How to Start Selling Online

The Easy Way to Build an Online Store

Launching a small online store has become so easy that almost anyone with an ABN, a bank account and something to sell can get online with an instant store and start taking payments within hours. All you need is reliable web hosting, a domain name, an instant store builder and a payment gateway, and you can set up your own instant store in very little time. Your business can start seeing a return on investment a lot quicker.

Registering Your Domain Name

It is important to choose a domain name that is representative of your business and the impression you are hoping to make. It is worth taking some time exploring options, as this domain name will often be a deciding factor on whether people choose to follow a link to your online store. Also, if you can, it is advisable to register any similar domains related to your online store. For example; if you register myshop.com.au, it can be beneficial to register myshop.com as well as myshop.net.au, etc. This reduces the risk of other companies using those similar domains and potentially confusing or taking some of your customers.

By using a reputable domain name registrar – such as NetRegistry – you can easily register your chosen domains, each pointing to your new store, increasing your online presence for little cost.

Reliable eCommerce Hosting

The right hosting package can be important in predicting the success of your new SiteBuilder. There are so many different hosting plans available, offering various features and price scales, it is often hard to decide on the best choice for your online business.

Most hosting providers offer specific eCommerce ready hosting packages, configured to host the more common requirements of online stores. Because you will be processing purchases online, you require a more dynamic server than most basic hosting packages and this is why specific packages have been designed. Although more expensive than the most basic hosting packages, an online store that doesn’t allow for online purchasing risks losing business. So even if you don’t include it now, you may well want to develop this feature in the future.

Instant Store Site Builders

Once you have a hosting package, it is very easy to get a fully functioning online store up and running quickly by using a simple website builder. The StoreSite hosting package from NetRegistry comes with a free website application called StoreBuilder, allowing you to choose a template and add the relevant company information before launching a fully featured website, ready and open for business.

Online website builders are designed for non technical users and are very easy to use. All you need to do is provide your own images and text, dragging and dropping them into the desired areas of your webpage.

The StoreBuilder system can also help you set up a shopping cart, ready to receive payments, as long as you have a Paypal account for processing credit cards.

Open For Business

Once your new instant store is online, you need to think about attracting customers. Opening your instant store is only the start, and a successful online business has an ongoing online marketing strategy to ensure your instant store gets noticed.

If you are interested in seeing how quick and affordable it is to launch an instant store, call 1800 78 80 82 for further information on StoreBuilder.