Nowadays, online stores are dominating the top of global commerce, and searching for a way to create an online store has become a necessity due to the profits they offer and the time and effort they save. In fact, creating online stores is no longer a luxury for two main reasons:
- First Reason: The enormous size of the e-commerce market, which exceeds tens of millions of dollars in the Arab world, yet with only a limited number of online stores. This presents a great opportunity that merchants should take advantage of by learning how to open an online store, especially in Saudi Arabia.
- Second Reason: The low cost of creating an online store compared to physical stores, which require a lot of time, effort, money, and complex logistics with high risk. On the other hand, the way to create an online store is much more cost-effective in terms of time, effort, and money. Moreover, there is more than one way to create a free online store for a strong start.
Why You Need to Learn How to Create an Online Store
There are many advantages that a merchant gains when creating an online store, including:
- Online stores save time, effort, and money.
- Constant availability to users 24/7, which means increased profit opportunities.
- Easy access for users to the online store via phones and computers without the need for physical movement.
- Convenient payment methods, including all types of electronic payments, in addition to cash on delivery.
- Ability to gather customer feedback through reviews, allowing the merchant to identify strengths and weaknesses.
- User comfort in browsing products and knowing the details of each item without wasting the merchant's time.
- Opening new markets for your business that are hard to reach through traditional stores.
Steps to Create an Online Store
For the best way to create an online store, there are several important steps that must be considered during the process to ensure its success:
Choosing the Right Product
The most important step in opening an online store is to determine the product or category your online store will focus on, and study it well. You must ensure that the product is unique and in demand, so you can generate proper profits instead of entering a tough competition with many providers of the same product.
If you don't have a clear idea about the product your store will revolve around, you can follow these steps:
- Brainstorm with your team or family and make a list of products or categories you can target.
- Search through various online stores for best-selling products.
- Study different markets and identify user needs that you can fulfill.
Once you've settled on a specific product, there are some things you need to make sure you plan well:
Finding Suppliers
There are many products and services that customers are looking for, but this alone isn't the main factor in choosing the product category your store will offer. The best way to create an online store must include the ability to secure product availability through clear contracts and agreements to ensure that customers can always find what they need easily.
Identifying the Target Audience
Although online stores have a wide reach, you still need to identify your target audience and relevant factors such as:
- Geographical location
- Age
- Occupation
- Financial status
- Marital status
- Buying behaviors
- Customer needs
- Behavioral patterns
And other details that help you build a loyal customer base and ensure their long-term commitment to your store.
Competitor Analysis
Entering a specific market requires a deep understanding of that market. The best way to create an online store and ensure its success must include identifying and analyzing competitors, understanding their strengths and weaknesses, and learning more about the target segment through analyzing their audience as well.
Building an Online Store
You can choose your preferred way to create an online store from two main methods, each with its own advantages. Select the one that suits your needs:
Building a Website
You can build a website from scratch with the help of a team of professional developers. This gives you full control over how to create an online store that reflects your brand identity and leaves a unique footprint that distinguishes you from competitors.
Choosing a Ready-Made Platform to Build Your Store
This is a method to create an online store using specialized applications for building e-commerce platforms. Its main advantage is that it does not require technical skills or extensive programming knowledge. It allows you to host your online store and link your chosen domain name to the hosting service. One of these applications is Zid.
The Zid application offers many features that make it a great option for e-commerce, especially for small and medium-sized businesses. Here are some of the main features:
- Ease of use: The application helps business owners create online stores without advanced technical skills. It offers a simple and user-friendly interface.
- Comprehensive integration: The store can be connected to various tools and services through integration apps provided by Zid, such as payment services, delivery solutions, and inventory management—making it easy to manage the entire store from one place.
- Accurate reports and analytics: The application provides periodic reports to track performance, such as the number of visitors, sales, and customer data, helping you make data-driven business decisions.
- Custom design: Zid offers customization options to match your brand identity, which helps you create a unique and appealing shopping experience.
- Comprehensive support:** Zid provides continuous technical support to assist users in case of any issues. It also offers workshops and educational resources for store owners.
- Easy scalability and growth: Zid helps expand your online business quickly, allowing store owners to reach a wider audience and increase their sales.
- Marketing and promotion: It includes features that support product promotion, such as setting up discounts, promotional campaigns, and using digital marketing tools.
Free Online Store Design
Designing the online store is one of the foundational elements of building a successful e-commerce site. The design impacts many factors that determine the success of your business. The best way to create a successful online store is through seamless integration between UI (User Interface) and UX (User Experience) design. This provides the customer with a smooth, comprehensive, and comfortable shopping journey, increasing their trust in your brand and making them more loyal.
Fehris is a great choice for online store design, offering many advantages that ensure an ideal user experience. These advantages include:
- *Arabic Language Support: This ensures the success of your store in the Arab region by allowing users to easily interact with your online store.
- Auto-Complete: This helps users reach the desired search results more quickly.
- Filtering: This narrows the user’s search scope, making it easier to find the desired product.
- Product Recommendations: You can continue engaging with the customer even after purchasing a product by recommending similar or related products. This provides a complete shopping experience for the user and noticeably increases your profits.
- Data Analytics: The Fehris tool offers regular analysis of your store’s data, highlighting areas of strength and weakness and user behavior, which makes it easier to improve the store and offered services.
- Ready-Made Templates: This is the best way to create an online store easily and with great flexibility. You can find ready-to-use templates and apply them to your site in just 30 seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best platform to build an online store for beginners?
Salla and Zid are two excellent platforms for beginners due to their simple interfaces and ease of use.
How much does it cost to create an online store?
The cost of creating an online store varies depending on the platform and features you choose.
How do I promote my online store?
You can promote your store through social media, search engines, paid ads, and email marketing.
What is the importance of Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?
SEO helps increase your store’s visibility in unpaid search results, attracting more visitors.
What is the method to create a successful online store?
- Choosing the right product.
- Building an online store.
- Designing a free online store.
How to open a free online store on Zid?
You can start your free trial for 14 days with no commitments or credit card details.
