Starting an online store can be a daunting task, but with the right tools and guidance, it can be a rewarding and profitable venture. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, creating an online store can help you reach a wider audience and grow your business. In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps to start an online store, from choosing an ecommerce platform to designing your website and launching your first product. With the help of this comprehensive guide, you’ll be well on your way to building a successful online store.
Table of Contents
Choose an ecommerce platform
Decide on a target audience
Choose your products
Design your site
Connect a payment gateway
Choose a business structure
Get your store ready for launch
Launch your store
Market your store
How to start an online store
1. Choose an ecommerce platform
An ecommerce platform lets you build and start an online store experience, make sales, and fulfill orders. Most people think an ecommerce platform is like a website builder: you simply list new products and accept payments online. But they can do so much more than that.
When considering how to make a website to sell online, think about your ecommerce platform as the control center for your entire business, controlling everything from inventory to marketing, giving you all the tools you need to sell online and provide customer support.
Key features to look for in an ecommerce platform include:
Usability. Your ecommerce software should be easy to use, especially if you are DIYing it in the beginning. Look for a tool that is intuitive and uses a drag and drop online store builder to easily create your online store. Schedule a demo or free trial if you want to find out for yourself.
Accessible customer support. Look for a platform that offers support the entire way. For example, with Shopify, you can get help launching your site or migrating it from another software, as well as ongoing support. Support teams are available 24/7 through live chat, email, or even phone, anytime you need, in 19 different languages.
Friction-free checkout. Streamlined checkout is critical to making sales. Find an ecommerce platform that makes it easy for shoppers to buy your products. If you use Shopify, Shop Pay streamlines online checkout, increasing checkout speed by four times. You can also use Shopify’s plug-ins, with more than 100 payment gateway to accommodate various payment methods and currencies.
Web hosting. A web host stores information and content on your ecommerce website in a server database. You need web hosting to let people access your online store. Some ecommerce software offers web hosting built-in, while others require you to use a third-party solution.
When choosing your ecommerce software, consider your current and future needs. Some platforms may be the best solution for today, but a powerful platform like Shopify can get you started quickly and support your future growth.
Start a free trial of Shopify and build your ecommerce store through one of our professionally designed templates. The trial should give you enough time to start an online store that’s ready to launch if you follow this guide and keep in mind that you can continue to add products and improve your store after it goes live.
2. Decide on a target audience
A target audience is the group of people your marketing efforts are focused on. When starting an ecommerce business, knowing your ideal audience is critical. It helps you find new customers easier and attract interested buyers to your website, resulting in higher conversion rates and more sales.
You can make an audience of any size or attribute, depending on what products you plan to sell. However, there are three main categories to look at as a new ecommerce entrepreneur:
Demographics. Includes characteristics such as age, gender, occupation, education, and income.
Location. Groups that divide the market based on geographic location, so you can serve a specific area better.
Interests. Built around psychographics and includes attitudes, personality, opinions, and the lifestyle of your audience.
If you have a product already, choosing a target audience is easier. Ask yourself: Who buys my product? What are they like? What’s their age? Compile that information into a buyer persona and include it in your business plan. You’ll want it when you create your website copy and marketing campaigns.
If you don’t have a product just yet, think about the types of people you know best. For example, maybe you love pets and understand other pet owners in their 40s and 50s really well. Chances are, you have a good idea of what they like and dislike, their needs and fears. That could be your target audience.
To sell online, you need to genuinely know and appreciate your audience. For more help on determining it, read Finding Your Ideal Customer: How to Define and Reach Your Target Audience.
3. Choose your products
One of the biggest challenges entrepreneurs face is finding profitable products to sell. Coming up with product ideas is a bit tricky, but if you have a target audience in mind, you’re one step ahead. Fortunately, there are plenty of opportunities to find products to sell, whether you’re manufacturing, reselling, or dropshipping.
You can find profitable products to sell in a number of ways:
Appeal to enthusiastic hobbyists
Go with your personal passion
Capitalize on trends early
Look at what’s trending in online marketplaces
Resources:
How To Start a Small Business at Home: 30 Ideas for 2023
How to Source Products for Your Online Store: Top Apps and Tips
Product Ideas: 17 Places to Find Profitable Products
Find a Product to Sell: 12 Strategies for Finding Your First Profitable Product
17 Trending Products to Sell Online in 2023
4. Design your site
Before we begin, you’ll need to start a free trial of Shopify. If you follow this guide, the trial should give you more than enough time to create an online store that’s ready to launch. Keep in mind that you can continue to add products and improve your store after it goes live.
When you start your trial, you’ll be prompted to enter a store name, which will become your default URL (e.g., storename.myshopify.com). You won’t be able to change this, but you will be able to buy a custom domain (e.g., yourstore.com) later on, so don’t worry about picking the perfect name right now.
After answering a few questions, you’ll find yourself inside your own Shopify account.
Here’s a quick checklist of what you should have before you begin and what I’ll be working with to start my store:
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