Open a e-commerce site offers many advantages and opportunities that make this option very interesting for many companies, small or large
In fact, opening an e-commerce site allows you to access a global market, overcoming the geographical limits typical of physical stores. But how do you open an online store? What are the various steps to follow? Below is a practical guide to launch your own e-commerce site.
#1 – Research and plan
The first step involves research and planning. First of all, it is essential to choose a sector or a market niche that interests us and in which there is demand. You must then analyze your competitors to understand what works in the chosen sector and how you can differentiate yourself. You will then have to decide whether you want to offer own-brand products or third-party products. It is also essential to consider how the products will be marketed and distributed. You will then have to estimate the budget necessary for the creation, launch and management of your e-commerce site.
# 2 – The bureaucratic aspects
The second obligatory step is to deal with the legal and bureaucratic aspects; first of all, you will have to choose the most suitable legal form for the business you intend to undertake; you can opt for a sole proprietorship, a limited liability company, a partnership, etc. In this regard, it is advisable to contact an accountant who can take care of most of the bureaucratic aspects for us: choice of the activity code (ATECO code), opening the VAT number, registration with the Chamber of Commerce, presentation of the Certified Report of Start of Activity, etc. It should also be remembered that companies must be in possession of PEC (Certified Electronic Mail).
#3 – Ecommerce site development
Once the bureaucratic aspects are done, you can start thinking about developing your own site; in this regard, it is first of all necessary to choose an e-commerce platform that allows you to create your own online store from scratch. You will have to choose and register a domain name that is relevant to your business, choose an attractive template and design, create content (texts, images, videos that describe the products and your business, etc.) and configure the experience of purchase, or set up product categories, prices, payment options (in this regard it is necessary to rely on a payment service provider) and shipping methods, possibly stipulating advantageous agreements with one or more shippers.
# 4 – Preparation of products and operational configuration
The preparation of the products is very important; high-quality professional photos and detailed descriptions will be required; as far as prices are concerned, they will have to take into account production costs, general expenses and also competitors’ offers. Proper inventory management is also fundamental; in fact, you will have to keep track of the available quantities of products and set up alarms for reordering.
You will then have to configure the various payment options (credit cards, bank transfers, PayPal, cash on delivery, virtual POS, etc.) and also decide which shipping options to offer (standard, express, collection in store, etc.). It is also necessary to establish clear policies regarding returns, exchanges and refunds.
#5 – Testing and Quality Control
Thorough tests will have to be carried out to verify that the site works correctly, that the purchasing processes are smooth and that there are no errors. In this regard, it is advisable to carry out test transactions and check that the payment and shipping methods work correctly.
#6 – Marketing strategy and online store launch
Once you pass the tests you will have to plan your marketing strategies, including online advertising, social media, email marketing and SEO and then announce the launch of the site through the selected marketing channels. You can also consider special offers to attract early customers.
#7 – Monitoring and Optimization
We recommend using analytical tools to track traffic, conversions, and other key metrics. Of considerable importance is then to collect feedback from customers and make improvements based on their opinions. Thereafter you should always continue to optimize your site, purchasing processes and marketing strategies to improve overall performance.