Hiring Your First Employee to Kickstart Digital Sales

Any transition in a growing business can be a learning curve and usually presents a set of challenges. If you’re currently responsible for selling yourself and want to become a successful eCommerce business, this is one of the most pivotal steps you can make and one that requires a strategic approach and a new employee. 

After months or years of managing every part of your business single-handedly, the decision to hire your first employee can be a key part of your scalability journey. The challenge lies in hiring someone with the right combination of marketing expertise and commercial acumen to kickstart your eCommerce plans.

Build a Digital Foundation Before You Hire

The exciting prospect of moving a physical shop onto a digital sales platform is a major turning point for any business. It is an important development that often involves launching products or services online and simultaneously gaining a clear understanding of what it means to sell online. 

Launching a business online allows you to reach customers anywhere and at any time. This opens up an entirely new realm of possibilities and revenue streams, plus the ability to scale operations without proportionally increasing overhead costs. Hiring your first employee specifically for digital sales allows you to use their specialist expertise in eCommerce platforms, online marketing, and customer acquisition to boost business once your foundation is in place.

In addition, having a dedicated resource to manage multiple digital channels—from social platforms to email campaigns—frees up time for you to focus on core business functions, accelerating your growth and revenue generation at a pace that can be tricky on your own. As marketing forms the cornerstone of sustainable digital growth, it’s key to find a person who feels confident developing a content calendar that showcases your services. 

Navigate the Requirements of Your First Recruit

Taking your business online presents a perfect opportunity to employ someone with the technical skills, online expertise and eCommerce experience required to market your services and boost visibility. From a business and legal perspective, Hamlyns Chartered Accountants offers clear guidance on the key points to consider when hiring your first employee:

1. Register your new employee: HMRC needs to be told about a new employee for you to receive an Employer PAYE Reference which will then allow you to set up a payroll system to calculate their salary, deductions, and submit taxes to HMRC.
2. Provide workplace pensions and understand employee rights: You are legally required to offer a workplace pension for eligible employees and adhere to statutory employment rights like minimum wage, holiday pay, and safe working conditions.
3. Obtain Employers’ Liability Insurance: This is a legal requirement that covers your business if an employee is injured or becomes ill due to their work.
4. Evaluate your business structure: While employing as a sole trader is possible, consider forming a limited company as your business grows for personal liability protection.

Identify the Right Sales Professional

Before posting that initial job advert, it’s advisable to set out all your online objectives and be conscious that the site you have designed does portray your brand in the best light as well as the services you offer. With a timeframe in mind, begin by personally defining what digital success means to you and the specialism you offer. Regardless of whether you’re selling tangible products or professional services, the aim is to optimise online presence, to attract and convert customers effectively.

Ultimately, consider identifying a candidate who has technical proficiency and creative marketing instincts. You’ll likely prefer someone who understands the mechanics of eCommerce platforms coupled with the psychology of online consumer behaviour and who demonstrates experience across multiple channels. They should also be comfortable working across social media advertising, content creation, and email marketing, always being aware that they will be representing you and your brand online.

Measure Your Investment In Creating an Online Presence

If you do invest in online sales tools and additional trackers or resources to boost your online progress and establish your online presence, it can be really useful to ensure your digital sales strategy is delivering measurable returns. Beyond basic sales figures, monitor engagement rates, customer acquisition costs, and customer loyalty. These metrics provide insights into campaign effectiveness and highlight opportunities for improvement.

However, as keeping within your budget is essential during any growth phase, adopt an approach with a dedicated focus on enhancing your digital sales. This means being aware of the current challenges of eCommerce, together with equipping yourself with the right suite of software and tools, tailored to your company, to maximise online potential.

Boosting online business and selling services online with your first employee represents an exciting milestone. Success depends on careful planning, strategic recruiting, and a long-term commitment. With the right person, tools and clear objectives, your business can establish a strong digital presence that drives sustainable growth and opens new opportunities for expansion.