Do you want to sell online? I'm not surprised. Everyone wants to know how to set up an online store, as e-commerce has been booming in recent years, especially in Arab countries.
If you're reading these lines, you're very excited, as this is the best time to start an e-commerce business. In addition, I will explain to you how to set up a step-by-step online store without having to learn programming, with the least possible time.
Requirements for the establishment of an electronic store
To build an online store, you'll need 3 basic things.
An e-commerce platform
such as WooCommerce or OpenCart that will enable you to build and manage the store and receive orders and money
Hosting sites
is a service that will enable you to publish your website and provide it to visitors throughout the week
Domain name or domain
which is the link of your online store that visitors will use to access the site such as amazon.com or Souq.com
The cost of setting up an online store
The cost of setting up an online store varies depending on the method you will adopt (in this article I will explain the best way).
If you choose to hire a company to program the online store from scratch, it can take 3 months and thousands of dollars to pay the company. In the end, the result may not be satisfactory. Plus, you'll need to go back to the company every time, in case you want to change anything, so the cost of maintaining the store is very expensive.
If you choose to set up the store through a ready-made e-commerce platform, the cost of setting up a professional e-store can range from $35 to $600 per year depending on the e-commerce platform you choose.
The first step is to choose an e-commerce platform
The first step to creating an online store is to choose the right platform for you and this is the best.
Shopify
Shopify is a fully hosted e-commerce platform starting at $29/month. The best thing about Shopifay is that it's easy to use and you can set up an online store in minutes.
While Shopifay allows you to customise your store's design, customisation options are limited when compared to a self-hosting e-commerce platform. You will also have to pay the transaction fee for each order in addition to the monthly fee. This means that your real cost will be higher than $29 per month, and will increase as your store grows.
Pros:
- Easy to use.
- You don't need to buy a hosting.
Cons:
- You can't fully control your location.
- Does not support Arabic.
- The platform is relatively expensive as it starts at $29 per month.
- You will have a problem with payment options for Arab countries.
- Not the best in terms of seo.
OpenCart platform
Features
- Source and free platform
- Supports Arabic in an acceptable way
- Let you camp in a good position
- Clear control panel
- Inexpensive
Disadvantages
- You need to host (it will cost you approximately $2 to $10)
- Not well improved for search engines
- Not suitable for beginners where you need some technical skills
WooCommerce Platform
Pros:
- Full control of your store.
- Fully support the horror language.
- The WooCommerce is an open source and free program.
- The possibility of major specialisation.
- Easy to learn.
Cons:
- You should host a site on your own (hosting costs approximately $3 per month).
- Have a lot of features that might make it confusing at first.
Why do we recommend using WooCommerce ?