Guide: How to create an online store to sell online

If you want to sell online, you have probably asked yourself more than once how create an online store. I tell you in advance that if you use the right platform it is easier than you imagine and you will be able to make shipments to any part of the country, accept payments with cards or cash deposits and even promote your products on social networks.

Entrepreneurship is an adventure. In this guide you will discover, step by step, how to create an online storean indispensable element in your sales strategy if you have a business (or are planning to have it soon).

You may be wondering: Why have an online store? For all! From increasing your sales, growing and strengthening your brand, to reaching new potential customers beyond your geographical limits, and much more!

According to the Mexican Association of Online Sales (AMVO), nine out of ten Mexican buyers are omnichannel. This means that, every time they plan to invest in a product or service, they have interactions both offline —that is, in a physical location— and online —in the online store and/or social networks— with the brands or stores in which they are located. that the product they are looking at is available, either during their search or at the time of purchase.

In other words, 90% of buyers in Mexico (that is, your potential customers) are constantly visiting online stores!

Do you need more reasons to convince yourself why you should have an online store?

We know that taking the big leap to an online sales channel can generate doubts and perhaps some fears. That is why we want to accompany you step by step in this process, so that you can create an online store tailored to your business.

What is it an online shop?

Also known as a virtual store or online store, it is one that allows visitors to browse through a catalog of products, add them to their shopping cart, and purchase at the time they decide, under certain conditions of their choice.

It also has some other benefits, such as those listed below:

You can send your merchandise to different cities, states, or even anywhere in the world!
Your catalog will be available 24/7 wherever your customers are.
The fixed costs of having an online store are less than those of a physical location.
You can personalize the buyers’ experience.

Well, now that we are in the same channel and we are very clear about the benefits of selling online, it is time to move on to our ten-step guide to creating an online store. Let’s go!

1. Find your niche

First of all, start by defining: what are you going to sell? If you already have an established brand or have a stock of products or services to offer, then you can skip this first step.

Still not clear? Don’t worry!

We recommend you start by making one. Explore in detail the options that already exist and what people are looking to buyThis will make it easier for you to find a niche where you can be successful.

Do not limit yourself! And remember that the more ideas you have, the more chances you have to find the winner.

popular niches

Do you need some inspiration to make an online store? Here are some popular niche ideas:

Natural cosmetics. Depending on the context, the term “natural” can refer to products made with vegan formulas, free of animal cruelty and/or zero waste.
specialty foods. Products to meet the needs of those on special diets are on the rise. For example: gluten-free foods, lactose-free, ketobased on , etc.
Products vintage. It is no coincidence that the most popular series and movies of the moment are located in other decades. Whether you want to sell items from the ’80s, very much in the style stranger thingsor from the ’60s, as in queen’s gambitretro products make up a very popular niche.
Home Office. This trend is here to stay! Having a comfortable and equipped space to work from home has become mandatory for thousands of people in the world.
Eco-friendly products. Climate change is a reality and more and more people are deciding to change their habits to help the planet. Therefore, reusable, waste-free or recycled everyday products are a safe bet.
Meal plans. In 2020, the “food delivery” category was the best-selling in Mexico. That’s why offering pre-planned menus—either ready-to-eat or ready-to-cook—is a natural evolution for those looking to take care of their diet.

Do you already have some ideas? Super! Take the time to ground them, analyze the pros and cons, and define them in detail. In the meantime, let’s move on to the second step of this guide, which is very important if your business is serious…

2. Regularize your company

Like any offline business, a brand that sells online must comply with certain legal obligations in order to grow and develop in every way.

We recommend you consult with an expert to regularize your business before starting operationsThis will prevent you from many problems in the future and will open up a world of opportunities for you.

Registering your trademark with the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) and registering it with the Tax Administration Service (SAT), in order to pay the corresponding taxes and be able to generate invoices, are some of the steps you must follow to regularize and give it the seriousness that your business deserves.

To have a well-established company will also help to convey greater confidence in your customers and it could even facilitate your participation in initiatives, contests and credits for entrepreneurs.

Learn more…

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Do not worry, with the right advice, these procedures will not take much time. Let’s continue with an essential part for your business: knowing and understanding your clientele. To do this, you have to review some marketing concepts that you may already know.

3. Study your customers (and your competition)

The better you know your buyers, the easier it will be to create sales strategies that attract their attention and convince them to make a purchase. To get to know them, we recommend you create a buyer person: an archetype that represents that ideal client that you would like to reach.

Build it by asking yourself questions like:

Where you live?
Where and what does he work?
What tools and products do you use in your day to day life?
What do you like to eat?
How much money do you invest in brands like yours?

These are just a few ideas. The more specific the questions are and the more focused they are on your business niche, the better defined your buyer person.

Then, work on a product where you thoroughly research the keywords that your potential customers are using to buy products like the ones you will be selling. Studying what your competition does (and what they don’t do) is also a key step in this stage.to find areas of opportunity.

Don’t forget to document each finding to understand how you are going to meet their needs and wants, both in the products you offer and in the way you communicate your brand.

4. Create your store

Now that you’ve defined some operational details, it’s time to create your online store! Like any website, an online store is made up of such as: a name, a product catalog, a shopping cart, an address (domain) and a hosting in cyberspace (known as ).

For open an online store, you have different options: the first is to create it from scratch with the help of a professional or an agency specialized in creating online stores. In this way, your ecommerce will be tailor-made, although you will have to make an initial investment and it may take several months of work before you can start selling.

A second option is to use an e-commerce platform. It is a software system with which you can create your own store, without the need for technical knowledge.

You’ll need to get access to all the tools and integrations you need to manage your sales.

Tiendanube, for example, is an ecommerce platform that allows you to create your store, customize it and start selling in a matter of minutes! To prove it, we invite you for 30 days!

We have a super complete guide in which we explain everything about ecommerce platforms. In addition, we help you to know what you should take into account when choosing the best one for your business.

Find your ideal platform

specialized guide

We invite you to watch this video where we explain how to create an online store in less than 15 minutes with Tiendanube

We are already halfway through this guide! Now we are going to talk about business, a fundamental topic.

5. Define the business model

You have already chosen your niche, you are clear about the products you are going to sell and where you are going to sell them. Now is the time to define a business model.

Currently there are two main ones: the traditional one (where you store the products) and the one (the supplier sends the products directly to the customers of your online store).

In the first case, the advantages are: shorter shipping time and knowledge of your inventory (how many pieces are available, for example); and the disadvantages: a higher financial investment and the need for space to store.

With the drop shipping, the benefits are: the variety of merchandise and mobility (being able to work from anywhere, since you do not depend on a stock); and the negatives: customs barriers (since the suppliers are usually from abroad) and less income.

If both seem interesting to you, we suggest you make a list of pros and cons of each. Take into account factors such as cost, delivery times, quality, payment terms, profit margin, etc.

💡Tip: In addition to having an online store, you can do . This option will help you expand your business to a marketplace.

Organize the logistics

Whether you prefer to sell with a traditional business model, or decide to experiment with the drop shippingIt is important that you define logistics very well. This will help you avoid errors and delays in your sales.

Here is a list of questions you can ask yourself to define the logistics of your online store. By answering them in detail, you will have a clearer view of each part of the process.

Are you the producer of the items that will be part of your catalog?
Do you depend on external providers?
Do you have a limited inventory?
Where are the products you will sell stored?
Who is going to be in charge of reviewing orders, payments and the status of shipments?
How long would it take you to prepare and pack an order to ship it?