Not needing physical stores, cost savings, and easy customer contact are some of the benefits of eCommerce. If you're starting a business or own brick and mortar stores, you may have been considering building a shop online to sell your products. You may think only experts can create a great online store, but that's far from the truth.
The key is learning how to build an eCommerce website from scratch. Don't know how?
We've got you covered. Here are the 5 steps you should follow to build a successful eCommerce site today.
1. Set Up Your Business Paperwork
The first step to build your online store is filing any necessary paperwork to make your business official. Registering your business, requesting your sales tax permit, and vendor's license are some examples of steps you may have to take.
Before taking this step, you should consult a local attorney. A legal expert can provide insight into the best legal structure for your business. If you're operating a business already, you should also consult an attorney to learn what you need to take your business online.
2. Buy a Domain Name and Hosting
Once you set up your business, you should buy a domain name or site. You'll also need to buy a hosting service to take this site live.
Before buying these services, you should do your research to learn about your options. As a business owner, you may focus on the cost of these services. Yet, it's vital to make sure your domain and hosting provider offers the features you need to scale your business easily.
3. Choose the Right Website Builder
Building the perfect eCommerce store to take your business online will come down to choosing the right website builder. Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, and WooCommerce are some of the most popular eCommerce builders.
To choose the best builder, you'll need to compare the benefits of using Shopify against other popular platforms. Comparing the best website builders will help you make an informed decision and pick the right platform for your store.
4. Build Your Store
Once you choose your website builder, it's time to build your online store. Platforms such as Shopify make it easy for less tech-savvy users to create their site.
If you find it's too difficult, you should consider consulting an eCommerce development expert. This expert can guide you every step of the way to build your store.
5. Start Selling Your Products
After building your online store, it's time to take it live and start selling your products. Try your best to market your online store using your social media channels. If you operate brick and mortar stores, you should also advertise your new online store at your locations.
So You Learned How to Build an eCommerce Website From Scratch, Now What?
Learning how to build an eCommerce website from scratch is the first step to take your business online. However, it's important to develop a plan to create an online store that fits your customer base. If you're unsure about the best approach, you may consider consulting an eCommerce website developer.
These experts will analyze your customer base and operations to offer suggestions on how to build the perfect e-commerce site to sell your products. The right developer can also help you develop the right branding for your online store.
