Okay, so you’ve done all the hard work. You have researched, narrowed down your niche, got your product idea, and you know who your target customers are. You are all set and ready to take the next step – setting up your store.

Setting up Your Ecommerce Store

Starting an eCommerce business is hard work, but it can be very rewarding. Here’s what you need to know to get started:

1. Domain Name

Your first step is to choose and register your domain name. This will be the name of your online store, e.g. mystore.com. It is your web address and is unique to you.

You can register your domain name by visiting an online registrar to buy your name. Your domain name should be:

• Easy to remember, but try to be original

• An accurate reflection of your business

• Short and to the point. Make it 3 words or fewer

• Easy to type out and easy to spell

• Easy to read out loud and easy to pronounce

• A .com if at all possible

2. Web Hosting Account

This is where your website lives on the internet; where your customers will access your store. It is very important to choose the right platform for your online store.

There are 2 types of platforms you can choose from when building your store. You can choose an all-in-one hosted solution like Shopify, Squarespace, or Wix, which provides you with hosting as part of their package.

The alternative is to build your store on a platform like WordPress or Magento. These are self-hosting systems. To build your store on a platform like WordPress, you will have to choose eCommerce hosting which will work with it, such as WooCommerce.

3. SSL Certification

An SSL certificate is a digital certificate that you will need to authenticate your website’s identity. It allows for an encrypted connection to protect information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card information.

4. Company and Tax ID

You will need to register your online business for tax purposes and the appropriate licenses and permits. Learn how to register your business here.

 5. Customise your Store Design and Upload Your Products

Choose an attractive design for your store but keep it simple and easy to navigate. If you know which products you will be selling, you can start uploading them. Don’t forget to include descriptions of all your products.

6. Launch and Market your Online Shop

Before launching your online shop, go through this checklist carefully. Once you have checked off all the items on the list, you are ready to launch and promote your store.

Final Words of Advice

If after reading through the 6 steps in this article, you still feel a little intimidated, don’t stress, help is at hand. Ecommerce hosting isn’t always easy to set up. If you are completely new to the process and need more assistance, a good eCommerce hosting guide can take you through the process in detail and explain terms you are not familiar with.