{"id":19314,"date":"2021-01-26T15:00:50","date_gmt":"2021-01-26T14:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/?p=19314"},"modified":"2024-02-01T12:55:07","modified_gmt":"2024-02-01T11:55:07","slug":"how-to-start-an-online-store","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-start-an-online-store\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Start an Online Store in 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When looked at part by part, there\u2019s not that much to creating and running an online store. You need little more than a website, a <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/theme-category\/online-store-wordpress-themes\">nice online store theme<\/a>, and a little bit of know-how in the marketing department. That\u2019s it. You don\u2019t even need to carry inventory to run an online store \u2013 you just need to be able to market other people\u2019s products successfully.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]That\u2019s just a superficial look, however. Even though figuring out how to start an online store isn\u2019t that difficult, creating a successful one is a harder task. And at least some of the things that will decide the long-term success of your online store come down to choices that you make early on.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]So, let\u2019s see your options when starting an online store. We\u2019ll talk about all the major points you\u2019ll see in a business plan:<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;22px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#what-is-your-customer-base\">What Is Your Customer Base<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#what-is-the-product\">What Is the Product and How to Get It<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#kind-of-store\">What Kind of Store Do You Want to Run<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#brand-the-store\">How to Brand the Store<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#build-online-store\">How to Build an Online Store<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#market-your-store\">How to Market Your Store<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;80px&#8221;][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id=&#8221;new-ecommerce-banner&#8221;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;81px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"what-is-your-customer-base\"><\/a>Who Do You Want to Sell To?<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;24px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"553\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Who-Do-You-Want-to-Sell-To.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Who Do You Want to Sell To\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Who-Do-You-Want-to-Sell-To.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Who-Do-You-Want-to-Sell-To-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Who-Do-You-Want-to-Sell-To-768x438.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Who-Do-You-Want-to-Sell-To-620x354.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]The one thing you can bet on in this crazy world is that everyone will keep turning to the digital space for all things they need. People will look for jobs online and businesses will recruit online, too. <strong>Both will turn to digital technologies for everything from communication to banking.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]The whole pool of internet denizens is your marketplace \u2013 or hunting grounds if you like those kinds of metaphors better. When starting an online store, one of the very first things you want to do is figure out who your customer base will be. <strong>The usual models include:<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;22px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><strong>Business-to-consumer (B2C)<\/strong> \u2013 this is where you\u2019re selling to an end consumer who is a person and not another business.<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><strong>Business-to-business (B2B)<\/strong> \u2013 in this case, you\u2019ll want other businesses to form your customer base, and not individual regular people.<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><strong>A marketplace model<\/strong> \u2013 this is a mixed-bag model where you\u2019re not doing the selling but instead providing a marketplace in which individuals and businesses can engage in commercial activity.<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>The choices you make here will have significant influences further down the line.<\/strong> For example, you won\u2019t be able to sell certain products to businesses that you would to consumers. If you\u2019re willing to create an online marketplace, you might not be selling anything, but you will need a heck of a legal team to ensure you\u2019re not liable for what people are selling over your website.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Besides the product and, consequently, the niche you will occupy, your choice of customer will also inform how and where you\u2019ll market your products.<strong> Some consumers are easier to reach on Instagram than anywhere else. For B2B marketing, LinkedIn is the go-to social network.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"what-is-the-product\"><\/a>What Do You Want to Sell?<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;24px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"553\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/What-Do-You-Want-to-Sell.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"What Do You Want to Sell\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/What-Do-You-Want-to-Sell.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/What-Do-You-Want-to-Sell-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/What-Do-You-Want-to-Sell-768x438.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/What-Do-You-Want-to-Sell-620x354.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]What\u2019s the point of creating an online store if you\u2019re not planning to sell something? Whether you want to develop your own product or to sell products from other manufacturers, <strong>you will need to make a selection that will help you further profile your store.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]There are a couple of ways you can source the products you sell. <strong>Whichever you choose, you should always perform market research beforehand to see if there\u2019s any chance someone will buy what you want to sell.<\/strong> Keep in mind that one of the major reasons why businesses fail is a lack of market demand for what they\u2019re offering.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Develop, Create, and Sell Your Products<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]This option will give you the most control over your store, but it will also burden you the most. <strong>To create and market a product successfully, you will have to:<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;22px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\">Come up with the idea for the product<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\">Conduct market research<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\">Develop a prototype<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\">Trademark or patent the product<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\">Find manufacturing services<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\">Handle storage and shipping<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]The whole process can be very demanding on your resources. Some items on the list will cost you your time and labor. Others will require you to invest funds \u2013 <strong>and if you don\u2019t have them, you should add \u201cfind an investor\u201d to the list because you will need one.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Sell a Single Line of Someone Else\u2019s Products<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]You\u2019ve seen big brand\u2019s online stores where they sell nothing but their products. This is the one-brand type of shop you, too, can develop &#8211; <strong>an online store where you\u2019ll have only one seller that doesn\u2019t necessarily have to be you.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]You can source products for this type of store in a couple of different ways.<strong> You can find people who are willing to develop and create products but aren\u2019t too interested in selling the product.<\/strong> In that case, you can form a partnership with them, agree on a split, or agree that you\u2019ll earn a commission on every product that\u2019s sold through the store.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>Similarly, you can find businesses for which an online store can be a departure from their usual business model<\/strong>, especially if you\u2019re able to deliver them a new chunk of the market. For example, you can start an online store to bring a B2B operation into the B2C realm. <strong>Or you can work with a primarily brick-and-mortar business to bring their products online.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Create a Regular Store<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]A regular store is the type of store that might focus on a certain niche but will generally carry multiple kinds of products from multiple brands. In this case, <strong>you\u2019ll again have a couple of ways to source products.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]You can do the same things you\u2019d do to find products for a single-brand store, just repeat it multiple times. <strong>So you\u2019ll find product developers, manufacturers, DIY artisans, small studios, and you\u2019ll get an agreement with them to market and sell their products online.<\/strong> This might give you an interesting selling proposition because your store can be both online and available but also highly curated and exclusive.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>Another way to find products for your store would be to work with wholesalers.<\/strong> You can find them easily online, check out their reputation, and start ordering small batches of products. If the orders pick up, you can bring your relationship with the wholesaler to another level with regular orders.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>The choices you make here will be an important part of your overall strategy.<\/strong> For example, as a developer and seller of a proprietary product, you will have complete control over your store\u2019s and the product\u2019s branding. If you choose to work with someone else\u2019s products, you\u2019ll still have to market the store. You\u2019ll just have to color within the lines because of the brands you carry.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"kind-of-store\"><\/a>How Do You Want to Sell It?<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;24px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"553\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/How-Do-You-Want-to-Sell-It.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"How Do You Want to Sell It\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/How-Do-You-Want-to-Sell-It.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/How-Do-You-Want-to-Sell-It-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/How-Do-You-Want-to-Sell-It-768x438.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/How-Do-You-Want-to-Sell-It-620x354.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>There are different types of online stores, especially when it comes to the ways they handle inventory.<\/strong> The very fact that some online stores have to carry inventory \u2013 stock it, store it, make sure they have enough of it, is often a major turnoff for creating an online store.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>But you don\u2019t have to build an online store that carries any inventory.<\/strong> There are a couple of models of online stores, and only one of them will have an option to physically carry any inventory. That being said, handling inventory doesn\u2019t have to be that bad thanks to modern inventory management solutions. <strong>It\u2019s just that you\u2019ll need to have a place to physically store it.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Create a Regular Store<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<strong>This is the digital version of the brick-and-mortar store.<\/strong> You can use this type of store with any of the three types of product sourcing. You should also keep in mind that you don\u2019t have to handle storage when running a regular online store if you don\u2019t want to. It all depends on the type of partnerships you create with the product supplier.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Keep in mind, however, that this type of store gives you a level of control over the supply chain you wouldn\u2019t have with other types of order fulfillment. <strong>So while you might have a bigger responsibility for storing and sending products, you also won\u2019t be at the mercy of a third party who might not be too good at handling this side of the business.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Start Dropshipping<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]With <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-start-dropshipping-using-wordpress\/\">dropshipping<\/a>, your whole job is to create a website and market the products to the best of your ability. <strong>When someone buys something from your store, the order is passed on to a supplier who will then take care of sending it to the customer.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>For your efforts, you\u2019ll earn a commission.<\/strong> This is an immensely popular way of creating an online store because it doesn\u2019t require huge upfront investments, and it releases you of any responsibilities for storage and shipment. <strong>You\u2019re the marketer and salesperson.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>On the downside, profit margins in dropshipping can be very slim, and you\u2019ll have lots and lots of competitors.<\/strong> You can spend years trying to find a product or two that sells well enough to earn you some real money. Although, once you find it, the earning can come quickly and be plentiful.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Run an Affiliate Store<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<strong>An affiliate store works similarly to dropshipping.<\/strong> You take a retailer like Amazon, for example, and build a store that will only carry affiliate links to Amazon. When a person clicks on a link on your website, they\u2019ll be transferred to the retailer\u2019s website where they\u2019ll make the actual purchase. You\u2019ll make a commission. <strong>This method has similar pros and cons as dropshipping, and you\u2019ll have even less of a relationship with the store.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]As you can see, the way you organize your website, source the products, and eventually handle the shipping will affect not only your overall level of involvement with the store but also the starting capital you\u2019ll need.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>You shouldn\u2019t be fooled into thinking that some models, such as the dropshipping and affiliate store model, will help you create stores that will run themselves.<\/strong> While you might not be in charge of storing and eventually shipping the products, you will have to handle customer support, for example.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"brand-the-store\"><\/a>How Do You Want to Brand Your Store?<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;24px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"553\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/How-Do-You-Want-to-Brand-Your-Store.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"How Do You Want to Brand Your Store\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/How-Do-You-Want-to-Brand-Your-Store.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/How-Do-You-Want-to-Brand-Your-Store-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/How-Do-You-Want-to-Brand-Your-Store-768x438.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/How-Do-You-Want-to-Brand-Your-Store-620x354.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>Let\u2019s see what you\u2019ve done this far.<\/strong> You have some idea about what you want to sell and to whom. You know what type of store you want to build, and you should already have built all the contacts you\u2019ll need to make sure that your customers will get the products you sell as soon as possible \u2013 whether you stock them and handle the shipping or not.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>Now you can start thinking about branding your online store.<\/strong> It should be obvious to you that you\u2019ll always have a competition to run against, no matter how deep of a niche you find. <strong>So, you\u2019ll need a name that stands out and makes sense even if it\u2019s the only name in the niche.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Before choosing the name for your website, make sure that you study <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-choose-business-name\/\">how businesses choose their names<\/a> \u2013 the lessons you learn here will be invaluable. Next, you should look at <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/what-is-a-domain-name\/\">what domain names are<\/a> and how to register one. <strong>It\u2019s important to remember that the name should be short, catchy, easy to spell, and at least tangentially related to the niche of the website.<\/strong> The better the branding, the more your website\u2019s domain name will become like a synonym for the whole niche.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Branding doesn\u2019t end with choosing a good business or domain name. <strong>The design choices you make when creating your website will also contribute to it being distinctive and recognizable.<\/strong> For example, <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-choose-website-fonts\/\">the fonts you choose<\/a> will make a difference, as will <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/customize-wordpress-website-colors\/\">your website\u2019s colors<\/a>. Keep all of this in mind when deciding in the visual aspect of your website.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"build-online-store\"><\/a>How to Build an Online Store<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;24px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"518\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/WooCommerce.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"WooCommerce\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/WooCommerce.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/WooCommerce-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/WooCommerce-768x411.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/WooCommerce-620x331.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]After filling out most of the items in the business plan \u2013 that\u2019s what you\u2019ve been doing so far \u2013 it\u2019s time to build a store. <strong>WordPress, as the most popular content management system in the world, can give you everything that you need to create an online store.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]It\u2019s incredibly easy to find hosting and install WordPress, so that part shouldn\u2019t bother you that much. <strong>A one-click install is often available.<\/strong> It\u2019s almost as easy to <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-install-wordpress-theme\/\">install a WordPress theme<\/a>, which only leaves you with the plugin you should use to power your online store. <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/woocommerce\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WooCommerce<\/a> is the obvious choice.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]There are, of course, other plugins for online stores that work with WordPress. However, <strong>WooCommerce is the leader of the pack because it lets you do everything you need to create any type of online store. With it, you can:<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;22px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><strong>Perform complete inventory management.<\/strong><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><strong>Give refunds<\/strong> with a click of a button.<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><strong>Process payments<\/strong> with integrated processing options.<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><strong>Track and manage orders.<\/strong><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><strong>Set up an affiliate store<\/strong>, use it for dropshipping, or create a regular store.<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><strong>Sell different types of products<\/strong>, including physical products, digital products, subscriptions, content, and appointments.<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><strong>Use a variety of sales techniques<\/strong>, including offering coupons, related products, and best-sellers.<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>That\u2019s only scratching the surface.<\/strong> A part of its power lies in just how easy it is to <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/woocommerce-tutorial\/\">install and use WooCommerce<\/a>. But it\u2019s all the extensions that make WooCommerce meet the unique needs of almost all types of stores that really make it a must-have plugin when creating an online store.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"market-your-store\"><\/a>How Do You Want to Market It?<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;24px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"553\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/How-Do-You-Want-to-Market-It.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"How Do You Want to Market It\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/How-Do-You-Want-to-Market-It.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/How-Do-You-Want-to-Market-It-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/How-Do-You-Want-to-Market-It-768x438.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/How-Do-You-Want-to-Market-It-620x354.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Finally, when you have all the other things figured out, and when you have a website people will be able to visit, you can start putting in place marketing strategies that will help attract visitors to your store. <strong>This is the part where you can have the most fun while you\u2019re trying to figure out which channel works best for your website and the product you\u2019re selling.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>Some of the marketing activities and channels you can try include:<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;22px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><strong>Offering discounts, coupons, and deals<\/strong> \u2013 there are specialized websites that people visit just so they could get a discount coupon for specific websites. You can easily find <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/coupon-code-plugins-for-wordpress\/\">coupon code plugins<\/a>.<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><strong>Email marketing<\/strong> \u2013 the type of marketing that will never stop being effective. Do yourself a favor and start gathering those addresses as early as possible.<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><strong>Social Media Marketing<\/strong> \u2013 you can do this <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/promoting-your-wordpress-website-on-social-media\/\">in a couple of ways<\/a>. You can <a href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/influencer-marketing-services\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">engage with influencers<\/a>, you can pay ads on social media, or you can create content and use social as a publishing channel.<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><strong>Pay-per-click marketing<\/strong> \u2013 the good old marketing type where you pay to have your ads appear in search results or display networks.<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><strong>Content marketing<\/strong> \u2013 you can do anything with <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/ultimate-guide-to-content-marketing\/\">good content marketing<\/a>, and you can\u2019t do much without it these days.<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><strong>Do SEO<\/strong>\u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/seo-basics\/\">search engine optimization<\/a> involves a variety of activities, but luckily for you, WordPress supports most of them, given how SEO-friendly it is.<\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Chances are you\u2019ll have to use a couple of these at the same time. <strong>While you\u2019re starting, you can also decide to give every one of them a try until you\u2019ve figured out which ones are the best.<\/strong> When you do that, stick to what you\u2019ve found, and if it at any point starts faltering, give it a switch for a newer, fresher, method.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\">Let\u2019s Wrap It Up!<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Creating an online store could be one of the most financially rewarding investments you can make. The amount of shopping people are doing online has been increasing, and it shows no signs of stopping.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Remember that you have options, from developing that product you always wanted to create, to using dropshipping to start making money as early as possible, or just running a regular online retail store. There are pros and cons to every method, and they\u2019ll present you with different levels of risk, but also different rewards.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Looking to start an online store and you&#8217;re not sure where to begin? I&#8217;ll guide will help you to navigate the whole process and make the store of your dreams.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9295,"featured_media":19353,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[56,4,13],"class_list":["post-19314","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tutorials","tag-ecommerce","tag-tips","tag-wordpress"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19314","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9295"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19314"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19314\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19353"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19314"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19314"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19314"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}