Starting an E-Commerce website in 2023 from scratch
A help guide for an Absolute Beginner
You might have heard that the E-Commerce market is pretty crowded right now, and many people are jumping into it.
Starting a business in this field can indeed be challenging. However, I want to emphasize that beginning an E-Commerce venture has never been easier.
Let’s focus on the first step: how to create an E-Commerce platform. In my next post, I’ll share how you can make your platform stand out from competitors. Instead of worrying about competitors, tap into existing resources that can help you build a website even on a relaxed Sunday and kickstart your business on a Monday!
With that in mind, here’s a guide on how to build your E-Commerce website from scratch:
Step 1: Selection of an E-commerce Platform
The choice of an Ecommerce platform depends upon both your proficiency in web development and the resources available to you. If you possess the means to operate your website on a personal server, the option of opting for an open-source code may be advantageous. However, this approach needs a lot of work to maintain the website and server, ensuring all security updates are implemented to prevent potential breaches.
If you do not have the necessary skills it is recommended to consider a Content Management System. Esteemed platforms such as Shopify, Square Space, and Wix, among others, provide this service for a fee. These platforms facilitate website construction while concurrently managing security protocols under the purview of the CMS.
Step 2: Building Your Website
If you’re thinking about selling things on your website, there’s something important to consider: just having a single page with a few pictures won’t be enough. Picking the right look for your website is a big deal. And while you can change how your website looks later, it can be really hard to do that after you’ve made all the pages.
After you’ve got your look sorted out, here’s what you need to do:
a) Choosing the Pages:
When you’re making a website to sell things, there are a few pages you really need:
- Home Page: This is the first thing people see. It should show what you’re selling.
- Product Pages: These pages tell all the important stuff about each thing you’re selling — like how much it costs, what it looks like, and more.
- Shopping Cart: This is where people put the things they want to buy.
- Checkout Pages: These pages help people buy things, like putting in their addresses and paying for their stuff.
- About Us Page: This page tells people about your company — who you are and what you do.
- Contact Us Page: Here, you put your phone number, email, and address so people can reach you.
- FAQ Page: This page answers common questions about your stuff and how to buy it.
- Privacy Policy Page: It’s important to tell people how you use their info.
- Terms and Conditions Page: This page explains the rules for using your website and buying stuff from it.
b) Making Things Easy to Find:
Websites can sometimes be hard to use. Making it easy for people to find stuff helps them stay longer on your website. A map that shows all the pages can also help them navigate.
c) Putting Your Stuff on the Website:
This means adding things like the name, price, and what it looks like. It’s also good to have reviews from other people who’ve bought your stuff. And remember to update your website when things are sold out.
d) Helping People Pay:
If you’re making a website where people can buy things, you need a way for them to pay. Some secure tools like Stripe or PayPal are good for this. They keep the information safe when people are paying.
Step 3: Getting Your Website Online
If you’ve used a certain tool to build your website, you still need a special place for it to live online. Websites like Hostinger, Kamatera, Hostwinds, and Godaddy can do this, but they usually charge a fee.
Step 4: Testing and Starting
After you’ve got a name for your website, make sure everything works properly. Check that the pages, shopping cart, and everything else are working well, even on phones and different web browsers. And don’t forget to check that emails are getting to people who use different email services. Once everything’s good, launch your website and start selling!
Step 5: Selling Your Stuff
This part is really important! To sell well, you need to know who wants your stuff and why it’s good. Great pictures, clear info, and good deals will make people want to buy from you. You can also use things like customer reviews and show up on search engines. And using social media can help spread the word about your business.
So, now you’ve got your very own website equipped with all the essential features of an E-Commerce platform. It’s time to embark on your selling journey and aim to become an online sensation. Wishing you the best of luck! Until our next post, take care, goodbye, and cheers!
Remember, if you ever need help with building a website Codeshastra has you covered. Codeshastra can help you with building websites, apps, and more. We are experts in making projects successful. Reach out to us and turn your ideas into reality.
