Wondering how to build an online store?
Then you are in the right place.
Check out this post and learn how you can build an eCommerce website with WordPress easily within an hour.
Creating an online store for your business or launching your digital store is one of the most effective strategies to boost sales.
If you have a product, an idea to launch a new product, or even just want to resell any goods, having an online store is absolutely essential for you.
Many people aspire to start their own websites and shop.
If you are one of them and want to create an online store without having to work hard or hire someone to do it, this article might be able to assist you.
What do you need to build an Online Store?
To build an eCommerce website with WordPress, you would need the following:
- A Domain Name
- A Web Hosting Account
- WordPress Theme like Astra
- WordPress Page Builders like Elementor
- WooCommerce Plugin
Domain and Hosting
A domain name is the name of your website or online store, such as https://onlinedecoded.com, and web hosting is required to get your website online.
Web hosting is a place where all of your website files are stored online. Having a fast loading website is a good sign of improving the user experience.
You can buy a domain name and web hosting from Hostarmada.
They are one of the fastest web hosting providers in the market. I recommend buying the plan for more years to save money.
WordPress and WordPress theme
The second step is to install WordPress and find a WordPress theme that is appropriate for your store.
There are numerous themes available on the market, so you may want to narrow your search by looking at what other stores are using or by reading online reviews.
WooCommerce
A WordPress plugin for creating an online store is called Woocommerce. Anyone can use Woocommerce for their website because it is free to use.
More than 3 million users actively utilise woocommerce to create profitable online stores.
How to Build an Online Store in Just 1 Hour?
Let us see the steps to build an eCommerce website with WordPress.
Buy a Domain Name
Now there are lots of companies out there who provide good services after purchasing the domain. But I suggest to you the best places for finding your domain name.
In domain names you have to choose the extension like .com, .in, .org, .net, etc.
It depends on your choice but personally, my choice for domains is the .com extension.
Buy Web Hosting and Install WordPress
Choosing a web hosting provider is the most important step in the process of building a website to sell things online.
There are many web hosting companies available in the market. However, only a few few provide the appealing features and services.
Your online store’s performance in search results is significantly influenced by your web hosting account. So, when choosing your web hosting account, you must be very careful.
I always personally recommend “BlueHost” to anyone looking to purchase a reliable web hosting service.
BlueHost is a feature-rich, cost-effective option recommended by WordPress for setting up an online store to sell goods.
After purchasing a web hosting, login to your web hosting account and install the WordPress software.
Bluehost offers one click installation of WordPress. With just one click, WordPress will be installed to your website.
After installing WordPress, set up few important pages like contact us, privacy policy, etc. Add your Google Analytics to your website and then your website to Search Console.
Install WordPress Theme
Any blog or website that requires a professional look can use the Astra WordPress theme. It’s simple to personalise and looks excellent on all devices.
With its simple drag and drop layout builder, you can quickly create posts, pages, and unique layouts. Additionally, you have the option of selecting one of the pre-made layouts.
Please follow the steps below to install Astra theme for your WordPress website:
- Log in to your admin section of the site
- Go to Apperance and Click on Themes > Add New
- Search for the Astra Theme and click Install Now
- Click Activate Theme
Install WooCommerce and necessary plugins
The next step is to install WooCommerce and other plugins needed to build your eCommerce website with WordPress.
This is one of the simple step. But it may take some time if there are many plugins to be installed on your site.
Building an Online Store
Woocommerce starter templates are a fantastic way to launch your online store quickly. These templates are made to make it easy for you to quickly set up and launch your online store.
You need to remember that since these templates lack content, you will have to manually add the goods and details.
You can also create an wooCommerce store online from scratch without using the starter template.
You can follow the guide to build e-commerce store from scratch.
Setting up the Online Store
After building the online store from scratch or using starter template, you need to setup your online store like adding payment methods, tax, shipping charges, and more.
Go to WooCommerce » Settings. You will find the following seven tabs: General, Products, Shipping, Payments, Accounts & Privacy, Emails, and Advanced.
General Tab
You can set up you store address, which countries you sell and ship, tax rates and other information in this general tab.
You can also update the coupons and currency details by scrolling down the tab.
Shipping Tab
This tab will be used only when you use physical products that will be shipped to users.
Payments Tab
With this option, you can update your payment gateway details.
Accounts & Privacy
Settings for account creation and privacy of the users will be updated here.
Emails Tab
You can view the list of emails that were automatically send by WooCommerce.
Advanced Tab
Here, you will configure the technical details like page setup, REST API, etc.
Adding Product
There are Four types of products you can add to your online store. They are Simple product, Affiliate product, Virtual Product, and Digital Downloadable product.
Follow these simple steps:
⦁ Select your Product Type ( ie. simple, digital )
⦁ Add the name of your Product,
⦁ Set the price what you want
⦁ Add SKU ( for warehouse Purposes ),
⦁ Add a Short description and also a Long Description
⦁ Upload your product images
⦁ Publish a Product.
And now your product is online you can see it live on the internet.
Testing your store
To test your store, you need to visit it online and place an order. Check if everything goes smoothly and you get the confirmation email.
Promote your online store
After you build an e-commerce website with WordPress, you need to promote it to increase your sales and profits.
You can use the methods mentioned below:
SEO
Search Engine Optimization ( SEO ) is an Organic way to get more people visit your online store. Also for getting a higher ranking on google you need to do SEO of your Website or Your Online store.
Content Marketing
Content marketing is one of the best ways to get more visitors to your online store. In this method, you will be promoting your product or content on the internet.
You can use different types of social media platforms and promote your products.
Conclusion
That’s all about how to build an online store with WordPress.
The process of setting up an online business is simple, but the success of your marketing, website experience, and products will determine how many sales you make.
You can begin your online journey and gain more sales and people’s trust by following our simple instructions for creating an online store, setting it up, and promoting it.