Building an online store is one of the ways to bring in some extra money. However, it is difficult, especially if you don’t know where to start. On the other hand, you don’t require a lot of money or time to build an online store.

Today eCommerce platforms are the easiest, cheapest, and quickest way to build a platform for online shopping in Canada, Australia, and more. Platforms such as Shopify and Wix are the two website builders that can help you to create an amazing online shopping store. In this guide, we are going to discuss nine steps to build an online shopping platform.

1. Find a perfect eCommerce website builder

An Ecommerce builder is an online platform that enables you to make your online store without needing any tech skills or coding knowledge. Instead, all you need is an internet connection and a great business idea. As said above, there are many online platforms that you can choose to build your online store. However, it is essential to do your research before diving into website development.

Finding the right platform can be overwhelming. To be successful and make the right choice, make sure to research your options thoroughly. Once you have made your choice, make sure to give it a test run and determine its efficiency. Choose to work at a free trial to be sure of your choice.

2. Choose the best plan for you

Once you have tested some of the website builders, it is time to sign up for the right plan so you can get started with your website. Every plan comes with different features. With every additional feature, there is an additional price to pay. Therefore, it is important to choose a plan which depends on the size of your business and your growth ambitions.

3. Get a domain name for your store

A domain name is a part of your URL that helps in identifying your store’s name. An excellent domain name is a key to launching a successful online store. It can build the trust of the customers and helps in establishing your brand. It is something that the customers see in the address bar and Google searches.

When picking a domain name, it is important to pick the right country. If you are not an international brand and choose to sell only to the national audience, use specific-country codes which are suitable to sell to the consumers in that country. Make sure to be unique to stand out in the crowd. Lastly, add a keyword to help the name climb the search engine rankings. The better ranking you have search engines such as Google, the more traffic you can get to your business.

4. Pick you eCommerce template

When choosing a template for your website, ask these questions to determine the right template.

• What features do you need on your website?
• What kind of style do you need?
• How can people navigate when visiting your store?

Features are the key part of your online store. Some templates come with more features than others. Think about the features you want to have on your website. On the other hand, you need to choose a style which can help the customers to understand which type of business you are. As for the navigation, the customers must be able to move around easily so you can get more sales.

5. Customize your website

Once you have selected a suitable template for your website, it is time to customize the website in a suitable way, according to the website. Consider revising the text size and fonts, the colour scheme, images used, positioning of the products, features, and embedding social media.

6. Add your products

Now that you have created a suitable and stylish store using a template, you need to add your products. Using an online store builder, you have control over your product pages. Platforms such as Shopify and Wix allow you to sell unlimited products at cheap rates. Three key ingredients to add when uploading a great product are product descriptions, product images, and product categories.

7. Set up payment methods

Once you have finished with the content, it is time to add payment methods. This is an important aspect to turn the website visitor to a buyer. Many website builders can help you to connect with multiple payment methods such as PayPal, Visa, Apple Pay, and MasterCard. Work out your customers and understand the requirements of the platform as well as the security of the payments made, so the buyer can feel safe while making a purchase.

8. Sort out your shipping methods

Once you have added your products and the payment methods, it is time to determine the shipping options to deliver the products to the customers. Different eCommerce websites come with different shipping methods. Your shipping rates are also different according to the delivery location of the customers. You can opt for free shipping, which is also a great selling point for your brand. Not just that, you need to pick the courier services, so the products are safely delivered to your customers.

Author Bio: James Crowfield is a professional business consultant in Impexlog Inc. With hands-on experience in the E-commerce industry. One of the passions that he carries is to pass the information that he possesses about the business world through his blogs.