You can read this text in 7 minutes

No Comments

How to Set Up an Online Store? Which CMS to Choose?

How to set up an online store?

An increasing number of people are deciding to launch an online store in pursuit of success in the digital world. This trend is entirely understandable—online shopping enjoys immense popularity among Poles of all age groups, and entering the e-commerce market is relatively straightforward. In this guide, we will provide insights on how to open your online store, what to consider when selecting a content management system, and how to sell effectively. Enjoy the read!

Your Online Store – Where to Start?

Before you begin setting up your online store, it is essential to thoroughly consider your decision and ensure that e-commerce is the industry in which you want to grow your business. You should have at least a basic level of knowledge and experience in the field, establish a well-defined action plan, and be aware that this market is highly competitive.

Are you confident in your decision and ready to run your online store? If so, it’s time to get started! How do you do it? The following text answers this question.

Define the Products You Want to Sell

The type of products you offer in your online store is the key to success. Consider what you want to sell, how your offerings stand out from the competition, and whether there is strong demand for them. At this stage, also determine how broad your product assortment will be, which manufacturers or wholesalers you will source from, and what budget you can allocate for initial investments. These factors will help you launch your business, while in-depth market analysis will enhance your effectiveness in e-commerce.

(You will find the rest of the article below the form)

Contact us and get a free quote

We will analyze your business and prepare an individual price offer for the optimal marketing mix for you. Completely free.

Your data is safe. More about data protection

Verseo spółka z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością with its registered office in Poznań, at the following address ul. Węglowa 1/3, 62-122 Poznań is an administrator of your personal data.

About Verseo

Company’s office is located in Poznań. Company is entered into the register of entrepreneurs, kept by the District Court of Poznań – Nowe Miasto i Wilda in Poznań, 8th Commercial Division of the National Court Division under number 0000596164, NIP (Tax Identification Number): 7773257986. You can contact us by writing a letter on the address indicated above or e-mail:[email protected]

You have right to:

  1. access to your personal data,
  2. correct your personal data,
  3. demand to remove your personal data,
  4. restrain to process your personal data,
  5. object of process your personal data,
  6. transfer your personal data,
  7. withdraw consent.

If you think we process your personal data not in accordance with the law, you have right to object to supervisory authority – President of Personal Data Protection Office.

We process your personal data to:

  1. handle your question, based on art. 6 ust. 1 lit. 6 of General Data Protection Regulation
  2. promote our goods and services including ourselves in connection with your consent, based on art. 6 ust. 1 lit. a of General Data Protection Regulation
  3. protect or claim in connection with our reasonable interest, based on art. 6 ust. 1 lit. f General Data Protection Regulation

You share your personal data freely. Please remember that without sharing your personal data you will not be able to send us a message, and we will not be able to answer you.

We can share your personal data with trusted recipient:

  1. providers of tools made for: website analytics, marketing automation,
  2. hosting operators.

We will process your personal data by the time:

  1. which is necessary to achieve a specific purpose for which they were collected and after this term by the time which is necessary to protect or possible claim,
  2. of withdraw your permission .

We don’t process personal data in a way, which would involve making only automated decisions about you. More information about processing of personal data you can find in our privacy policy.

Choose a Domain and Hosting

How do you set up your online store? First and foremost, you need a domain and hosting. The domain is the unique web address of your store—make sure it is short, catchy, and easy to remember. If you plan to operate exclusively in Poland, choose a .pl domain; if you aim for international markets, opt for .com.

Hosting, on the other hand, is the server space where your store will be hosted. Select a provider that offers sufficient storage, is recognized for reliability, provides full technical support, and—most importantly, especially in the early stages—is cost-effective.

Ensure an SSL Certificate

An SSL certificate is a network protocol that encrypts data. It is a must-have for every online store, reducing the risk of customer data theft and ensuring secure transactions. You can recognize an SSL-secured website by the https prefix in the URL instead of the standard http.

Verseo Ads Banner
Verseo Ads Banner

Design Your Online Store

The appearance and functionality of your online store play a crucial role in its future sales performance. Pay close attention to both UI (User Interface) and UX (User Experience)—ideally, entrust the project to an experienced web developer. They will ensure not only an appealing layout but also essential factors such as functionality, site structure, loading speed, responsiveness, and many other critical elements.

Online Store – How to Set It Up? Choose the Right CMS!

If you are wondering how to launch an online store that is easy to manage, selecting the right CMS is essential. A Content Management System is software that enables the creation, management, and publication of all types of content in an online store, without requiring advanced programming skills. This solution is particularly useful for individuals who want to manage their platform but lack coding knowledge or the ability to build websites from scratch.

What to Consider When Choosing a CMS?

There are many CMS options on the market, each differing to some extent. The key to success during the selection process is knowing what to focus on to ultimately choose a system that is easy to use, highly functional, and offers extensive customization options for your e-commerce platform. What are the most important factors?

Ease of Use

A user-friendly and intuitive CMS is a fundamental requirement. It should offer an easy-to-navigate admin panel, allowing you to make changes seamlessly. Also, evaluate how the store builder functions to ensure that implementing modifications later on will be hassle-free.

Number of Available Features

A CMS should provide extensive customization options—both in terms of the store’s design and functionality. Features such as built-in chat, product search, rating, and review system, and social media integration can significantly enhance your store.

How do you create an online store that works smoothly on all devices? Choose a CMS that allows seamless adaptation to smartphones and tablets to ensure a responsive and mobile-friendly e-commerce platform.

SEO

Many CMS platforms are designed with SEO optimization in mind, making it easier to improve your store’s search engine ranking. Look for features such as meta tag customization, keyword insertion, and built-in link management tools that can be accessed through a user-friendly editor.

Cost

Many aspiring online store owners opt for free CMS solutions, but this is not always the best choice. In reality, essential plugins and extensions required to build a fully functional store often come with additional costs, leading to unexpected expenses. In some cases, it may be more beneficial to invest in a paid CMS that includes all necessary features upfront.

As mentioned earlier, there are many content management systems (CMS) available on the market, making the selection process challenging. To help you decide, we have prepared a list of some of the most popular and highly rated CMS platforms—one of which may be the perfect fit for your online store.

WordPress

How can you set up an online store while keeping costs to a minimum? By choosing the highly popular WordPress! This free CMS provides full control over your website and access to various developer tools. It can be used to build a functional e-commerce store, though it requires some learning and practice. While specialized programming knowledge is not necessary, beginners may find WordPress management somewhat challenging at first.

Joomla!

Another option is the well-known Joomla!, which is also available for free. However, there are two key limitations—only two free templates are provided (the rest are paid), and hosting is not included (unlike WordPress). On the plus side, Joomla! offers extensive content management capabilities, particularly in terms of SEO, allowing store owners to optimize and control their website’s content effectively.

New call-to-action
New call-to-action

Squarespace

Squarespace is an advanced CMS that makes it easy to launch an online store. It includes powerful SEO tools, built-in email marketing features, and numerous integrations, such as social media, payment processing, and loyalty programs. While it is a comprehensive e-commerce solution, its major drawback is that it is not available in Polish.

Drupal

Among the most advanced CMS platforms, Drupal stands out, making it an excellent choice for experienced users. It is ideal for managing online stores because it supports high-speed processing of large amounts of data. Additionally, it offers access to tens of thousands of free extensions, allowing users to fully customize their e-commerce platform.

Shopify

How can you set up an online store in the simplest way possible? By using Shopify, a CMS specifically designed for e-commerce. Shopify provides various features for store management, enabling easy discount setup, payment processing, and product management. Additionally, it offers thousands of extra applications and a built-in analytics panel, making it a powerful solution for anyone looking to launch a professional online store.

How to Set Up an Online Store That Sells? 5 Key Aspects

Are you planning to run a profitable online store? You already know how to establish an e-commerce platform, but now you need to focus on its content and promotion, which should be your top priority. Even if you offer high-quality products, failing to present them effectively to your customers and promote them in the digital world will make success impossible. So how can you make your store user-friendly and highly popular?

1. Organize Your Products

Every product in your online store should be placed in the appropriate category. This allows customers to quickly find what they are looking for, increasing your chances of higher conversions. Implementing a search function in your store is also a great solution, as it helps customers navigate more efficiently.

2. Create Category and Product Descriptions

Setting up an online store is one thing, but managing its content is another. Keep in mind that well-crafted categories and product descriptions are what persuade customers to make a purchase. Ensure that they are engaging, written in a benefit-oriented language, and optimized with links and keywords. This will not only boost sales potential but also enhance visibility in Google search results.

3. Run a Blog

How can you launch an online store that also serves as a valuable resource for users? One of the best strategies is to maintain a blog within your store. Share product selection tips, in-depth descriptions, and other insightful content. By regularly publishing articles, you can also incorporate more internal links and keywords, which play a crucial role in SEO optimization and improving your store’s ranking.

4. Focus on Promotion

You now know how to open an online store, but your efforts cannot stop there. To achieve success, you must invest in effective digital marketing strategies. Several key marketing tools can help you drive growth, including:

  • Search Engine Optimization – Ensuring your store ranks high in search engine results, increasing online visibility.
  • PPC advertising – Running paid ads to promote products in search results and on Google partner websites.
  • Social media marketing – Managing your store’s profiles on Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms to engage with customers and build strong relationships.
  • Email marketing – Sending newsletters with special promotions, new arrivals, and exclusive offers to maintain customer interest.

Need Help? Consult Experts!

If you want to maximize your chances of success in e-commerce, consider entrusting the development and promotion of your store to professionals, such as the experts at Verseo. We can help you compete effectively in the market by optimizing your store’s layout, functionality, and content, saving you valuable time. This is the best way to enter the online marketplace with confidence and compete successfully against well-established brands from the very start!

Fill in the form and let us set up your online store!

New call-to-action
New call-to-action

Reduce your advertising costs by  20%!

Rate this article:

Average rating: 0/5 ( based on 0 ratings )

Author of the article

It’s been 8 years since Maciej took his first steps in the world of marketing - especially the one related to content. So far, he has worked for politicians and the b2b and b2c industries. A fan of content marketing in the digital strategy and its influence on customer navigation and brand reputation. He is also interested in the issue of Corporate Social Responsibility and sees this topic as a springboard for the communication development of many businesses. Responsible for marketing in Verseo. In his free time Maciej reads reports from the world and scientific + sci-fi literature. :)