In this content, we have prepared a high quality article that will guide you and help you with the best tips on how to set up an E-commerce starting from absolute zero. E-commerce is no longer an exclusive novelty for large companies due to notable advances in technology and the spread of Internet access to millions of consumers in Brazil and around the world in recent years.
Therefore, nowadays, it is very common for people to choose to open their own business using technology as their ally, thus starting their own online business as a virtual store.
The need to have a physical structure to be able to serve and sell products became unnecessary for different types of market sectors, which drastically reduced a company's maintenance costs.
Let's answer some very common questions for entrepreneurs who are wanting to enter this market, such as, is it enough to sell online if you have a platform and advertise your product? This and much more will be clear and well explained in our guide on how to set up an E-commerce from scratch step by step! Let's go!
How to Create an E-commerce from Scratch?
So let's go straight to what really interests you, without beating around the bush so that your learning is the best possible:
Market niche:
You don't need to make a lot of effort with an internet search to realize that there is already an E-commerce that sells everything you can imagine online, from the sale of appliances and electronic devices to the sale of food and even specific services.
This shows how this business model covers an infinite variety of possibilities and that it is extremely important that you decide and focus on what you are actually going to sell.
It's common that we choose to copy or imitate something that is already making the biggest sales success on the web, isn't it? However, the most advised thing is that you reflect and think twice before accepting any kind of idea for yourself.
Ask yourself what you like to do most, what kind of task would you be able to do all day without getting too tired or stressed, think about whether your idea will really generate profits, among other factors that make up a broad vision of the future on the functioning of your business.
This way, you'll choose a suitable niche market for your profile, making you feel victorious even before you've put your e-commerce online to work!
Planning:
This is one of the most important parts that you need to stick to when you are taking the first steps of your business before starting to create your E-commerce.
That is, developing a general plan of how your venture will work, addressing some questions such as what your initial budget will be or who your target audience will be. As we already mentioned, there are countless ideas on the internet and you need to be very sure of what you are going to do.
Your budget is a determining factor for virtually every other aspect of your business. It will be he who will dictate what the e-commerce platform will be, who his suppliers will be, among other fundamental factors to start crawling with the business.
Carry out market research and start your planning by making a cost projection in relation to the full operation of the business, as well as the maintenance of your online store.
Find who and where your target audience is:
You will need to take into account the value of the necessary tools, suppliers, platform, among several other costs that will serve as a basis for you to be able to imagine your E-commerce working correctly and efficiently. This will lessen the risks that you may face unexpectedly in the future. In addition, it is advisable that the planning be done in writing.
After having your niche market very well defined and your budget well detailed, now it's time to research everything about who your audience will be and find where it is located within the digital medium.
You need to know where your audience is and what types of social media they consume, in order to start defining which will be the main sales and advertising channels for your E-commerce, and, therefore, to outline your digital marketing strategies later on.
For example, if you are going to open a business that sells services and products to other companies, and not to the final consumer, perhaps using Instagram Shopping is not the most efficient idea to reach your audience. In this case, LinkedIn would be a very appropriate platform to disseminate your products and services, in order to reach the target audience, that is, other companies.
Don't forget to rate your competitors:
Be sure to evaluate other companies that already work in your niche market before starting your own E-commerce, as your main objective here will be to attract your customers and bring them to your e-commerce.
Incidentally, it's not just about doing what your competitor already does, but about doing it in a much better way. Thus, you need to be more attractive, eye-catching and efficient in order to seduce all possible customers in that niche to your idea.
Domain (Email address):
This is the moment when you will choose the name of your virtual store and find out if it is available for use on the internet. Having a domain is essential to start building a successful online store.
The domain is the electronic address that people will use to find your store on the web, it does not necessarily need to include your company name.
However, it would be interesting for it to contain the company name as it will be easier for customers to assimilate. In addition, it is advisable that it be a short and clear term that can be remembered and typed easily.
Accommodation:
In our tips that we could never fail to mention is the choice of hosting, right after registering the domain it is essential that you hire website hosting for your E-commerce.
Pay close attention when choosing, as she will be responsible for leaving your business on the air 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Currently there are several types of website hosting. From shared, Vps, Cloud and Dedicated. You can even start with cheaper hosting, but as your visits increase you will need to change your plan for a better one.
Try to choose a hosting that offers support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, as unforeseen circumstances can occur and you will need support that will serve you efficiently.
Platform:
The choice of platform it also follows parameters very similar to your domain. Flexible platforms are ideal for you to be able to customize your store according to your needs and ideas.
In general, there are two options: the Open Source platform and the rented platform. The Open Source platform is the one where you will start your e-commerce from scratch, allowing complete customization when building the store.
It can even be a little more expensive, and it is also more complicated, requiring a little programming knowledge that will probably require hiring a professional in the area.
As for the rented platform, you will pay an amount, usually monthly, and you will not have to worry about programming your website, as they offer ready-made templates.
They are more practical, because you just add your products and sell. However, they won't allow for customization as big as Open Source, which can be bad if you want to make the site look like your business.
Visual identity (Design):
Just as physical stores need to have a pleasant structure that attracts customers to the location, virtual stores also need to be concerned with their appearance in order to attract digital customers.
The visual identity needs to be structured efficiently while still being attractive, so that customers can find everything they are looking for within your online store.
The visual identity is nothing more than the set of colors, logos, typography, images and all the visual or audiovisual elements that will graphically compose your e-commerce on the Internet and the idea of your company.
Therefore, she must have the face of her business and be a reflection of the objective of that enterprise. In this context, this work must be built by professionals in the field, who are aware of the latest market trends and will be able to explore creativity in the most efficient way.
Website responsiveness:
Responsive websites are those that allow the customer to access your online store regardless of the type of device he is using, and the platform view will adapt according to the resolution of each device and screen size.
This is extremely necessary, because nowadays consumers use several different devices that now have access to the internet. They are smartphones, computers, tablets, Smart TVs, virtual assistants, smart cars and even refrigerators.
Since you are not going to create a different website for each platform, responsiveness is practically mandatory. Some rented platforms already offer this type of service.
Security:
It is crucial that your company has a security system for its website. After all, you'll be handling a lot of money and your customers will be giving away important credit card details and personal information.
No customer will want to buy from an online store that does not appear to be secure during the transaction. Therefore, your company needs to have a Digital Certificate (SSL) that protects your customers' personal data. After all, they want to know if the site is safe.
This certificate will encrypt the information while it is being transmitted, preventing data theft. The company that does not invest in internet security is subject to several risks, such as invasions or theft of valuable information. This can cause immeasurable problems for the brand.
Payment methods:
In the same way that you will define what the price of your products will be based on your target audience and competitors, it is also important to define what payment methods will be available to customers.
Ideally, you offer options other than credit cards and bank slips, such as PayPal and PIX. Because offering multiple different payment methods is essential these days.
Choose your internet sales channels:
The time has come to define what your online sales channel or channels will be and what will be the technique that most attracts customers according to your target customer base. Know, first of all, that there is not a perfect sales channel for all market niches. This will depend a lot on how your planning, budget and what strategies you chose to reach your audience.
Remember that you can choose more than one sales channel, as there are several on the market, such as your own virtual store, social networks, marketplaces or dropshipping.
Each of the available options has advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, you need to analyze which will be the one that best fits your reality before making a final decision. One tip is that you start with just one channel and as your store grows, expand your range of sales channels.
Digital marketing:
With your virtual store running smoothly, now it's time to advertise it, because people won't guess you're there, will they? plan strategies digital marketing and invest in publicizing your company. You can use marketing strategies on social networks, ads on other sites, email marketing, sponsored links, video ads, Google ads, among others.
Currently there is no shortage of disclosure options. Of course, this will depend on your strategies and the budget available for promotion. And never forget good SEO practices to improve your positioning on Google.
Logistics:
Logistics is a fundamental sector of online commerce. You have to worry about transporting your goods, packaging and storage. This tip could not be missing from our relationship.
All this in a way that has the best cost benefit for the company without losing the quality of the product and delivery. You will also have to adapt to remote service to accept requests and questions, such as telephone, email or even WhatsApp.
A quality service will already put you ahead of your competitors and increase your financial return. The best thing is to implement a SAC (Customer Service).
Legislation:
Just like physical stores, an E-commerce also needs to follow the legislation in force in the country, which basically comprises the Consumer Defense Code (CDC) and the well-known E-commerce Law, which was created with the aim of fill in the gaps that the (CDC) did not cover. The law is based on clear information, quality and agile service and the right to repent.
Empathy:
Last but not least is empathy. That is, always put yourself in your customer's shoes. Thus, you will have a notion of how to offer the best service and earn the admiration and respect of your customers, which results in a remarkable growth of your company.
Conclusion:
We can conclude that how to set up an E-commerce from scratch following our step by step guide will certainly help you a lot to reach your goal. What we believe it is to have a successful online store. So, so you don't forget our tips, let's take a little reminder of all the topics in this content:
- Choose a niche market;
- Make good planning;
- Find your target audience;
- Analyze your competitors;
- Register a domain (store name);
- Hire a good hosting plan;
- Choose a good platform;
- Leave your virtual store with an amazing and attractive design;
- Create a responsive store for all types of devices;
- Providing security for your visitors and buyers is essential;
- Make different payment methods available to your buyers;
- Choose your internet sales channels well and use digital marketing strategies;
- Implement good logistics in your online store;
- Follow the rules of legislation and laws for electronic commerce;
- Empathize by putting yourself in your customer's shoes.
Did you like our step by step and tips? So don't waste time and start planning your business today if you really want to enter this market. We're done here and success on your journey?
