How to build an eCommerce Website from Scratch?

E-commerce is one of the fastest-growing industries. According to statistics, eCommerce revenue in the USA was estimated to be $768 billion last year. This is expected to grow and reach about $1.3 trillion in the next three years. So if you also have a business model for the eCommerce industry and would like to turn it into a reality, you would first need to create a website, which will serve as your platform to sell products. But how do you create a custom and well-functional website for your eCommerce business? Here is a blog where we’ll talk about the steps you can follow to create an eCommerce store from scratch.

Decide The Product You Want to Sell

Yes, not many people would believe it, but before you start to create your eCommerce store, it is very important to decide on which type of products you would like to sell. The decision should be made after proper market research so that you know what people are looking for. There are many websites that are selling varied items. While some of them would sell a mixed kind of product, others may be dedicated to a particular category like kids' apparel, healthcare, and hair care products. Before you decide to create your website, it is important to know which kind of products you want to sell as it will make a huge impact on the overall appearance and marketing model of your website. While making the decision, it is important to estimate the local demand.

Choose Your Business Model

We all know how eCommerce works, but it is also important to know that not all eCommerce businesses follow the same model of selling online. For example, some e-commerce platforms work with other vendors like Amazon where the sellers can list their products on the website and then earn by selling them. Amazon also gets a share in each product being sold online through its platform. Similarly, there are many websites that sell their own products and no third-party seller is involved. So, it is very important to finalize the type of eCommerce business model you want to choose. When you know the type of business model you want to follow, things can become very easy when it comes to creating your website.

Choose a Business and Domain Name

Now that you have finalized the business model and the products you want to sell online, the next step is to create a website, but before that, you would need to choose a name for your business and website. It is highly suggested to keep the brand name and website name the same. It should be short and easy to remember. At the same time, the name you choose for your domain should be also relevant to products and easy to remember for your target audience. When the name is simple, it becomes very easy for your target audiences to remember. When you have a small business with limited resources, it can be wise to get a shared domain as this can be an affordable choice. As the business grows, you can then take the next step and get a dedicated domain as it helps in search engine optimization and easier recognition.

Select An eCommerce Website Builder

Now, the next step you can take is to create a website for which you are going to need a reliable and stable eCommerce website maker. There are many options that you can choose from such as WooCommerce, Magento, Shopify, BigCommerce, Wix, Magento, etc. You can do some research about these platforms and also connect with a professional agency in eCommerce website development as they can also guide you on this. Apart from this, there are also some DIY website makers that you can choose to create your own eCommerce platform. Creating a website using these DIY platforms can be a good idea, but only when your budget is low and you are entering the market. When your business grows, you will need a custom website created from scratch as DIY websites cannot handle much traffic.

Designing Your eCommerce Store

When it comes to launching a successful eCommerce website, the design plays a very important role in the overall user experience. There is a reason why many people love to buy from top websites like Amazon; they have created a design that is very easy to understand for buyers and sellers. In simple terms, it should be designed for the convenience of your buyers. It must list all the products in a way that the visitors can easily find. The products must have all the required things like images, descriptions, prices, users’ comments, and ratings. The more details you provide related to the product, the more it looks reliable and useful to potential buyers. The website pages must also showcase the products in a perfect manner so that buyers are never misled. At the same time, the website pages should be also attractive as it’s your brand’s representation to buyers online.

Set Up The Payment Gateway

For every product that your potential buyers are going to buy, they would also need to make payment. This is why it also becomes very important to integrate multiple payment options so that your customers can choose from the best ones. At the current time, it is suggested to include various payment methods like credit card, debit card, cash on delivery, PayPal, internet banking (wire transfer), etc. Many online shopping websites are also allowing customers to make payments through Bitcoins. The goal is to allow customers to choose from their desired payment methods so that they feel confident when buying.

Secure Your Website By Installing SSL Certificate

It is a very important step, also a very commonly ignored one. When you are selling online, you want customers to make payments, which involves providing their financial details. So, it becomes your responsibility to protect their details from hackers who are actively looking for vulnerable websites. The best way to ensure the protection of the financial details of your customers is to protect your website using SSL certification (Secure Sockets Layer). SSL is a very important and useful security protocol that helps create an encrypted link between a web server and a web browser. In simple words, the SSL certificate will help keep your website secure and build trust among your customers. It is visible for the buyers in the “Address Bar” when your website name comes with the “HTTPS” prefix. Here “S” means secured. Google also encourages websites to use SSL certificates.

Launch & Promotion

Now that you have all the steps taken and a website that looks great for the end users, it is time to launch it and spend some time on its promotion. Remember that it is also very important for you to bring your website in front of the potential buyers. You cannot just launch the website and expect your potential customers to start visiting it. They will only come to it when they can see it online. This can be done only with the proper marketing plan.

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