How to Build an Ecommerce Website

Starting your own website for ecommerce just got a lot easier with all the tools being available online for anyone interested. Tools such as Shopify apps can help simplify the complex tasks that are needed for building an ecommerce website. But if the task still seems daunting, then we’re here to help you out step by step on how you can build your amazing website and get started immediately.

Ecommerce Platforms

You might ask, isn’t building a website from scratch better than choosing an ecommerce platform? Wouldn’t there be downsides? The quality of platforms and tools available are worth a shot because not only are they convenient but some are also free. Plus, there are some platforms that allow customization down to the finest detail.



With ecommerce platforms, building a website becomes an easy task. The remaining time that it leaves you can be used for other productive activities such as building your niche in the market. But before we go into the details, let’s first start with your website.

Building the Complete Ecommerce Website

#1. Choose an Ecommerce Platform

The easiest and most efficient way to start your ecommerce website is to choose the best platform that fits your needs. There are several ecommerce platforms to choose from, and each one offers a different set of features. Try them out and go for the platform you’re most comfortable with.

Be sure to also check out the different apps that are integrated to each platform. These tools can help make SEO, email marketing, referral systems, and other tasks become less intimidating for first-time online entrepreneurs. Shopify is a highly recommended choice because of its easy-to-use interface and highly customizable site. There are plenty of apps integrated that can solve all your marketing needs.

#2. Plan Your Domain Name

Once you’ve chosen which ecommerce platform you’ll stick with, then it’s time to prepare the other things you’ll need to build your website. There are two important things that you absolutely need to prepare before anything else: a domain name and a web hosting service. You can’t have a personalized website without these two.

Having a domain name is helpful if you’re planning to use an ecommerce platform because it allows you to personalize your web address. The best part is that you can directly connect your existing domain name to your Shopify website or any other ecommerce platform you chose.

Have you been dreaming of that certain name of your website? Now you can get that plus you can start immediately after you’ve connected the domain name with the ecommerce platform. But we’re not done yet! Your website doesn’t end here.

#3. Find the Hidden Opportunities in the Market

Market research is an important task even when you’re building your website. So why do we need to do this before finishing the website? It’s because all the effort you’ve given for creating the website will be wasted if you’re not sure what you should sell.

If you’re not sure what you should sell, you can always start by checking what’s hot and what’s not. Tools such as Google Trends can give you the information you need. This also works if you already have something in mind since you can check if the product you aim to sell is in demand in the market. Opportunities to find your niche are made possible if you know what customers are looking for that you can provide.

#4. Design your Online Store and Website

Once you’ve planned out what you’re going to sell, it’s time to build and design your store. Templates are available for almost every platform out there. Plus, there are tools available for customizing the look of your online store to match customer preference. Other platforms allow you to simply add elements in a click-and-drag style to create your own store design, including the website.

If you’re not sure how you should design your online store and website, then go for the template that you think suits the products you’re selling. It’s the first impression that matters most.

#5. Prepare your Marketing Campaigns

Before you should launch the website, it’s equally important to prepare how you’ll be marketing your newly-created ecommerce website. You’ll need to capture traffic into the site to be able to earn revenue. How do you do that? It’s through marketing campaigns that will let others know what you’re offering.

Social media marketing has been one of the popular ways of making your brand known to potential customers. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are among the many social networking sites that reach millions of people worldwide. Giving them a heads-up before the launch can assure customers at the front door of your online store when it goes operational.

Content marketing is another way to gain traffic into your site and store. By providing visitors with quality information about what you’re selling, you can gain their trust and confidence. Plus, they get to learn more useful tips from you. This strategy works best if you’re really passionate about what you’re selling in your store.

Email marketing is another marketing campaign that you can use. The best part about this strategy is that it is incorporated in most ecommerce platforms through the tools available that allow automation for sending several emails all at once.

#6. Launch the Website

With everything being prepared, it’s time to finally launch the site. Don’t launch your site silently. Use this as an opportunity to get the attention of as many customers as possible. It’s your time to make a lasting impression.

Be sure to fix any issues with your website before the actual launch. Typos, errors in billing, and inaccessible sites are a must-avoid. These can leave a bad first impression to customers, and that can cause your website’s growth to slow down.

#7. Begin your Operations

Last but not the least, here comes the hardest part of them all: maintaining and improving your website. Here’s where you apply everything you’ve learned so far to be able to improve your store. Little by little, you’ll need to update some parts of your store to meet growing and changing demands.

Here’s also where ecommerce platforms give you an edge. These platforms and their built-in tools can provide real-time analytics and make these daily updates a lot easier to manage. This is why you need to have an ecommerce platform to build your store. You’ll less time worrying about simple tasks and more time planning how you can expand your operations.

Final Reminders

Building your own ecommerce website is easier now than it was before. There’s a lot of room for customization with online tools nowadays. With ecommerce platforms, starting your own ecommerce store has been even more accessible. Still, it requires hard work and dedication to be successful. That’s where you need to put all the time and effort.

Auhor:

Whitney Blankenship

Content Marketing Manager for Omnisend. When not writing awesome content, Whitney is reading up on the latest in digital marketing, ecommerce, and social media trends. Obsessed with pop culture, art, and metal. Powered by coffee. Fastest Googler in the West. Follow on Twitter.