Are you ready to turn your business idea into an online store but aren’t sure where to start?
With the rise of e-commerce, creating your own online store is easier than ever, but knowing the right steps can make all the difference in your success online. Whether you’re selling physical products, digital items, or services, an online store can help you reach customers around the world and grow your business.
In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the process of building an online store in 11 simple steps—from choosing the right products and platform to designing your own online store and the next steps to take to ensure it’s successful.
By the end of this guide, you’ll have everything you need to confidently launch your own online store and start attracting customers. Ready to take your business to the next level?
Let’s get started!
What is an E-Commerce Store?
Simply put, an e-commerce store—also known as an online store or shop—is a website where products or services are sold online.
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These products can include:
Physical products (e.g. clothing or electronics)
Digital items (e.g. e-books or software)
Services (e.g. coaching or courses)
No matter what you choose to sell, an e-commerce store gives you the flexibility to reach customers from anywhere, 24/7.
3 Steps to Take Before You Create Your Own Online Store
1. Decide What You’re Going to Sell Online
The first step to creating an online store is to decide what you’re going to sell.
If you already have a business, now is the time to choose what products or services you have that will do well selling online. Not everything you sell in-store may be suitable for your online shop.
Here’s what to consider:
Make sure the products are easy and affordable to ship. Bulky or fragile items may have higher shipping costs, which could turn away online buyers.
If you offer services, think about how they can be sold online, like coaching or virtual courses. Digital products, such as e-books or printables, are also great for online sales since they can be delivered instantly.
However, if you’re just starting your entrepreneurial journey, there are a few steps you can take to lay the groundwork for a successful online store. This decision is crucial and will influence your entire business.
Here’s how to make the right choice:
Choose something you're passionate or knowledgeable about. If you love being outdoors, perhaps selling camping gear will be your golden ticket to success!
Research products that are trending using tools like Google Trends or Amazon Best Sellers to ensure there's a demand for your product.
Think about how your product can make your customers’ lives easier. Products that solve a problem are more likely to sell.
Look at what competitors are selling and identify what makes your product unique to ensure you stand out.
Choosing the right product sets the foundation for your online store’s success, so take the time to get it right. Once you’ve decided, you’re ready to build the rest of your store!
Creating a strong brand identity is key to standing out and making a lasting impression. Your brand is how people see your business and what they think of when they visit your online store.
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It includes everything from your business values, your logo, and website design, to the way you interact with customers. Consistent branding helps customers connect with your business on a personal level, builds trust, and helps your store look professional.
3. Choose Your Online Store Platform
When you're learning how to create your own online store, one of the most important decisions is choosing the right platform.
There are many platforms available for you to choose from, each offering everything you need to set up and manage your own online store. But not all platforms are the same, so it's essential to choose the one that best fits your needs.
Here are some questions to ask yourself when you’re deciding on the right platform to use for your online store:
Is the Platform Easy to Use?
If you're not very tech-savvy, you'll want a platform that's easy to use. Some platforms, like Wix, offer drag-and-drop functions, allowing you to build and customize your store without any coding experience.
Is the Cost Within Your Budget?
Different platforms have different pricing models, so it's important to consider your budget. For example, LOGO.com x Wix website plans also include a free domain and discounts for yearly plans which can save you money from having to purchase that separately.
Does the Platform Support Multiple Payment Options?
Different platforms offer different payment gateways, so make sure the platform you choose supports the payment methods your customers are likely to use (credit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, etc.).
How to Create Your Own Online Store Using LOGO.com x Wix
Setting up an online shop on your business website can feel like a huge step, especially if you're not particularly great with technology.
But don’t worry—if you’ve chosen to create your online shop using LOGO.com x Wix, you’re already on the right path. Wix is designed to make building and managing an online shop as easy as possible.
Here’s a simple guide to help you know what your website needs to get your online store up and running.
1. Set Up Your LOGO.com Account
First, go to LOGO.com and create an account. Then, you can choose from three plans, each with its own perks.
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If you need a logo for your business, now is the time to create it!
Creating a professional business logo is simple and fun using our logo maker. Once you’ve finished designing your logo, your LOGO.com dashboard will have your logo files, brand guidelines, and options to create a website.
2. Provide Your Business Information
From your LOGO.com dashboard, click on ‘Launch Website.’
You’ll be prompted to select your business industry. Since you’ll be creating your website to sell your products or services online, we suggest incorporating the word “online” or “e-commerce” with your industry to help you select a template that will best suit your business needs.
Once you’ve selected your industry, you can insert your business information.
This includes:
Your store name
If you already have an existing online store that will need to be integrated into your website design
What type of products you will be selling on your online store (e.g., physical or digital)
How you’ll be offering your products (e.g., online store, social media, or physical store)
Once you’re finished putting in your information, you can start designing your website.
3. Choose a Website Template
LOGO.com x Wix offers two ways to create your website: using an AI generator or choosing a template.
AI Generator
The AI Generator will use the information you provided about your business to create a customized website design.
Once the template is designed, you can choose to:
Regenerate site: This will create a brand-new website design.
Make a little different: This will keep aspects of the current design but will slightly change features.
Continue with design: This option will take you to the website builder, where you can customize your design.
The best part about using the AI Generator is that you can regenerate or change template elements as much as you want, ensuring that you get a design you love. You’ll also be able to customize your website after finding the template that will be your foundation.
Website Design Template
Wix offers various template designs tailored for e-commerce and online stores. Choose a template that aligns with your brand’s look and feel, and don’t worry if it’s not perfect—you can customize it later.
4. Customize Your Website
Once you’ve selected your template, it’s time to customize your website. Our drag-and-drop editor makes this easy—you can change colors, fonts, images, and more without knowing any coding.
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Remember to focus on making your website reflect your brand's personality. Think about your logo, brand colors, and other design elements that make your business unique.
If you created a logo through our logo maker, your logo will automatically be uploaded onto your website template.
Be sure to take some time to explore and customize the website sections.
Key website features to include:
Home page
About page
Services/Products page
Contact page
Connect a Domain
When you create a website with LOGO.com x Wix, you’ll be provided with a free, customized subdomain such as storename.wixsite.com/siteaddress. This means your customers will be able to visit your website as soon as you publish it.
If you already have a registered domain name, you can easily connect it to your online store, even if you purchased it through another hosting provider. Read how to transfer your domain to your online store on the Help Center.
Registering a new domain name is easy on LOGO.com.
It is as simple as typing your business name in the search bar. Then, we’ll show you which options are available to you. You can select your preferred domain name, complete the required forms, and put in your payment information.
5. Set Up Your Online Store
If the website design you chose does not have an online store set up within its design, you can easily add one through the Wix Editor:
Click the “+” button to add an Element
Click “Store”
Click “Add to Site”
6. Create Product Pages
Once your online store is added, it’s time to add your products.
Go to the “My Business” tab on the left-hand side of the page and click to open it. From there, you can manage several aspects of your online store.
To add products to your store, click “Manage Products,” then select whether you will be selling physical or digital products.
Each product needs its own page with a clear image, a detailed description, and pricing information. LOGO.com x Wix makes this easy by giving you customizable fields for each product.
Add Product Information
When setting up an online store on Wix, adding clear product information is key to helping your customers make decisions.
Here's a breakdown of what you need to include:
Title
Make it easy for customers to understand what the product is at a glance by giving it a clear and simple name. For example, use "Insulated Water Bottle - 1 Liter" instead of a technical name.
Product Details
Include important details about your products, such as size, materials, and key features. These details can help answer any questions your customers may have about your products, making it more likely that they’ll purchase your product.
Here’s a bonus tip: Use relevant keywords in your product description to help your store appear in search results!
Info Section
Use this space to share more about your product—what makes it unique or how it’s made. You can also highlight special deals or add customer reviews here.
Pricing
Clearly list the price of each product, and if you’re offering any discounts, be sure to show both the original price and the sale price. Transparency is key here—customers want to know exactly how much they’re paying, including any taxes or shipping costs.
Product Options
If your product comes in different colors, sizes, or styles, be sure to list those options. For example, if you’re selling smartphone cases, be sure to provide different sizes of cases for customers to choose from.
Inventory
Keeping track of your inventory is crucial for your online store. LOGO.com x Wix automatically helps you track your stock levels, but you’ll need to input the initial quantity for each of your products.
Categories
If you have a lot of products, it can be hard to keep track of everything — especially as your online store beings to grow larger. To help you stay organized, and to make it easier on your customers, create categories for your products.
For example, if you have an online clothing store, you could create categories like, “Women’s Clothing” and “Children’s Clothing.”
Visuals
It’s important to remember that high-quality visuals are critical to any online shop’s success. Your customers want to see what they’re buying, so take high-quality photos or videos of your products. Make sure your images are clear, well-lit, and showcase the product from different angles. What’s great about using our website builder is that you can upload multiple images and videos for each product.
7. Set Up Payment Methods
Giving your customers an easy way to pay for your products on your online store is important. LOGO.com x Wix allows you to set up various payment options, including credit cards, PayPal, and even offline payments. Go to the settings in the Wix Stores app and choose the best payment options for your business.
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8. Configure Shipping Options
Shipping can be complicated, but LOGO.com x Wix simplifies it by letting you create different shipping regions, rates, and rules. If you’re selling physical products, make sure you’ve configured your shipping options based on your customers’ locations. Depending on your needs, you can set flat rates, free shipping, or real-time shipping costs.
9. Set Up Taxes
It’s crucial to account for sales tax, especially if you’re selling in multiple states or countries. LOGO.com x Wix helps you set up tax rules based on your location and your customers' locations.
Check with a tax professional if you’re unsure of what rates to apply.
10. Customize Your Checkout Process
Customize the checkout page to make it easy for customers. You can choose what information to collect, whether to allow guest checkouts and even customize the thank-you page after purchase.
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11. Test Your Store Before Launching
Before your online shop goes live, it's essential to test everything. Place a test order to ensure the checkout process works, and verify that all your payment methods and shipping options function correctly.
Check each product page for any potential errors, and double-check to make sure your website looks great on desktop and mobile devices. Once you’ve made sure everything looks and works as it should, you’re ready to publish your online store!
Next Steps to Make Your Online Store Successful
Start Promoting
Now that your online store is live, it’s time to let people know you’re open for business!
You can do this by:
Posting on Social Media
Sharing on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Post engaging content, like high-quality images, videos, and stories, to show off your products. You can also use social media to announce promotions, special deals, and giveaways to attract attention and grow your following.
Using Your Email List
Sending out an announcement to let your email subscribers know your store is live. If you don’t have an email marketing strategy yet, that’s okay! You can set up a way to gather emails on your online store and begin your email marketing strategy later on.
Running Paid Ads
If it’s within your budget, you can use paid ads on platforms like Google, Facebook, and Instagram to help you reach a wider audience.
Optimize for SEO
Make sure your website is optimized for search engines. Use relevant keywords in product titles, descriptions, and page content to help your store appear in search results.
For example, if a small business owner sells candles online, they can research keywords to find popular search terms that are relevant to her products. Instead of just using “candles” in their product descriptions, they can use specific keywords like “hand-poured soy candles” or “pure beeswax pillar candles.”
Track Website Analytics
Using data is one of the best ways to grow your online store. You can use tools like Google Analytics or your platform’s built-in analytics to track your store’s performance. This includes monitoring traffic, sales conversions, and customer behavior to make informed decisions and improve your website over time. LOGO.com x Wix offers a built-in Analytics tool to help you track your website’s performance.
Offer Excellent Customer Service
Provide fast, helpful customer support to build trust and encourage repeat business. You can do this by setting up chatbots through the Wix app store and creating a FAQ page on your website. Providing these elements on your website can ensure that your customers are quickly getting help if any issues arise.
Your Online Store Adventure Awaits
Building your own online store can be a rewarding adventure, and following these 11 steps will help ensure you're on the right path to success. From deciding what to sell to promoting your business and providing excellent customer service, each step is crucial to building a thriving online store.
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Using LOGO.com x Wix makes this process even easier by providing the tools you need to design a professional website and manage your online store. With customizable templates, an intuitive drag-and-drop editor, and built-in online shop features, you’ll have everything you need to launch and grow your own online store.
