Three Things You Need to Set Up Your eCommerce Website

Getting your product-based business off the ground sounds simple and - dare I say it  - fun when you’re planning out your dreams in a coffee shop. But… when it comes time to set up your storefront, you may be feeling differently than you did when you were a starry-eyed dreamer (lol). 

When you’re getting started setting up your ecommerce website - or, revamping a current site - there are several things you need to have in place. 

On today’s podcast, we’re diving into the 3 things you need to get your ecommerce store set up and running, and we’ll share a behind the scenes look at our client favorite Style + Setup experience. 

So, what does your ecommerce storefront need in order to set your business up for success? You need Shopify, a cohesive brand, and a homepage that not only converts, but looks damn good.

Shopify, the Best ECommerce Platform for Small Businesses

In my (professional) and personal opinion - Shopify is the best ecommerce website platform on the market. 

Shopify is an easy way to build an online store from scratch. It’s the best ecommerce platform that allows users to create stores for selling products online. It has been used by many successful big-name businesses, including Rothys, Pura Vida Bracelets, Kylie Jenner, Whole Foods uses Shopify which is owned by Amazon!

It’s a robust sales platform, is intuitive and easily manageable for shop owners who aren’t super tech savvy, and it has a template shop with over 100 great templates. It’s what I use for my clients and what I recommend to everyone everywhere. 

There are plenty of ecommerce website builders out there, but not all of them are suitable for beginners. Shopify is one of those tools that makes it easy to set up an online store without having to learn any coding. It also has a wide range of features that make it ideal for small businesses.

If you’re looking for a simple solution to sell your products online, Shopify is one of the easiest platforms to use. You can start with a free account, then upgrade to a paid plan as needed.

Stand Out with a Cohesive Brand Image + Identity

One of my biggest pet peeves as a web designer is heading to a site and seeing some great branding, but then going to a different page or even just scrolling down and seeing huge inconsistencies - off-brand colors, off-brand fonts. It’s like there’s no brand at all to begin with! 

Your goal should be to create a consistent brand that showcases your business and reflects the caliber of what you offer. A cohesive brand image is one that is consistent across all channels - it helps customers understand what your company stands for.

Creating a Cohesive Brand Identity in 5 Simple Steps

A cohesive brand image is important because it allows people to recognize your business when they see it. This makes it easier for them to remember your name and contact information, which in turn increases sales. Your brand image comes from a strong and clear brand identity - here’s how to define yours!

First, create an identity statement, a short description of who your company is and why people should care about it. It’s also called a “tagline” because it’s often used as a label on packaging or other promotional materials.

Then, craft a mission statement. A mission statement is a concise summary of your company’s purpose, where you want to go, and what changes you want to make in the world.

And finally, understand your core values. A core value is something that defines who you are and how you operate. It should be at the center of everything you do. If you don’t have a clear set of values, then you will struggle to make decisions and communicate effectively with others.

Let these components of your brand identity inform the creation of your brand from logo to visuals to messaging.

Creating a Strong Homepage for Your Storefront

Your homepage is where people will go to get a better understanding of your brand and what your business is all about. 

A conversion-focused homepage should feature a stand-out brand statement followed by a clear description of what your ecommerce store features and who you serve. The goal of the homepage should be to increase sales, build your list, and nurture the know/like/trust factor.

Website homepages are often the first thing visitors see when they visit a site. They need to be informative, interesting, and easy to navigate. Here are four things to include in your homepage for your ecommerce storefront.

Create a Clear Call To Action

A call to action (CTA) is an instruction that tells users what to do next. It’s usually located at the top of a webpage or within a section of a webpage.

Include Keywords In The Title Tag

You need to make sure that the title tag includes keywords related to your business. This will help search engines find your site more easily.

Add Images or Videos

Include images and videos on your homepage to attract visitors. They also add credibility to your site.

Prioritize Quality, Informative Content for SEO

The SEO experts at Yoast recommend including at least 300 quality words per page you hope to rank on Google search results. For product descriptions, the recommendation is over 200 words. Remember, quality matters more than quantity. Don’t keyword-stuff just to pack more words onto the page in hopes of ranking! Utilize strong keywords and well-written content that serves your target audience.

Include Social Proof on Your Homepage

You want to show people that real people love your products, so include reviews from past customers and fans of your products!

Behind the Scenes of My Style + Setup Experience

Of course, you can DIY all of this yourself with my newest course, DIY Shopify. If a DIY option isn’t your jam, let me introduce you to a fan-favorite offering of mine - the Shopify Style + Setup Experience. 

Let’s go behind the scenes and take a closer look at my proven process that has been used to create (#) successful ecommerce websites on Shopify!

• Prep Work - This is where you’ll give us all those details we’ve talked about in this episode. Your brand elements, the catchy headline, the call to action you want to focus on. 
• We have reminders for all of this and forms and checklists. We try to think of everything so you don’t have to.
• Then we build it all out on your chosen Shopify template. 

Ready to get started? Apply today!