1. Have an Attention-grabbing Name
The very first thing you want to do is to think of a good name. You have to decide on a name that will grab people’s attention while remaining unique to you. Keep it short for people to remember (or use an abbreviation) and you can move on to the next step.
2. Secure a Domain
Next, you need to secure a domain for your website. Preferably get a domain that resonates with your business and has the actual name in it. If it isn’t available (which is likely depending on how common the name is), you can opt for having your URL be as closely related to your business as possible.
3. Secure the Right Permits
There will be multiple permits that you will need to get once you want to open up your e-commerce business. This can all vary from country to country and even state to state, so it would be best to brush up on the local laws in regards to regulations, notably about sales tax licenses. If some things remain unclear to you even after checking them out, it would be best to either consult the local government body or an attorney.
4. Design the Commerce Page
The fate of how well your site will perform rests on how well you design it. Whether it’s your products or services, it needs to be appealing to the eye. If it is mishandled or done poorly, it will reflect distrust or even scepticism with the visitor – something you want to avoid at all costs. If people are wary of your site, then you are not off to a good start. This is why you should get a few important things highlighted:
• Use high-quality pictures to show your goods/services (more important with products), make sure that you have a zoom function and the website visitor can see precisely every detail from every angle of the product in question.
• Write a perfect description of the item and services in question. Do not leave any room for doubt or ambiguity about the things you are offering. Tell them why they should buy what you are offering, what it is, and how it will improve their lives.
• Add feedback and review options. It will be the pillar stone of trust between yourself and the customers, so do not neglect this aspect. It can even be used as a badge of honour later down the line, as you are able to highlight the positive reaction people got from your services.
• Make sure that the purchase button is always in clear view. Do not complicate the site and add convoluted redirects. Short is simple – let it stay that way.
5. Optimize E-commerce SEO
Now comes the most important aspect in getting yourself known to the wider world – SEO. Optimize your SEO so that it would fit what you do and your website. This has become a staple of any contemporary e-commerce site. Familiarize yourself with the basics of SEO if you aren’t already. This is a matter that must be addressed during the early stages of a website’s development, not in the latter, as it can cause multiple problems and harder readjustments.
6. Optimize for Mobile Integration
Having your site be mobile-friendly is crucial for its success now. Research has shown that around 52.2% of all website traffic is generated from smartphones. This is a massive amount and it simply can’t be ignored. It will allow your services to be easily accessible to a wider audience and people will know that you mean business.
7. Enable Payment Methods
There are a ton of payment methods out there, and everyone has their own preferences. It’s up to you to cater to as many of those preferences as you can. Your best payment solution will be integrating as many options as you can. Try to isolate as few potential customers as you can. People like to spend, so don’t take that wish away from them!
7. Set up Analytics
Once everything is set, it’s time to implement a way of tracking your progress. Start setting up tracking tools and Google Analytics from the start so that you know exactly how your e-commerce site is performing. Here are a few factors that you will have to take into account:
• Traffic Acquisition Cost
• Order Value
• The Conversion Rate of Sales
• The Disbanding Rate of Shopping Carts
• Customer Lifetime Value
8. Test Launch Before You are Finally Ready!
One final step before you are officially ready for action. You want to make sure that everything runs smoothly and as planned, so here are some things to do so that you are completely ready:
• Check the E-commerce SEO
• Check the Front Pages
• Install the Necessary E-commerce Apps
• Get Email Marketing ready
• Set up Analytics Before Launch
• Make Sure all of the Payment Methods are Working as Intended
And that would be all. If you follow all of these steps thoroughly, you will be prepared for all of the challenges that come ahead. Keep up with the latest e-commerce apps and trends on the market and you won’t ever worry about falling behind. Best of luck with the launch!
