How to Set Up an eCommerce Website

Virginia Miller

September 19, 2023

In this article

Are you a beginner in the online retail industry? Do you want to step into starting an eCommerce site for the very first time? If you are, there are lots of things to learn! Almost 2.14 billion online digital buyers are influencing the establishment's e-commerce website!

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Thanks to the advanced technology that makes the e-commerce store establishment process more accessible than ever! Multiple hosting solution providers and companies help to develop a website, even if you need to gain coding knowledge. If you are still trying to figure out what we are talking about, let's move to the next section and understand how to set up an eCommerce website!

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Why Start an eCommerce website?

Building an eCommerce website requires a strong plan & good marketing strategy once you figure out how to do this and why you can market your products in a full-fledged way! Let's take a look at why build an e-commerce site:

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Increasing interest among people

In 2020, the number of consumers interested in online shopping will increase. Many consumers are shifting towards online shopping platforms because of the sites' multiple perks. The online store offers better convenience and free shipping options along with rewards and offers on products.

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Smaller risk

As a business holder, it will be less risky than other methods. In this method, you don't need to pay electricity and rent costs to your staff. You can save a bunch of fees.

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Quick growth & ROI

Every business aims for higher ROI. Establishing an online platform helps companies make rapid growth and ROI values.

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What Do You Need To Get Started?

For making an eCommerce website, you need to make specific strategies. Multiple software platforms can build a website for you, but you still need to understand where you should start!

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Choose an ideal eCommerce platform

There are three leading e-commerce platforms: open source, SaaS, and headless commerce. Open-source products can be modified to fit your company's localized features without additional cost. SaaS products offer comprehensive solutions with support, complete UX tools, and scalability as a service. And lastly, if you want to optimize customer experience, Omni-device delivery headless commerce option is worth considering for your business.

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Look for the Domain Name

Finding the perfect domain name for your business is like searching for a diamond in the rough. It's an essential part of setting up an eCommerce platform, so you must carefully consider each option before choosing a hosting & domain service provider. That decision can make or break your website—so take as much time as you need to research! Several price/functionality combinations out there can provide unlimited email, robust security layers, and reliable uptime...to name a few of the advantages—all while minimizing your overall costs. Do the research and decide which provider is best suited to help maximize your potential footprints online.

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Consult With the Developer

Are you a beginner when it comes to coding? It's an intimidating skill to learn, but it is attainable! In this case, the best route of action is to reach out to the developer and start a conversation. Get all your questions answered and establish common ground — sharing your individual goals should help access mutual understanding. Clearly explain what steps you want to take for creation or development through clear communication. This can prove especially useful when dealing with new or complex processes by simplifying content during conversations. Plus, it will save time as you become exposed to various possible problems.

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Select The eCommerce Theme

Once you decide to set up an e-commerce website, choosing a suitable theme is essential. Creating a piece that accurately reflects what customers expect from your online store is crucial for building trust. Consider the options available and research each one to make an informed decision that best aligns with what you're hoping to accomplish. Evaluate factors such as color scheme, navigation font size, design styles, and other details before selecting the e-commerce theme that best suits your needs.

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Customize The Template

If you want your website to reflect the style and aesthetic of your business, then one of the best ways to do this is to add some built-in customization features. These will allow you to change the template, resize and move elements around, and pick a color scheme that works with every theme. With this extra layer of enhancement, it becomes more straightforward to ensure that all crucial parts of your website push forth an attitude that firmly echoes your brand's voice.

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Add Products

Once the website is ready, it's time to begin adding products! With products, your website is of little use to anyone. Remember to add the product itself and descriptive details and pictures that capture a shopper's eye. Also, be sure to add the appropriate categories so each product shows up in its proper place when searched for. The excellent organization makes life easier for busy shoppers. Now get those products ready and launch them into the web world!

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Establish The Payment Options

Are you ready to make purchasing from your company as straightforward and hassle-free as possible? Establishing payment options is critical. Start by selecting the right payment gateway that allows customers to pay quickly and efficiently while providing ample security measures. Payment integration should also suit your customer's needs, making it easier for them to purchase online or through their app. These will mean little, however, with sorts-out policies in place! Create a purchasing system around these payment options so that customers are treated fairly and know what they can expect when interacting with you or paying for products or services.

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Testing, Preview & Publish

Once all the hard work has been put into making your website look perfect, it's time to send it off for testing. This process ensures optimum performance and irons out any kinks or bugs that may still be present in the website. Once testing has been done, you will preview what you have created. Pay attention to minute details, as every detail matters for great visuals and user experience. This can be time-consuming but an essential task nonetheless.

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Finally, it's time to set it live so everyone can experience the new website! With proper testing, careful previewing, thorough professional help, or owning yourself, the website will bring joy with its visuals and navigation options!

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How To Make Your eCommerce Website Stand Out

Highlight The Products

To make your website stand out, you must first highlight the products. Design your products and the description in an impressive format! Design your website in such a way that the audience can find the product quickly! Highlight your best-selling products and most-rated products to grab the attention of users.

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Create A Structure

Design the website in a structured way with an accessible prospectus. Build the entire website in a simple way that is easy to navigate. Focus on the things which matter the most for your online business. It would be great for categorizing the products into different sections.

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Keep The Website Clean

Keeping the website clean is the first key to building an online business. Make a website that pleases your eye and is attractive. You should focus on the background image and banner product image. The look of your website should be warm and elegant.

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Benefits Of Starting An eCommerce Website

Reach a Wider Customer Base

Starting an eCommerce website presents an excellent opportunity to reach customers worldwide. By having an online presence, businesses can expand their customer base, increase sales, and create new opportunities in previously untapped markets. With an eCommerce website, companies also have full control over product inventory and pricing structure, allowing them to adjust according to customer demand.

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Increased Flexibility & Control

An eCommerce website provides increased flexibility and control over product offerings and other aspects of the business. Businesses can easily add or remove products from the store, change prices, create discounts, add shipping options, and more. An eCommerce website also allows companies to customize their website with features such as custom payment processing options or loyalty programs. This level of customization can help businesses stand out from competitors and provide a more personalized experience for customers.

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Lower Overhead Costs

Operating an eCommerce website requires minimal overhead costs due to its relatively low operating costs compared to running a physical retail store or warehouse facility. No significant upfront investments are needed to purchase real estate, hire additional staff, or manage inventory levels. Everything is done digitally, which helps keep the expenses associated with running an online business at a minimum. Additionally, many eCommerce platforms offer free plans that allow users to set up shop quickly and start selling online without breaking the bank on expensive hosting fees or software subscriptions.

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Easier To Analyze Data & Make Decisions

An eCommerce website also makes it easier for businesses to analyze data related to their website performance, such as visitor behavior, product popularity, and other vital metrics. These can improve the overall shopping experience and make better-informed decisions about future marketing strategies or product selection. Additionally, using analytics tools such as Google Analytics gives insights into user activity on your site which can be used to identify areas of improvement to drive conversion rates higher while optimizing cost-per-acquisition (CPA).

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Designing Your eCommerce Website

There might be a significant amount of instruction involved if you're new to online shopping and launching an eCommerce site for the first time. What is necessary to establish and implement a new internet business is not immediately apparent.

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Modern e-commerce systems are affordable and incredibly simple, enabling you to build a unique website for your company in only a few clicks. You won't need coding knowledge to create a professional website because most e-commerce platforms also provide essential components like secure payments, shipping, and advertising on a plug-and-play basis. Let's take some more principles of e-commerce designing platforms:

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Accessible to Navigate & User-Friendly

When designing your eCommerce website, make sure it is easy to navigate and user-friendly for customers. Include helpful features such as product filters, search bars, and other sorting options that can narrow down products by size, color, or other relevant criteria. Additionally, use visuals such as product photographs and videos to create an interactive experience and help customers understand the products better before making a purchase.

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Secure Payment Processing

Ensure that secure payment options like PayPal are available for users to pay quickly without having to enter their card details each time they shop. In addition, it provides multiple forms of payment, such as credit cards or digital wallets, so customers can choose how they want to pay for their purchases.

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Customer Reviews

To further engage customers, include customer reviews on product pages with ratings and detailed feedback from verified buyers. This gives shoppers valuable insights into the product they're looking at and builds trust in your brand among potential customers who will view reviews before making a purchase decision.

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SSL Encryption

Finally, ensure all customer data is encrypted with Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology, which helps protect sensitive information transmitted over the internet. This helps instill trust in your brand among customers who know their information is secure when shopping with you online.

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Choosing the Best Domain Name

Your website's address is its domain, often known as its URL. This is what customers type into their browser bar to access your website; it serves as their "home" on the internet.

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Your identity and overall success depend on the domain name you choose. Choose a company and domain name directly related to your product or service. Your consumers will be aware of what you sell immediately if you incorporate informative keywords and key phrases into the name of your company and website, which is also essential for your SEO strategy.

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The domain sometimes referred to as the URL of your website, is its address. Customers use this to visit your website; it acts as its "residence" on the internet. They input it into their browser bar.

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Your domain name selection affects both your identity as well as and overall success. Use a company name and a domain name closely connected to your item or service. Suppose you include descriptive keywords and key phrases in the title of your business and web, which is equally vital for your SEO strategy. In that case, your customers will immediately understand what you sell.

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Choosing the Perfect Platform

A critical choice is which e-commerce platform your website will use to operate. Changing the platform afterward might be a highly time-consuming and costly procedure if you have hundreds of goods to publish.

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Other options are accessible, and your website lives in the virtual world. Multiple stores powered by WordPress are almost free to use, and other free platforms with fewer capabilities. Either choose a separate e-commerce infrastructure that can accommodate endless expansion or add eCommerce functionality to popular website builders.

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There are three main categories from which to pick, each with a different level of complexity, cost, and time to market:

Service-based software (SaaS)

Commercial software

Customized response

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Many eCommerce websites are available, including off-the-shelf software, custom solutions, and SaaS storefronts. Each has Pros and cons. Consider the demand you expect and the number of SKUs your system will support when choosing an option for your inventory levels.

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Utilizing a SaaS provider could be more cost-effective if you have a small number of items. There are always benefits and drawbacks, like with anything.

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Integrating eCommerce Analytics

E-commerce analytics is the most effective strategy for business expansion out of all the options. Decisions made by three of every 4 marketing executives are supported by data analytics. However, most businesses still need access to quantifiable measures that may demonstrate the effectiveness of their marketing investments.

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You may find patterns and trends in your company using contemporary eCommerce analytics solutions, which consider your data a linked system. It enables you to comprehend how your company is doing tomorrow.

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Tips to Make Your First Sale

If you are going to sell your products on an eCommerce store for the very first time, then follow the below recommendations:

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Reach out to the network

Reach your potential customers through online social sites. You can make this possible by sharing your links on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and other sections. You can give better discounts and rewards to your customers.

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Starting a blog

Creating high-quality, informative blog content can spread the word about what your business has to offer and generate engagement with potential customers. Not only will a blog provide a platform for meaningful conversations, but it can also serve as a proving ground for innovative marketing methods and insights that you wouldn't have come across otherwise. Additionally, SEO (Search Engine Optimization) benefits are an added plus. Quality content tailored to use keywords phrases that customers might be typing into search bars tools will increase visibility on Google, thereby further promoting the reach of your business' voice who have yet to gain any prior knowledge of it.

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Build A List Of Subscribers

By sending them emails, you can encourage your customers to buy products from you. You can also take help from social influencers. The popularity of e-commerce websites is increasing daily due to their multiple features. These are highly user-friendly & economical options. If you want to make a profit online through your business, then establishing an e-commerce business is the ideal option.

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Conclusion

Now that you have set up your eCommerce website, it's time to start processing orders! If you need help with order fulfillment, Simpl can take care of everything for you – from storage and packaging to shipping directly to your customers. We're here to make your life easier so you can focus on growing your business. Get in touch with us today to learn more about how we can help you streamline your operations.

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