Starting an e-commerce business is a highly profitable venture in today’s digital age. At WpPiP, our web development and marketing agency, we understand the intricate process of building an online store that not only looks good but converts visitors into paying customers. Whether you’re a small business owner or a large brand, here’s everything you need to know about starting and scaling an e-commerce store—from choosing the right CMS to getting your first 100 orders.

Choosing the Best CMS for Your E-commerce Business

One of the most crucial decisions for your e-commerce business is selecting the best content management system (CMS). A well-chosen CMS can save you a lot of time, effort, and money. At WpPiP, we typically recommend:

1. Shopify

• Why it’s great: Shopify is a cloud-based platform specifically designed for e-commerce. Its user-friendly interface allows you to set up and manage your store even if you have no technical skills. Shopify also offers seamless integration with multiple payment gateways, excellent security, and a wide range of apps to extend functionality.
• Best for: Beginners and businesses that want a hassle-free, all-in-one solution.

2. WooCommerce (WordPress Plugin)

• Why it’s great: WooCommerce is a customizable, open-source plugin for WordPress. It gives you complete control over your store and lets you leverage the extensive WordPress ecosystem. It’s highly scalable and flexible for developers and businesses looking for tailored solutions.
• Best for: Businesses already using WordPress or those that want full customization control over their store.

3. Magento

• Why it’s great: Magento is a robust, feature-rich platform designed for larger, enterprise-level businesses. It offers incredible flexibility, multi-store functionality, and endless customization possibilities. However, it requires technical expertise to manage effectively.
• Best for: Large e-commerce businesses with complex needs and in-house developers.

4. BigCommerce

• Why it’s great: BigCommerce is another hosted e-commerce platform that offers excellent scalability and integration features. It includes advanced marketing and SEO tools, making it a strong choice for growth-focused businesses.
• Best for: Mid-sized businesses focused on scaling.

Our Recommendation

At WpPiP, we recommend WooCommerce for businesses that want flexibility, customization, and scalability. If you need a faster, out-of-the-box solution, Shopify is also an excellent option, especially for beginners or those without development resources.

Essential Pages for an E-commerce Store

An e-commerce website needs more than just a homepage and a product catalog. To ensure an optimal shopping experience and increase your sales, you must create specific pages that build trust, simplify the buying process, and offer information.

1. Homepage

This is your virtual storefront. Ensure it’s visually appealing, easy to navigate, and immediately conveys what you sell. Use banners for promotions and feature your best-selling products.

2. Product Pages

Each product needs its own page with detailed descriptions, high-quality images, pricing, and availability. Include customer reviews and recommendations for related products.

3. Category Pages

These pages should organize your products into logical categories. Make sure they are searchable and easy to filter by product types, price, and ratings.

4. About Us Page

Consumers are more likely to purchase from brands they trust. Share your company story, mission, and values on this page to build a connection with customers.

5. Contact Us Page

Make it easy for customers to get in touch. Include a contact form, phone number, email, and your business hours. Also, offer live chat for immediate support.

6. FAQ Page

Help your customers by answering common questions about your products, shipping, returns, and payment methods.

7. Shipping & Returns Page

Clearly explain your shipping policy and make sure your return and exchange process is easy to find and understand. This builds trust with customers.

8. Terms and Conditions / Privacy Policy

Include legal disclaimers to protect your business and inform users of their rights and privacy policies. This is particularly important for complying with global data privacy regulations like GDPR.

Must-Have Functions for an E-commerce Site

For a fully functional e-commerce store, here are the critical functions to include:

1. Mobile Optimization

With more than half of online shopping done on mobile devices, your site must be responsive and provide a seamless experience across all devices.

2. Search Bar with Filtering

Allow customers to find products quickly with a powerful search tool and filtering options such as price range, category, and product ratings.

3. Shopping Cart and Checkout

Offer a simplified shopping cart and a fast, frictionless checkout process. Provide multiple payment methods, including credit cards, PayPal, and digital wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay.

4. User Accounts and Guest Checkout

Give customers the option to create accounts to store their preferences and order history. Also, offer a guest checkout to minimize friction for first-time buyers.

5. Product Reviews

Customer reviews help build trust and authenticity. Make sure your platform supports user-generated reviews.

6. Wishlist and Save for Later

Allow customers to save items they are interested in but not ready to buy. This will help bring them back to your site later.

7. Analytics Integration

Integrate Google Analytics and e-commerce tracking to gain insights into customer behavior and sales data, helping you make informed decisions for improving your store.

8. Email Integration

Use email marketing tools to follow up with customers, recover abandoned carts, and send promotional offers. Platforms like Mailchimp or Klaviyo are excellent choices for WooCommerce and Shopify.

Promoting Your E-commerce Business on Social Media

Promotion is key to driving traffic to your store and converting visitors into customers. Here are the best ways to promote your e-commerce store on social media:

1. Instagram Marketing

Instagram is one of the most popular platforms for e-commerce, thanks to its focus on visual content. You can promote your products by:

• Posting high-quality images and videos of your products
• Using Instagram Shopping to tag products in your posts
• Running Instagram Ads to target your audience
• Collaborating with influencers in your niche

2. Facebook Advertising

With over 2.9 billion users, Facebook offers immense opportunities for reaching your target audience. Facebook ads allow you to segment your audience based on demographics, interests, and behavior.

• Use retargeting ads to convert visitors who have already shown interest in your products.
• Set up a Facebook Shop to sell products directly on the platform.

3. Pinterest Marketing

Pinterest is a visual search engine that works well for e-commerce stores, especially in niches like fashion, home décor, and beauty. Pin your products, organize boards by category, and run Pinterest ads to increase visibility.

4. TikTok Marketing

TikTok’s short-form video content is ideal for promoting products in a fun and engaging way. Use trending sounds, hashtags, and challenges to increase your chances of going viral.

5. YouTube Videos

Create tutorials, unboxings, and product reviews to showcase your products. Link directly to product pages and engage with your viewers in the comments section.

How to Attract Customers to Your E-commerce Store

Bringing traffic to your website is crucial, but not all traffic will convert. Here’s how to attract and engage customers effectively:

1. SEO Optimization

Optimize your website for search engines to attract organic traffic. Focus on:

• Keyword Research: Find and use relevant keywords in product titles, descriptions, and blog posts.
• Content Creation: Create useful blog posts, buying guides, and product reviews to engage visitors and improve your rankings.
• Technical SEO: Ensure your site has fast load times, mobile-friendly design, and proper indexing by search engines.

2. Google Shopping Ads

Run Google Shopping ads to display your products in relevant search results. These ads appear with product images, prices, and links directly to your store, driving qualified traffic.

3. Email Marketing

Build an email list through pop-up offers, discounts, and newsletter sign-ups. Send personalized emails to engage your subscribers and offer exclusive deals to encourage purchases.

4. Influencer Partnerships

Work with influencers to promote your products through sponsored posts or reviews. Choose influencers that align with your brand values and have a strong following in your niche.

5. Referral Programs

Encourage your customers to refer friends and family by offering discounts or rewards for successful referrals. This helps you grow your customer base organically.

Getting Your First 100 Orders

Launching your store is just the first step. To get those all-important first 100 orders, you’ll need to combine marketing strategies, offers, and a seamless customer experience.

1. Run a Launch Sale

Create excitement around your store launch by offering discounts on select products for a limited time. Promote this on social media, email, and paid ads.

2. Offer Free Shipping

Free shipping is a major incentive for online shoppers. If you can afford it, offering free shipping can significantly boost your conversion rate.

3. Leverage Your Network

Reach out to friends, family, and your professional network to promote your store. Encourage them to share your store link on social media.

4. Use Paid Ads

Set up Facebook, Instagram, or Google ads targeting your ideal customer demographic. Focus on high-converting products and limited-time offers to generate urgency.

5. Collaborate with Influencers

Partner with a micro-influencer in your niche to promote your

store to their audience. They can provide you with product reviews, unboxings, or giveaways that create buzz.

6. Retargeting Ads

Use retargeting ads to bring back visitors who left without making a purchase. These ads help convert warm leads by reminding them of the products they viewed or added to their cart.

7. Offer First-Time Discounts

Encourage first-time visitors to make a purchase by offering them a one-time discount. Use pop-up offers or discount codes for new customers.

8. Create Urgency

Promote limited-time deals, exclusive launches, or low-stock alerts to encourage immediate purchases. Creating a sense of urgency is an effective way to push for conversions.

Building a successful e-commerce business requires careful planning, the right tools, and consistent marketing efforts. At WpPiP, we specialize in creating e-commerce stores that not only look great but are built to convert. From choosing the right CMS, adding essential pages, optimizing functionality, to promoting your store effectively on social media—our team is here to help you succeed. By following the strategies outlined above, you can launch your store confidently and achieve your first 100 orders in no time!

Need help setting up your e-commerce business? Contact WpPiP today!