Building an ecommerce store requires more planning than a regular website. Your site needs a unique domain name, user-friendly design, seamless shopping cart, and strong SEO.

When figuring out how to make a website to sell online, you’ll find many ecommerce builders to choose from. Regardless of the platform, the steps to launch your store are similar. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get your online store up and running with the right ecommerce template and features.

How to make a website to sell

Starting a successful online store requires a few key steps. You need to identify your target audience and find ways to connect with them. Encourage them to browse your products and provide a smooth shopping experience. Here are six steps to help you get online and start selling.

1. Define your website’s purpose and target audience

The success of any ecommerce business depends on its ability to connect with online shoppers who want to buy its products. Before setting up your online shop, take the time to do the following:

Identify your ideal customer: What age group do they belong to? What are their goals, pain points, and buying habits? Create a buyer persona to organize this information and guide your future strategy.

→ Click Here to Launch Your Online Business with Shopify

Analyze your competition: Find out who else is targeting the same audience as you. Conduct a competitive analysis and market research. The results will help you identify gaps and choose a market niche for yourself.

Determine your USP: What sets your business apart? What unique value can you offer that others can’t? Run a SWOT analysis to identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Use the findings to develop and highlight your unique selling point.

2. Opt for a domain and web hosting service

Many small business owners use professional website builders to create ecommerce sites for selling products. Ideally, you’ll want to choose a platform with an integrated online store builder that allows you to feature products on designated sections of your website. Below are the steps that go into building an ecommerce site:

Select a custom domain name. Your domain name is your digital address online. Aim for something short, memorable, and brandable. Once you find an available name, buy and register it.

Choose a website builder. Find the best ecommerce website builder for your needs. Options include Shopify, Squarespace, or WordPress. Shopify is great for managing everything from web hosting to inventory and checkout all in one place.

Secure web hosting. Web hosting keeps your site accessible on the internet. You’ll rent server space through monthly or yearly subscriptions. Costs vary, but you can expect to spend between $5 and $50 per month.

3. Build and design your website

Platforms such as Wix, Weebly, and Squarespace provide content management systems (CMS) that enable you to create a unique design for your site. Here are some key elements of website design:

Design with your target audience in mind. Effective website design includes a clear and consistent visual language, like color schemes, icons, fonts, and graphics. Keep your audience’s preferences in mind. Get inspiration from ecommerce design examples or use a template provided by your CMS.

Build a user-friendly interface. User interface (UI) refers to the layout, design, and interaction of a digital product. Customers engage with your site’s UI on various devices. Platforms like Shopify offer ecommerce templates that guide customers smoothly from browsing to checkout.

Create engaging content. Your ecommerce store should have product descriptions, images, and possibly a blog or multimedia content to inform customers about your products or services. Include options for customer reviews to provide social proof for potential buyers.

4. Optimize your site for search engines

A website optimized for search can reach far more customers than one that isn’t. When thinking about how to make a website to sell, consider these strategies to improve your search engine optimization:

Learn the basics of SEO. SEO helps your online business rank higher in search engine results. It’s a form of digital marketing that increases visibility on search engine results pages (SERPs). Improve your SEO by refining your content, optimizing on-page elements, and creating backlinks. An SEO checklist can help you cover all bases and stay focused.

Do keyword research. Keywords are terms people use in search engines. Tools for keyword research can reveal what phrases are relevant to your business. Create content targeting these keywords for your own website to attract visitors from search results.

Set up Google Analytics. Google Analytics is a free tool you can use to monitor site traffic and visitor behavior. Use it to learn how visitors interact with your site and identify areas for improvement. You can also track conversions and understand the sources driving traffic to your site.

5. Set up your shipping

After you’ve added products and set up payment options, you need to figure out how to get your goods to your customers. Decide on the best shipping methods and set up your rates, choices, and policies.

Understand your requirements. Your shipping needs depend on what you’re selling. If you’re selling things like food or flowers, you might need refrigerated shipping. Fragile items need strong packaging so they arrive safely. Think about what your products need and adjust your prices to cover these needs.

Explore advanced shipping options. Think beyond basic shipping. You can offer gift wrapping, custom packaging, or even eco-friendly shipping options. These additions can make your customers happier and differentiate your business from the rest.

Consider dropshipping. If you use dropshipping, work with your suppliers to make sure everything goes smoothly. With dropshipping, you don’t handle inventory yourself. Your supplier sends products directly to your customers. This can make things easier for you, but you need good communication with your suppliers to avoid problems.

6. Launch and market your website

Once your website is built and optimized for search, you’re ready to launch and start selling products online. Here are some ways to market your new website:

Choose your sales channels. Think about how you want to reach customers. Will you sell directly to consumers (B2C), to other businesses (B2B), or in bulk to wholesalers? Maybe you’ll use modern marketplaces like Google Shopping, which directs searchers to your site. Using multiple sales channels can help you sell online and increase your revenue streams.

Promote on social media. Social media can drive traffic to your online store, build your brand, and connect with customers. Regular posts and replies to comments build rapport with the billions on these platforms. Social media tools can help manage this. TikTok and Instagram are excellent for businesses that thrive on referrals or word-of-mouth marketing.

Get customer reviews. Positive reviews boost trust. Negative ones give you feedback. Send customer satisfaction surveys by email or ask for feedback on product pages. Reviews are powerful—many shoppers trust them as much as personal referrals, which can significantly improve your online store conversions.

Optimize for local search. If you have a brick-and-mortar store with a website, make sure to optimize it for local SEO. Include your city or state in your site’s keywords. List your business on local directories like Yelp and Google My Business. With local SEO, you’ll attract more nearby customers and improve your visibility in local searches.

7. Monitor and improve

You can continue making improvements to your site after it’s live. Here are some tips for success:

Continuously add new content. Regularly update your site with blog posts, videos, or new product listings. High-quality content can guide purchasing decisions and boost your site’s SEO.

Set up thank you pages. When customers complete a purchase, show your appreciation with a thank you page. Provide payment confirmation, order details, shipping info, and delivery dates. This approach gives customers a positive experience and useful information for future reference

Offer customer perks. Encourage shoppers to return with various promotions. Offer loyalty programs, a buy now, pay later plan like Shopify’s Shop Pay installments, or discount codes via email newsletters to entice repeat purchases.

Install ecommerce plug-ins. Using an ecommerce website builder like Shopify, you can add plug-ins to enhance your site. Need shipping solutions? Search the Shopify App Store for apps that estimate shipping costs or print labels.

Monitor traffic and trends. Tools like Google Analytics and your site builder’s analytics help you track customer interactions. Use this data to plan marketing, develop new products, and improve search engine visibility.

Bringing your website to life

These are all the steps you need to take to create your own ecommerce website. From setting up design and payments to handling shipping and optimizing for local SEO, you’ll find everything you need to get started. Now, all that’s left is for you to take action. Start building your site today and be ready to sell your first products in no time.

How to make a website to sell FAQ

Can I make a website to sell products without any coding experience?

Yes, modern website builders allow you to create a site without any coding experience. Choose from options like Squarespace, WordPress, and Wix to set up your site. If you want an ecommerce-focused platform, go with Shopify to start selling products easily.

How do I make sure my website is mobile-friendly?

The easiest way to ensure your website is mobile-friendly is to use a website builder that automatically applies a mobile-responsive design. You won’t need to search around, since all major website builders—including Shopify’s site builder—use mobile-friendly designs. With mobile devices accounting for more than 60% of web traffic, having a mobile-optimized website is a must for any business.

Can I sell internationally on my online store?

It depends on the ecommerce platform you use. To sell internationally, you’ll need support for global transactions and currencies. You’ll also need to understand shipping and customs procedures for each country. Check whether your platform supports international shipping, and be aware of any regulations that may apply to your business.

How can I track website metrics to measure the success of my website?

You can track website metrics using free tools like Google Search Console and Google Analytics. For advanced tracking, paid tools like Semrush and Ahrefs are available. If you have a Shopify merchant account, you can access a wide range of reports to track and analyze your ecommerce store’s inventory, sales attribution, conversions, and other data.