The Ultimate Ecommerce Playbook

Your all-in-one guide to understanding ecommerce, marketplaces, payments, ad platforms, and the tools that help online sellers grow. This playbook breaks down the essentials so anyone can start, scale, and succeed in digital commerce.

Ecommerce Explained

Understanding Ecommerce

Discover the basics of ecommerce and how online selling works. This section covers key terms, benefits, and the differences between platforms and marketplaces, giving new sellers a simple guide to get started.

What does ecommerce mean?

Ecommerce refers to buying and selling products or services online. It covers everything from browsing and checkout to payment, delivery, and customer support.

For businesses, ecommerce is a way to reach more customers, sell 24/7, streamline operations, and scale without the heavy cost of a physical storefront.

Is ecommerce the same as online shopping?

Ecommerce is the full ecosystem where product listings, payments, fulfilment, marketing, customer management, and everything that keeps an online business running.

Online shopping refers only to the customer’s act of buying something on a website or app.

What are the advantages of ecommerce?

Ecommerce gives businesses wider reach, lower costs, and faster growth. You can sell 24/7, reach customers anywhere, and scale without the expense of a physical store.

It also streamlines operations with automation, offers real-time data for better decisions, and makes it easier to run marketing, fulfilment, and customer service all in one place.

Is Dash to Cart an ecommerce?

Yes, Dash to Cart is an ecommerce platform. It helps sellers create online stores, accept global payments, manage products, and run marketing, all in one place.

It’s built for SMEs and creators who want a fast, simple, AI-powered way to sell online without heavy setup or technical work.

What is the difference between Dash to Cart and Shopify?

Dash to Cart is built for SMEs and creators who want a fast, simple ecommerce setup with zero commissions and built-in AI tools. It helps sellers launch quickly without technical work. Shopify is a larger, more complex ecosystem with themes, apps, and advanced features, but it usually requires more setup time, higher costs, and ongoing add-ons.

Dash to Cart focuses on speed and affordability, while Shopify offers deeper customisation for bigger teams.

What are the disadvantages of ecommerce?

Ecommerce comes with challenges such as high competition, dependence on digital marketing, and the need for reliable fulfilment. Sellers must manage website performance, customer trust, and payment security.

Without strong branding and traffic, it can be harder to stand out or maintain consistent sales.

Marketplace Guide

Marketplaces Explained

Learn how online marketplaces like Lazada and Shopee work, their advantages and drawbacks, and how they differ from Dash to Cart. This guide helps new and growing sellers understand which option suits their business goals and selling strategy.

What do you mean by marketplace?

A marketplace is an online platform where many sellers list their products and compete for the same customers. Buyers browse, compare, and purchase directly on the platform.

Examples include Lazada and Shopee. Sellers follow the marketplace’s rules, pay fees or commissions, and rely on the platform’s traffic and algorithms to get sales.

What are the advantages of selling on marketplaces?

Marketplaces offer instant access to large volumes of buyers, making it easier for new sellers to get visibility without building their own website.

They handle payment processing, trust, and buyer protection, which reduces setup time. Sellers can start quickly, tap into existing traffic, and benefit from built-in marketing tools and campaigns.

What challenges do sellers face on marketplaces?

Selling on marketplaces comes with high competition, commission fees, and strict platform rules. Your margins are lower, and you don’t fully own your customer data.

You also rely heavily on the marketplace’s algorithms, which can affect visibility and sales. It’s easy to start, but harder to stand out.

Is Dash to Cart a marketplace?

No, Dash to Cart is not a marketplace. It is an ecommerce platform that lets you create your own branded store, set your own pricing, manage customers directly, and keep all your profits.

You don’t compete with other sellers, and you have full control over your business.

Is it better to sell on Dash to Cart or on marketplaces like Lazada and Shopee?

Selling on Dash to Cart gives you full control of your brand, pricing, and customer data with zero commissions.

It’s ideal if you want to build long-term growth and keep your profits. Marketplaces like Lazada and Shopee offer fast access to large traffic but come with high competition, fees, and strict rules. Dash to Cart is better for owning your business; marketplaces are better for quick visibility.

What’s the difference between Dash to Cart and marketplaces like Lazada or Shopee?

Dash to Cart is a standalone ecommerce platform that lets sellers build their own branded store, accept payments directly, and keep full control of customer data and profits. Lazada and Shopee are marketplaces where sellers compete side by side, follow platform rules, and pay commissions or fees.

On Dash to Cart, you own your customer base, set your pricing, and run marketing freely. On marketplaces, traffic is high but competition is intense, margins are thinner, and you rely heavily on the platform’s algorithms. Dash to Cart gives sellers independence, while Lazada and Shopee offer shared traffic but less control.

Payments & Gateways

Stripe and Payment Gateways

Learn how Stripe and other payment gateways work, including fees, payouts, chargebacks, supported countries, and key differences from PayPal. This section helps ecommerce sellers choose the right payment solution and understand how Dash to Cart integrates secure online payments.

What is Stripe and what does it do?

Stripe is a global payment platform that lets businesses accept online payments securely. It supports credit cards, debit cards, wallets, and international currencies. Stripe handles payment processing, fraud protection, payouts, and compliance so sellers can focus on running their store.

On Dash to Cart, you simply connect your Stripe account to start receiving payments instantly.

How is Stripe different from PayPal?

Stripe is built for seamless online payments and integrates directly into ecommerce platforms for a smooth checkout experience. PayPal works as a standalone wallet, redirecting customers to its site to pay. Stripe offers faster, more flexible payment processing for businesses, while PayPal is familiar to buyers who prefer wallet-based payments.

Dash to Cart uses Stripe to ensure quick, secure, and reliable transactions for sellers.

Which countries cannot use Stripe?

Stripe is available in many countries, but it’s not supported in regions like most of Africa, parts of Asia, the Middle East, and some South American countries. Places such as China, India (limited), Pakistan, the Philippines, and many developing markets cannot open full Stripe accounts.

Sellers using Dash to Cart must have a Stripe-supported country to receive payments.

Does Stripe hold your money like PayPal or marketplaces do?

Stripe doesn’t hold your money the same way PayPal or marketplaces do. Instead, Stripe pays out automatically to your bank on a regular schedule, usually every few days. There may be short security or compliance reviews, but funds are generally released quickly.

Marketplaces and PayPal often hold money longer because they manage buyer protection and platform risk. With Dash to Cart, payouts flow directly through Stripe, so you get your earnings faster and with more control.

How much are Stripe fees for a $100 payment?

On average, Stripe fees range from 2.9% to 3.9% per transaction depending on the country and card type. For a $100 payment, most businesses receive between $96 and $97 after fees.

How do I manage chargebacks and disputes through my payment processor?

Chargebacks are handled directly through your payment processor’s dashboard. When a dispute occurs, you’ll receive a notification with the reason and the deadline to respond. You can submit evidence such as order details, delivery proof, and customer communication.

The processor then reviews the case and updates you on the outcome. With Stripe, everything is managed in one place, and Dash to Cart sellers can easily access the dispute page through their connected Stripe account.

Meta Ads Guide

Meta Ads for Ecommerce

Learn how Meta ads on Facebook and Instagram work, how much they cost in different countries, and how they help ecommerce sellers grow. This section explains optimisation, targeting, budgets, and how Dash to Cart supports Meta Pixel and TikTok Pixel for better ad performance.

What is the difference between Meta ads and Facebook ads?

Meta ads refer to the full advertising system across all Meta platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and Audience Network. Facebook ads are only one part of this system and appear specifically on Facebook.

When you run Meta ads, your campaigns can reach multiple platforms at once, giving broader coverage and better optimisation options.

How much does 1,000 clicks cost on Facebook?

The cost of 1,000 Facebook clicks depends on the country and the level of competition.

Singapore: Typically $0.20 to $0.80 per click, so 1,000 clicks cost about $200 to $800.
Malaysia: Usually RM0.10 to RM0.40 per click, so 1,000 clicks cost around RM100 to RM400.
United States: Often USD $0.50 to $2.00 per click, so 1,000 clicks range from $500 to $2,000.

Actual costs vary based on audience, ad quality, and seasonality.

Do Meta ads actually work?

Yes, Meta ads work when you use the correct targeting, creatives, and tracking. Facebook and Instagram offer strong audience data, affordable clicks, and high reach, making them effective for driving traffic and ecommerce sales.

Results improve even more when your store uses the Meta Pixel to track behaviour, optimise conversions, and retarget visitors.

Dash to Cart supports Meta Pixel integration, allowing sellers to run smarter, data-driven ads that convert better.

Which social media platform is best for ecommerce?

The best social media platforms for ecommerce are Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Instagram is strong for product discovery, TikTok delivers viral reach and fast engagement, and Facebook offers precise targeting and retargeting. Most sellers get the best results by using a mix of all three.

Dash to Cart supports both Meta Pixel and TikTok Pixel, allowing you to track behaviour, optimise ads, and drive higher-quality traffic that converts into sales.

Is $1 a day enough for Facebook ads?

$1 a day can run Facebook ads, but the results are very limited. You may get a few clicks, but not enough data for proper optimisation or retargeting.

Most businesses need at least $5 to $10 a day to see meaningful reach and stable performance. If your store uses Meta Pixel on Dash to Cart, even small budgets work better because Facebook can optimise based on real customer actions.

Are Meta ads free?

No, Meta ads are not free. You pay based on your budget, clicks, impressions, or conversions. The cost depends on your audience and competition.

Posting on Facebook or Instagram is free, but running paid ads requires a budget. With Dash to Cart’s Meta Pixel support, your paid ads can optimise better and deliver higher returns.

Google Ads Guide

Google Ads for Ecommerce

Learn how Google Ads, Performance Max, Search campaigns, and Google Tag Manager work together to drive ecommerce sales. This section explains budgets, optimisation, full-funnel strategies, and how sellers can use Google’s ecosystem to reach high-intent buyers and boost conversions.

What are Google Ads?

Google Ads is an online advertising platform that lets businesses show ads on Google Search, YouTube, and websites across the Google Display Network. You can target people based on keywords, interests, and behaviour, making it effective for driving high-intent traffic and ecommerce sales.

Ads run on a pay-per-click model, so you only pay when someone clicks.

Is $10 per day enough for Google Ads?

$10 per day is enough to get started with Google Ads, but results depend on your keywords and the competition. For low-competition keywords, you can get steady clicks and valuable data. For competitive industries, $10 may only generate a few clicks.

Most ecommerce brands see stronger performance at $20 to $30 per day, but $10 is a good testing budget to learn what works before scaling.

What is Google Performance Max (PMax)?

Google Performance Max, or PMax, is an automated ad campaign type that uses Google’s AI to reach customers across all Google channels — Search, YouTube, Display, Discover, Maps, and Gmail. You provide the creatives, goals, and budget, and Google automatically optimises your ads to get the best results.

PMax is especially useful for ecommerce because it can find high-intent buyers and maximise conversions with minimal manual setup.

What is the difference between Google Search Ads and Performance Max?

Google Search Ads target people who type specific keywords into Google. You choose the keywords, write the ads, and control where they appear.

Performance Max uses Google’s AI to show your ads across all Google channels — Search, YouTube, Display, Discover, Maps, and Gmail.

Search Ads give you precision and manual control, while PMax offers broader reach and automated optimisation to maximise conversions.

Is Google Performance Max a full-funnel campaign?

Yes, Performance Max works as a full-funnel campaign. It reaches users at every stage, from awareness to conversion, by showing ads across Search, YouTube, Display, Discover, Maps, and Gmail.

Google’s AI automatically finds new audiences, retargets visitors, and drives conversions, making PMax a complete end-to-end campaign for ecommerce growth.

What does Google Tag Manager do?

Google Tag Manager lets you add and manage tracking codes, like pixels, analytics tags, and event tracking, without editing your website’s code. It makes it easy to track conversions, user actions, and marketing performance from one dashboard.

For ecommerce stores, GTM helps you run cleaner, more accurate analytics and ads across Google, Meta, and TikTok.

What are the best ecommerce strategies used by top online retailers?

Top online retailers focus on clear product pages, fast checkout, strong branding, and consistent marketing. They use data to improve conversion rates, run targeted Meta and Google ads, and build repeat sales with email and retargeting.

They also optimise delivery speed, offer flexible payment options, and track every customer action through pixels and analytics tools. Sellers on Dash to Cart can apply the same strategies with built-in AI tools, fast checkout, and Meta/TikTok Pixel support.

How can I optimise my ecommerce website for higher conversion rates?

You can improve conversions by using clear product photos, strong descriptions, fast page load times, and a simple checkout process. Highlight reviews, trust badges, and transparent pricing to reduce hesitation. Make your site mobile-friendly and remove unnecessary steps in the buying process.

Use pixels and analytics to track behaviour, then refine pages based on real data. Dash to Cart already includes fast checkout, mobile-optimised pages, and built-in tracking support to help sellers convert more buyers.

Can I integrate my ecommerce store with social selling platforms?

Yes, you can integrate your ecommerce store with social selling platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. You can sync products, add shopping tags, and drive traffic directly from your social content to your store.

Dash to Cart also supports this by offering a Live Session page, where you can showcase products in real time, share the link and QR code on social media, and let customers buy instantly while watching. This makes social selling faster, easier, and more interactive.

Which ecommerce platforms are best for small businesses in Singapore and Malaysia?

Small businesses in Singapore and Malaysia often choose platforms that are easy to set up, affordable, and built for fast growth. Dash to Cart is a strong choice for SMEs because it offers zero-commission selling, fast checkout, AI tools, and local payment support through Stripe.

Other popular options include Shopify for customisable stores, Wix for simple drag-and-drop setups, and WooCommerce for businesses that want full control through WordPress. Each platform works well, but Dash to Cart is ideal for sellers who want a fast, lightweight, and cost-efficient way to start selling online.

How do I integrate social media marketing into my ecommerce strategy?

You can integrate social media marketing by creating content that drives traffic to your store, running targeted ads, and using pixels to track performance. Share product videos, reviews, and promos on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Use shopping tags and clear CTAs to guide users to your product pages.

Dash to Cart supports Meta Pixel and TikTok Pixel, letting you retarget viewers and optimise campaigns for higher conversions.

Why are my ecommerce sales on Amazon, Lazada, or Shopee going down?

Sales on Amazon, Lazada, or Shopee can drop for many reasons. Higher competition, price changes, new sellers, or shifting search rankings can reduce visibility. Seasonal demand may also slow down. Algorithm updates, poor reviews, slower fulfilment, or weak ad performance can further affect sales. Marketplaces are competitive, so even strong stores can see dips.

Many sellers use a direct store on platforms like Dash to Cart to reduce reliance on marketplaces and build stable, long-term sales.

What are the most effective shipping and delivery services for ecommerce sellers in Singapore and Malaysia?

For ecommerce sellers in Singapore and Malaysia, the best shipping and delivery services are those that offer fast delivery, real-time tracking, and seamless integration with online stores.

In Singapore, top choices include Ninja Van, J&T Express, and Pickupp, known for island-wide coverage, reliable last-mile delivery, and flexible same-day or next-day options.

In Malaysia, reliable providers include Pos Laju, J&T Express Malaysia, Ninja Van Malaysia, and DHL eCommerce, which support nationwide deliveries, COD options, and cross-border fulfilment.

Many sellers choose these couriers because they integrate smoothly with ecommerce platforms. Dash to Cart simplifies order management, making it easy for sellers to work with their preferred delivery partners in both Singapore and Malaysia.