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E-commerce profits in the U. S. were estimated at $768 billion last year and are expected to exceed $1. 3 trillion in the next 3 years, according to Statista. If you’re in the retail industry, creating an eCommerce site can give you a piece of that. foot. Here’s how to create an online eCommerce page in just seven steps.
The basis of each and every online page is a Content Control Formula (CMS). There are other formulas for content control, from open-source platforms like WordPress to all-in-one online developers for beginners, like Shopify or Squarespace. What’s right for you and your online store will depend on your budget, experience, and unique eCommerce needs.
Here are the ultimate content control systems for e-commerce websites:
To help you find the most productive CMS for your eCommerce needs, check out the best eCommerce platforms.
Once you know which CMS to use, the next step is to create an account, unless you decide on WordPress. If you’re planning to build your eCommerce site with WordPress, the next step is to get an internet hosting plan. Most of the most productive web hosting services come with a free domain name, a free SSL certificate, and one-click WordPress installation, eliminating the need to manually connect your domain and hosting to WordPress.
If you’re an online page builder like Shopify, Squarespace, Square Online, or Wix, simply go to the provider’s online page and create an account. If your selected CMS allows it, log in to your domain and call through the CMS to remove the want for a manual domain setup process.
In case the CMS you have selected does not give you the option to download a domain call, log in to your domain as a domain call registrar. To help you choose one, check out our article on the best domain call registrars.
The first thing you need to consider is the theme of your online page. Themes are ready-to-use templates that give your online page a cohesive look. All subscription platforms offer tons of templates, so whether you’re building your online eCommerce page with WordPress, Shopify, Wix, or anyone else, they have pre-built templates and themes to choose from.
Keep in mind that while free templates are available on most platforms, some also offer paid (or premium) templates. For example, WordPress and Shopify offer premium themes with prices ranging from around $30 to over $200. The upside is that many will offer more unique designs, which can help businesses that need a quick look reduce the time spent customizing the selected theme.
Once you’ve figured out the best theme or template for your online store, the next step is to start customizing it. This is where you update your header and footer, set up your site’s navigation, and create pages from your homepage to your refund. and return to the policy page.
No online store offers product listings. So, once you’ve created your website, the next step is to create your product catalog, complete with all of your individual product listings. During this process, be sure to organize and categorize your listings so that they’re easy for long-term visitors to locate and manage.
Once you’ve superpowered your ecommerce website, there are a few key facets of building an ecommerce that need to be taken care of, from setting up a payment processor to adding tax and stock tools.
When choosing and configuring a payment gateway, many online stores opt for third-party equipment such as Stripe or PayPal to make the procedure easier and safer. If you redirect the visitor to other websites, you ensure that the knowledge is fully encrypted before the transfer.
If you decide on payments integrations, those points:
For a detailed breakdown, check out our article on payment gateways.
If your platform allows it, you deserve to integrate shipping with your online eCommerce page for a seamless experience. It will also simplify operations and allow you to focus on sales. But before integrating shipping, your shipping policies, such as loose shipping, variable rates, flat rate, etc. And while you’re at it, set up refund and return policies as well.
Additionally, you may need to add a tax calculator to automatically calculate sales tax, shipping, and any other fees at checkout.
Before you launch the eCommerce site to your customers, you need to review it thoroughly. Every button and link on the site will have to work. Even Internet pages with a 404 error want to be designed according to the theme.
Run checks to see if you can upload products to the cart and process the payment. Most platforms will allow you to check the payment procedure without charging your credit card. Be sure to check if all emails are sent to the correct inboxes once the purchase has been made. has been performed or rejected. And finally, check how your site looks and works on mobile devices. If possible, check the site’s functionality in other internet browsers.
Once you’ve tested and verified everything from product descriptions to category pages, you’re ready to go.
Advertise the launch of your online store on your social media pages, guest posts on popular retail blogs in your niche, influencer marketing, and email lists. If you have the budget, you can also opt for paid advertising on Facebook, Google, and other platforms. .
Before you start building your eCommerce website, you need to be transparent about your business desires when it comes to building a website. Here are a few reasons why you sell online.
Shopping online is convenient and safe, and during the recent pandemic, e-commerce sales increased by as much as 40% in 2020, the first year of the pandemic. The wide availability of smartphones also means that you can shop anywhere, anytime. of the day. Therefore, it is evident that other people will continue to shop long after the pandemic is over.
When compared to a brick-and-mortar store, creating an eCommerce store is much cheaper. This is due in part to the fact that physical outlets incur constant prices, such as rent, application invoices, worker payments, infrastructure maintenance, and more.
There is no need for online and offline outlets to be mutually exclusive. They can complement each other when you communicate about your physical store on your online e-commerce page and set up app kiosks at your points of sale.
For example, Amazon is opening retail outlets after the great luck of its online e-commerce site.
Personalizing experiences is much easier online. You can use a variety of mediums, adding video, audio, stories, visitor reviews, and personalized messaging, to create an experience that your customers will appreciate and share with others.
Once you’re ready, all you want to do is set up payment processing and list your products on the to start selling. There’s no need to wait for new employees, build inventory, or generate enough marketing buzz. You’re in business. moment you spend live.
When we think of retail, the first thing that comes to mind is procurement, maintenance, and stock management. However, if you have a dropshipping business model, you don’t want to manage or manage stock yourself. You can read all about dropshipping here.
An e-commerce is the identity of your logo online. You want to make sure you create it in a way that makes it less difficult for consumers to notice your logo. Also, keep in mind that you can’t get everything right the first time. Keep learning From your experiences, be willing to experiment and make adjustments if necessary.
Yes, you can seamlessly create an e-commerce yourself. You want to follow those steps:
To create an eCommerce website, you need to pay for a domain name, SSL certificate, eCommerce hosting, payment processing integrations, store themes and layouts, and any other third-party equipment you use.
Here are the ecommerce platforms for 2024: Squarespace, Square Online, Ecwid, Shift4Shop, Shopify, Wix, Weebly, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, and Big Cartel. You can read about the pros and cons of all those platforms here.
Since most online page developers offer state-of-the-art technology, they are regularly ahead of the curve when it comes to ensuring the security of their sites. They do this by protecting their customers’ Internet sites that employ technology. Most online page builder companies will offer some of the most productive security features available on the internet.
An experienced generation and small business teacher with over 20 years of experience, Shweta excels at demystifying complex generation concepts and equipment for small businesses. His paintings have been featured in NewsWeek, Huffington Post, and more. His graduate degree in IT Management propels him into in-depth research and exploration of generation topics.
Kelly Main is a marketing and copywriting specialist specializing in virtual marketing, online advertising, and online page design and development. Prior to joining the team, she was a content producer at Fit Small Business, where she served as a strategist covering marketing content for small businesses. . She is a former Google Tech entrepreneur and holds a master’s degree in international marketing from Napier University in Edinburgh.