Expert Guide on How to Start an eCommerce Website

Increased accessibility and acquiring new customers are the most effective ways for a business to grow. As such, an E-commerce website provides you with an incredible opportunity. While it has the potential to open up a whole new world of potential customers, an E-Commerce website can also act as a powerful equalizer by allowing smaller businesses to compete with larger competitors on an equal footing.

Business owners are hesitant to launch an E-Commerce website, citing concerns about costs and technology. Starting an E-Commerce website is not as difficult as you might think. Affordably priced technology solutions and experts, such as Shoplazza or Shopify, are readily available to assist you in quickly establishing an online presence and increasing your sales.

In this article, I will walk you through the process of creating your E-Commerce website.

Domain Registration

The first step in the process of launching an e-commerce website is to obtain a domain name. The domain name, also known as a Universal Resource Locator (URL), serves as your website's web address or location on the Internet.

Spend some time deciding on the best domain name for your business. Choose a domain name that describes your product or service accurately and is easy for customers to remember.

Domain names are typically purchased for one year and then renewed annually. On the other hand, some companies now have a variety of options. Before buying a domain, it is therefore prudent to carefully consider the options available to each company.

Hosting for the Internet

Web hosting is your website's physical address on the Internet. A Web hosting company makes your website accessible via the Internet by providing server space, email management, and other business-related services.

When searching for a Web hosting service, there are several factors to consider. For example, choosing a dependable web host is essential to ensure that your website is always accessible through the Internet. Your host, on the other hand, should be adaptable when making changes to your site. Furthermore, your host should offer various options for customers to contact customer service during business hours.

These hosting companies frequently offer a variety of service plans based on the size of your website and the expected amount of traffic. Look for a strategy that allows you to start small and scale up as your business grows.

Create a Website

Developing a website is frequently the most challenging aspect of launching an online business. The good news is that an E-Commerce website can be designed and developed in many different ways. Take the initiative if you have the web expertise and resources to design and develop a website. If you have a limited budget and lack the necessary skills, you may want to consider hiring a web designer or purchasing an eCommerce platform.

Get A Payment Gateway

Payment gateways provide the infrastructure needed for merchants to accept credit cards and electronic checks from websites.

It is not easy to get approved for a payment gateway and credit card processor, so do your research and be prepared. In most cases, you must have a safe and stable checkout process on your website, a Privacy Policy and Return Policy, an understanding of your delivery methods, and working customer service contact details before you can apply.

Make Your Company Known

Once you've built your website, hosted it, and begun accepting payments, it's time to start promoting it and attracting customers to your store. There are numerous online strategies for reaching out to potential customers. These strategies include Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Pay Per Click Advertising (PPC), Email Marketing, and Social Media Marketing (SMM).

To summarize, more people are shopping online today than ever before. As a result, more businesses are emerging and selling successfully online. Therefore, starting an eCommerce website is not as difficult as you might think, especially now that low-cost technology solutions are readily available to help you establish an online presence quickly.

(Contributed by Erastus Irungu; Co-author: Clair Feng & Ethan Tang)