Today, when the entire planet has shifted to the online world, it has never been more important (and more urgent) to start your own webshop. Many smaller companies and entrepreneurs have found their salvation in online commerce since the pandemic started. Even so, the digitalization of business is mandatory because almost 2 billion people buy online. Come to think of it, that is almost a third of humanity.
Since we believe that you should take this opportunity, we have compiled a quick calculation for you on how to start your online store in just a few days.
1. Register a Good Domain Name (~ 15 EUR Annually)
This is the first step. Like a bar, your online store must have a name.
A good domain name, according to SEO rules, can do a lot when it comes to the visibility and recognition of your store.
How to choose a good domain name?
- Make sure it ends with a .com extension (because it is the most popular extension and it’s the best when it comes to search engine optimization) or your counties extension if you are targeting the domestic market
- Keep it short and easy to remember
- See if your brand name is available. If possible, use the keyword in the domain name.
Pro tip:
If your budget allows it, register more extensions (.net, .org, .com, .biz) and direct them all to the main website.
This will prevent competition from registering a domain name with your brand’s name or keyword.
It can also happen that another business with a similar name buys the same domain as you, just with a different extension, and thus takes your valuable traffic.
Let’s take for example a plumber business (plumber.com), another plumber can buy the same domain, only with the .biz extension, and thus take the customers from the first one. Customers don’t see/make a difference, they just want their problems solved.
2. Choose a Good Web Hosting (~ 80 EUR Annually)
Now that you have a domain name, it is important that you also choose good web hosting. For example, our basic cheapest hosting package BIZ 20 will cost you €83.40 per year and it allows you to host up to 2 separate websites.
What should be taken into account when choosing a hosting package?
- Always put customer/tech support first.
The benefits and specifications of the package are important, but when things go south, it is very important to have someone on the other side who will solve the problem quickly. We advise you to test the support immediately, before buying, by writing or calling for information.
- How much space do you have available?
More space means you can upload more photos, videos, and other media. In our starter package, you have 20 GB which is more than enough to get you started. As your shop grows, you can always upgrade to a bigger package with more space.
- How often data is backed up and what is the protection?
Whether they are on a daily or weekly basis, as well as where the data centers are located and how many are there. A good backup plan saves your data in all unforeseen situations.
You have probably heard that one of the largest data centers in the world burned down in Strasbourg, and over 3 million websites went offline. So, you can easily lose your data, either because of hacker attacks, viruses, or a higher power.
3. Find a WordPress Theme that Supports WooCommerce (~ 50 EUR)
Okay, now that you have a web hosting package and a domain name, it’s time to install WordPress.
Although there are other solutions, such as re-programming or platforms for creating websites, we suggest WordPress because:
- It’s the easiest for beginners and cheapest if you need to pay to have something set up for you
- More than 50% of websites in the world work on it and there is support for everything
- There are many adjustment/customizable options
After WP Installation, Purchase and Install the Theme
It is best to buy a WordPress theme that supports the free plugin for WooCommerce webshops. You can also install the plugin on each theme and try it out, but we advise you to buy a theme that supports it in advance.
Some of the most popular themes are:
There are both free and paid themes for online stores. Although it is possible to start with a free one, you should keep in mind that there are many online stores, but also that free themes are very limited in terms of customization.
Humans are visual beings. A poorly designed web store will not sell and will not inspire confidence. Pay once for a theme and unleash its functionality.
4. Create a Webshop on Shopify (~ 30 EUR)
Of course, in addition to WordPress and the WooCommerce plugin, there are alternatives such as platforms specializing in the creation of eCommerce websites. One of them, and probably the most popular one is Shopify.
With a monthly subscription, you get all the benefits of a webshop. No installation. It is up to you to enter the data and products.
However, in the monthly cost, include the margins taken by Shopify for transactions, which are approximately ~ 2% per transaction.
Although this is a very easy option and millions of people use it, we stand behind the fact that you are still in someone else’s sales space and you depend on them.
When you have your own website and hosting, everything is your property. You have complete control.
5. Potential Additional Costs
There are always potential additional costs. It all depends on your current desires and possibilities. So you may need:
- The programmer to set some things up the way you want
- Setup Google Analytics
- Hire a designer to create a logo
- Hire a copywriter to write product descriptions
Here, the costs can already be measured in hundreds of euros.
Cost Example if You do Everything Yourself
The most important question is – How to reach a minimum sustainable calculation?
Now that we’ve gone through all the steps, it looks like this –
Web hosting package (83.40 EUR) + domain (13.26 EUR) + Astra Pro theme (50 EUR) = 146.6 EUR
For less than 150 euros, you can have your own shop tomorrow.
Are You Ready to Step Into the World of eCommerce?
Creating a simple, beginner web store is no longer quantum physics. The technology has enabled even the least technically qualified people to start online sales with little investment and effort.
We hope you found this text helpful.
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