Turn your ideas into sales and start selling with Wix eCommerce→
You think of a brilliant idea for an online store. Or perhaps you read about another successful entrepreneur and got inspired. You muster up the confidence to pursue your idea—only to wind up wondering “Where do I begin?”
To make your life easier, we’ve put together this guide with step-by-step instructions on how to build an online store. Whether you’re starting a business from scratch or taking your brick-and-mortar business online, we’ll help you get started on the right foot.
Ready to start your eCommerce journey? Now’s the perfect time to bring your vision to life. With Wix eCommerce, you have the tools to build a professional online store and create a website that captivates your audience, drives traffic and boosts sales. Take the first step and explore Wix eCommerce today. Make your mark online and turn your ideas into success.
TL;DR: How to start an online store
Kicking off an online store means making some big decisions for your brand, your business and your sales. First up: pick a niche and really get to know your audience. Next, build a strong brand with a memorable name, a clear look and a consistent feel. Set up your business and register it correctly.
After that, choose a platform that fits your needs, keeps your site safe and can grow with you. Plan for costs early—platforms hosting domains getting your products and extra tools all add up and affect how smoothly your store runs.
Design your store to make shopping easy and fun, with clear buttons great images and lots of payment options. Get people to visit with smart marketing, track what’s working with analytics and give amazing customer service so buyers keep coming back. Along the way, focus on strategies that help you make money online while your store grows.
How to start an online store in 10 steps
- Choose a niche and determine your target audience
- Create a strong branding strategy
- Decide on your business structure and register your business
- Pick an eCommerce platform
- Name your store and get a domain
- Design your online store for sales
- Connect a payment provider
- Optimize your online store
- Start your marketing campaigns
- Create a customer service plan
01. Choose a niche and determine your target audience
Choosing which products to sell online will require careful consideration.
Beyond thinking about what your target audience likes, you’ll need to do a bit of competitive recon and ask yourself some key questions. For starters: which brands are already popular online? What unique pain points can you help to solve? How do you plan on sourcing your products?
Learn more: How to sell on Wix
Generate and refine product ideas
To get the ideas flowing, here are a few things to try.
- Optimize a popular product: Take what you know works and make it better. This is something big retailers do with their private label products. They’ll check to see what’s popular in stores or online, then create their own versions. Try this out for yourself by using tools like Jungle Scout or checking sites like Amazon’s Best Sellers list. Scour reviews on leading brands to discover what their products are missing.
- Look out for an untapped market: Have you ever searched for a product online and realized that nothing really wows you? Did your brother mention something that would be cool to own over dinner? There’s no replacement for an original idea. This is how Wix user DIVINIA Water developed its international business. Founder Steven Sedlmayr realized that there was a gap in the market for drinkable water—particularly pure water with functional benefits.
- Follow the trends: Whether born out of necessity or a viral topic, there’s always a plethora of trending products to choose from. The key here is to have a system for understanding what’s driving a product’s success. How long will the trend last? What marketing do you need to do to keep the momentum going? Be careful not to commit to a product that will lose interest as quickly as it gained it.
Once you’ve brainstormed a few good ideas, take some time to make sure that it’s a realistic item to sell. Ask yourself if your item is easy to ship, where you can sell it and whether you can turn a profit.
Target the right audience for your online store
Beyond that, you need to identify your target audience. The closer you are to your product (or audience), the greater your chances of building a successful business.
If you already have a product idea, use that to determine your ideal customer. If not, consider an audience that you’re most familiar with. What products do you use on a regular basis? What do you value the most about your favorite brands? Or, who in your life are you looking to serve with your products?
As with any business, it helps to find a purpose that will keep you motivated in the long run. Ecommerce, after all, isn’t just sunshine and butterflies (see our guide on what is eCommerce). There are numerous logistical and financial questions you’ll have to address.
By reminding yourself why you’re running your business and for whom, you can better stay on track. To that end, take the time to establish buyer personas. Personas help you get into the mind of your buyer and, in turn, make decisions regarding messaging, your eCommerce website design, marketing strategies and more.