A successful online store can be a profitable business opportunity for anyone with a good idea, a little know-how and the right tools. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to get started: choosing an ecommerce platform, setting up and designing your store, adding products and creating product pages, establishing your business structure, launching and promoting your online store.
Having an online store create an online store can help you better serve existing customers by making it easier for them to purchase your products, and it can also help you reach new audiences that may not visit your brick-and-mortar location or be aware of your brand. Additionally, using a solution like Shopify allows you to seamlessly sell your products across multiple sales channels – online, in-person, in your mobile app, at other businesses’ locations and even on social media – while keeping all of your product, inventory, sales and reporting in one place so that you always have the most current information at your fingertips.
Before you start an online store, it’s important to understand your customer base so that you can build a site that addresses their needs and goals. To do this, create a profile of your ideal customer that includes statistical details such as age, gender, marital status, education level and household income. You can also profile your target audience by identifying their interests, purchasing behaviors and what type of products or services they are most likely to buy from you.
Once you have a clear understanding of your customer base, it’s time to determine what you want to sell. Once again, a good place to start is by identifying the types of products you are best qualified to create or sell and then researching competitors’ websites and social media channels for inspiration. This will give you an idea of what is already out there, and it will help you establish a competitive price point for your product.
While the cost to build and launch an online store can be a substantial investment, it is possible to make money as an ecommerce seller. This can be done by finding a niche, marketing your products to ideal customers, and selling at a price that is lower than the competition but still provides you with a profit margin.
When selecting an ecommerce platform to use, look for one that offers a variety of themes to choose from. This will allow you to design your store to fit your branding. It is also a good idea to select a platform that offers support the entire way through, from help launching your site to ongoing maintenance and improvements.
Once you have selected an ecommerce platform and created an account, it’s time to add your products and create product pages. For each product, provide a title and a detailed description. You’ll also want to create a product category, so that your customers can easily find what they are looking for. When you’re ready to start selling, select a payment method (e.g., Stripe or PayPal) and configure your shipping settings.
