Do you want to sell your product? Are you looking for an easy way to make extra money? Are you ready to solve a problem that affects a group of people you care about?

An online store is a great way to reach any of these goals. The eCommerce market is huge. In 2020, global online sales hit $4.28 trillion and continue to grow in popularity each year. It’s also much more affordable than opening a physical storefront, though you can still have one if you wish.

There are many things to take into consideration. How can you start? How do you build a store that lasts for decades or years?

This guide will show you how to create an eCommerce store, from designing your shop and creating products to building a company that you can trust. Let’s get started.

Choose an idea

The first step in building your business is choosing an idea. This can be done in one of two ways: you can start with an audience, or with a product idea.

Begin with your target audience

Your audience refers to the people who have problems that you solve. These are the people to whom you will sell your products, write your content, and build your company.

Three levels of knowing your audience will help you:

1. This reduces your competition. Let’s suppose you sell coffee. You can’t compete with a coffee shop that sells coffee to people who love to enjoy a cup of freshly-ground, premium-sourced, hand-ground coffee every morning. These customers are open to trying new products and will buy from the store that best suits their needs.
2. This helps you do things correctly the first time. Knowing who your products are for will help you focus on their needs right away.
3. This helps you to focus on the value and not react to the market. You can be more successful if you can solve a specific problem for a particular group of people. If price is the only difference between you and your competition, it can be difficult to stand out as a leader in your field.

Yes, it is possible to start with an audience before knowing exactly what you are going to sell. It could be a teacher passionate about elementary education or a vet who loves animals. Or a gamer who is active in the gaming community. Focus on what you love and know.

Next, determine what they want and the problem you will solve for them. Perhaps elementary school students need to be taught math in a more fun way, dogs need to be fed healthier, and gamers need to have better interaction with their peers. There are many options when it comes to starting an eCommerce business.

These are some ways you can solve problems.

• Ask your audience to complete surveys or give them quizzes.

• At trade shows, festivals, or networking events, you can have conversations with people.

• Ask other businesses in your niche for their experiences and what they have to say.

• Participate in social media groups and forums that are used by your audience.

• See what people are complaining about products and books that relate to your audience.

Once you have identified your problem and audience, create a solution that is specific to them.

Start with a product

Maybe you have an already great product idea. You can start with this idea, too. However, it is important to consider your audience.

What is your product used for? What problem does your product solve? What does it do for people? These are questions that will help you determine your target audience.

Again, be specific. You don’t have to say that you are marketing to women or business owners. Focus on working moms between 25 and 30, who commute long distances, or have small businesses in the Pacific Northwest that struggle to manage bookkeeping. Focus is important.

Source your product either by creating it or sourcing it

Once you have a clear idea of what and where you want to sell it, you can start to create or source the product. There are many ways to source your product. We’ll be discussing the pros and cons of each method, as well as some tips.

Handcrafting

Do you love woodworking? Sewing? Cooking? Painting? To create something truly original by hand, you can use any one of these skills.

This allows you to control every item that is sent by mail. Your store can be unique because no one else can make it the same as you.

It is important to realize that scaling a handcrafted company can be difficult. It’s hard to find people who can design your products in the same way because of their uniqueness. You only have so much time.

Handcrafting is an affordable way to get started with eCommerce.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing refers to the creation of products by using automation and machinery on a large scale. This process can be outsourced or purchased equipment to make it in-house.

It is important to find the right partner if you decide to outsource. Ask questions like:

• Is it domestic or international?

• Are there minimum order quantities? What are their minimum order sizes?

• Are they specialized in the type of production you need?

• Are they happy with their customers? Are there any complaints?

It is a great way to produce many products simultaneously. Typically, the more you produce the more efficient it will be. This is a great option if you don’t have the time, money, space, or desire to create products.

It is necessary to make a substantial financial investment upfront, as many manufacturing companies require minimum order quantities. Also, you are giving up some control over the product’s quality.

Dropshipping

Dropship acts as a middleman between your customers and a manufacturing company. Your search for buyers, and then you find a supplier who both manufactures and ships the products. You then take a share of the profits.

Dropshipping has its pros and cons. Dropshipping isn’t something you need to worry about (or pay for). Things like shipping, manufacturing, and inventory. The overhead and hassle are significantly reduced. It’s also great for cash flow. It doesn’t take a lot to make products and expects people to buy them. You’ll only pay your supplier when someone makes a purchase.

Dropshipping identical products can make it difficult for businesses to stand out. There is also a lot of competition. It also means that you lose a lot of control, as in many cases you won’t even see the products arrive at a customer’s door.

This is why it is important to choose a reliable supplier. You should ensure that they have a good reputation. A local provider may be able to help you with fulfillment and packaging.

Print on demand

Print on Demand lets you print your designs on white-labeled items. Your artwork is sent digitally to a third-party supplier. They then put it on t-shirts, water bottles, and stickers, as well as phone cases. They then print, package, and ship your items. 

Dropshipping is a similar approach to dropshipping. This method can save you a lot of hassle and upfront costs. It’s also a great solution for creatives. You do have to give up some control and margins.

Digital creation

However, not all products need to be physical. Digital goods can be sold, including music downloads, eBooks, memberships and classes, artwork, and other digital products.

This is a great way to passive income. Once you have created your digital products, there is very little maintenance on your part.

No matter what method you use, validation is key. Do you remember the audience that you identified earlier? Reach out to them, and find out what their opinions are. Ask them to try your product. Get their feedback. Make any necessary adjustments.

Establishing your business

It’s now time to create your business entity. While there are several steps that you need to follow to get your business up and running it is important to remember that the process may vary depending on where you live.

Select a name

It can be overwhelming to choose a name from scratch. It should be memorable and catchy, unique, and descriptive. A big-name dump is the best place to begin. Write down all the information you can with your family, friends, and team members. Next, narrow down your search to find the right fit.

These are some things to consider:

• Does this sound professional? Think about your business being featured in Forbes or Wall Street Journal. Does the name sound absurd?

• Is it unique? You should ensure that it is not similar to any of your competitors.

• Is it culturally acceptable? It should not be misinterpreted in any market you may sell it to.

• Is it descriptive? Is it descriptive?

• Is your business name memorable? Is it memorable?

Next, ask your audience to run the name. Find out if your audience is attracted to the name by looking at its emotional connotations.

Once you have chosen a name, buy an associated domain name. This will give you the URL and address for your future online store. Choose a URL ending in.com if you can. This will give your online store authority and legitimacy. There are many great options, such as.co or. store. To prevent others from buying your domain names, you may want to purchase multiple versions.

Select a legal structure

Your business’s legal structure can have a significant impact on your day-to-day operations, tax liability, and other issues. It is important to choose the best one. There are many options available depending on where you live, so make sure to familiarize yourself with the options in your country. The Small Business Association provides a chart that allows you to compare different structures in the United States.

Complete all applicable paperwork

To establish your business, you will need to complete any legal paperwork. This will depend on where you are located. This could include filing for an EIN or creating articles of incorporation in the United States. It is best to contact a lawyer to guide you through the process.

You may need additional paperwork if you are selling certain types of regulated products like CBD or live plants, food, alcohol, or other drugs.

Register for a bank account

To apply for a bank account for your business, you will need to provide the documentation. It is important to have a separate account from your accounts. This is crucial for tax and accounting purposes.

Create a logo

You can now create your brand’s visual identity. The logo is an essential part of any online business. When designing a logo, there are many things you should consider.

• Color. Think about cultural implications and what emotions you are trying to communicate. Red is often associated with excitement, while green can communicate trust.

• Simplicity. Simple. Your logo should look great in any application, even the smallest. It should be able to work in either full color or black and white.

• Uniqueness. It should not be too similar to another company’s logo from both a legal standpoint and brand awareness.

• Style. Retro? Bold? What is the best strategy for your business?

• Type. Would you prefer a monogram, symbol, or abstract design? A combination of these elements can make some of the most memorable logos.

• Meaning. Consider what message you wish to send to your potential customers. What is your business doing?

Although you can create a logo by yourself, it is best to hire a professional designer who can consider all these factors.

Choosing an eCommerce platform

You are now ready to start your online store. First, you need to select the right eCommerce platform. An eCommerce platform that supports:

• All of your content is yours. Some proprietary platforms don’t allow you to own the content you create. Your site can be taken down at any time, without notice. This can result in you losing all your hard work and putting your business at risk.

• Scale up to any level. There may be restrictions on how many products you can have or the SKUs that you can have. Some platforms increase their prices based on how many people visit your site or the size of it. You need to find a provider who can help you grow as large as you wish.

• Select a plan that suits your budget. Consider how much money you can afford, especially if you are just starting. As your store grows, many providers will charge additional fees for certain functions or raise their fees.

• You can extend your store in any way you like. Your eCommerce platform should provide all functionality, including subscriptions and memberships, wholesale options, marketing capabilities, and other features.

• Manage and build your store. You can hire a developer to create and manage your website, but you should be able to make modifications and start the process on your own. You should choose a platform that suits your skills.

• You can get the support that you need when you need it. You should always be able to get support from your eCommerce platform if you run into problems.

All of the above criteria are met by WordPress and WooCommerce. WordPress is the most popular website-building platform and is used by 42%. WooCommerce is an online selling add-on. They are both completely free, and you can pay for any extensions that you want!

All of your content is yours and you have complete control over it. Many stores don’t require additional extensions. However, there are many options. Our extension marketplace allows you to add any tool you need, including marketing, product customization, customer service, and shipping.

Build your store

You’ve decided to use WordPress and WooCommerce. Now it’s time to build your online store!

Select a host

Your website files are stored by your hosting provider and made online. They are the basis of your website, and have a huge impact on everything, from security to speed. You should choose one that is:

• Has excellent uptime. Your website’s uptime is the percentage of time it is online. This standard is higher than 99%.

• Security is a commitment. Hosting plans should have a firewall and regularly scan for malware.

• Great reviews. Review sites are the best way of knowing if the provider is hosting great sites.

• Speed is the key. You should look for key factors like SSD servers and in-house caching.

• Support is available 24 hours a day. It’s impossible to predict when you will need assistance. Your hosting provider should be available 24 hours a day through various methods, including phone and live chat.

• The right plan for you. There are many hosting plans available: managed vs. unmanaged, share vs. VPS. Dedicated. Spend some time researching each option to determine which one is best for you and your technical knowledge.

• WordPress Support. Hosting companies offer plans specifically designed for WordPress. These plans are great for speed and support. If you do not choose a WordPress-specific hosting plan, ensure that the host you select has WordPress documentation and support articles.

If all of this seems overwhelming, you can check out our recommended host. These hosts are thoroughly vetted and can be a great foundation for your site.

Install WordPress and WooCommerce

Most hosts offer one-click WordPress installation that is as easy as it sounds. It takes only minutes to get WordPress up and running. Learn more about installing WordPress.

After you log in to your WordPress site, click Plugins – Add New to search for WooCommerce. Next, click Install – Activate.

The wizard will guide you through the basic steps of setting up your store. Or, keep reading for details about individual settings.

Select a theme

There is basically a template design that you can use right out of the box, or modify to your hearts’ content. It can affect the design, layout, and sometimes even functionality of your website.

There are many great free and premium themes that you can find on a range of platforms. These include the WordPress.org theme repository and the WooCommerce template library. While some themes are specific to certain industries or use cases, others can be tailored to your requirements.

The Block Shop theme, for example, is light and efficient. It has everything you need, and nothing extra. The shop layout is clean and beautiful with configurable blocks. More on that later! You can also create your design.

However, you should ensure that the theme is compatible with WooCommerce and has great reviews. It also needs to load quickly and come from a reliable source. This article on choosing the right WordPress theme has more information.

Make your pages

Next, create the pages that you want on your website. WooCommerce will create pages such as Cart, Checkout, and Account automatically, so don’t worry. Instead, think about which pages are most important to potential customers.

• A homepage
• A page about the company
• A FAQ page
• A Contact page

Your business, products, and audience will determine the pages you create.

How do you design and build each page? The wordPress editor allows you to drag and drop elements (called blocks), into place without having to use code. You can drag and drop a contact form, image, or paragraph into your page. You can separate them into columns and change their settings and colors to create anything you like.

Add products

Depending on the store you run, there are many types of products that you can make.

• Simple products. These simple items don’t have any color options or sizes.

• Variable products. These products offer a variety of options, such as size, color, or pattern.

• Downloadable products. These products are digital and cannot be shipped to customers. These may include an eBook, video, or song download.

• Memberships. These memberships allow you to access paid content such as videos, guides, and courses online. To add this product, you will need to extend your contract.

• Subscriptions. These are recurring payments that can be used to pay for subscription boxes or services. These payments require an extension.

For more information on adding products to your store, you can click any one of the links. No matter what type of product you are adding, pricing, SKUs and inventory will all need to be considered.

Add high-quality images from multiple angles to ensure that each product is correctly represented for shoppers. Write detailed product descriptions which explain the benefits of your product and any other information that might be helpful to potential customers, such as age ranges, ingredients, size charts, etc.

Next, think about any customizations that you would like to make to your product pages and customer experience. These are just a few examples:

• Add-ons for product products, such as engravings, personalization, and gift wrapping.

• Offer product bundles that combine items commonly purchased together.

• Design a product configurator for ultimate customization. 

This is how you make product buying easy and straightforward for your customers. With every decision, keep your target audience in mind.

Choose a payment gateway

You can securely accept payments through a payment gateway on your website. It takes money from customers, validates their information, and then transfers the payment directly to your bank account. There are some things you should consider when selecting a payment gateway.

• What fees are involved? Each payment gateway charges a small percentage of the payment to receive its services. Some payment gateways charge additional fees.

• Is it keeping customers on-site, or taking them off? You can accept payments on your website while other gateways send customers to their sites to pay. To make it as easy as possible, you should keep them on the site.

• What speed does money transfer from your bank account to your bank account? While some gateways allow you to transfer funds within a few days, others provide instant or overnight transfers.

• Is it compatible with digital wallets Many customers find digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay extremely convenient for their checkout needs? Customers can use their existing accounts to pay without the need for a credit card.

• Is it easy to manage? Are you able to log in to multiple accounts to manage your payments? Or can everything be done in one place?

WooCommerce payments are a great option if you want something simple but powerful. Everything can be managed directly from your WordPress dashboard. You can also offer payment options such as Apple Pay, in addition to credit card payments. Keep customers coming back to your site by offering instant deposits.

Get shipping set up

You need to find the best way to get physical products into the hands of customers if you are selling them.

First, choose a career. This is the one who delivers your packages. You can choose from FedEx, UPS, or DHL. Consider where you plan to ship your goods (nationally and internationally). Consider your weight, insurance options, and special product considerations such as fragility or refrigeration.

Next, choose the shipping method you wish to offer your customers. These are the shipping options that customers can select from when they check out.

This can be done in many different ways. To encourage more sales, you might offer shipping free of charge. Shipping costs can be based on location, weight, speed, or both. You might also charge a flat fee regardless of what items are in the customer’s cart.

Finalize your fulfillment solutions. These are the processes and tools you will need to deliver your products. These could include printing shipping labels and providing tracking information.

WooCommerce shipping is a great way to simplify the process. You can print labels right from your WordPress dashboard. Ship internationally and nationally. Get discounts from USPS or DHL.

Establish taxes

Sales tax may be required depending on where you live. Things can get complicated quickly, as the amount you charge will depend on where your customers live.

We recommend that you connect with a tax professional to use a tool that automates this process like WooCommerce.

Make sure your store loads quickly

Customers will abandon your site if it loads too slowly. Slow loading times can also negatively impact SEO and conversion rates. How can you make things move quickly?

• Optimize your images. Images are the most important elements of a website. Use the smallest possible size to ensure your website looks professional and high quality. Make sure to compress all media files before you upload them.

• A CDN is a network that connects to the Internet. A content distribution network (CDN), loads your site files from super-fast servers all over the globe. This is particularly useful if your customers are from other countries. They will see your site from the closest server. 

• Optimize your code. To see significant speed improvements, generate critical CSS and defer Javascript which is not essential. What does this mean? JetpackBoost will take care of everything in just one click.

• Lazy load images. Lazy loading images only the images that shoppers are viewing at the time, not all of the pages. To turn this feature on, you can use Jetpack.

• Always update everything. Make sure WordPress themes and plugins are updated regularly to ensure they work smoothly and efficiently.

• Install a caching plugin. Caching allows browsers to save a copy of your website so that visitors return to it much faster. Many great caching plugins are available for free, such as WPSuper Cache.

Secure your store

You want your store secure so that hackers and other problems are not a problem. WordPress is an extremely secure platform, and with a good host, you are already off to a great starting point. Here are some other steps you can take.

• You should scan your site for malware. You must immediately notify your webmaster if malware is installed on your site. To monitor your site regularly, we recommend Jetpack Scans. You can even fix most problems with one click!

• Block brute force attacks. Brute force attacks are when bots attempt to gain access to your site by guessing thousands upon thousands of username/password combinations every second. These can be blocked easily with a tool such as Jetpack.

• You should keep an eye on your site activity. You can monitor everything happening on your site and identify any anomalies. A WordPress Activity Log such as Jetpack tracks every action, from deleted plugins to edited pages. It also includes information such as date, time, and user.

• Use secure passwords. Use symbols, letters, and numbers to make your passwords as complex as possible.

• All software should be updated. Update WordPress, themes, plugins, and other software regularly to ensure the most recent security releases.

• Automated backups are a must. Backups are a lifesaver in the event of an emergency. Automated, real-time backups are the best option. They save every order and every action on your website.

• Eliminate comment spam. Automated spam filtering is a better option than manually monitoring spam comments and reviews. You and your visitors will be safe with tools like Akismet

Customers

Now that you have learned how to set up an eCommerce company, it is time to market it. There are many marketing strategies, but the best one is the one that targets your target audience. What are they doing with their time? What messages are most important to them?

Here are some common, effective online marketing techniques:

• Search and display ads. These types of ads are typically paid per click. You can target your audience by choosing the right keywords and getting your message to them on search engines or sites they visit. You can manage your ads in the WooCommerce dashboard using Google Listings or Ads.

• Shopping ads. Google Shopping ads show your products under the Shopping tab. These ads are very visual and usually include a photo, price, and additional information specific to your product. The Google Listings extension and Ads extension will sync all information from your store so that it is always current.

• Social media marketing. Social media marketing. You have many options to sync your website with the extension marketplace.

• Email marketing. Email marketing. Send out newsletters to your customers and update them on new products and sales. You can also use automation to send abandoned cart emails, and recover sales. WooCommerce can be integrated with many email marketing tools, such as automateWoo or MailPoet.

• Search engine optimization. Search engine optimization. Reach potential customers organically by appearing in search results for keywords that are related to your products. These are the top SEO tips.

• Content marketing. Blog posts, guides, videos, and other helpful content can be published to show customers that you are knowledgeable about the topic. This content can be used in your marketing efforts, such as email and social media.

• Influencer marketing. Profit from the influence of social media users and other platforms. You may be able to get a free product or a share of your product depending on how popular they are.

Delivering excellent customer service

Loyal customers will return to you time and again and refer their friends and families. Customer service is key to gaining loyalty. They will be your greatest advocates.

Do everything possible to keep your customers satisfied.

• In your product descriptions, and marketing efforts, be authentic and genuine

• If something goes wrong, offer a refund or exchange. It will happen from time to time.

• Shoppers can reach you via email, live chat, or contact form if they have any questions.

• Offer tips, guides, and instructions to assist customers in using your products the best.

• Based on your feedback, continue to improve your products or processes.

• To ensure that your products arrive in perfect condition, be careful when you ship them.

• Make fun packaging that will delight customers. A handwritten note or sample may be included.

• Reward loyal customers with sales, discounts, and even rewards points.

The most important tip? The most important tip? You’ll be fine if you keep this in mind when you make every decision.

Everything you need to start a successful online store

Are you ready to launch an eCommerce business? Now you have all the information you need to launch an eCommerce store and make it a success.