6 steps to create an e-commerce site
For any entrepreneur launching into the sale of physical products, it is almost inconceivable to start their business without selling online. It is an essential prerequisite, even before the opening of the physical store. And for that, you will need an online store.
But for many merchants, the technical side can be intimidating. In reality, it is quite simple. Just follow the steps to create an e-commerce site. Discover them.
1. Choose your hosting plan and domain name
As with any website creation, you need to set up all the technical aspects to design an online store. Here are the main ones:
The hosting plan: this is the service that stores all the data of your e-commerce site; from your product pages to payment features, programming code, etc. For example, you will find OVH, Infomaniak, bluehost, O2Switch, etc. In addition to data storage, most of these hosts also include the domain name.
The domain name: this is the URL address of your e-commerce site. Often, the domain name reflects the name of your brand. Provided, of course, that it is available. To ensure this, you can use this domain name checker.
This first step is not specific to the creation of an e-commerce site. It applies to all websites, whether it is a site dedicated to online sales, a blog, a company showcase, etc.
2. Select your e-commerce platform
If you are a beginner, it is better to choose a No-Code content management system (CMS). All features will be integrated without you needing to write a single line of code.
Shopify is the solution we recommend for you to start e-commerce with confidence.
There are dozens of easy-to-use CMSs. But if you want to create an e-commerce site, you will need to choose a solution specifically adapted to online sales. Yes, your site will need to contain several features that are not found on a classic site, such as:
Payment integrations;
Product catalog;
Order management;
Stock tracking; etc.
Among the most well-known e-commerce CMSs, you will find WooCommerce on WordPress, Shopify, Prestashop, Magento, etc. Do not hesitate to compare these different platforms to find the one that best suits your needs.
Good to know: many CMSs offer free trial offers. Take advantage of them to test and select the platform that will help you create your e-commerce site step by step.
3. Create product catalogs
Your online store aims to facilitate the sale of your products, so you need to showcase them.
How? Through a highly comprehensive product catalog. This includes:
Category and subcategory pages: these group several variants of the same type of product. For example, a fashion store may have Men and Women categories. And subcategories, pants, jackets, shirts, dresses, etc.
Product pages
Whether it is category or product pages, the goal is to encourage sales. Your pages should contain several essential elements, such as a detailed description, the concrete benefits of the product, its technical characteristics, its variants, quality images, the price, etc.
And all this, using copywriting techniques to promote conversion. Not to mention SEO to improve the positioning of your pages.
Good to know: you can create your e-commerce site from A to Z or use the various templates offered by CMSs. These will provide you with a base to design impactful product pages.
4. Configure order management
Creating an e-commerce site is the first step to start selling online. But then you have to manage all the orders: from communication with the customer to delivery, including stock management.
Your e-commerce CMS can help you with this. But it will need to be configured first.
For this, do not hesitate to consult the platform's documentation or get training.
The idea is mainly to optimize order management so that when a customer validates their shopping cart, all the subsequent steps are carried out automatically. For example, after an order on your site, your stock status is updated, the customer receives a confirmation email, the shipment is scheduled, etc. And all this without you having to intervene manually each time.
5. Set up payment methods
In addition to facilitating orders and shipping, your e-commerce site must also simplify and secure payment.
Thus, when you create an e-commerce site, you need to configure several parameters:
Integrate different payment systems, such as credit cards, PayPal, Stripe, or Apple Pay;
Choose payment solutions recognized for their security;
Offer different payment options, such as one-time payment or installment payments without fees;
Include promotional codes;
Simplify the payment process with a minimum number of steps (but always secure).
The idea is to ensure an optimal user experience, both in terms of payment choices and the security of banking data.
6. Integrate the main pages of the e-commerce site
Creating an e-commerce site is not just about adding product pages. There are other equally essential pages to strengthen your brand image and inspire user trust. Here are the ones that must absolutely appear on your e-commerce site:
The homepage: it is the gateway to your website. When they arrive, the user must quickly understand what you are selling. Here, you can add several essential sections, such as your flagship products, customer testimonials, a reassurance section (free delivery, guarantee, secure payment, etc.).
About: even if your business is not based on your personal brand, consumers are increasingly buying from brands they like. This page will thus help to reinforce the human side of your business.
Contact page: you can add a contact form or directly note your contact details (email address, store address if there is one, phone number).
FAQ page: to answer all the frequent questions of consumers, especially in terms of delivery, returns, and payment.
For all these pages, make sure to follow the main principles of natural referencing to improve the positioning of your online store on search engines.
After creating your e-commerce site, you still need to promote it to maximize your sales. And if all these steps are still unclear, do not hesitate to get training with the Cube School.
