving the green mountains and vast landscapes. Her undergraduate degree made her appreciate the communities that surround local foods and a Master’s Certificate in Food Studies from the University of Southern Maine made her want to pursue a career in the food system. In 2021 and 2022, she was the Local Foods Marketing and Development Educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County.