Online shopping is a massive industry. It’s projected that by 2022, it will be a trillion dollar business.

The key to building an online store is choosing the right ecommerce platform. That means a platform that works for your needs without sacrificing speed or quality. It also includes solutions for inventory management, shipping, customer relationship management and payment gateways.

1. Choose a domain name

Choosing the right domain name is one of the most important aspects of creating a successful online business. It can help build your brand, increase interest in your products, and drive web traffic to your website.

To choose a good domain name, follow these guidelines:

Use short names (less than 3 words), avoid acronyms and unusual names, and pick something that's easy to spell and pronounce. This will make it easier for people to remember your site and share it with their friends.

It's also a good idea to choose a domain name that is available through a registrar, such as Shopify. You can check if your desired domain is available with the Shopify Domain Search tool, Looka, Domain Typer, and Nameboy.

If the name you want is taken, don't be afraid to look for alternative options. This will save you time, and it's more likely that your chosen name will be available for registration.

In addition, it's a good idea to pick up a domain that's available through a registrar and has a high page rank. This will improve your chances of achieving top-ranking in search engines and attracting more traffic to your site.

Another thing to consider when picking a domain name is the extension. Generally, the most popular extensions are.com,.org, and.net, but there are other extensions that are becoming more popular.

You should also look at the availability of the domain name on social media platforms, including LinkedIn. This will help you determine if it's already used by another company, which could lead to legal disputes or suspension of the website.

Choosing a unique and memorable domain name is vital to establishing your brand online. It's a great way to get your customers' attention, and it will help them trust you when they buy from your store.

It's also a good idea to keep your domain name flexible, so you can easily change it if you expand or upscale your business. For example, you can redirect users who type in your domain name but with a different extension to your main website. This will ensure that you don't lose valuable customers who've already landed on your website with a wrong extension.

2. Set up a hosting account

One of the best ways to get started in the e-commerce game is to sign up for a hosting account. These are typically a bit pricey, but many of them offer free trial periods or free website builder tools to get you started. A good hosting provider will have 24/7/365 customer support to boot.

The best way to go about it is to read up on the hosting industry as a whole, and see what's available in your area. This will give you an idea of what features to look out for and what types of companies are most likely to provide them. The best places to start are with hosting companies who have an online community and/or forums where you can ask questions and get answers quickly. This should also let you know what sort of features to expect and whether your hosting plan will be right for you.

3. Install a shopping cart software

Shopping cart software is an important tool for online businesses, as it allows customers to browse products and add them to their shopping cart. They can then make purchases through the website and have the product delivered to them.

A good shopping cart software should offer a number of features to help you get started and build your business. These include easy payment processing, integrated chat support, and more.

One of the most useful features a shopping cart software can offer is the ability to display offers and targeted messages to shoppers who have abandoned their carts. This can be a great way to recover sales that were lost because of customer churn.

Another feature that shopping cart software should have is the ability to allow customers to save items in their carts for future purchases. This can be a great way to encourage repeat sales and build brand loyalty.

You should also look for a software that has a variety of payment options, including credit cards and PayPal, so that your customers have more ways to pay. A customer is 70% more likely to complete their purchase if they can use the method they prefer.

Some shopping cart software will automatically fill in the payment and shipping information for you. This can help to streamline the checkout process and save time for your customers.

Most shopping carts will also allow you to track orders and sales data. This can help you monitor and optimize your business to improve profitability.

Choosing the right shopping cart software for your business is crucial, as it will be the backbone of your eCommerce website. You should consider your business’s size and budget before deciding which one to choose.

When selecting an eCommerce platform, it is also a good idea to research your competitors and see which ones are using the most effective strategies to grow their sales and profits. This will give you an idea of how to best market your products and services to attract more customers.

Some of the most popular options for a shopping cart software include Magento, OpenCart, and Shopify. These are all available for self-hosted and hosted solutions. The latter option is a good choice for those who want the ultimate in control over their website. However, it can be expensive to set up and maintain.