Find a developer
Even if you're starting your own business, a developer can simplify the process of creating an eCommerce site. They have the technical knowledge to get you set up quickly, meaning you can start selling sooner. When considering a developer, ask them about their current deadlines so you can plan your release date. Make sure the developer shares your vision and can create what you're looking for within your budget.
Choose a theme according to your site.
Templates, or themes, are ready-made pages that you can customize to fit your brand and help your site look great without any design or coding skills. Think about the following areas when selecting a template:
1. Customer navigation.
Smooth navigation is essential for a great customer experience. If a customer can't find what they're looking for, they hit the back button and shop somewhere else. A navigation bar is easy to read and is located on the left side of the page as customers read from left to right.
2. Home page style.
Does the template homepage reflect your brand? Do you have areas where you can include images, presentations or videos? Is there room to share your story with site visitors? A client should be able to tell what type of business it is at a glance, so make sure the model communicates this clearly.
3. Customization options.
What parts of the page can be customized? Is there a font and color combination that matches your brand? How many images can you include? How are products displayed and can they be changed? Can social networks be incorporated? Most online store builders use apps to add features that aren't built in, so consider how many apps you need to interact with the model.
Add your products
Product pages are among the most important pages on your site, as they show your customers what you need to sell. Take some time to ensure you showcase your new products in the best light by including optimized product descriptions, attractive images, and easy-to-navigate categories.
1. Product descriptions.
Product descriptions are an essential part of your eCommerce site. They describe the usefulness, colors, textures, measurements and/or value of the product to your customers and allow bots to index your page for SEO. Avoid clichés, long sentences, and complex sentences when writing descriptions and make sure the descriptions answer the following questions:
Who is the product for?
What are the basic details of the product?
Where would someone use this product?
When should someone use the product?
2. Product images.
Website visitors engage with visual information, so high-quality product images are essential. When producing photographs, keep the following areas in mind:
Use high quality images.
Images represent the perceived quality and value of your product. High-quality photographs make your products stand out. Vivid photos also make images more attractive, which keeps customers browsing.
Make sure the image is the same size.
It is essential that each image is the same size, as photos of different sizes can often throw your gallery out of alignment. Use an image editor to adjust each image to the required size.
Add the product variant image.
Most images should only be product images that show the product from all angles. You should also include a contextual photo showing the product in use. These are useful on product pages and can also be used on social media to increase emotional engagement.
3. Product categories.
You can add products to categories, such as clothing, books, and movies, to help customers find what they're looking for. Categories can also be used with filters to allow people to sort by specific brands or price ranges, while staying within their budget. And featured items are a great way to guide customers along their preferred purchasing path.
Set up payment methods
The correct payment method is essential to close a sale. If the method is too complicated or unreliable, your customer may abandon their cart and not return. Make sure it meets your payment processing needs as well.
1. Three types of e-commerce payment gateways.
There are three types of payment gateways, each with its pros and cons. When deciding on a gateway, think about the steps you need to take to protect your payments and information.
Redirects
A redirect takes the customer to a separate site to process the payment. The most used example is PayPal. This is a simple solution for resellers and passes security concerns on to third parties, but it adds another step for customers, which may turn some away.
Pay on site, Pay off site
This gateway hosts the payment interface, including the collection of details, but the payment is processed offsite. Stripe is a popular company that offers this service. It eliminates extra steps for customers, but you need to make sure your site is properly encrypted so information can be sent securely to the payment processor.
On-site payments
On-site payments are made on your site, giving you complete control and accountability. It is suitable for large businesses that process a lot of payments as they can afford to keep it up and running and secure.
2. Tips for choosing paid integrations.
Payment gateway integration is a secure method that encrypts and transmits credit card information to the payment processor. Since it's an essential part of your eCommerce site, be sure to do your research and understand what you're getting from payment integration.
Judge the ease of integration
Think about how easy it is to integrate the system into your site. Does it work with the eCommerce platform you have selected?
Consider customer reviews
Look at customer reviews from other websites. Is the gateway reliable? Does it work consistently? Have people had problems sending or receiving money?
Be aware of the fees
There are fees involved in every stage of the process, including accepting payments and processing refunds. Read the terms of purchase, so you understand how much the system costs and are happy with that price.
Set up the shipping process
Shipping is a key component of e-commerce. Customers want products promptly, so choose your shipping settings wisely.
1. Determine your shipping policy.
Their shipping policy includes rates and carriers. Do you offer free shipping, flat rate or variable rate? Who do you ship with? Also, consider whether you plan to ship internationally, and if not, make sure the information is available so international customers don't get frustrated at checkout.
2. Choose shipping solutions.
Decide on your shipping solution. Stock or drop shipping? Shipping software that works seamlessly with the rest of your workflow allows you to automate that side of your business, freeing you up for other problems.
Preview and publish your store
If a link doesn't work, payments aren't processed, or the site doesn't look good on mobile devices, it can drive customers away and cause delays in bug fixes.
1. Does the payment work?
Try an order. Can you add products to the cart? Is the payment processed? Are you getting all the confirmation emails you expected?
2. Do the store features work?
Click each button and link it to your site. Do the buttons and links work? Do filters and categories work? If a link doesn't work, does your 404 page redirect customers to your site?
3. Does the store work on mobile devices?
View the store on a mobile device. Are the dimensions correct? Are the buttons easy to click? Are the images clear on a smaller screen?
4. Test your store in different browsers.
View the store in as many different browsers as you can, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. Make sure it works on all browsers and if you have any difficulties, ask the developers to fix it.
5. Configure store settings.
Store settings include things like language, time zone, address and contact details, taxes, and units of measurement. Check that all have been configured correctly before starting.
Conclusion
A good eCommerce site is more than just a place to sell products. Here is where a company can create an experience that strengthens its brand, attracts new customers, and turns one-time buyers into loyal ambassadors. Choosing the right ecommerce platform and having a marketing strategy to create a successful online store can give you an edge to be a successful ecommerce business.
