Create an eCommerce Website in 4 Easy Steps

Many people have dreams of being their own boss, but before the Internet became widely used, it was challenging to actually launch a business, and not everyone had the chance to be successful. Today, however, anyone may start an online store and sell their goods; this was not always the case. People are spending more time at home and online.

Moving your business online to offer goods and services, or eCommerce, is a significant step in the right direction. A content management system (CMS) is necessary for any online store in order to make it easier to create and modify the material of your online shop (listings, purchase orders, etc.). Thanks in part to its open-source, free software structure. So it is the perfect time for you to open your own Joomla online store.

Why chosing Joomla to create an eCommerce website?

You want to keep costs low for any kind of business. Furthermore, you would like it to be simple for you to use. You may also very quickly increase the functionalities of your website thanks to the enormous library of extensions, templates, and plugins available for Joomla. Additionally, there is a ton of help available because of the huge user community and numerous forums that have been active for years. A multi rewards winning CMS like Joomla will significantly reduce your deployment times and won't have as many bugs as building a site from the ground up.

Here's a 4 step guide we've written that will show you how to use Joomla to create your own eCommerce website. Let’s dive in!

Step 1: Select an hosting and a domain

To create an eCommerce website, you'll need an hosting and a domain name. Make sure your hosting environment is appropriate before installing and configuring your Joomla eCommerce site. To achieve this, you won't need exceptionally strong devices. But expert hosting from a service is advised if you want your store to function steadily and dependably regardless of how many people access it. Their hardware is typically more reliable, and the internet connection is typically better. A CMS-specific Joomla hosting package is also offered by some providers.

You must start from scratch if you want to develop a website for a store. Frequently, this entails purchasing the virtual "land" on which your internet store will be developed. You'll need to buy a domain name in order to do that.

Many hosting packages include a domain. If one isn't, you can purchase it individually. Choosing a relevant, memorable web address is a smart idea if you want your Joomla web store to be successful. Choose an appropriate domain name slowly.

Step 2: Choose your eCommerce solution

Now, you have to decide which eCommerce solution you want for your online store. This will helps you to find the best template with that eCommerce solution integrated:

• VirtueMart: has been running since 2005. Over 500 functionalities are available in the open source eCommerce solution to launch your global Joomla eCommerce store. To add even more features, use other VirtueMart plugins.

• J2Store: More than 350,000 downloads of J2Store have already been made. The plugin comes in two versions: a basic, free version with limited functionality and a pro edition (monthly subscription) with more features including coupons, vouchers, and invoice templates.

• HikaShop: Three editions of HikaSHop are offered. Those setting up their first Joomla eCommerce store should use the free Starter package. However, you need one of the paid (one-time payment) versions "Essential" (for small stores) or "Business" (for large stores) in order to run a store over the long term.

There are others eCommerce solutions available to create an online shop with Joomla. Discover them on the Joomla Extensions Directory.

Step 3: Select an eCommerce template

Pick a Joomla template with the eCommerce solution integrated you've selected. Here are some of the best examples to help you make your choice:

Step 4 : How to install an eCommerce website

No need to panic, we've found a very nice tutorial video that explains every step in details:

If you're not comfortable enough to run this step yourself, feel free to contact us and we'll manage it for you.

Congrats, you've created your online shop with Joomla!

The steps listed above are the most important ones when setting up a Joomla web store. If you've read this far, you should have a clearer idea of the considerations you need to make when creating your own eCommerce website by yourself.

We realize it will take a bit of work, but given how quickly the eCommerce market is expanding, you'll see that it is worthwhile once your company becomes successful in the long run. May the Force be with you!