Author: Aristi Christoforou
Picking what to sell
Starting an online store sounds awesome, right? But before anything, you need to figure out what to sell. This part is tricky because just selling something random won’t work. You need to pick a niche—something people actually want to buy but isn’t already oversaturated.
A good way to check this is by using tools like Google Trends or just looking at what’s going viral on TikTok. Are people obsessed with a certain type of clothing, home decor, or tech gadget? That could be a sign of a winning product. Just make sure it’s not a short-lived trend—you don’t want to sell fidget spinners in 2025.
Figuring out how you’ll run the online store
Once you know what to sell, you need to decide how to get your products to customers. There are a few ways to do this:
Dropshipping – You sell products, but a third party ships them. Easy to start, but the profit margins are small.
Print-on-demand – Great for custom t-shirts, mugs, posters, etc. No inventory needed.
Private labeling – You put your own brand on existing products, which makes them look more premium.
Buying inventory – This costs more upfront but gives you more control over quality and shipping.
Each method has pros and cons, so it depends on how much money and effort you want to invest.
Choosing the right platform
Now comes the fun part—actually setting up the online store. You’ll need an ecommerce platform that makes everything easy. Some of the best options are:
Shopify – Super user-friendly, even if you have zero tech skills.
WooCommerce – Best if you already use WordPress.
BigCommerce – Good for scaling up, but pricier.
Wix eCommerce – Simple and budget-friendly.
Your store needs to be easy to navigate, look good on mobile, and load fast. Nobody waits around for a slow website in 2025.
Making it official
If you’re serious about your store, it’s smart to make it official. This means registering your business, getting a tax ID, and making sure you’re following legal rules.
The simplest option is to start as a sole proprietor, but if you want more protection, setting up an LLC might be better. It all depends on how big you want your store to get.
Buying a domain and setting up your store
Your domain name is what people type to find your store. It should be short, easy to spell, and match your brand. Avoid weird spellings or numbers—nobody remembers those.
For hosting, you want a fast and secure option. Shopify includes hosting, but if you’re using WooCommerce, you’ll need a separate hosting provider like SiteGround or Bluehost.
Designing a store that looks legit
First impressions matter, especially online. If your site looks sketchy, nobody is going to buy from you. Make sure:
The homepage is clean and professional.
The product images are high-quality (bad photos kill sales).
Your descriptions are clear (explain why people should buy).
You include customer reviews (they build trust).
A good website makes people feel comfortable spending money.
Setting up payments and shipping
Nobody likes complicated checkout processes. Your store should accept multiple payment options, like:
Credit/debit cards
PayPal
Apple Pay / Google Pay
Buy now, pay later (like Klarna or Afterpay)
For shipping, you can offer flat rates, free shipping for orders over a certain amount, or let people choose faster shipping for an extra fee. Just make sure you clearly explain how long shipping takes so people don’t get mad.
Getting people to actually visit your store
Even the best store won’t make money if nobody knows it exists. That’s where marketing comes in. Here’s what works in 2025:
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) – Use the right keywords so people find your store on Google.
Social media marketing – Run ads on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
Influencer collaborations – Pay influencers to promote your product.
Email marketing – Build an email list and send out discounts.
It takes time to build traffic, so don’t panic if sales are slow at first.
Checking what’s working (and what’s not)
Once your store is live, you need to track your results. Use Google Analytics or the built-in analytics on Shopify to see:
Where your traffic comes from
Which products sell the most
How many people leave without buying (abandoned carts)
If something isn’t working, adjust your strategy. Maybe your prices are too high, or your website is too slow. Fixing small issues can make a huge difference in sales.
Growing your business
Once you start getting consistent orders, it’s time to level up. Here’s how:
Add new products to increase revenue.
Expand to international markets if there’s demand.
Automate inventory, shipping, and customer service to save time.
Build a loyalty program so customers keep coming back.
The goal is to make your store run as smoothly as possible so you don’t have to micromanage everything.
Keeping up with ecommerce trends
Ecommerce is always changing, so staying updated is important. Some big trends in 2025:
AI-powered shopping assistants – More stores will use chatbots to help customers.
Voice shopping – People will buy using Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri.
Live shopping events – Brands will sell products through TikTok and Instagram Lives.
If you stay ahead of trends, your store will always be one step ahead of the competition.
Final thoughts
Starting an online store in 2025 isn’t easy, but it’s totally possible. The key is to start small, test different strategies, and keep learning. The best online businesses take time to grow, but with the right approach, yours could be next!
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