How to Build an Ecommerce Website in 9 Easy Steps

Learning how to build an ecommerce website isn’t as difficult as it was a decade ago. There are plenty of improvements and tools that have been developed over the last few years. Even beginners can create a store on these platforms. And no need for any coding experience!

如果您在本文中为您提供了这9个简单的步骤，那么您将知道如何立即构建电子商务网站。

Why Should You Build an Ecommerce Website?

Before I show you how tostart building an ecommerce website，让我们了解为什么它很重要。

Building an ecommerce websitecan help you reach new markets and continue selling if your brick-and-mortar store has to be closed due to unforeseen circumstances.

借助电子商务网站，您可以将产品出售给全球的消费者。您的业​​务销售将不再仅限于本地消费者。

Here are 3 Reasons Why You Need an Ecommerce Website:

1.客户更喜欢在线购物

在线购物的美国客户人数是projected to be 291.2 millionby the end of 2025. That’s nearly 80% of the population.

Even pre-pandemic statistics show that there was a preference for online shopping.

Certain industries like home entertainment and consumer electronics already had more than half of customers purchase these products online before the pandemic with more growth expected.

The most interesting of all is the expected post-Covid-19 projections that show that grocery shopping online doubled during the pandemic, but that it will see more growth post-pandemic.

As more people work longer hours due to economic, social, or familial circumstances, more customers are willing to use online shopping to save time.

2. Smaller Financial Risk

传统零售商店的财务风险要高得多，这不仅要开放，而且还要保持运转。

The truth is that20% of retail businesses will fail within a year而且，五年后，几乎一半将关闭。

Starting an ecommerce website can cost anywhere between $10 000 to $20 000.This will depend on licensing fees, whether you will dropship or sell directly to your customers as well as having an in-house team or not.

This is still much less than the estimated $50 000 – $100 000 to start a small retail shop.

3. Maximizing your options

If you’re already the owner of a retail shop, creating an ecommerce website is an excellent way to expand your physical shop’s presence, without spending excessive amounts of money.

电子商务websites allow you to quickly inform any potential customers of new promotions and discounts without paying heavily for marketing or pointing it out inside of a shop.

What to Consider When Creating an Ecommerce Site

创建电子商务网站很容易，但是创建一个有效的电子商务网站，该网站不仅吸引了客户，而且实际上转换了客户，这是另一回事。

That means getting everything right from the beginning is important so that your website can quickly start selling products to earn back your initial investment.

创建电子商务网站时需要考虑以下5件事：

• 确保这一点您的网站已优化for all possible devices.
• Make sure yourcontact information is easily foundas well as customer service.
• Have asmany payment options as possiblefor customers.
• Make sure your websitesupports SSL有关信息加密。
• Make sure your website isreadable, easy to navigate, and looks great.

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Build an Ecommerce Website

Building an ecommerce websiteis simpler than you may imagine, especially when you’ve got solutions likeWordPressandBigCommerce。

These solutions can do most of the work for you and help you build an eCommerce site without any coding knowledge.

However, you’ll still need to make many important decisions to plan, create, launch, and promote your eCommerce website.

Let me help you get started.

Step 1: Conduct Market Research to Find Your Niche

First things first whenbuilding an ecommerce website，您需要确定要出售哪种类型的产品，以及是否对这些产品有潜在的市场需求。

It is also important to consider your interests and professional background while choosing your niche. Building a business requires a lot of hard work and persistence.如果您要出售自己感兴趣的东西，它将帮助您保持动力。

When you pick a product for your eCommerce business, you should ensure that:

• You have professional experience in related fields and are familiar with the industry.
• The product solves a problem for customers.
• People will be willing to pay for it.
• Your product idea aligns with the latest trends and demands in your industry.
• Your product has a low investment cost and a good profit margin.
• You have something unique to offer than your potential competitors.

Pro tip:Picking the right products to sell on your eCommerce website is essential to your success. So, take your time deciding which products to sell and to whom.

步骤2：获取域名

One of the initial steps to taking your business online is to pick your business and domain name.

Here are a few tips for selecting a domain name:

• 确保这一点it is closely connected to what you sell.
• 包括一个关键字或关键短语，可帮助客户知道您的预订出售商品。
• 简短。
• It should be easy to type, pronounce, and remember.
• Avoid legal and copyright issues.
• Buy a “.com” domain name as it is the most popular TLD (top-level domain). If it’s not available, you can consider buying “.store” or “.online” domain names.

How do you get a domain name?

Once you have a few ideas for your domain name,你可以使用一个域注册购买它。

您需要做的就是访问域注册商，搜索您所选的名称，并查看域名是否可用。

A domain registrar will register your domain name under the name of your company, meaning no other company can use the same domain name as you.

There are plenty of companies where you can buy domain names like:

• Mailchimp.com
• GoDaddy.com
• NameSilo.com
• Name.com
• Dreamhost

For example:

If you want to run anecommerce businessthat sells organic beauty products, you can look for the “organicskincareproducts.com” domain name.

您会意识到此域名已被捕获。

However, you can buy “.online” and “.store” domain names with the same business name, as suggested by Bluehost or other domain registrars.

Or, you can look for similar alternatives available with the “.com” extension using domain name generators like DomainWheel. Choose any of the suggested names that are relevant to what you want to sell.

Step 3: Buy Web Hosting

下一步building an ecommerce websiteis to get a web hosting plan.

Web hosting is essentially like renting or buying a house. Instead of it being a physical space, you’re purchasing or renting a piece of online space on the World Wide Web.

如何选择托管提供商

Hosting a simple blog or website usually doesn’t require a bunch of different website-building tools, but it is important to invest in a great host when it comes to an ecommerce store.

在决定选择哪个主机时，请记住：

• How many initial visitors your site will get, as well as how large it will grow in the next year or two. This should enable you tochoose a host that can accommodate the amount of traffic your website will get.
• Greater uptime is important. Uptime is essentially a measure of a system’s reliability. It’s the normal period when the website is functioning.Find out how much downtime your website might expect,especially during busy times like month’s end or holidays.

Bluehost and HostGator are two of the最值得信赖的网络托管提供商in the market.

当您刚开始时，最好购买Bluehost的基本计划，这也是他们最受欢迎的计划。

但是，在托管一家电子商务商店时，我建议购买Bluehost的Pro计划，其中包括接受WooCommerce付款，添加产品和使用定价模板的选项。

另外，请查看：7 Bluehost Alternatives for Your Business Website

步骤4：选择您的电子商务平台

There are many options when it comes to deciding on your eCommerce platform.

您可以使用网站构建器，在线商店构建器或专用的电子商务平台来设置并运营成功的在线商店。

Let’s discuss some of these options to build your eCommerce store.

Build an eCommerce Website on WordPress

You can easilybuild your ecommerce website on WordPress。Hosting providers like Bluehost offer one-click WordPress installation to make it easier for you.

If you’re especially concerned about SEO, you can find plenty ofexcellent ecommerce platforms for SEO online。

如果您已经拥有WordPress网站或博客，则还可以将现有的WordPress网站变成在线商店。

You can install eCommerce plugins such asWooCommerce and BigCommerceto add eCommerce functionality to your WordPress website.

This includes adding product pages, secure payment methods, shopping cart and checkout options, shipping options, and more.

It’s simple.

Head to Plugins > Add New > search for “WooCommerce” or “BigCommerce” and then install the plugin.

Here’s a list of some of thebest WooCommerce pluginsfor your eCommerce website.

和these plugins, you’ll be able to:

• Choose from enticing themes to finalize your online store’s design.
• Showcase physical and digital products along with their variations, pricing, etc.
• 利用WordPress的SEO优势在搜索引擎中排名良好
• Accept secure payments from 100+ payment gateways like Stripe, PayPal, etc.
• Configure shipping options with WooCommerce Shipping solution.
• Automate sales tax calculations.
• Reach your target audience more efficiently with HubSpot, Facebook, and Mailchimp integrations.

Check out15个其他网站建设者您可以用来构建电子商务网站。

Build Your Ecommerce Website with Dedicated Ecommerce Platforms

您还可以使用dedicat构建你的在线商店ed eCommerce platforms such as BigCommerce. It is an intuitive SaaS solution that offers everything you need to build an ecommerce website and sell online.

和BigCommerce, you’ll get:

• Storefront design options such as fully customizable and responsive themes, Page Builder with a visual editor, checkout customization, mobile optimization, etc.
• 70+ discounts and promotions options
• 定制产品建议
• 数字付款选项，例如Apple Pay，Amazon Pay，PayPal等。
• Online marketplace integrations to allow you to sell products on Amazon, eBay, etc.
• One-page checkout feature
• Inventory management solution
• Social channel integrations with Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest to encourage social commerce
• Multi-currency payment processing
• Global content delivery network (CDN) to ensure your site loads quickly
• Easy-to-use shipping solution

You can also use Shopify, 3dcart, and other电子商务platformsto build your eCommerce website.

大多数在线商店建设者和电子商务网站建设者都提供简单的拖放编辑器，以帮助您无需任何编码知识即可构建网站。

However, you can still consider hiring a professional web developer to save time and design an impressive eCommerce store.

Step 5: Plan Your Ecommerce Website Structure and Elements

无论您选择哪种电子商务平台，都需要计划在线商店的结构，并找出要添加的功能。

Your eCommerce website should have the following elements:

• SSL certificate
• Logo
• 导航菜单和搜索栏
• “About Us” page that tells your brand’s story
• 产品类别页面使购物者更容易找到他们想购买的产品
• 名单的t pages with product photos, product descriptions, pricing details, etc
• 希望清单功能可帮助购物者节省他们希望以后购买的产品
• 客户服务页面，例如退货和退款政策，运输政策和隐私政策页面
• Secure checkout process and payment gateway options
• Blog content that you’ll update regularly with articles related to ecommerce to get more exposure for your brand and products

To help you understand the essential电子商务website design elements, check out the infographic below.

Also, check out my post on the6个电子商务网站设计组成部分。

Step 6: Pick a Theme for Your Ecommerce Website

Pick a theme that aligns with your vision for your ecommerce website. It will act as the foundation for your website’s design and functionality.

When picking a theme, you should consider the following parameters:

• Does the theme offer user-friendly navigation menu options?
• Does your homepage design align with the aesthetics of your brand?
• How many built-in eCommerce features and customization options does the theme offer?
• Is the theme compatible with standard eCommerce plugins?
• Does the theme offer cross-selling and upselling capabilities for product pages?

The goal of your eCommerce site should be to encourage users to shop online.

Too many elements or a cluttered design can distract shoppers。So, you should choose an eCommerce theme with a modern and clean design.

For example:

100% PURE, an organic and natural beauty products eCommerce brand, has a minimalistic and clean website design that makes navigation a breeze for their new customers.

You can see具有顶级评论和客户喜欢的产品本身的产品。The hello bar highlights that they offer free shipping. The product images are of high quality and drive attention.

When starting out, it is best to start with a free theme. Once your eCommerce business starts making money, you can switch to a paid theme with greater functionality.

Here are a few ecommerce themes that can be a good starting point for building your online store:

• Haat WooCommerce主题
• Cornerstone BigCommerce主题
• 金库大型商业主题
• SuitUP Shopify theme
• Divi WordPress theme

You can check out 25 more ecommerce template optionshere。

步骤7：将产品添加到您的电子商务网站

The most daunting step of building an online store is to create product pages.

Your product pages should include:

• 名单的t name
• 名单的t description with keywords
• Pricing details
• 产品变化和自定义选项
• Compelling CTAs
• Shipping & return policies
• Expected delivery date

Your product page should provide all of the information that a potential buyer would need to know including its basic details, durability, use cases, and benefits.

Include high-quality product photos that highlight the key features of your product from different angles. You can also use 360° photos, a zoom-in feature, and in-context images and videos to attract new customers.

家decor and furnishings brand, Pottery Barn, creatively uses in-context product images to encourage customers to buy their items.

I mean – Who wouldn’t like to recreate this Christmas look in their living room?

Don’t forget tooptimize your product pagesas well to boost conversions and drive more sales and revenue.

Step 8: Set Up Payment Methods and Shipping Process

而网站设计, easy navigation, and impressive photos can encourage users to buy a product, you need to offer the right payment method to close the deal.

选择付款集成时，您应该：

• Analyze whether thepayment gateway is safe.
• Look at customer reviewsto see if people had problems making secure payments using that payment solution.
• Keep thepayment processing and transaction fees in mind.
• Check if you’ll be able toaccept payments from international customers。
• 确保这一点it isPCI compliantto avoid fines, lawsuits, and losing customers’ trust.

Along with payment integrations, shipping is an integral part of running an eCommerce business. You should:

• Determine your shipping policy. Will you offer free shipping or do shipping at a variable rate based on the buyer’s location?
• 选择你的运输合作伙伴。
• Consider whether or not you will ship products to international customers.
• 确定您将在新电子商务网站上使用哪种运输软件。

步骤9：启动并推广您的在线商店以开始销售

Once you’ve put everything together, it’s time tolaunch your ecommerce business websiteto sell products online.

However, setting up your online store is not enough. To turn your website into a successful online business,you need to come up with a robust marketing strategy.

Understand who your target audience is, what matters to them, and how you can encourage them to shop online from your store.

For this, you can include a number of different strategies in your marketing efforts such as:

• Search engine optimization（（SEO）to rank your online business website in search results
• 电子邮件marketing通过优惠，折扣和个性化产品建议与您的目标受众联系
• Social media marketingto build an online presence for your ecommerce business and gain more traction
• Influencer marketingto spread the word about your ecommerce business quickly and generate more sales
• Affiliate marketingto drive referral sales in a cost-effective manner

在促进您的电子商务业务的同时，您应该遵循最新的ecommerce marketing trendsto generate quick results.

If you need help growing your online store sales, feel free to reach out to me anytime. Just fill out the form on mycontact pageto get started.

常见问题解答

准备设置并运行自己的电子商务网站了吗？

Building an ecommerce website has become easier because of powerful eCommerce platforms and online store builders with built-in ecommerce features.

You just need to make the right choice for your business model, website structure, payment processing, and shipping software, sales tools, marketing strategy, and more. Most importantly, choose the right ecommerce platform to build your online store.

Do you have questions about building your ecommerce website and making money from it? Reach out to my team of experts to take your retail business online and market it efficiently.