How To Start An Online Store In 2024: 3 Powerful Ecommerce Solutions 

Thinking about creating your very own online ecommerce store? Sounds great! There is no better time than now to jump into the world of ecommerce.  Also, the right ecommerce web solutions can work wonders for your business.

If you are new to the whole online store idea, then you’d probably be a little confused about where to start. No need to worry, we’ve got you covered.

Today, we will be looking at how to start a successful online store. We will also look into 3 powerful ecommerce web solutions you should consider trying out.

How to Start an Online Ecommerce Store in 2024?

Read down below to find out more about how to open an online store step by step.

Step 1: Develop a business plan

Ecommerce business is more than just an online store, it’s a long-time investment. It initially takes time and effort to build, but that pays off well in the end. 

Every business structure differs, depending on the industry you are targeting. Therefore, before you start building your online shopping business store, think about what your ecommerce business plan is going to be. A well-online marketing business plan can help you target your goals and pinpoint issues in advance. 

A few things you might want to look into before you set up an online store: 

• What is your e-commerce business model going to be?
• Which niche will you be targeting? 
• How big is your customer base? 
• How will you drive traffic to your online store? 
• What is your budget? 
• What shopping cart software will you be using? 
• How will you cope with your eCommerce brand evolution? 

Perform a SWOT analysis to analyze your business's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Having an idea about these factors from the beginning can help you come up with an effective business plan.

Step 2: Pick an eCommerce platform

The platform that you choose for your online store can make or break the deal for you. An ideal ecommerce platform is the one that can be easily used by both; the customer and the seller. 

Since you won’t be switching your eCommerce platform every other day, it is important to pick the right one once and for all. Don’t rush. Take time to compare the advantages and disadvantages of every platform.

We will look into 3 powerful ecommerce web solutions later on. First, let's have a look at some of the things to consider while choosing the best ecommerce platform 2024 for yourself. 

• Pricing

Every business has its own budget. Does the platform of your choice offer affordable pricing packages? Will you be able to make the most out of the features offered for the price you will be paying?

• Tools

What tools does the platform feature? Do these suit your requirements? Can these tools be used to create effective marketing campaigns? Do they allow you to track and analyze all pertinent sales information of your business? 

• Design capabilities

Does the platform offer a user-friendly design? Do the design elements aid your SEO strategy? Will your website's design be better than that of your competitors?

• Mobile-friendliness

Can your website be optimized for mobile users as well? How easy-to-use will your website be for mobile visitors? 

Recommended: The Ultimate Guide to Ecommerce Seo

Step 3: Choose a domain name and start designing

Choosing the domain name is one of the most important steps in the ecommerce website development process.  Your domain name affects your brand visibility, search rankings, and more. Choosing the right domain name can also help put you ahead of your competition. 

Once you are done with deciding the domain name for your website. The next step is to design it. If done right, the designing process can be as fun as it sounds. Here are some ecommerce website design tips to keep in mind.

• The design should be SEO optimized for conversions 
• It should include a unique landing and homepage summary 
• It should include high-quality images and videos 
• The color scheme should be effective 
• Your brand logo should be unique and eye-catching 
• Incorporate a call-to-action (CTA) button on every page

Step 4: Develop a strong branding strategy

E branding strategy is what really makes your store unforgettable. The e-branding techniques for your store include everything from your logo, typography, and color theme to your brand story. The brand strategy of your business should be unique, and it should match the product/service you are offering. 

If you have hired an eCommerce web development company to work with you, then make sure they help you develop a strong branding strategy.

Here are some tips that will help you come up with a strong branding strategy for your ecommerce brand identity:

• Discover the purpose behind your brand 
• Have a look at the branding strategies of your competitors 
• Think about the target audience of your brand 
• Establish a brand mission statement 
• Think of your brand's story 
• Distinguish the key quality and benefits your brand offers 

A good branding strategy will help make your brand more personal. According to a Nielson survey, 59% of consumers prefer to buy new products from brands familiar to them. 

Step 5: Start Your Marketing Campaigns

Lastly, your marketing campaigns are going to be the driving force of the traffic on your website. There are plenty of free and paid marketing strategies that can help drive customers to websites, for example:

• Social Media

Social media is a powerful marketing tool. According to stats provided by Absolunet, 87% of online e-commerce shoppers believe social media helps them make a shopping decision. You can use different social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to create business pages for your online store. Include information such as your website’s link, contact details, and location. 

• Email Marketing

According to Oberlo, email is the primary customer acquisition channel for 80% of SMBs. Create a business email address and start notifying your customers about deals, discounts, and more. Encourage your customers to sign up for your website by offering them a discount on their next purchase. 

• SEO

Seo optimization for ecommerce websites is essential. If your website is not SEO optimized, then it’s probably going to go obsolete in no time. Optimizing your online store according to best SEO practices and partnering with a reputable SEO agency in Zurich, for example, will help your drive sales, boost revenue, improve your customer base, and most importantly enhance your website’s ranking.  

Include catchy headings, meta titles, descriptions, and images on your online store. Make sure your home page is attractive enough for customers to dig in further and check out the products you are offering. Using effective e-commerce SEO tools and a well-thought ecommerce SEO strategy can undoubtedly be a game changer for your business. 

3 Powerful Ecommerce Web Solutions 

Choosing the right web-based eCommerce solution is a critical part of creating a successful online store. Let’s have a look at the 3 best ecommerce platform examples. 

SHOPIFY

Founded back in 2004, today, Shopify is one of the most popular ecommerce web solutions out there. It features a variety of themes that can be customized according to your brand’s requirements. One of the reasons Shopify is loved by so many users is that it is super-easy to learn. 

Since it is a fully hosted platform, which saves users from spending extra money on server hosting fees and maintenance. Since it is a popular platform, you can easily find a Shopify development company that offers affordable Shopify development services. Thanks to its intuitive interface and codeless store-building tools, the whole online store-building process is a breeze. Also, it is scalable for both; small and big online businesses.

Shopify website development offers a lot of SEO additions that can be used to drive customers to your website. Moreover, Shopify has a dedicated support team that is available at all times to answer any concerns and issues that users might be facing.  All of these reasons make Shopify one of the best ecommerce platforms for developers.

Pros

• The back end is very easy to use 
• It is a fully hosted platform 
• Offers tons of add-ons and SEO additions 
• Customer service is always extremely helpful 

Cons

• Exporting .CSV files and reports could use a little work 

For more information, visit: Why Shopify Is Fit For Ecommerce Companies in Website Development

Magento 

Magento is another well-known ecommerce platform that has gained a huge user base since its launch in 2009. It is an ideal choice for small-to-medium businesses that have already established demand, skills, manpower, and time to create their own website.

 It’s important for businesses using this platform to hire a Magneto development company that offers reliable Magento development services. 

Magento has a list of the most impressive features that any web-based eCommerce solution can offer. It is a powerful platform with a library of more than 5000 extensions. Furthermore, it offers SEO tools like customizable meta-information, Canonical URLs, independent navigation links, and much more for SEO optimization.

Pros

• It offers a lot of flexibility
• Users can start selling quickly from a very simple shop
• It is an open-source eCommerce platform

Cons

• Customizations can be a little difficult due to the low loading time of Magento 

WooCommerce 

WooCommerce is a popular plugin for WordPress that can be used to turn your website into a very successful online store. Unlike most of its competitors, WooCommerce development is an open-source solution. It is free for commercial and personal use. However, you will need to spend some extra cost on features such as email, hosting, domain, support, theme, etc. 

It is a great choice for both; small and big businesses. If you run a start-up or small-sized company, then you might want to hire a WooCommerce developer to make sure that the whole development process goes smoothly. 

Moreover, WooCommerce offers numerous useful features in a Core+Extensions model. Users are provided with all the important features they require to start selling as quickly as possible. Another great thing about this plugin is that it offers a mobile-friendly design. 

Pros 

• It comes with plenty of useful features
• It allows you to choose where you want to host your online store 
• Customer and administration accounts can be easily created and managed

Cons 

• Requires WordPress knowledge and proficiency 

Read More About: Why Should You Choose WooCommerce for eCommerce Development

Wrapping up

Now that you are familiar with the basics of ecommerce website development and the best ecommerce web solutions, the whole process should be much simpler and easier for you.

InvoZone is well-known for providing high-quality ecommerce development on-demand service services. Get in touch with us today to discuss further.

So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get started.