Building an online store is an important step for any business owner who wants to grow their business online. Today more and more customers choose to buy goods and services online, so a professionally built online store is the key to success.
In this article we look at what you need to know before starting to develop an online store and how to prepare for a successful website development project.
1. Setting goals and initial planning
Before you start building an online store, define clearly what your main goal is:
- Do you want to sell physical or digital products?
- How wide will the product range be, and how many variations?
- What is the scale of your business: the local market or international?
These questions will help you and your developer understand which solution is the best fit.
2. Choosing a platform: WordPress + WooCommerce or Wix Studio?
Choosing a platform is one of the most important decisions:
- WordPress + WooCommerce: an excellent choice if you need a more complex online store with many product variations, integrations and custom features. The platform is very flexible, grows together with your business and offers wide possibilities for SEO optimisation.
- Wix Studio: an ideal solution for smaller shops or business owners with a limited product range who do not need complex features. Wix Studio lets you create an attractive online store quickly and easily, in a short time.
3. Preparing for the development process
So that the developer can accurately estimate the scope of work and the cost, you need to prepare the following information at the start:
- List of products and categories: which products you plan to sell and how many categories they will be split into.
- Product images and descriptions: do you have high-quality images and detailed descriptions ready?
- Payment and delivery options: which payment methods (for example bank card, online banking, PayPal) will be available? Will you need integration with delivery services (Omniva, DPD, Latvijas Pasts, etc.)? We at dizainsweb.lv usually advise on this point.
- Warehouse integration: do you need integration with a warehouse management system that updates stock levels automatically?
- Additional features: will you need special features such as discount codes, loyalty programmes, customer accounts and so on?
- Design preferences: are there any examples or a style you like?
This information lets the developer prepare an accurate quote and avoid misunderstandings along the way.
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4. Payment systems and integrations
Payment systems are one of the most important parts of an online store. The most popular choices in Latvia are Swedbank, Citadele, SEB, Stripe and PayPal. When choosing a payment system, make sure it meets the needs of your target audience and is secure. Dizainsweb.lv recommends the MakeCommerce solution. We have added this payment system to many online stores.
Warehouse integration is just as important, especially if you have a high product turnover or several sales channels (for example a physical shop and an online store). Automatic stock updates help you avoid the awkward situation where a customer orders a product that is not available.
5. Start simple, grow step by step
There is no need to introduce every possible feature and integration at once. For beginners we recommend starting with a basic version: a product catalogue, a simple cart and a payment system. Once the store is running and the first customer feedback comes in, you can gradually add more: warehouse integration, automated discounts, customer segmentation and other tools.
6. SEO and analytics
For your online store to be visible in Google search, you need to think about SEO optimisation during development: keyword choice, product descriptions and technical SEO. Do not forget to connect Google Analytics or other analytics tools so you can follow visitor behaviour and analyse sales results.
Summary
Building an online store is a smart step if you want to grow your business and win new customers. The most important thing is careful preparation:
- Choose a suitable platform (WordPress + WooCommerce or Wix Studio)
- Identify the features you need
- Prepare the information for the developer
- Start with the simplest version that can be developed over time
If you need help with preparation or building your store, get in touch with us and get a free consultation on building an online store!
