How to Set Up A Retail Web Site

A successful retail website can be a rich revenue source

More people today run their own online retail business than ever before, and the numbers continue to grow. Running a retail website is no different from operating a retail business out of a storefront. Yet, websites offer a huge advantage over traditional businesses, and that's a much lower overhead.

Instructions

1. Select and register a domain name that is easy to remember. A domain name is the name that appears in the URL window at the top of a page. If you can, include the name of your product or service in the domain name. If your name is Ruth and you sell brownies, check to see if the domain name "ruthsbrownies.com" is available.

2. Investigate the tax implications of selling over the Internet. It may be worthwhile to consult an attorney over whether the product you plan to sell can be sold over state lines.

   Be aware also of existing trademarks. Find out if the business you come up with already exists and, if it does, whether it is protected by trademark laws.

3. If you have experience at web design, write the code for your website. If you lack web design experience, hire a webmaster to build your site for you. Nowadays, many web creation services have experience in designing retail web sites. There are also websites that will host e-commerce websites for you and that allow you to design and set up a retail website without any programming knowledge.

4. Choose an eye-catching design for your retail website. Think not just in terms of appearance but functionality. Build in features that are easy and fun to use, like virtual shopping carts and checkouts.

5. Work at developing return business by offering your customers incentives. Give a discount on future purchases to customers who send other customers to your site.

6. Maintain good records. You don't need to be an accountant to start an online business, but you need to understand the basics of maintaining a ledger. This is a document that contains one column for monies received (credits) and one for monies paid out (debits).

7. Keep logs of your site traffic to determine if advertising is paying off. One of the most useful programs for tracking web "hits" is Google Analytics. (See Resources.)

Tips & Warnings

• Consider updating your website every 6 to 12 months. A new design may attract new customers.

References

• Web Sites for Retailers: Easy Steps From Concept To Creation
• Stunt Double Job Board: The Magic Formula for Retail Website Success

Resources

• Google Analytics