With eCommerce selling on the rise, it’s no wonder so many people are eager to get started online. But building a store from scratch can be daunting – especially if you’re not familiar with online store construction tools. That’s where this blog comes in! In this article, we’ll walk you through the crucial steps to build] an online store, from choosing a domain name to installing plugins to boosting traffic. By the end of this guide, you’ll have everything you need to Build An Online Store and to start selling products!
The Statistics of Selling Online
To build an online store is a great way to make money. In fact, according to some estimates, online stores generate up to nine times more revenue than brick-and-mortar stores. So, if you’re thinking of starting an online store, and aren’t sure where to start, this is the guide for you!
How to Build an Online Store
It can feel frightening to build an online store on your own, but with the right strategies and a little bit of effort, it’s definitely possible. Decide a name and logo for your business, if you do not have one. The first step is to decide what you want your store to look like. Add products, pricing, descriptions, and images to complete the buildout of your store. Next, add automated marketing programs to drive traffic and customers to your online store doors.
Keep track of sales through automated tracking tools and review your findings regularly to make sure that you’re making the most out of your online store. Once your store is up and running, design and create a website that accurately reflects your brand identity. Last but not least, enjoy selling online!
In this blog, I will explain the basic steps that are necessary for you to build an online store for your business.
Also read: 7 Reasons Why Your Business Needs A Blog
Decide If WordPress Is Right For You
If you’re thinking to build an online store, WordPress is a great option to consider. It’s free to set up, easy to use, and popular among online shoppers. In this blog post, we’ll go over some of the key reasons why WordPress is such a great eCommerce platform. We’ll also provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to build an online store with WordPress, from start to finish. So whether you’re a beginner or an experienced eCommerce developer, this blog post is for you!
Find Reliable Web Hosting (We Recommend Bluehost)
We recommend Bluehost for its user-friendly platform and affordable rates. Make sure to take advantage of their free domain name and web hosting trial to test out the platform before making a purchase. With a little bit of preparation and a lot of hard work, you can build an online store that is successful and fulfilling.
Bluehost offers you a variety of features, including free SSL, free CDN, 24×7 customer support, etc. among other features.
Choose and Register a Unique Domain Name
Choosing a domain name for your website or online store is an important task as it will be a reflection of your brand. There are a few things you should keep in mind when making your decision:
1. Use keywords that accurately represent your business to avoid any confusion for potential website visitors.
2. Keep it short! Short names are easy to remember – aim for 6-14 characters.
3. Avoid using numbers or hyphens as they can make the website difficult to spell and pronounce. This could also create doubts in users’ minds about the authenticity of your store.
4. Be sure to research the chosen name for copyright and trademark infringement to avoid any legal issues down the road.
Install WordPress and Set Up WooCommerce
In this step, we’re going to install WordPress and WooCommerce, two of the most popular e-commerce plugins.
WordPress has evolved into a powerful website builder that is easy to install and use. You can customize the plugins and themes, and there are options to create sliders, change the background, colors, etc. WordPress is SEO friendly, and it has an inbuilt media uploader so you can embed and upload YouTube videos, tweets, and images.WordPress is free to install and is used by over 60% of online stores.
WooCommerce is a powerful plugin that makes it easy to set up your store with features like product descriptions, payment gateways, shipping options, and more.
Make sure to add a contact form and social media links so customers can connect with you easily. Finally, congratulations on your new online store!
Pick Your Perfect Design Theme
The next step is to pick a design theme that best suits your store. This can be a bit tricky, but don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. There are various free themes for you to choose from. We will choose Astra. There are both free and paid versions of the theme.
The first one is through its official website wpastra.com. Choose from either the free or the paid version. A ZIP file will be downloaded. It contains the theme and all the required documents.
The second way to install the theme is to open the admin panel on WordPress. Click on customize. Select themes. Search for the Astra theme and install it. You also need to activate it.
Now you need to install the WooCommerce and other required plugins. To install WooCommerce, you can either go to their official website and download the plugin, or you can install it from the WordPress dashboard in the same way as you downloaded the Astra theme.
Build An Online Store
Astra has a number of free and premium starter templates that can be used to build an online store. Just check the templates and select the one best suited to your needs. You can select any one of the starter templates:
- Plant Shop
- Electric Scooter
- Inessa Perfume
- eGrow Plants
After selecting the template, click on Import. It is possible to install the complete website or just the homepage. After the template is imported, you can customise it as per your needs.
You can replace the logo, and the products, change the colors, edit the information, edit pages, etc. Elementor is used to make the changes.
You can also build an online store from scratch if you do not want to use the starter templates. Create your homepage using elements or, add your products, the related information.
You can follow this detailed guide that will help you build an online store from scratch.
Setting Up Your Online Store
After you build your store, it is not important to add the other necessary features. Add your products, shipping details, tax information, payment methods, etc.
To add this information, open WooCommerce. Select settings and make the required changes.
Shipping
To set up the shipping information, create the shipping zone. Add all the countries, states, and locations where you are going to ship your products to. You can use other shipping services like DHL, Delivery, etc. You need to set up the shipping charges. You can also provide free shipping services.
Tax Information
Every state and country has different tax rules and regulations. Add all the necessary information like the country and state codes, tax rates, etc. Check the tax rates in google.
Payments
Payments can either be prepaid or cash on delivery. You also have the option to add both. For the prepaid option, you have Paypal, Stripe, Razorpay, etc. They also provide international payments.
Create an account on the payment gateway that you want. You’ll receive API and a Secret key. Enable the payment option in the WooCommerce payment option to enable and install the plugin.
Add the API and Secret Key and save it to enable payments from credit and debit cards.
Carry Out Final Checks, then Publish
It’s time to publish your online store! But before you do, make sure everything is in order. Place an order. Choose the payment option. After the order is placed, check your dashboard for notification regarding the placed order. Also, check the payment gateway dashboard for the same. If you get a notification regarding the placed order, it means that your order is placed successfully.
Once you’re satisfied, it’s time to publish your store online. Make sure to include all the required information, including store description, pricing, shipping information, and contact details. Now it’s time to start selling! Make sure you provide customers with an excellent shopping experience by providing top-quality products and great customer service. With a little bit of effort, your online store can be a huge success!
Conclusion
Congratulations on starting your own online store! By following the steps outlined, you’ll be well on your way to creating a store that customers will love. Make sure to bookmark this page and return to it later for more helpful advice. Thanks for reading!
