Every business needs a website in order to thrive. Business websites are an essential part of any digital marketing strategy. Research indicates that 86% of customers use the Internet to find businesses. This means that companies without business websites will struggle to reach those consumers. In 2019 customers spent $601.75 billion on goods purchased online in the United States.
It is not enough to simply have a website, however. Businesses must also feature effective websites that provide the key features that consumers need. These websites must be easy to navigate and present relevant information that is important to potential customers. Vendors should also feature an online store so that consumers can purchase goods 24 hours a day. Creating an online store is a straightforward process that will keep you from missing sales because your business will never be closed.
1. Establish Your Business
It is important to go through all of the steps involved to create a business plan if you have not yet launched your company. Determine what you are selling and who your ideal consumers are. This can help you identify the right products to feature that are within the price point that your target audience can afford. You need to choose a business name and register your company. You will also need a registered domain for your company website.
Determine the essential information your website needs to present for consumers and create your website or hire a web developer to design a website for you. Before you open for business you will also need a tax ID number for collecting sales tax.
2. Gather Relevant Materials
Your website needs to feature the products you intend to sell. It should provide relevant information about the products, such as measurements, weight, ingredients, or energy requirements. Your website needs to display the price of these items clearly and identify extra costs the consumer will be required to pay, such as sales tax and shipping costs.
You should also have photographs or videos of your products. If you have photographic skills you may be able to take the photos yourself. Otherwise, hire a professional photographer with marketing experience. Presenting the products professionally will ensure that potential customers are impressed with your merchandise and they will be more likely to make a purchase.
3. Hire Experts
Hire Shopify experts. These professional developers are freelancers who specialize in online store creation. they know how to efficiently create a Shopify store that has all of the content that merchants and consumers need, is easy to navigate, and is secure. EnderTech Shopify developers will navigate the technical aspects of online store creation on your behalf to ensure that your business store has a successful launch and continues to serve your business needs.
Web developers who do not specialize in Shopify development do not have the same base of knowledge about the legal and technical requirements of online shopping venues. It is important to hire someone who knows how to link your store with inventory data in real-time so that you don’t sell items you do not have in stock. They have experience setting up payment systems for different states and countries. You can be confident all relevant store features will be incorporated if you work with experts who specialize in online store creation when you’re preparing to launch an online store.
4. Integrate Your Store
Consumers will need to be able to locate your online store quickly and access it easily. You must have navigational links from your home page and include a link to your store on your website’s menu. This will ensure that you do not miss out on potential sales if customers can’t locate your store easily.
You should also link to your company’s store from your social media accounts. Include links on your Facebook page, Instagram account, and Twitter bio or pinned tweet. This will ensure that anyone who is on your business pages will have direct access to your online store. You can generate more sales by simplifying the shopping process for these consumers and providing easy access from your social media channels.