{"id":20163,"date":"2019-11-14T08:45:00","date_gmt":"2019-11-14T14:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostgator.com\/blog\/?p=20163"},"modified":"2019-12-30T15:48:56","modified_gmt":"2019-12-30T21:48:56","slug":"use-website-builder-setup-new-online-store","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hostgator.com\/blog\/use-website-builder-setup-new-online-store\/","title":{"rendered":"Use a Website Builder to Set Up Your New Online Store"},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019ve decided it\u2019s time to start selling your products online<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

You\u2019ve known for a while you should, but you just didn\u2019t know how. The skills it takes to become a business owner aren\u2019t the same as those it takes to set up an online store from scratch.<\/span><\/p>\n

But even though you worry it will be hard, you trust it will be worth it. <\/span><\/p>\n

With an online store, you can bring your products to a wider audience than you can with a storefront. You make the decision to purchase more convenient for your customers being able to buy something without leaving the couch removes a lot of the possible barriers to a sale.  <\/span><\/p>\n

And you can tap into the power of<\/span> online marketing and SEO<\/span><\/a>. Now that so many people start their search for a new product online, the best way to show up when someone\u2019s looking for what you sell is to be online. <\/span><\/p>\n

If the main thing stopping you was concern that setting up an online store would be difficult, we\u2019ve got good news. With the right website builder<\/a>, creating an online store is easy<\/strong> - no matter your level of experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Why You Should Use a Website Builder to Set Up Your Online Store<\/h2>\n

For any business ready to get an online store up and running, there are a few clear benefits to using a website builder to make it happen:<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s easy.<\/h3>\n

This might be the most important benefit for most small business owners. You don\u2019t have time to learn all the ins and outs of setting up an online store from scratch, and you don\u2019t have the budget for hiring someone that does. But you don\u2019t need either if you use a website builder.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s quick.<\/h3>\n

Every day your website isn\u2019t set up for selling products is a day you could be losing out on sales.<\/span> The sooner your online store is functional, the faster you can start making extra money.<\/span><\/p>\n

It brings the main tools you need into one interface.<\/h3>\n

If you set up an online store on your own, you have to remember to find the right design tools, eCommerce software, and security features all as separate steps. <\/span><\/p>\n

With a website builder, everything you need is brought together in one place, where you can access it all through one interface. It makes your job easier and ensures you don\u2019t forget anything important.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Set Up an Online Store with a Website Builder<\/h2>\n

If you already have a website that you\u2019re adding an online store to, you can skip the first few steps. But if you don\u2019t have a business website<\/a> yet, you\u2019ll need to start at the beginning.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Choose a domain name.<\/h3>\n

Your domain name will ideally be yourbusinessname.com. But if your business has a name that\u2019s at all common, that may already be taken. You can use a<\/span> domain search tool<\/span><\/a> to find out what\u2019s available and brainstorm options that will be easy for your visitors to remember.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"get<\/a><\/p>\n

If the .com is taken, then .net or .co may be a better option. You can also consider variations of your business name using hyphens between words, so a business called Acme Knives becomes acme-knives.com, if acmeknives.com is taken.<\/span><\/p>\n

Get a little creative if you need to, but make sure the end result is something that will be intuitive for your visitors to use and remember.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/b>2. Select a hosting plan.<\/h3>\n

Every website online requires hosting. When you start looking into your hosting options, you\u2019ll quickly realize that there are both a lot of providers and a lot of different plans to consider. In your search, make sure you prioritize finding a hosting plan that supports an eCommerce website and that will be compatible with the website builder you use. <\/span><\/p>\n

Here’s a helpful checklist<\/a> to follow when selecting your web hosting provider.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Choose your website builder.<\/h3>\n

Some web builder plans come with hosting included (including HostGator’s<\/a>)<\/span>, so you may be able to complete this step at the same time as the last one. If not, then spend some time reviewing your different options.<\/span><\/p>\n

Make sure you go with a website builder that\u2019s easy for beginners to use and makes adding an online store to your website a breeze. Consider the number of themes and features each website builder offers<\/a> and how the costs line up with the budget you have in mind.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Website<\/p>\n

4. Select your theme.<\/h3>\n

Most website builders come with a number of different themes you can choose from. The theme works as a starting point that provides a structure for your website. You can make changes to it to make the design your own by moving different elements of the page around, adding in any new elements you want, and subbing in different colors, images, and copy.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Create your main pages.<\/h3>\n

Your website can\u2019t just be product pages. At the very least, you\u2019ll need a Home page that communicates your company\u2019s unique positioning and why your visitors should do business with you. In addition, you may want to include:<\/span><\/p>\n