If you offer a product or service that can be purchased online, there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t have an online store.
Whether your website has been created with the help of a host site like GoDaddy or Wix, or your website stands alone, creating an online store is not as difficult as it seems.
Follow these steps to create your online store.
If you already have a domain, you can skip this step.
If not, run your ideas through a domain name registrar and work to find yourself a web host. Choosing a web host like Shopify.com, which is geared toward hosting online stores, will make opening an online store easier.
The next step to creating your online store is to download a shopping cart script.
Most host sites will offer the open source osCommerce script but there are many others that you can compare. These are free scripts that will allow you to set up an online ordering system that is separate from your website. This is where customers will complete their transaction.
If you plan to have customers send you checks in the mail (in which case you should set up a P.O. Box) you will not need to worry about this next step.
However, if you plan to take payments online, here is what you need to do.
When starting your online store, you’ll need an online payment processor (like PayPal) so that you can accept credit cards. PayPal accepts all major credit cards and works well with most shopping carts.
PayPal is an obvious choice for most businesses because there are no set up fees or monthly charges.
They merely charge 2.2-2.9% each transaction based on your monthly sales volumes.
After you have chosen your domain, host, shopping cart script, and online payment processor, all you have to do is put it together!
If you have chosen a host site like Shopify.com, most if not all of these steps can be done for you. However, if you are confused about how to put it all together, here are some tips and tricks.
Setting up an online store is a great way to reach audiences that you cannot physically attend to.
In addition, it is a great opportunity to market your products or services in a way where your customers can get a sense of instant gratification.
Recommended Reading: 4 Ways to Effectively Market Your Website
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