So, you’ve learned about how e-commerce began, how e-commerce can affect your life and what to consider before you start your own online business. Now it’s time to actually build the online store. The site.
Assuming that you have already decided what you are selling and how you are going to sell them, here are things you also need to consider before building an online store:
Domain
Your online store is not just another website. It is going to be the most important aspect of your life. Think thoroughly the best name for your domain.
image: piestobis
A domain name simple picking guide:
* It should be related to what you are actually selling
No, you don’t want to go with teehouse.com if you are selling tea leaves.
* It should leave you extra room for future business expansion
Let’s say you are currently selling sackdress, so cutesackdress.com might work. For now. But what if next year you are adding into your online shelves skirts and t-shirts? Now cuteclothing.com sounds even better, huh?
* It should not use any internet meme
Yes, Chuck Norris might be the current internet meme (by the time this post being published). But by next decade it might change; you don’t want to end up with the old internet meme when your business grows. So avoid using chucknorriscupcakes.com even if you have undeniable faith in THE Chuck Norris himself.
* It should not contain a dash
Seriously, webninja.com is waaay better than web-ninja.com.
* It should be simple and memorable
How on earth can one memorize thebestebookonlinestoreyoucanfindontheweb.com?
* It should look good in any case
PenIsGreat.com for a pen store? Yeah rite. Try to type it in all-lower case.
* Buy all major extensions
If you have yummycupcakes.com and it grows big within 3 years, and you become famous, what if someone else has yummycupcakes.net or yummycupcakes.org? Yes, buy them all to avoid headache in the future.
* (most of all) It must be available!
Here’s a domain name generator and availability checker: dotomator.
Hosting
You need a reliable hosting company. Having an online store that goes down too often will hurt your brand and business.
image: India Web Hosting
A web hosting simple guide:
* Never buy the web host from the one you buy domain name from
More often than not, it gives you none other than migraines.
* Never pick a web host simply because it offers cheaper plan
Choose the most reliable one! Nuff said.
* Monthly plan is better than annual plan
Many web hosting companies offer annual plans with big discounts. Well, if your chosen web host turns out to be not so reliable, it might cost you even more.
* No need to have a web host with unlimited resources
An online store basically needs 1GB of space, 5GB of bandwidth, multiple e-mail accounts, multiple MySQL databases and CPanel.
* Avoid Windows Hosting Packages
Especially if you are not tech-savvy, go with Linux/Unix instead.
* Better Customer Support is better for your sanity
Unless you are a tech-savvy, managing the web host on your own can be excruciating. So find the one providing the best customer service. Dig into webmaster forums. If there are complains about certain web hosting companies, these forums are where you can find them.
Shopping Cart
Shopping cart is the most important part of an online store. The best one should have powerful features supporting e-commerce such as outstanding products showcase, user-friendly checkout, various payment gateways and others. In short, the one providing excellent frontend with easy-to-handle backend.
Content Management System (CMS)
In order to have the shopping cart fully functioned, you need a content management system (CMS). The best CMS would be the one coming with powerful features, user-friendly interface, many themes available and a strong community support.
Theme
Theme is the ‘clothes’ of your online store. As you wear the appropriate clothes to appropriate occasion, you need to ‘dress up’ your online store appropriately. For example, you need a theme designed for gadgets if you sell smart phones and MP4 players.
For this exact reason we design WordPress e-commerce themes for various online stores. AppCloud and Kelontong are perfect for online stores selling gadgets and applications, while DangDoot and Disco are perfect for online stores selling music-related.
Skills You Need to Develop
Self-Management
Running an online store means you are having your own business. No one would tell you what to do; you are your own boss. Being a start-up is not easy. You have to motivate yourself to get things started.
Team Management
As the business grows, you might need to work with your assistants. Becoming others’ boss is in fact harder than becoming your own as people have different attitudes and capabilities. Find the best way to manage each of them.
Time Management
There are so many things to think, decide and do. Yet, you only have 24/7. Manage your time better to get more things done.
image: Kristian Hedberg
Challenge Taking
Business gives you challenges, some of them are even hard to solve. If you enjoy challenges, whatever you are going through will not over-stress you. But if you take them as problems, you might not enjoy running the business. Set up the right mindset to brace yourself along the journey.
Problem Solving
Problems will occur and you need to solve them. You might need to learn from the experts to find the answers.
Creative Thinking
To grow your business you need to be creative. Think out of the box so you can develop marketing and sales strategies that really shape your business into awesomeness.
image: Solitaire Miles
Communication
You need to deal with suppliers, assistants and customers. Everyone has his or her own habits and culture, and this is especially true for online stores with customers living in various countries. A strong communication skill is a must.
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