If you’re an aspirant entrepreneur, you probably have dreams of running your own online business. You get to be your own boss, sell products that you love, and create a business empire! It’s a fantastic opportunity to take control of your future, and set a career you love. Boutique shops and independent enterprises are thriving at the moment. The internet has created a level playing field for entrepreneurs everywhere. Anyone with a great idea and a brilliant product can turn their bedroom business into a billion dollar company.
The only tricky part is setting up the mechanics of business. How exactly do you go about building an online store that works? It’s this technical know-how that is holding a lot of potential entrepreneurs back. In this post, we’ll show you that the whole process is much easier than you think! In fact, you can create a home for your shop, and have things up and running in a day. Stick with us, and we’ll show you the ropes.
Choosing the right platform
There are tons of different options for setting up a store online. The hardest part is choosing the right path for you. In some cases, the best option is to use a third-party site. They’re all set up for independent shops, and they’ve got a built-in audience. On the other hand, sometimes it’s better to have complete control by choosing your own website. Let’s take a look at the options.
eBay – You’re probably all familiar with eBay. In fact, you’ve probably bought something from independent sellers on the platform already. It’s so simple to register as a seller, and start promoting your products. Your stock will come up when people search for it, and there’s a steady flow of traffic. The only problem here is that it’s hard to build your own identity and brand.
Etsy – Etsy is perfect for craft sellers and artistic types! They are a great home for handmade gifts and crafts. They also let you retain a little more of your identity and brand than eBay. Again, you’ll take advantage of Etsy’s built-in audience of craft lovers. But, like eBay, you don’t have any control over the design and marketing of your store.
Magento – Magento is a much more professional solution. It’s an open-source software for sellers to build a full e commerce website. Magento is purposely designed for selling products online, and there is a lot to love about the platform. It offers a range of bespoke e commerce themes, so you can create a website style that suits you and your brand. You can also take advantage of expert Magento support packages to help keep your shop running effectively. If you’re looking to create a small business empire, Magento is a real, professional solution.
Shopify – A similar alternative is Shopify. It’s a web based program that takes you through the process step-by-step. Their system helps you easily create and design a storefront, hosted on your own website. They handle all the tricky elements like processing payments and managing your orders. It displays it all on a handy dashboard. You just worry about sending off the deliveries!
WordPress and WooCommerce – Our last option is one of the most popular routes out there. It involves building your own website with WordPress. If this sounds daunting, don’t worry, it’s easier than you think. Most of their themes use drag-and-drop templates that are easily manipulated into a style you love. As for the shopping aspect, simply download WooCommerce. It’s a plugin that handles all the purchases, transactions, and stock levels. Again, this is a professional solution for aspiring shop owners.
Choosing a web host
If you choose one the last three options (which we highly recommend you do), you’ll need a web host. Web hosting is a tricky business for newbies, but we’ll try to simplify it for you. Essentially, a web host is a small part of the internet that you’ll build your site. You need to purchase or rent that space from a web host. It’s where your website will sit. Look for a professional solution that is fast and secure.
Domain name
Last of all, you need a professional domain name to point to your website. This should be www.your-shop-name.com. These domain names are readily available from the likes of GoDaddy, and 1-2-3-Reg. See if your preferred address is available, and buy it outright.
If these options sound daunting, don’t worry. All of them take you through a step-by-step process, and you’ll be up and running in no time. Good luck!
