Your guide to creating a professional electronic store in 9 steps

Your guide to creating a professional electronic store in 9 steps.

Creating a Successful Electronic Store in 9 Steps.

 Creating an electronic store and entering the world of e-commerce is considered one of the best investment ideas you can pursue at present. The digital economy is witnessing a massive revolution that the world cannot ignore, and no one would want to miss this opportunity to create a professional electronic store and earn a significant amount of money from it.

How to create a professional electronic store

Two main reasons may drive you to create an electronic store at this time:

• Firstly, the large size of the e-commerce market has become enormous. The e-commerce market is estimated to be worth billions of dollars, despite still being in its early stages with very few stores. This means that there is a tremendous amount of opportunities that can be exploited.
• Secondly, the relatively low cost of creating an electronic store, especially when compared to expensive traditional stores that require essential elements that e-commerce stores do not need, such as renting or buying a physical store for sales and storage, obtaining licenses and administrative procedures, and operational expenses like water, electricity, internet bills, and more.

 Now, the question that may come to your mind is: What is the cost of creating a good electronic store? Well, there is no specific answer to this question as it depends on the type and size of the store and the features you want in it. However, practically speaking, you can create an electronic store for free using platforms like WooCommerce. Now let's move on to the steps to create a professional electronic store.

1. Determine the products your electronic store will offer:

 The first step before creating an electronic store is to determine the type of products your electronic store will sell. This is a crucial step that directly affects the success of your project. You don't want to open an electronic store where no one buys anything because the market doesn't need the products you offer. However, with millions of goods and products available, how do you choose the right products to sell in your store?

 Firstly, you need to spend some time researching your target audience and the products you will sell. You may have an initial idea about these products, but that doesn't mean they will necessarily be in demand. Therefore, it is important to ensure that people will buy these products. There are several factors to consider when choosing the type of products, such as:

Availability and demand for the products:

 Are the products you want to sell available in your area of operation? If they are not available or are far away, in another city, for example, this could be a good opportunity and increase your chances of selling those products. What about the demand for these products? Is it high, moderate, or low? Simply put, look for products that are urgently needed in the market.

 You can start by conducting research to find out which products are in high demand by reviewing best-selling product lists in major electronic stores and carefully examining reviews of these products to identify any associated problems and determine if you can solve them or provide alternatives. Some tools can assist you in this process, such as:

• Google Trends: It allows you to see the search volume for keywords during a specific period and in a specific country. This helps you determine the demand for the products you want to sell.
• TrendHunter: It showcases many globally popular products, with the ability to sort results by industry or category. You can use it to discover popular products and choose from them.

Price and profit margin:

 Price is a crucial factor that determines the success of any electronic store. If the price is too low, it will be difficult to achieve a significant return on investment. On the other hand, if the price is too high, you will find it challenging to convince customers to make a purchase. Therefore, it is essential to select products with an appropriate price.

 If your electronic store will handle the shipping of products to customers, it is important to consider the sizes and weights of the products. Shipping large and heavy products can be costly and can affect your profit margin, especially since many customers expect free shipping nowadays.

 As for the profit margin, it usually ranges between 30% and 35%, but this may vary from industry to industry. For example, in the electronics retail sector, the profit margin tends to be lower, while it may be higher in the field of phone accessories and peripherals. Make sure the profit margin is suitable for your business, inquire about the wholesale price from the manufacturer, calculate the costs of creating the electronic store, and estimate the profit margin. If it's not suitable, look for other products.

2. Choose the brand name for your electronic store:

 Finding a suitable name for your brand is not easy. Don't try to find the perfect name; what's more important is the services you provide to your customers. If they like those services, they will remember your name even if they haven't heard it before. Remember that there are many examples of e-commerce companies that chose meaningless names and still succeeded.

 Some criteria are preferred to be present in your brand name, such as being easy to spell, relevant to the industry you're targeting, and avoiding complex spellings so that people can easily write it. It's also good for your website to be the same as your brand name, so try to search for an available name with the .com domain extension, given its popularity and reliability compared to other domains.

3. Choose the domain and hosting for your electronic store:

 Now you need to search for a domain name for your electronic store. This process may take a lot of time, especially if you're looking for a unique, short domain name or one that contains a specific keyword. Often, your preferred domain name will already be taken, so when thinking about creating an electronic store, you need to create a list of potential domain names to use.

 One excellent way to get a unique domain name is by searching on domain-selling websites that allow you to search for the availability of a specific domain name along with suggestions for similar domain names. Some hosting providers offer a free domain name if you purchase hosting from them, but there are some things to consider when choosing a domain name:

• Choose the country code: If you intend to sell your products in a specific country, you can choose the country code for that country.
• Avoid famous names: You may face legal disputes if you include a product name or a registered trademark in your domain name for your electronic store.
• Add a keyword: If your electronic store specializes in selling a specific category of products, try adding a relevant keyword related to that category.

 After purchasing the domain name, you will need to reserve hosting for your website. Many hosting companies can be relied upon to host your electronic store. However, remember that some e-commerce platforms provide the option of hosting your electronic store, so don't rush into a decision.

4. Build the electronic store:

 Not everyone has the technical knowledge to create an electronic store and enter the e-commerce market on their own, so you have two options for building your electronic store: either hire a professional web developer or use one of the specialized tools for building electronic stores.

Hiring a web developer: 

Hiring a web developer is a preferred option for many because it gives them more flexibility. They can request customization of the website according to their preferences, have full control over the details of building the electronic store, and choose the technology used to build it. However, the cost may be higher due to this flexibility and control compared to using specialized tools for building electronic stores.

Choose a ready-made platform for building the electronic store:

 Electronic store-building platforms are specialized applications that require no technical skills or programming knowledge. In general, these platforms provide the advantages of hosting the electronic store and linking the chosen domain name to the hosting. They also provide your website with a security certificate for encrypting financial transactions and protecting the personal data of store visitors.

 In addition to product categorization, these platforms assist in marketing your electronic store and its products. They offer other advanced features such as discounts and sales analytics. There are many platforms available, each with its advantages and disadvantages. However, one of the best options for building an electronic store, whether small or large, is the free WooCommerce plugin designed for the popular WordPress platform. There are other e-commerce platforms you can use, but to choose the right platform for your needs, you should consider some criteria such as:

• Price: Typically, each platform offers multiple options. Starting with low-cost initial plans might be sufficient, and you can upgrade to advanced plans as your electronic store grows.
• SEO: The chosen platform should support SEO features such as link optimization, easy navigation, site speed, and other SEO factors.
• Customer service: If you encounter technical issues or any problems with your electronic store, it's important to receive support as quickly as possible.
• Customization capabilities: Most platforms offer ready-made templates and designs for electronic stores. However, the platform should provide the freedom to customize and modify the design of your store.
• Security: Ensure that the platform supports HTTPS and adheres to e-commerce standards such as PCI rules and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
• Mobile responsiveness: A significant portion of purchases is made from mobile devices, so responsiveness to mobile devices is a necessary feature for your electronic store.
• Scalability: When your business starts to grow, you'll need more advanced features. Make sure the platform allows for that.
• User-friendly: The platform should be easy to use. E-commerce platforms typically provide ready-made templates for adding products, and this process should be smooth and time-efficient.

5. electronic Store Design:

 Your electronic store design should be attractive and elegant but without exaggeration. Excessive design elements can slow down the website and distract visitors. The design should be responsive to screens of various sizes because a significant proportion of your electronic store's visitors use mobile phones. It is also important to ensure that the electronic store is easy to navigate.

 Additionally, visitors should be able to access the homepage from anywhere on the site, enter the shopping page, quickly find the products they are looking for, and discover categories and subcategories of products. E-commerce platforms usually provide ready-made templates, so search for templates offered by the platform you have chosen. There are essential components that should be present in every electronic store, including:

A. Product Pages:

 Product pages are where your products are displayed, and they are of great importance because they are where visitors make their purchases. Therefore, you should pay special attention to them and improve their design. Here are some essential components that should be available on a product page:

Product Name and Description:

 Choose appropriate names for your products and search for simple, distinctive names that are easy to remember. Each product should also have a description, and the purpose of the description is to persuade visitors to purchase the product. Therefore, the description should be written in a persuasive and attractive marketing style, using simple and clear language while highlighting the product's features.

 It is also important to consider SEO rules when writing the product description to attract visits from search engines. The more visits you have, the higher your chances of making sales. The description should also be honest; otherwise, you will lose the trust of your customers. Writing product descriptions requires some experience and can be tiring and time-consuming, especially if you sell a lot of products, so it may be best to hire a freelancer with these skills.

Product Image:

 If the product is a physical item like a shoe or a phone, you should include an image of it on the product page. This has become very easy with the availability of smartphones with professional cameras. Choose a suitable background space, use the best camera you have, and take pictures of the product from multiple angles. If there are multiple variations of the product in terms of colors, sizes, and shapes, capture several images that illustrate this variety.

 It is also preferable to capture an image of the product in use. This is suitable for clothing items, where instead of showing a picture of a coat or a shirt, it is better to take a picture of a person wearing that coat or shirt. Do not deceive visitors to your website; the images should be realistic and reflect the truth about the product. Avoid using too many images as they can slow down the page load, especially on mobile devices.

Reviews:

 Studies indicate that 84% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. Searching for and reading reviews has become an essential part of the product research process. Along with reviews, attention should be given to the call-to-action button. This button is simply a marketing name for the purchase button, so it should be prominent and have clear colors.

Price:

 Several factors determine product prices, including the cost of the product, storage, shipping, and the average prices of competitors. In addition, you should consider the general costs of managing the electronic store, such as hosting and development. All these factors should be taken into account to determine a balanced price that provides a good profit margin. The price should be in the local currency, and it should be clearly stated whether it includes shipping and taxes or not.

B. Product Category Pages:

 Most electronic stores categorize their products to facilitate browsing and finding them. If you sell a small number of products, there's no need to categorize them as they will likely belong to the same category anyway. However, if you sell hundreds of products, it is essential to divide them into categories and allocate a page for each category to make it easier for customers to browse and choose from.

 Usually, dividing your products into categories is not enough because shoppers may not know which category to search in. The best way to solve this problem is by providing a search feature in the electronic store. Most e-commerce platforms offer this feature by default. If it's not available or if you have hired a developer to build your electronic store, make sure to request the addition of a search feature.

C. electronic Store Homepage:

Any electronic store consists of a set of essential pages that cannot be neglected in any way. Some of the prominent pages include:

1. Homepage: Most electronic stores display their best-selling products on the homepage, along with some customer reviews.
2. About Us: The "About Us" page is an introductory page about you, your company, and your goals. Avoid copying content from other electronic stores and write original content.
3. Contact: You should create a page for contact information, including your phone number, address, email, and a form for visitors to fill out if they want to get in touch with you.
4. FAQs: The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page includes answers to common customer questions and inquiries. It saves you a lot of time and effort.
5. Privacy Policy: Nowadays, it has become mandatory for online service websites, including electronic stores, to inform users about how their data is used and processed. Therefore, you should dedicate a page to the privacy policy.
6. Terms of Use: The Terms of Use page includes the terms, conditions, and rules that govern the behavior between you, your website visitors, and users. It is an essential requirement for anyone wishing to create an electronic store.

6. Determining Shipping and Storage System:

 One of the biggest challenges you will face when creating an electronic store is storing and shipping products. These challenges become more difficult as your business grows. Before shipping a product to a customer, you need to know some key information, such as the customer's address and shipping method. The appropriate time to request this information is during the checkout process. There are several ways to handle shipping costs, including:

• Free Shipping: This option gives you a significant competitive advantage. However, you should carefully consider it and preferably activate this feature only when the customer's purchases exceed a certain value. This way, you ensure that the profits will cover the shipping costs, and it will encourage customers to make purchases to qualify for this benefit.
• Flat Rate: In this option, the shipping cost is fixed regardless of the product type. This option is suitable for electronic stores that sell similar-sized and -weighted items.
• Variable Rate: In this option, the shipping cost is calculated based on various factors such as product weight, size, and destination. This option is suitable for electronic stores that sell diverse products in terms of sizes and weights or those that have a customer base from geographically distant regions.

 Now, the question is how will you deliver the products to their owners. You have two main options: partnering with a third party or shipping the products yourself to customers. In the first case, a third party will handle all the shipping operations. All you need to do is provide them with necessary information such as the customer's name and location, and they will take care of delivering the products to their owners.

 In self-shipping, you will take care of everything, including storage, packaging, and delivery through a specific delivery service. This method may be suitable for those who want to establish a small electronic store project or target a small geographical area. However, as the business grows, you will need a better shipping system.

7. Final Review and Testing:

 After building and designing your electronic store, it's time to set up the appropriate payment gateways. Most e-commerce platforms offer a variety of ready-made payment options such as Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, and others. If you've hired a developer to build your electronic store, ask them to add the payment gateways to the store. After setting up the payment gateways, don't forget to verify that all payment gateways are functioning correctly. The best way to do this is to perform a test purchase and see if everything is working as expected.

 Now, you're supposed to have completed everything related to building and preparing your electronic store. But don't rush, don't launch your electronic store just yet. There is one final stage that should be completed before the actual launch, and that is the stage of final review and testing. Several key aspects should be reviewed and verified to ensure they are functioning as expected, including:

• electronic Store content: Review the website content carefully because having errors will negatively impact the user experience and may make visitors perceive it as unprofessional.
• Responsiveness on small screens: Ensure that the electronic store works well on mobile phones and tablets.
• Cross-browser compatibility: Try accessing your online store from multiple browsers, especially popular ones.

8. Securing Your Electronic Store:

 Just like traditional stores, electronic stores are not immune to theft attempts. Therefore, it is essential to secure your website by purchasing a Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificate that will secure your site's data and the personal information of your customers. All electronic stores are required to support this protocol to encrypt sensitive information, such as credit card data and customer personal information.

 Your customers expect their personal information to remain secure when they make purchases from your electronic store. Therefore, adopting this protocol is necessary to gain the trust of buyers, in addition to the fact that Google now considers this encryption as a ranking factor. Browsers also issue warnings for sites that do not support it. Please note that storing your customers' credit card numbers in the website's database is a major security risk. If the server is breached and the numbers are leaked, you will be legally responsible to your customers.

9. Marketing Your Electronic Store:

 Before launching your electronic store, you should outline your marketing strategy. Without an effective marketing strategy, your business will not grow, and people will not know about your electronic store in the first place, even if you sell high-quality products at competitive prices. There are several marketing techniques you can use to attract customers and visits to your electronic store, including:

Content marketing: 

 Content marketing involves creating content to attract visits and customers. This type of marketing relies on a clear content plan that focuses on creating content that appeals to the target audience. This content may not necessarily directly promote your products but could be educational content related to them.

Email marketing: 

 Email marketing is one of the most effective marketing techniques in terms of cost compared to other marketing channels that require significant budgets. While other channels allow you to reach a larger number of customers, email marketing can provide better results, with a return on investment reaching up to $38 for every dollar spent. Therefore, it should be part of your marketing strategy.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO):

 Search Engine Optimization refers to the set of rules that should be followed to achieve a good ranking on search engine results pages. This includes factors such as keyword selection, building backlinks, user experience, mobile responsiveness, and other elements that search engines consider when ranking websites.

Social Media Marketing:

 Social media platforms offer an endless source of potential customers and are an excellent way to promote your Electronic store and products. It's important to establish a strong presence on these platforms for marketing and product promotion purposes, as well as providing customer support.

 Initially, you may need to market your Electronic store yourself, which can be time-consuming and require significant effort. Alternatively, you can hire a freelance marketer from e-commerce platforms or purchase professional marketing services offered by specialized freelancers. This can save you a lot of time and effort.

 We hope you have found value in this article, which covers the key points for creating a professional electronic store to enter the rapidly growing world of e-commerce. Please share your expectations for the e-commerce market in the coming period in the comments.

Edit This Article