Launching an online store for physical products is exciting, but it requires solid pre-planning. In fact, many new eCommerce businesses fail after a few months due to lack of strategy. Therefore, before designing your website or investing in advertising, it is essential to prepare a plan that covers all fronts: business model, technological platform, logistics, marketing and more. In this checklist you'll find everything you need to have ready Before starting, to lay firm foundations and be able to successfully scale your digital business.

1. Business plan and market research

The first step is to outline your business and understand the market in which you will operate. Make sure to:

• Business model and value proposition: Define what products you will offer and to what type of customer, and decide if you will focus on end consumers (B2C) or companies (B2B). Establish what makes you different from the competition (your unique value proposition, e.g. unique crafts or more competitive prices).
  
  
• Ideal customer profile: Describe your ideal customer (age, location, purchasing power, interests) and their needs. Understanding your audience well will help you adapt your offer and messages.
  
  
• Market size and trends: Research the demand for your products and the trends in your industry. Use tools such as Google Trends, social networks or surveys to find out what your audience is looking for and how the market evolves.
  
  
• Competitors and opportunities: Identify your main competitors (other similar stores) and analyze what they are doing well. Look at their prices, catalog and service to detect opportunities where you can stand out.
  
  

Doing this research will allow you to fine-tune your business strategy before investing in the creation of the store.

2. Branding and identity

Choose a Brand name attractive and easy to remember, and check that it is available as a web domain (e.g. yourbusiness.com) and on social networks. Design a brand image consistent: create a logo and define colors and visual style for your site and promotional material, so that your business looks professional and generates trust with the public. Plan the basic structure of your store (categories, navigation menu, shopping cart, payment process) to offer a user experience simple and pleasant from day one.

3. Choose the right eCommerce platform

The choice of technological platform is a fundamental strategic decision. There are SaaS-type platforms (for example, BigCommerce) and other self-managed platforms that you install on your own hosting (such as WooCommerce on WordPress). For a growing store, a solution is right robust and scalable don't fall short as your products and traffic increase. BigCommerce stands out in this regard: it's a scalable platform with integrated advanced features (SEO, marketing, analytics) and no transaction fees, which protects your margins.

When comparing platforms, consider ease of use, customizability, and total cost. If you don't have a technical team, a SaaS platform saves you from hosting and technical maintenance. Choose well From the start to avoid costly migrations later on.

4. Operations and Logistics

Before launching, make sure you have resolved the operational issues that will sustain your store:

• Vendors and Inventory: Negotiate with your suppliers (prices, times) and try to have an initial stock for the launch. Define how you will manage the inventory (own warehouse, 3PL service or dropshipping).
  
  
• Product catalog: Compile all the information about your products (name, description, price, SKU, dimensions/weight and high-quality photos) so you can quickly upload them to the platform.
  
  
• Shipments: Define the shipping methods you will offer (messaging, mail, etc.) and their rates or conditions (e.g., free shipping from a certain amount). Make your shipping policy (scope, costs, times) clear in your store to avoid misunderstandings.
  
  
• Payments and legal: Enable secure payment methods (cards, PayPal, etc.) and verify that your platform is compatible with them, considering their commissions when setting prices. It also prepares the legal texts (terms and conditions, privacy, returns) in accordance with the regulations. Publishing these documents from the start builds trust.
  
  

5. Pre-launch digital marketing strategy

Don't wait until the last moment to plan the Marketing. Before opening your store, define how you will attract your first visitors and buyers. Some recommended actions:

• Social networks: Create profiles of your brand on the networks where your target audience is (Instagram, Facebook, etc.) and share previews of your products and content of interest to generate expectation.
  
  
• Content and SEO: Optimize your site for search engines (SEO) from day one, using relevant keywords in titles, descriptions and product sheets. In addition, create useful content that attracts organic traffic interested in your products.
  
  
• Email marketing: Enable a subscription form on your site to collect emails from potential customers. Then send an email announcing the release along with a opening discount to motivate them to make their first purchase.
  
  

These actions will help you generate traffic and sales right from the start, and will give you valuable data to adjust your strategy after the launch.

Conclusion

La prior preparation is the best ally for the success of your eCommerce. By following this checklist, you'll launch your store on a solid foundation, having covered all the key planning aspects. Now, let's get to work and a lot of success in your new online store!

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