How to create an online store?

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How to create an online store from scratch: Read the complete step-by-step guide.

Creating an online store is more accessible today than ever before, but to be successful, it is necessary to follow the correct procedure. If you want to sell online, here is a complete guide on how to create an online store step by step.

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1. Market Research, Business Model, and Target Audience

• What will you sell? Physical products, digital products, services?
• Who are your customers? Define your target audience based on demographics, needs, and behavior. Use tools to help estimate demand for your products, analyze your competition - product portfolio, prices, delivery, additional services, communication.
• What will be your sales model? Own products, dropshipping, marketplace?

It is important to analyze the competition and find out how to differentiate from them.

2. Choose a Name and Domain for Your E-shop

• The name of the e-shop should be short, memorable, and relevant to what you are selling. On the other hand, do not tie yourself to the name of a product or category, as it may limit you in the future.
• Planning to expand? Check your chosen name abroad and in other languages.
• The domain (URL) should be simple and available – you can check its availability through services like GoDaddy, Websupport, or Namecheap.
• Register your e-shop name on social networks like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

If you plan to sell globally, consider a .com domain. If locally, domains like .sk, .cz, or .eu are more suitable.

3. Choose an E-commerce Platform

You have two main options:

• SaaS e-commerce solutions (Shopify E-shop, Shoptet E-shop, WooCommerce) are easy to launch but limited in customization. Several factors influence the choice of the right platform - the number of products, the number of domains/countries you want to launch, what functionalities you want in the e-shop, whether you will integrate any ERP system.
  • Initially, we definitely recommend a SaaS solution in the MVP model - this will help you launch the e-shop in a relatively short time and with small initial investments and test interest. However, with growing business, even a SaaS solution with monthly fee charges can dramatically increase, and therefore later it is advisable to consider creating your own custom e-shop.
• A custom tailor-made e-shop (e.g., CMS BUXUS, Magento, OpenCart, Prestashop) provides endless flexibility. 

If you are starting, a SaaS platform is the fastest way, but with significant growth, you will need a custom solution.

4. Fill the E-shop with Products

• Prepare quality product photos, ideally your own, not from catalogs.
• Write clear and sales-oriented descriptions that highlight the product's benefits.
• Set prices and product variants, don't forget about discounts and promotions.

Using the AIDA method (Attention, Interest, Desire, Action) when writing product descriptions can help increase conversions.

5. Set Up Payment and Delivery Methods

• Payments: Online payments (Stripe, PayPal, GoPay), cash on delivery, bank transfer.
• Shipping: Courier services (DPD, GLS, Zásielkovňa), personal pickup, express delivery.
• Automate invoicing through accounting software.

The more payment and delivery options you offer, the higher the conversion rate will be.

6. UX and Design of the E-shop – Make It Intuitive

• Simple navigation with clearly visible main categories.
• Mobile optimization, as more than 60% of customers shop via mobile.
• Simple checkout process, ideally without the need for registration.

The fewer steps in the purchase process, the higher the conversion rate.

7. Legal Requirements for the E-shop

• Terms and conditions and GDPR must be transparent and compliant with legislation.
• Data protection includes an SSL certificate and secure payments.
• Billing information must be clearly stated on the site.

For assurance, have your legal documents reviewed by an expert.

8. Marketing: How to Get Customers to Your E-shop?

• SEO optimization using the right keywords and unique descriptions.
• Paid advertising (PPC, Facebook Ads, Google Ads) is the fastest way to bring traffic.
• Email marketing, collecting contacts, and regular newsletters.
• Social media and active communication with customers.

The best marketing strategy is a combination of PPC, SEO, and quality content.

9. Testing and Launching the E-shop

• Test all functions including orders, payments, and notifications.
• Check the speed and responsiveness of the website on different devices.
• Ask acquaintances for feedback on the usability of the e-shop.

Testing purchases on desktops, mobiles, and tablets will help identify shortcomings.

10. First Sale and Optimization

• Analyze the first customers – where they came from, how they behaved on the site.
• Collect reviews and feedback to improve services.
• Monitor metrics such as conversion rate, abandoned carts, and order value.

An e-shop is a living project that needs to be constantly tested and improved.

Conclusion: When is the Best Time to Start?

Creating an e-shop is not extremely difficult, but it requires a strategic approach. If you follow this procedure, your e-shop will have a solid foundation.

If you want to create an e-shop that truly earns, ui42 will help you from the first step to a successful launch.