What to know before setting up an e-commerce site
From choosing products to payment and shipping: the steps to consider in order when setting up an online store.
Starting to sell online doesn't just mean opening a site. Product, payment, shipping, customer communication and legal obligations must be considered together. The steps below list the questions to ask before starting the store setup.
1. Be clear about what you sell and who you sell to
Put your product groups, target customer and price positioning in writing. This information directly affects the site structure, category layout and advertising plan. Even a short list reduces later changes.
2. Choose the infrastructure to fit the need
A ready-made e-commerce platform gets you started fast. Custom software makes sense when you have processes unique to you. When deciding, consider the following:
- Number of products and variation (size, color, etc.) structure
- The accounting, inventory or ERP system you use
- Whether you will also sell on marketplaces
- Who will update content and products, and how often
3. Plan the payment and shipping flow from the start
The customer's path from cart to payment should be as short as possible. Decide in advance which payment methods you'll offer and which carriers you'll work with, including fees and delivery times.
4. Take care of your product pages
- Clear and consistent product photos
- Information that makes deciding easier, such as size, material and usage
- Price, stock status and estimated delivery time
- Short answers to frequently asked questions
5. Don't forget the legal requirements
Online selling comes with obligations such as pre-contract information, distance sales contracts, return and withdrawal terms and personal data protection texts. Their scope can vary with your business, so verify current legislation with a specialist.
6. Set up measurement from day one
Measuring how many people visit the site, how many add products to the cart and how many buy lets you see which page and which ad works. If measurement is added later, past data is lost.
In short: first the product and the customer, then infrastructure, the payment-and-shipping flow, product pages, legal texts and measurement. Working in this order reduces the cost of going back.
This article is for general information. We recommend consulting the relevant specialist for legal, financial or technical decisions.
Get support for your project
Tell us about your web, e-commerce, advertising or automation need.
