Things to know before kick-starting your website

To develop a completely functioning website, you need to get familiar with some of the basic requirements. 

1. You need a web host.
2. You need a Domain name (Where people will find you). 
3. You need a website builder or a CMS solution (For managing the content on your website). 

Once you are done with the basics, check out this detailed procedure to kickstart a fully developed website for your D2C brand. The process starts from: 

Finding a web host

Finding a web host is the first step towards creating a website. It may appear to be frightening, but it isn't. It’s quite simple like hosting your files on your computer. But instead of a computer, if your files are hosted by a web server, anybody with an internet connection will have access to them. 

You don't have to manage your own server because there are hosting companies providing space on their servers for your website. The cost of reliable and affordable web hosting for new websites ranges from $3 to $10 per month.

However, before going with a particular web host, there are three primary factors that you must consider and these will be covered by all reputable web hosting providers. Just make sure you don't choose a shady one.

Up Time

The amount of time your website is up and running is referred to as uptime. People can't access your site if it's down, making it pointless.

Site speed

The speed of the site is extremely important and people don't stay on websites where the loading time is more. Google only ranks faster websites.

Customer service

Customer service is really important as there are problems with websites. It must be easy to avail the expert support and get your issues resolved.

Selecting a perfect domain name

The second step is to choose a suitable domain name for your website, which is your website name and address.

With your domain name, visitors can find you on the internet by simply typing the address in their web browsers. The cost of a domain name will range from $10 to $50 per year. The average cost is around $15.

If the domain name you want is already taken, don't worry. More than 300 million domain names have been registered, but there are still a billion more options. You can also use multiple tools for selecting a perfect domain name and those are:

Domainr

Domainr helps you to look beyond the obvious.com, .net and .org domains to find new and interesting domain names.

Lean Domain Search

The domain name generator at Lean Domain Search focuses on presenting unique and quirky domain names created with prefixes and suffixes.

NameBoy

NameBoy is a database and name generator that enables you to search the keyword in one or two words and allows the use of hyphens and rhymes.

Domize

Domize provides speed and security to search for domain names in encrypted surroundings and checks whether or not a domain name has been registered before or may be acquired.

NameStall

NameStall provides a suite of domain tools including a domain name generator. The domain name generator suggests a combination of two or three words along with branded names from five different domain categories. 

Managing content on your website

Once you are done with the domain name and web hosting, the final step is to find a suitable website builder or a CMS solution for managing the content on your website. So here is a list of those platforms for assisting you with website building and content management.

Wordpress.org

Our top pick for the best CMS platform is WordPress.org. It is the most widely used content management system in the world, powering about 35% of all websites. It’s a free open source content management system that was originally created for blogging but is now used by a wide range of websites and online stores.

Pros

• WordPress provides you with the freedom to create any type of website you want.
• It does not necessitate any technical or coding expertise.
• You have full control over how you make money online from your website.
• There are hundreds of paid and free WordPress themes and plugins available.
• It is well designed for search engine optimization

Cons

• You'll be responsible for setting up your hosting and domain name, as well as security and backups.
• When you first start using WordPress, it can be a little intimidating because it has so many choices and so much flexibility.

WooCommerce

The most popular e-commerce platform on the planet is WooCommerce. It's extremely adaptable and manageable. WooCommerce isn't technically a content management system. WooCommerce is a WordPress plug-in, so you'll need to have WordPress installed on your site to use it.

Pros

• WooCommerce is free software, but to get started, you'll need WooCommerce hosting and a domain name.
• There are many WooCommerce themes to choose from, making it simple to get your site looking exactly how you want it to.
• WooCommerce has a plethora of extensions that allow you to enhance your site's functionality.
• WooCommerce allows you to sell both physical and digital goods and allows you to sell affiliate products through affiliate links.
• By default, WooCommerce accepts PayPal and Stripe payments. You can also use plugins and add-ons to add additional payment gateways.

Cons

• WooCommerce offers a number of options, which can be a little bit daunting when you start a website.
• WooCommerce works with any WordPress theme technically, but for extended support, you may have to go with specific WooCommerce themes.

Shopify

Shopify is yet another hosted CMS platform that offers all-in-one functionality. You won't have to worry about buying hosting, installing software, or managing updates and backups. It has an easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface. It encourages in-store sales, which is beneficial if you have both a physical and an online store.

Pros

• The integrated payment system of Shopify, Shopify Payments, can accept credit and debit cards. Also included is PayPal as one of the standard payment providers for Shopify.
• Shopify is equipped with many extensions and themes. You can add a variety of features to your online store by purchasing third-party Shopify apps.
• Unlike BigCommerce, you don't have to upgrade if your sales exceed a certain dollar amount.
• Shopify offers live chat, email, phone, and even Twitter support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There's also a plethora of documentation and discussion boards online.

Cons

• When you try to add a lot of third-party apps to your store, your expenses will quickly add up.
• The apps available on Shopify are more limited than those available on WordPress. So sometimes you may want to install a function but that won’t be available.

Magento

Magento is a robust open-source eCommerce platform from Adobe, the world's largest software company. You can also download and install the Magento Open Source on your web hosting account, which is a free version of Magento.  

If you want to use the free version, then it would be easiest to start with SiteGround Magento hosting. However, if you wish to go with the paid one, then there is Magento commerce, which comes with full support, but is very costly.

Pros

• Magento is extremely versatile, with a plethora of third-party extensions available for adding additional functionality.
• Magento allows you to manage a large number of products and customers. It allows your company to expand without slowing down your website.
• Nike, Ford, and Coca-Cola are just a few of the well-known brands that use Magento.
• Magento supports a variety of billing gateways. It also includes built-in options such as PayPal, bank transfer and cash on delivery.

Cons

• Magento can be intimidating if you're just getting started in e-commerce.
• Finding good developers for Magento projects can be difficult, and hiring them can be costly.
• Support can be inconsistent, especially if you're using Magento Open Source and relying on online forums for assistance.

Wrap up

The importance of having your own website in your e-commerce strategy cannot be overstated. It's a fantastic way to build your brand, gain loyal customers, learn new things, and be more creative with your marketing.

With the increasing popularity of the Internet and technological advancement, buying and selling online is now much faster and easier than ever before. Internet users are no longer restricted to doing research or sending emails from their desktop computers. Now people use laptops, tablets and even mobile phones to make more purchases and even sell goods over the Internet. You can tell your customers about your business, show off your goods, and accept payments online if you have an eCommerce website.

Written by:

Basit Manzoor 

Content Writer 

Logibricks Technologies Private Limited 

Email: basit@logibricks.in