One of the best investments you can make in your company is an eCommerce website. A study by Shopify estimates that the global eCommerce market will be worth over $5.3 trillion by 2021. In only seven years, this represents a rise of over 400%.
People can only purchase from a brand if they know the brand and the items or services it offers. As a result, if more people realize your brand, you have a greater possibility of increasing sales. Businesses that only provide their items in a physical location miss out on customers they might have reached with a website and an online presence.
You could ask yourself whether the additional exposure is really worth the price. Yes, it is. Operating an eCommerce website is cheaper than running a brick-and-mortar shop. Rent, electricity, furnishings, insurance, and cleaning are just a few of the many costs associated with a physical presence. With an eCommerce shop, your setup expenses are lower since fewer things are to worry about.
ECommerce websites may be built quickly and cheaply. To find a company that gets your site up, you can search online for “web design services near me”. We’ve compiled the following nine-point checklist for you.
1. Buy a domain name
A domain name is required to get started here. Making the domain name and company name the same wherever possible is excellent in the internet marketing world nowadays.
To begin, choose a domain name for your brand, check to see whether the domain name is still available and if it is, buy the domain. Thanks to companies like HostGator and GoDaddy, securing a domain name is easy.
As simple as this may appear, keep in mind that your domain name will be yours forever. Contemplate your company name before deciding (and some aim feedback from your friends and family).
2. Get your paperwork in order
If you haven’t already, now is the time to register your company’s name under your domain name. An attorney in your area may assist you with this process. They can take you through the legal aspects of beginning an eCommerce company. Even if you don’t think it’s required, it may avoid future problems and save you money in the long run. For example, you may be required to get a vendor’s license or a seller’s permission, depending on your area. Taxes and restrictions vary from country to country. There are several advantages to working with a local legal expert in eCommerce law.
3. Get a web developer
Even if you’ve built a blog or website previously, creating an e-commerce site is a little more involved. More effort will be required to get it set up to sell your goods. As a result, if you aren’t confident in your ability to create an eCommerce site, begin looking for a developer as soon as possible. Make sure to thoroughly vet the prospects you’ve narrowed down and ask to view the eCommerce sites they’ve built for other customers. Unfortunately, this step is often overlooked, leading to an excessively complex and lengthy procedure.
Searching online for “website design services near me” is the best way to find the right web developer to help you out with your site.
4. Choose an eCommerce platform
In order to build an attractive and functioning eCommerce site, there are various eCommerce platforms accessible. To make things even easier, you may use an eCommerce platform to search domain and hosting providers.
For accepting online sales, an eCommerce platform is a software solution. Several systems allow you to construct a shopping site from scratch, while others (such as WooCommerce) function as add-ons to an existing website builder like WordPress.
The most cost-effective option is to go with a well-known platform like Wix, Bigcommerce, Shopify, or WooCommerce. Web developers are familiar with these platforms and quickly incorporate plug-ins and payment processing. It’s also helpful to use one of these larger platforms, since they have multiple interfaces with other markets.
As a result, many of these platforms are designed for novices and employ a simple drag-and-drop builder that allows you to construct your own website. To use one of these systems, you don’t need to know anything about coding. If you’re just starting out, Wix is a great option. An eCommerce platform like Magento is better suited for those who have some development expertise.
5. Select a theme
Even if you start from scratch, hundreds of high-quality themes and templates are accessible for your eCommerce site. Because of this, you’ll be able to locate something that complements your store’s image and achieves the desired impact. It is best to work with one to get the most out of a theme or template. Your revenue and traffic will rise because of the straightforward design.
6. Make your site live
A website may go online even if it doesn’t have any items yet. The home page, about, and contact information are all that you’ll need for the moment. Even while it’s necessary to offer information about your goods on your “About Us” page, it’s equally critical to provide convincing arguments for why they would be a good fit for your company. To sum it up, what makes you unique?
You may start building your brand even before you have your items on your website, which is why we recommend you go live with this aspect of your website first. That your website (even if it does not have product pages) shows that you are a proper business might assist you in negotiating with suppliers. That your site will have a URL for blog articles and other references means you can start promoting it right away.
7. Choose a payment gateway
To take credit card payments on your eCommerce site, you need a payment gateway and credit card processor. However, one thing to keep in mind is that credit card processors are wary of working with newer companies because of the high level of risk they pose. Prepare to explain the rationale for why your company will be a success.
Be sure that your site is ready to accept credit card payments before registering for a payment gateway and processor. Return and privacy policies, as well as shipping alternatives, are all things you’ll have to figure out (these details, together with your email address and phone number, should be included on your site for visitors to see). Applying for a job may be difficult and time-consuming, so get started as early as possible and make sure you’re ready (and patient).
Using an eCommerce platform will make this process a lot simpler for everyone involved. More than a hundred payment gateways are supported by Shopify. A PCI compliance certificate and an SSL certificate will be provided for your e-commerce firm.
8. Start pitching your site to others
Customer service is critical, even if you don’t have a brick-and-mortar shop. Reach out to vendors if you’re offering a variety of items and brands. As the experts on the goods you’re selling, they’ll be able to provide you information on current trends that can help you increase your sales. In addition, if you create a connection with them, they’ll be more likely to share special bargains or marketing campaign ideas with you.
Personal connections with editors and bloggers will be your primary emphasis if you are just selling your own handmade items. You may, for example, approach a blogger or influence with an interesting tale that shows your expertise and differentiates your goods from those of your competitors. Both exposure and SEO will be boosted by this.
9. Design your packaging and complete storage and shipping
Before you can begin accepting orders, you’ll need to figure out how you’ll store and transport your items. In terms of inventory storage, you may either keep your goods in a warehouse or employ drop-shipping, depending on your needs. For drop-shipping, you don’t really own or store any of the things you’re selling. The only thing your consumers care about is receiving the goods in functioning order on schedule, even if that seems bizarre to you. As a result, they are not concerned with where the goods are located when they purchase them.
Keep in mind that despite the benefits of drop-shipping, it might complicate delivery. This might lead to some mistakes if your distributor has many warehouses.
You’ll need to determine whether you want to use the postal service or a delivery service provider for shipment. What if you wish to monitor and deliver your purchases simultaneously? If you’re selling things with shipping limitations, you’ll need to check that out as well.
The actual packing may be considered after you’ve figured out the method. You’ll need to consider the packing you’ll use to send it, as well as the dimensions of that container. It’s a splendid chance to establish your business identity when designing your package. More and more companies are using environmentally friendly packaging as a component of their digital marketing efforts to show their commitment to sustainability.
Conclusion:
A website for an eCommerce company may be a complicated procedure. Still, it is far easier for the typical individual to start an eCommerce business from scratch than a conventional brick-and-mortar shop. An eCommerce site allows you to start small and grow as your expertise grows. To guarantee that your items are ready to be sent, you must complete these procedures. To guarantee that your site is ready to go as quickly as possible while also ensuring that you’re paying attention to SEO and marketing, follow a step-by-step method. Also, don’t forget that you can search on Google for “website development company near me” to get a company to help you with setting up your website.