When running your own business from home, the right tools are essential to your performance.

The success of your online store depends on the right e-commerce platform, full integration of digital systems, and even plugins.

Nowadays, technology has become a reality for small businesses and a priceless growth engine for little to no financial investment.

And if you’re still not convinced that the e-commerce business is the future, you should know that people worldwide spent nearly $4.29 trillion online during the Covid pandemic.

Let’s see what tools and integrations you may need for starting your own business from home while we navigate through the stages of online store creation.

Store Builder Choice

After you decide what to sell, the next step is finding an e-commerce solution. Online store builders help you connect to your customer no matter where they are located.

If you already have a website, all you need is an e-commerce integration such as Shopify, WooCommerce, or BigCommerce.

Keep in mind that you don’t need a complex platform to start your business. 

An easy-to-use solution that helps you connect to marketplaces like eBay or Amazon will do just fine.

One crucial aspect you must pay attention to is whether your store builder can handle dropshipping, warehousing, and shipping.

If you need more details on how these services work, read here.

A handy all-in-one solution is Mailchimp that integrates with many store builders and provides you with all the tools you might need.

Some of the features of Mailchimp help you create social media remarketing ads, send automated emails, or generate customized product recommendations.

When it comes to choosing an eCommerce platform, there are a few things you need to take into account. The most important decision is deciding what you want to sell.

Do you have a physical product or a service? Once you decide on what to sell, the next step is finding an eCommerce solution.

Online store builders help you connect with your customer no matter where they are located.

Keep in mind that you don’t need a complex platform to start your business.

Online Store Creation

An excellent way to start planning your online store is by choosing the right domain name.

If you are using an eCommerce platform, it might be included in the package, but if you are not, it is best to purchase one rather than continue without one.

Make sure your website domain is short and simple, as customers will want to quickly find what they’re looking for! 

After you choose the right domain name, you need to choose a template. At this stage, just rely on your creativity and select the design elements that represent your brand.

Squarespace is one of the tools that help you create professional websites for your business.

However, many entrepreneurs choose WordPress due to the thousands of free and premium themes.

Next, start adding your products and start merchandising.

Make sure you incorporate the products’ details and many beautiful pictures to help your customer make a choice.  

Lastly, you need to determine what payment method you accept. For example, Mailchimp and Squarespace have Stripe payment processors.

However, e-commerce platforms allow Visa and MasterCard payments or digital payment services like PayPal or Google Pay.

Marketing Your Online Store

After you have tested your online store, it is time to market your business. You can promote your store on social media and create email marketing campaigns at this stage.

Mailchimp is a great solution that helps you create customized email messages, so you definitely need to consider it for your newsletters.

Another strategy is to create Google remarketing ads. These represent a powerful way to recapture sales from your clients despite their location.

Apart from the already mentioned tools and integrations, there are other types of software that can help grow your business.

However, as the owner of a small business, you need to remember that implementing a bunch of solutions does not guarantee success.

You need to think strategically and select the tools that meet the basic requirements. It is better to start small and optimize gradually.

There are many different tools and integrations that you can use for your online business.

Remember to keep the following in mind: research your competition, set realistic expectations, establish a payment processing solution, and develop a marketing strategy.

With these tips in mind, you can launch your online store with confidence and start reaping the benefits of doing business on the web.