it independently.
However, it's not impossible. Here are our helpful tips to ease your web-building journey.
1. Choose the best idea
Every e-shop starts with a good idea.
Find an idea that you think will be successful as well as personally meaningful. It's always good to do something that you like, but an excellent idea is one that also helps to fix the market deficit.
The first question you have to answer is whether you want to sell products or offer a service. The best advice for finding an initial idea is to look at the categories of your favorite major e-shops — Amazon, eBay, AliExpress.
👍 Pro tip: Create an Excel table and write down all your ideas. This will help you have a better overview of the ideation process.
An overview of all the ideas will help you make a choice.
If you've already found the area that interests you (such as accessories, furniture, children's clothing, etc.), you'll want to explore your competitors and improve your product. Remember, focusing only on a competitor's work and products won't make you better than them. After all, it's your idea and your company.
Avoid niches that are already dominated by well-known brands. There are areas where you just can't be better than the popular brands. For example, when you buy new headphones, you usually go straight to the best-known brands — Sony, Apple, Samsung, etc.
However, in areas that have not developed a market leader, people tend to search for what they want on Google — a "cheap closet for the bedroom" or "an oak wood dining table." Optimizing your website is an excellent way to attract more clients — more about that in the following chapter.
To get started with an e-shop, think through your business plan first.
2. Build your brand
Your company's brand is a vital part of an online store's success. It is not a matter of life and death, but it does contribute to your company's awareness.
The name should be easy to pronounce — it's best to choose a name with the same pronunciation as the spelling. Otherwise, people may not understand the spelling of your e-store and may not reach your website.
The company's name and brand are important in gaining new customers.
Be original! Don't choose a name that already exists or is very similar to an existing brand.
In 1998, Victor and Cathy Moseley opened a laundromat called Victor's Secret. The first thing that comes to mind when hearing this name is the global brand Victoria's Secret, to whom the similarity of the two names has had negative effects.
Victoria's Secret complained about the name of the laundromat. As a result, Victor and Cathy were forced to change the name of their business. It is always better to put a proper name right away than to change it later.
Give the name meaning. There are two ways to do it — choose a name related to the field of activity or a name that has a deeper and more personal meaning.
When associating a name with a niche, you have to think about how it might fit your product/service so that it doesn't narrow down your field of activity. Don't name your business Cool Gloves because maybe you want to start selling socks in the future.
In the case of personal names, use the background history of the name as marketing input. Giving your customers more information about the company can help you build trust and recognition.
In general, the length of the name must be no more than three words. We recommend using one or two words. This is crucial because the name is then easier to find.
In general, the length of the name must be no more than three words. We recommend using one or two words. This is crucial because the name is then easier to find.
Pay attention to the different factors when choosing a company name
3. Find a home for your online store
We previously discussed choosing a name for your online store. The choice of name and web domain go hand in hand.
- Keep an eye on the availability of domains.
- It is best to get the .com domain name, as it is the most universal for customers.
Other domains are gaining popularity, though. In addition to .com, there are also country domains such as .ee (Estonian market), .eu (European market), .fr (French market), etc.
It is also possible to get a personalized domain like .agency, .drink, or .apartments.
- Using such a domain allows you to specify what your business does and what you are selling more accurately.
- Zone and Web Hosting are Internet support providers where you can also find personalized domain endings.
Register the domain of your website as soon as possible, it may not be available later.
You can also buy your domain from Voog. The yearly domain is free with the Plus and Premium annual packages. In other words, if you need help adding a domain, redirecting, or whatever, here's an overview of how to set up your domain on your Voog website. Don't hesitate to contact our super customer support at support@voog.com if you have any further questions.
4. Implement your online store
Now that everything else has been decided and done, it's time to implement the e-shop. The fate of your e-store depends on how you want it to look. Let your creativity fly!
Start by finding the right web solution for you. We offer multilingual website-building capabilities, so creating an online store in your preferred language has never been easier.
Sign up and let's get to know each other — you can do it for free for 30 days!
Start by finding the right web solution for you. We offer multilingual website-building capabilities, so creating an online store in your preferred language has never been easier.
Sign up and let's get to know each other — you can do it for free for 30 days!
Managing your products in your Voog e-store just got a whole lot easier, with an automated product list that automatically draws product pages.
Then, find a package that meets all your goals. We recommend the standard package if you want to make a company's business card-style website. The package includes an online store, but you can also add three products.
If you already have a more prominent online store, it is wise to go for the Premium package. There is no 3% transaction fee, and you always have priority in customer support. The plus package is the golden path, usually suitable for most customers.
👍 Pro tip: The Plus and Premium annual packages include a free yearly domain.
Think about which package would be right for your business.
Now, choose a design you like from the Voog template possibilities. Don't worry; it's not permanent. You can change the website template anytime. You can try all the templates in the stream for free for 30 days. Your store is in the cloud, meaning you don't have to install or code anything. Everything you need is right there – twist, drag, and place.
At Voog, we personally take care of all the websites. We want all our users to feel safe on the platform, and we also take care of the updates. If you need help setting up your e-store, please read our guide or contact our customer support directly - support@voog.com.
At Voog, we personally take care of all the websites. We want all our users to feel safe on the platform, and we also take care of the updates. If you need help setting up your e-store, please read our guide or contact our customer support directly - support@voog.com.
👍 Pro tip: If you find building an online store yourself difficult and would still like the help of an agency, don't hesitate to get in touch with our friends.
It is very easy to create an online store yourself with Voog, but if necessary, our partners will also help you.
Now that the online store is visually ready, it's time to add the products to the e-shop. Voog has made the process very easy - you have to fill in the product information, and the product pages generate automatically.
Adding a product content area to a subpage is also extremely easy. Different categories help you display specific products - a great tool if you want to run campaigns in your online store.
👍 Pro tip: Here is a detailed overview of how to add your products to the store.
The only way to pay for the products is with an invoice, which is not a good solution when many different payment methods exist. After all, you want your customers to have the most convenient and effortless shopping experience. That is why we recommend adding other payment methods to your e-store, such as Maksekeskus, PayPal, etc.
You have now finished setting up your e-shop. Products and other important information are added for the online store to function. However, at the moment, the website only has a front page and product subpages.
To make the website even more exciting and reliable for customers, add other pages — for example, the "Contact" page, the "About the company" page, and the "Shipping and Exchange" page. All this helps customers get to know and trust your business.
5. Make yourself visible
Now, you have everything set up, and the e-shop is open. When customers from Google, Facebook, or other marketing channels come to your e-store website, they will immediately understand what you have to offer, and there will be no confusion. There is a lot of trust in a beautiful and well-functioning website. The next step is to start focusing on marketing.
The first step is to develop a marketing strategy that works for your business. You cannot use all the methods simultaneously. You need to find a goal that your business focuses on and that you want to achieve over time. This will give you an idea of which channels are suitable for your business.
The first step is to develop a marketing strategy that works for your business. You cannot use all the methods simultaneously. You need to find a goal that your business focuses on and that you want to achieve over time. This will give you an idea of which channels are suitable for your business.
Be cool and special, and stand out to others!
Next, configure your website for SEO (search engine optimization). There is a big difference between stores that optimize their websites and those that don't —some are on the first page of Google, and some are very difficult to find on a search engine.
To make yourself visible in search engines, create a list of words that describe your business's purpose and use those words in the content of your website. The Voog platform has a unique SEO tool that makes it easy to set up.
👍 Pro tip: Set up your online store SEO in 25 minutes; this guide will help you.
Social media marketing is a different matter altogether. It would be best if you found channels where your customers spend time and are sure to keep your Company account active. But the best advice on how to get started is to choose just one marketing channel, focus on it at the beginning, and begin gradually. Create a marketing calendar that helps you plan your social media activities—keep track of your schedule and make scheduled posts so you don't miss a thing.
👍 Pro tip: Put links to all your social media accounts on the homepage.
E-mail marketing is one of the essential marketing outputs. If you thought it was an outdated or old-school technique, it is a very powerful and effective form of marketing. E-mail is a great way to send the desired information to the right target group quickly and cheaply.
Start now!
You have completed all five steps and earned the title of "Expert in creating an online store on the Voog platform." Our advice is to start now, not wait for the "perfect" time.
