With things being difficult due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the economies around the globe have stumbled down. The bricks and mortar stores have been closed for a while now and a lot of businessmen are struggling to survive the crisis. If you are a small or mid-sized merchant, then you may have the confusion – If moving your business online is going to help you confront the current crisis?
Well, the eCommerce development service providers bring into the discussion a clearer view of how helpful is it for the small businesses to move online?
Moving Your Small Business Online Amidst Coronavirus Crisis: Advantages
Let’s talk about some of the interesting facts related to the same. It would not be an understatement if I say, when the world is at halt it is only the eCommerce that is running. From groceries to other essentials being available online, people find it easier to stay in. E-commerce has taken a new meaning with the outbreak of this pandemic and people are looking forward to taking their businesses online.
People are forced to stay indoors and shop online. The sudden shift would only add to the popularity of online shopping.
Let’s bring this discussion to an end here. Now, you know that an eCommerce website is essential to survive the economic downturn. Let’s further discuss how to open an online store.
How to Open an Ecommerce Store: Simple Steps to Follow
Before we get into the details of how and when of developing an eCommerce store, let’s see what are the important aspects that you need to consider. These are a few functionalities that are needed for the smooth running of the website and the business.
- Online Store Software
- Hosting
- Security and Backups
- Shipping Software
- Payment Gateway
Now that you are all set to develop an eCommerce website, the next thing that you need to do is find the right CRM solution that can help you serve the purpose. Well, the best e-Commerce solution providers suggest using Joomla for an easy to access and user-friendly solution. So, without wasting much of your time, let’s see how one can develop an e-Commerce website with Joomla.
Easy Steps to Build Your E-Commerce Website
Step 1: Hikashop: Download and Install
Download the Hikashop extension from the Joomla website and install it from the Joomla extension. You can download the free version or the premium version as per your business requirements.
Easy? Yes. Congratulations you are one step closer to building your E-commerce website.
Step 2: Product Category: Create Quick
It is important to create a product category if you want to enjoy all the benefits of the extension. If you think you don’t need a product category, then you can continue without one. This would only limit your advantages. To directly add a product all you need to do is, select the “Product Categories” option from the side menu and add your product.
In case you want several categories, select the “Root” option from the menu, and create new categories.
Aha! Your product would be available online after the next few steps.
Step 3: Flaunt the Product: Add Details of Your Product
Now that you are set with the product categories, the next step is to add the product details. Adding details here would take a little of your time. All you need to do is, click on the new product button and a list of options would open up. You are expected to fill the product name, category, cost, and other details here.
Basically you are setting up your store in this step.
Your store is almost ready!
Step 4: A Bigger EStore: Add Categories, Images, and Prices
Once you have filled the basic details, the next step is to add more product categories, images, and prices. The “New” button is to create new products from the product manager. The next steps are :
Click Add→ Root→ Ok
After this, you can simply add some of the images of the products that you have added to the store. This would help you woo your customers easily.
Important Tip: Use high-quality images that would be compatible with different screen sizes.!
Step 5: Paint Better Picture: Add Characteristics
Here you need to add the variants of your products if any. There could be a product that is available in different sizes or flavors. You can add variants to that product and get your things in place. Once you are done with the above-mentioned steps save the changes. Next, move to the Characteristics Manager and then the Products dropdown. After you click the top menu, you can add images of the variants and name them.
Woah! Setting up the store takes time.
Step 6: Open Your Store: Publish Products in Frontend
We have everything set here. All that is left is to publish everything in the frontend. You can get your store published in several ways. Here we would talk about the two most popular ways.
One way is to publish the products on a separate page linking on the main menu. To publish the products on the main menu, add a menu item
Menu→Main Menu→Add New Menu Item
After this fill in the details, save and close.
The other way is to publish products on the module position. In the case of Joomla, module positions may vary from template to so, better go for separate page linking.
See How Easy It Was
Setting up a Joomla store is easy. Just a few steps and you are all set to take your business to the digital domain. In a world where everything has shrunk to the palm-size, it is important you walk with the trends. If you are thinking about how to choose the right E-commerce solution provider company, then relax. It’s easy.
Wrapping It Up!
If you are all set to get things on the digital domain, then without much ado hire the best Joomla developers and get your eCommerce store hit the market now. It is important to realize online shopping is the new trend and even after lockdown, it is going to be people’s most loved alternative.
Scarlett is a technical writer associated with A3logics. She is an avid reader and has a keen interest in eCommerce development. She loves to explore the technical possibilities of the eCommerce industry. In her free time, she loves to have coffee and read books.