So you want to know how to create an online store? Maybe you are worried about your web development skills or perhaps you don’t know where to start.
Luckily for you, creating your online store is the easiest part of setting up your online business. In fact, it can be done in the time it takes for you to drink a cup of coffee! But before that, let’s take a look at everything you need to start selling online.
- Find your ‘thing’
- Research your competition
- Pick your eCommerce platform
- Select your domain name
- Personalise your brand
- Add your products
- Set up shipping
- Launch!
- Read up to improve your business model!
Before you Create an Online Store
They say that a goal without a plan is just a wish. So before you create your online store, you need to run through steps 1-3.
Find your ‘thing’
Your ‘thing’ isn’t just your products. Obviously your products or services are fantastic already (we hope!) but your ‘thing’ is about filling a need in the market.
You know what you are creating, but you need to understand why you are making it. What factor is going to tempt potential customers to browse through your store? Which unique selling point (USP) do you offer? Who is your target market?
If you’re looking for inspiration perhaps you should read about these 4 eCommerce entrepreneurs who are changing the world!
Research your competition
You can cover most of this by asking yourself three simple questions while looking at competitor websites.
- What do your competitors do well?
- What do they NOT do well?
- Which keywords and phrases do they repeat?
These three questions will give you everything you need to know about optimising your own online store. When you create an online store, you can use these answers to create a compelling website that attracts customers, rates highly on Google, and has a high customer conversion rate.
Pick your eCommerce platform
When it comes to selecting your eCommerce website builder, you need to make the right choice for yourself. We’ve even put together a comprehensive eCommerce platform guide for you to browse through and choose yourself.
But if you’re looking for an eCommerce website builder that charges zero commission, offers international payment pathways and multilingual storefronts to access wider markets, and guides you through the entire process leaving you with no hassle?
That means that eSuperStore is the one for you!
Start to Create an Online Store
Select your domain name
Think short, catchy and memorable.
Try to make it as relatable to your products as you can, while still being easy to remember. In order to build the reputation of your online business, you want people to tell their friends about you.
But that won’t happen if they can’t remember it!
Personalise your brand
Do you remember all that research from step #2?
Use all that information to design your ideal storefront. Colours, themes and buttons are yours to play with. Combine and change them to make your products as compelling as possible.
Are you leaning into bright colours? Or maintaining a chic, professional-looking palette? It all depends upon who you are selling to!
Add your products
This is a piece of cake. Simply use good-quality images of your products, and a compelling description of each item.
Don’t forget to price them of course!
Set up shipping
This is incredibly important – especially if you’ve chosen an eCommerce website builder that allows small businesses to ship internationally!
Just set your rates for local and international shipping, so that customers instantly know how much they are going to cost. Unexpected fees are one of the biggest causes of abandoned carts in eCommerce, so try to be straightforward!
Launch!
Congratulations! After you create your online store, going live just takes a single click. Then you’re ready to start selling!
After you create an online store, read up to improve your business model!
Finally, there is one last step for your online store – improving it!
There will always be certain aspects of eCommerce that you can improve upon. So read up articles such as Low Cost Strategies to Ensure Sustainable Growth Online! Or maybe your business would profit more from selling through Amazon. In which case you should study our Beginner’s Guide to Selling through Amazon!
Whatever your business needs, SuperDisty has you covered. With our resources page covering all types of helpful business guides, and products designed to aid online businesses with EDI Solutions or becoming an Amazon Vendor, we have something for every business.
So get in touch with a member of our team today, and begin your foray into online business!
SuperDisty – Your passport to online markets
