How to Start an Online Store: The Ultimate Guide
Tags: beginners
Published: 2022-12-27 10:50:53


![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/r018198whyrieph72txh.jpg)

## 1. Purchase a Domain Name, Web Hosting, and an SSL certificate:

When thinking of making an online store or anything on the internet then you are going to need to make it secure. In order to do this one is going to need to get a few things namely an SSL certificate, some super awesome web hosting and of course a domain name. 
 
A domain name This is the name of your website like www.heythere.com

## Web hosting This is where it is housed on the internet:

SSL certificate This gives your website some added security and tells people that you are trustworthy and that they can choose you over everyone else. Thus, they will feel safe to add things like their credit information and other information which you may ask of them. 
 

## Namecheap:

Namecheap is another super nice website that people love to use. The prices are low as the name makes clear. Also, the website offers round the clock support. Lastly, getting a domain name is super easy.

Step 1:  First of all, you go and enter then you want to get. 
Step 2: Once you have registered then the website will tell you if that name is available or not for purchase. If the name is not available, then they suggest the other options that you can go for. 
Step 3: Now once we have gotten the right kind of name that we are looking for then we add it to cart. 
Step 4:  Once you're ready to check out, click View Cart on the right. Then, a new screen appears to ask you to set the time you want to register the domain if you’d like the domain to auto-renew, and set WhoIs Guard.

Then lastly we click to get and in the end check out.

## Cloudways:

It is a super awesome platform that is made to manage things by using cloud hosting and uses a lot of different servers in order to make sure that it ends up with a balanced website. The prices are very reasonable and give value for money. There is free support round the clock. There is no limit on the app installation and does not cost a penny. Lastly, the SSL certificate is also free.

Once you have chosen the right kind of plan that is best suited for you then you have to choose what kind of package you want. There are about four different packages one can choose to go with and each of them has a different level of services and prices on offer. These plans are made in such a way that the more you use the more you will have to pay. There is a trial which is free for 3 days then you can choose up and down from there. 
 

## 2. Choose the appropriate eCommerce Platform:

Other than the SSL certificate, the domain and the web hosting, once you are looking to enter the digital space to make an online store you need to work on a great [E Commerce Web Development](https://thedesignsinc.com/e-commerce-service/) platform. The most popular ones being [Wordpress](https://wordpress.com/) WooCommerce and Shopify. 

Shopify is a great online solution that many of us love to use that costs about 29 dollars a month. It is easy to use and very convenient to get started with and you just set up and sell. The downside is that it is expensive with a lot of fees.

The Wordpress option is better in the long term as it helps to get you more people. This is good for your business in the long term and helps you take off.

## Set up WordPress:

When one is using WordPress to make a business grow big it is easy and very simple. All one needs to know is the features they want and start at it. 

Once one has logged onto the website click on the button that says application to make a new application. You will also need to create a ton of different blogs.
 
Once this is done then we hit the button that says add application. Once this is done then you just end up installing the newest version of WordPress with a few customizations. 

## Set up your WooCommerce store:

Once the registration is done and the thing is getting launched on your server then you go to the platform click on the button that says applications then configure the website as you like.
 

## Payment setup:

Perhaps one of the hardest things when making such a store is to add payment. You will need to add PayPal and Stripe. Once this is done then you can add other ones later.

## Domain Management:

This mandates that you link your domain and the web application. You have the power to make a primary domain and then add more subdomains as you go along. It depends entirely on how many websites you are looking to connect to your own. Once this is done just save.

## Application Settings:

You can then move on to trying to set up the various settings on your website to make it functional. These are as follows 
General Settings This setting lets you have complete and unrestricted access to permissions and lets you easily manage the webroot directory as per your desire.

PHP Settings These are to manage the settings of the code that manage your website and it is essential to manage this to control all aspects of your website.

Varnish This is where the rules governing caches on the website are set up and managed.

## 3. Download a WooCommerce WordPress theme suitable for your niche:

Themes are the look that your customer is going to see. These users are going to want to see a website that looks good. It controls how your products are shown and you will need something that is relevant to your field.

There are so many different options that one is spoiled for choice when trying to choose which one to go with. These include but are not limited to both paid and free options. This of course will require you to expend a lot of time and effort. Another alternative is to try a Woositify theme. These themes offer great options and help you decide.

## 4. Add products to your online store:

Once the website is up and running then you are going to need to add what you are going to sell on the store. In order to do that you need to know about data, labels and product categories. 
To start selling, you must add your product to your WooCommerce shop. But before coming into the details, it is important to learn about product categories, labels, and data.

## Product categories:

As the name suggests this is a basic break up of products. If you want a big store, then you are going to need to have categories like they have at Walmart so customers can go to the right section to see what they want to buy.

## Product Labels:

Then we move on to making our very own super awesome ecommerce store to sell things over the internet. Then you want to label things so that in the category what is the exact makeup of the goods that you are going to sell. 

## Product Data:

WooCommerce saves you much time by predefining product types:

## Simple product:
 The products are shipped without any options.

## Grouped product:

This is a group of similar items.

## External/Affiliation:

This function allows you to have the products sold on other sites.

## Variable:

The products have varying qualities like size, color, etc.

## Virtual:

The products do not require shipping. (Example: services)

## Downloadable:

The products you can download. (Example: ebooks, songs,).

Now we come on to the next step as to how to add things to the store that we have just made. So, we go to the products section and see that there is an Add new option. We click on it and write down the name of what it is we are selling and write a short description with all the key information about the product. 
How to add products to online stores
 
In this part here you are able to make custom changes to your goods and services. It is better to start out with simple things and then move to more complex ones later on. 

## WooCommerce product data:

You can manage your stock and they give a stock management feature. You will simply tell if you have more of it or are out of stock. You can also sell one-time things and then mention it was sold this will tell people that it is not going to be restocked. 
[WooCommerce](https://woocommerce.com/) inventory.

Shipping relates to delivery and logistics. Here you need to give the dimensions, weight and shipping details of your goods.
WooCommerce shipping.

In this section you are able to add more things and promote your goods by cross selling and up selling.