So, You Want to Start an Online Store? Here’s the Deal
Did you ever find a way to start selling products online and don’t know where to start? Maybe you’ve seen people making a living from their eCommerce stores and wondered if you could do it too. Good news, you totally can. And guess what? 2025 is the perfect time to jump in.
The best part? You don’t need a business degree, a massive budget, or some crazy coding skills. If you’ve got an idea or even if you don’t yet, this guide will walk you through everything, step by step. And if you’re planning to use WooCommerce, you’re already making a solid choice.
Let’s break it down.
Step 1: Figuring Out What to Sell
Before you do anything, you need to decide what your store is actually going to sell. You don’t want to pick something random and hope for the best. You want something people actually want to buy.
How to Find a Product That Sells
- Check social media trends – TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest are goldmines for spotting trending products. If you see something blowing up, there’s probably demand for it.
- Solve a problem – Products that make life easier tend to sell well. Think about things people complain about and how you can fix that with a product.
- Look at bestsellers – Check out Amazon, Etsy, and other big marketplaces to see what’s popular.
- Go with what you know – If you’re into fitness, fashion, gaming, or anything else, selling something related to that will make things way easier.
If handling inventory sounds like a headache, dropshipping or print-on-demand are great options. They let you sell stuff without having to stock or ship anything yourself.
Step 2: Setting Up Your Store (It’s Easier Than You Think)
Once you’ve got a product idea, it’s time to build your store. And no, you don’t need to be some tech genius to do this.
1. Pick a Platform
There are plenty of places to sell online, but if you’re using WordPress, WooCommerce is the way to go. It’s free, works well, and gives you complete control over your store.
2. Get a Domain and Hosting
Your domain is your store’s name, and hosting is where your website lives. Some good options for hosting include:
- SiteGround
- Bluehost
- WP Engine
3. Install WooCommerce
Setting up WooCommerce is simple if you’re using WordPress.
- Go to your WordPress dashboard.
- Click on Plugins > Add New.
- Search for WooCommerce and install it.
- Follow the setup steps to add your store details.
Now you’ve got a store. Time to make it look good.
Step 3: Making Your Store Look Like a Real Business
A messy-looking store is a huge red flag for customers. People will leave if your website looks sketchy so make sure that doesn’t happen.
1. Pick a WooCommerce Theme
Themes control how your store looks. Some good ones are:
- Astra: Clean and super customizable.
- Flatsome: Made specifically for eCommerce.
- Storefront: WooCommerce’s official theme, is good for a simple setup.
2. Install Important Plugins
Plugins add extra features to your store. These are some must-haves:
- Variation Swatches for WooCommerce – This lets customers see different colors, sizes, or styles of a product easily.
- WooCommerce Conditional Payments by Extendons – Lets you control payment methods based on location, cart value, or product type.
- Rank Math SEO – Helps people find your store on Google.
3. Set Up Your Product Pages the Right Way
A bad product page will kill sales instantly. Here’s what you need to include:
- A clear and interesting product title
- High-quality photos (blurry pics are a no-go)
- A product description that actually explains why it’s worth buying
- Reviews (even if you have to ask friends or family to leave the first few)
Your store is looking good. Now, let’s get some customers.
Step 4: Getting People to Buy From You
Even if your store is perfect, it won’t matter if no one knows it exists. Here’s how to get people to visit and actually buy something.
1. Use Social Media
- TikTok & Instagram – Post videos showing off your products, how they work, and why people should care.
- Pinterest – If you’re selling fashion, home decor, or anything visually appealing, this is a must.
- Facebook Groups – Find groups related to your niche and interact (without being annoying and spammy).
2. Start a Blog
Google loves websites that have blogs. Writing posts related to your products can help bring in free traffic over time. If you’re selling skincare, for example, a blog about “Best Skincare Routines for 2025” could bring in people looking for exactly what you sell.
3. Collect Emails
Not everyone buys the first time they visit. Get people to sign up for your email list so you can send:
- Discounts and special offers
- New product updates
- Cart reminders (because people forget)
Tools like Mailchimp and Klaviyo make this super easy.
4. Run Ads (Without Wasting Money)
If you have some money to invest, Facebook Ads and Google Ads can help get your store in front of the right people. Start with a small budget and test different ad styles before spending too much.
Step 5: Growing Your Store and Making More Sales
You want to make it easier on yourself by keeping the sales coming.
1. Automate What You Can
- Use a chatbot for customer questions.
- Set up automatic emails for order updates and cart reminders.
- Use WooCommerce tools to handle payments and orders smoothly.
2. Give Customers More Choices
People love options. Adding different colors, sizes, and styles can increase sales. That’s where variation swatches for WooCommerce come in handy – it lets people easily see and choose between different versions of a product.
3. Make Payments Easy
Not everyone likes using the same payment methods. With WooCommerce Conditional Payments by Extendons, you can set up payment options based on what works best for different customers.
4. Keep People Coming Back
- Offer discounts to repeat customers.
- Set up a referral program where people get rewards for bringing in friends.
- Make customer service a priority – happy buyers will come back.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the price of opening an online store?
You can start for under 100 dollars if you go with dropshipping or print-on-demand. If you’re buying inventory, costs will be higher.
2. Is WooCommerce good for beginners?
Yes. It’s free, easy to use, and has tons of plugins to customize your store.
3. What’s the best way to handle payments?
Using WooCommerce Conditional Payments by Extendons lets you offer different payment options based on location, cart value, or product type.
Final Thoughts: Just Start Already
At first, starting an eCommerce business might seem overwhelming starting an eCommerce , but once you actually do it, you’ll realize it’s not that complicated. If you follow these steps, you’ll be ahead of most people who keep waiting for the perfect time.
So go get your domain, install WooCommerce, and start selling. The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll be making sales.