As of 2022, 63% of shopping journeys start online. According to Insider Intelligence, online retail sales are expected to cross $7 trillion by 2025 globally. As the Covid-19 subvariants (and with them, fears of subsequent lockdowns) keep reeling in and out, it makes sense for businesses to set up their eCommerce stores now, more than ever. If these reasons convince you to build your eCommerce website, then here are the steps you must consider to take your sales online in 2023.
1. Get the right domain
The first and foremost step while setting up an eCommerce store is to book the right domain. Most entities stick with their business name while booking a domain. In contrast, others prefer their top target keywords for their domain name. Every business owner must weigh the pros and cons of the domain name they want to choose before finalizing one.
2. Select the right platform
Business owners can choose from several eCommerce platforms to set up their online storefront. Whether it’s Shopify or WordPress + WooCommerce, every platform offers its unique features. You must take a demo of various platforms to understand what satisfies your business needs.
3. Get an SSL certificate & web hosting
Once you book your domain and finalize the eCommerce platform, the next step is to purchase web hosting and get an SSL certificate for secure payments. Various hosting providers offer a free SSL certificate while booking a domain or hosting plan.
4. Set up website pages
Hire an eCommerce expert who can upload products, manage SKUs, update prices, taxes, shipping, etc. It’s also essential to set up a payment gateway to accept online payments, besides setting up additional website pages like product pages, privacy policy page, return/exchange policy page, company blog, etc.
5. Design a user-friendly UX & UI
Building a web-store design that enhances user experience (UX) and facilitates a simple user interface (UI) drives sales while ensuring customer satisfaction in your eCommerce store. Opt for a responsive design rather than having different versions for different devices. Similarly, aim for less than four to five steps for the final checkout to keep customers happy and loyal.
Takeaway
While it may take up time initially to build an eCommerce store for your business, it’s totally worth the effort. An eCommerce store is open 24×7 and works in autopilot mode if set up correctly. Build yours today to stay at the forefront of the digital revolution.