Create an online store: 5 steps to sell online in minutes
Creating an online store is a fantastic way to start a business. However, many people do not know how to start and have the impression that having their own online business is something difficult to achieve.
When we think about creating an online store, questions such as: How do I choose a domain and where do I buy it? How do I add products to my store? What about shipping costs? How will customers pay?
The good news is that you don't need a lot of money, time or technical knowledge to create an online store. And as you will see in this article, most of these questions can be easily answered.
The objective of this guide is to teach you, step by step, how to create an online store in the easiest and simplest way possible.
However, you must keep in mind that, like many other profitable businesses , creating an online store requires time, investment and dedication so that it becomes your main source of income.
So how do you create an online store from scratch?
The fastest and easiest way to create an online store is to use one of the available platforms that allow you to build your eCommerce store in just a few clicks.
Without needing to be an expert in web programming, you can create an online store with platforms like Shopify and Wix. Both are easy to use platforms, very interactive, and in a matter of minutes you can create your online store.
To start with, you can sign up under the trial version mode, so you can see how the platform works for 14 days, try it, look at its features and check if it works for you or not. If you don't like it, you just cancel and you don't have to pay.
Now that you know the tools that we will use, it is time to start creating an online store.
1. Choose the platform to create your store:
Once you have already solved the essential aspects of your business; such as the name of the store, the products you are going to sell, who your audience will be, among others, you must choose the platform.
As we already mentioned, you can choose Shopify , Wix or some other that you know.
These eCommerce platforms cost around $17 USD per month to use. This will depend on the plan you choose, since like any business, you will need to invest a little money.
When you start selling, this cost will seem quite low. And even more so when you understand all the benefits they offer you at the distance of a few clicks.
Some of the things you can do with Shopify and Wix are:
– Customize templates to build an online store to your style.
– Upload products and classify them into categories.
– Connect with different payment options, such as PayPal, credit cards and other means.
– Manage deliveries with shipping providers.
Previously you needed to invest large sums of money in programmers and web designers, now with a couple of clicks you can create an online store cheaply and easily, keep your site running and create a secure online business where your customers, around the world, buy your products. services and products.
ONLINE COURSE: CREATE YOUR ONLINE STORE WITHOUT INVENTORY AND LEARN DROPSHIPPING
Differences between Shopify and Wix
Different store builders offer different features:
Shopify is one of the best eCommerce platforms that you can use. This offers different services, which make it a comprehensive service, which covers you from a cost calculator to invoices and management of shipments to customers.
If you have more than 10 products and need a platform that suits your business, Shopify is a great option.
Wix is great for small businesses, and one of the easiest to use. This option is perfect for you if you have 10 or less products to sell.
We recommend choosing a plan or level that suits your needs. The more you pay, the more you get.
Make sure that if your store is small, you get what it takes: your own domain and SSL certificate (to give your customers confidence), versatile templates, and essential selling features.
2. Define a name and domain for your online store
Once you have defined the e-commerce platform that you are going to use, it is time to define the name and domain. That is, you give an identity to your site.
Your domain will be your web address, and it is how your customers will find you. In our case it is EmpiendoHistorias.com.
This is your main name; it's what customers see in the address bar and Google searches. Imagine that your domain is the sign that would hang above an actual store on the street.
In the case of Wix, within its free plans, you can have a domain at no cost, but it is linked as a subdomain. In the hypothetical case of Undertaking Stories, it would be: undertakinghistories.wix.com
This is one of the main reasons why free plans are not suitable for businesses. Your store's credibility is at risk if it doesn't have its own name.
Where can you buy a domain?
You can name your store through a premium plan from Shopify or Wix, or you can learn how to create a blog , and choose your free domain for a year if you purchase a hosting plan with Bluehost .
With this tool you can check if your domain is available
A good domain name is one of the key variables to create a successful online store .
Build trust with customers and help establish your brand. As much as possible choose a domain that ends in .com , avoid brand names, be unique with the name and add a keyword, a popular search term that helps people find your store.
3. Give your online store a design:
When creating an online store, design is essential to create an impactful first impression. At this point you have three options:
The first is to design your website from scratch, with a programmer and web designer. This alternative is the most complex, since you need to know programming and basically you have to create an entire site from scratch.
The second option is to buy a template, and adapt it to your tastes. In Themeforest for example, you find thousands of designs that can be used for your store. There you can choose the one you like the most.
A third option is to use the ones you have available on Shopify and Wix.
All you have to do is select a template from the menu. Then head over to your store's admin tool and start customizing it.
Play around with the color scheme, font, and number of products in your theme. You can even add logos to your template.
Why is the template important when creating an online store?
Your colors, style, formats, and the design in general, reflect the values of your brand and the quality of your products. If you look professional and stylish, you will make more sales.
To look more professional you can include maps, galleries, videos, attach your social networks and even talk about the brand story.
Here he highlights the importance of having a blog for your store, this will give consumers more information about your brand and greater confidence when buying.
The use of blogs is a well-known and widespread marketing strategy. How to start a blog? Here is a guide to learn how to create a blog step by step in less than 10 minutes.
Think about the features your store needs and include them in the template. Template features are a key part of how to build an online store. They give your site the functionality it needs to be successful.
Home page:
It is important that you develop and design a good home page, since this is the first page that your customers will see. In other words, this is like the window of your store.
One of the reasons why online businesses fail is due to the mistrust that is generated in users, so customers who visit your online store should not have any doubts when they land on your home page.
Make sure navigation is simple and comfortable, it's how customers will move around your store. And lastly, don't overload the design, choose a background color that is inoffensive and make sure everything is legible.
4. Add the products of your online store:
This step is one of the most important, since it is not only about uploading images of your product with a price, but also implementing a good organic positioning strategy for your products.
This means that you must choose and catalog products in such a way that your customers find you on Google.
The main things you need to add a product are: name, price, category and weight. In the case of using platforms like Shopify and Wix, you can set limits such as the number of products, the options you handle (for example the size and color of a shirt) and other variables of the transaction.
The description of your products:
A good description of your product should convince the customer. They must describe the product in a striking way but without exaggerating about it to avoid refunds.
Avoid complex language, clichés, and long sentences in your description. Enhance your benefits. In addition, include keywords so that customers find your store when they search for a product that you own through the browser.
As for the images, make sure they are faithful to the product, are of high quality and are of a uniform size. Add images with variants of your product (color, size) and provide multiple images with views from all angles.
This may require an investment of money, but a good image speaks a thousand words. So, with a good quality image you can generate more sales of your products.
Finally, classify your product in a category to facilitate its search and identification. Don't add unnecessary categories. Allows users to filter by price range and product function. Do not create more than 5 categories for products.
Services:
It is important to clarify that you can also offer services when creating an online store. There you can sell your consulting services, seminars, and any type of “intangible” good that you have in mind.
The same is true for online products such as ebooks, online courses , and seminars via Skype or Google Hangouts.
5. Set up your online store:
This last step is usually the most tedious in the process of creating an online store, but once it's done, you'll be fully prepared to start selling online without any problem.
To start selling you must configure the internal functioning of your page. This involves defining the time zone, currency or currency you will receive, address, emails, order and product settings, and contact information.
At this point you must configure the payment options, the shipment of products, the claim process and returns. Platforms like Shopify and Wix offer their users different payment methods like PayPal, VISA, AMEX and MasterCard.
Keep in mind that the more options you give your customers, the more chances you have of making a sale.
Payment methods within an online store:
There are three popular ways to accept payments in online stores, these are:
Create a merchant account and use a payment gateway :
This account is associated with a bank, and it is responsible for accepting payments, charging a commission and then depositing the money in your bank account.
Payment Gateway Packages :
This consists of a software that includes all the payment service.
This tool connects your store's shopping cart with the card processing network. For example you have Stripe, Place to Pay, among others. These gateways usually include PayPal as a means of payment.
Simplified credit card payment processing :
This option uses a service that is integrated with the payment and shipping of your online store. An example is Shopify 's own payment gateway , powered by Stripe. The buyer does not have to leave your site to complete a purchase.
So, how do you know which of these is the best payment option for your online store?
This will depend on the amount of sales you plan to make and the type of audience you are selling your products to. The recommendation is that you analyze the competition and do not choose one at random. Adjust your payment method according to your public.
The SSL certificate, essential to create an online store:
Something necessary to make a sale is the SSL certificate granted by these platforms. It may sound complex when you read it, but it basically gives your customer peace of mind that they are on a secure site.
This certificate is known as Secure Sockets Layer, and is identified by a green padlock icon located to the left of your website's URL.
What does it consist of? This guarantees the security of the information provided by the client and allows the consumer to buy with more confidence.
Shipping your products:
Finally, you must ensure that shipments are completely efficient. Shopify and Wix offer their users the ability to partner with shipping companies like FedEx or UPS.
Add a source address and the types of packets to be sent. It is important that you include the necessary fees to cover shipping and storage costs.
Once you have configured these details of your online store you can test it and make sure that everything works well. Try on various web browsers, iPhone and Android. Do not forget that your store must constantly evolve.
It is normal that you must make changes in the immediate future. They are trial and error tests that will help you learn how to create an online store and understand how the correct operation of your store is.
To finish, although there are a large number of services offered by these online store platforms, the recommendation is that you start with the most basic. Once you stabilize and start generating income, turn to some of the useful tools they offer.
If you have any inconvenience, do not hesitate to communicate it to technical support. They are helpful and timely, they will help you with any setback that you may suffer in the process.
Continue reading: How to sell a product: 6 steps if you have no sales experience