Creating your own eCommerce website is an important step for anyone who wants to sell products or services online. Unlike marketplaces, your website gives you full control over your brand, product range, delivery, and payment conditions. This is your online store that works 24/7 and helps build direct relationships with customers.
Why a Business Needs an eCommerce Website
- Independence from marketplaces and aggregators
- Control over customer experience and analytics
- Flexibility in design, promotions, and inventory
- Increased brand recognition
- Enhanced trust in your business
Even the simplest website generates more trust among buyers than a social media page.
Why You Should Build a Website Yourself
Building a website yourself saves budget at the early stages, allows you to better understand your audience, and enables quick changes. Modern tools allow you to create a fully functional online store without programming skills. And in the future, if needed, you can always hire developers.
This approach is ideal for:
- Small businesses — such as local shops, bakeries, workshops
- Startups — at the MVP stage to quickly test an idea
- Private sellers — handmade goods, vintage items, dropshipping
- Those selling through social networks but wanting their own space for business
Define Your Goal and Niche
Before starting to build your website, it's important to clearly understand what you are selling and to whom.
What Will You Sell?
Define the category: physical goods, digital products, subscriptions, or services. This affects platform choice, site structure, and payment/delivery methods.
Competitor Analysis
Study competitors' websites: how they look, what categories and products they offer, and how they position themselves. This will help identify strengths and weaknesses and find your unique differentiator.
Target Audience Profile
Who is your buyer? Age, interests, behavior, pain points. This influences the style of the website, content, structure, and functionality.
Unique Selling Proposition (USP)
Why should a buyer choose you? Fast shipping, exclusive products, best price, personalization — it’s important to convey this through your website.
Choose a Website Platform
Choosing the right platform is foundational. There are two main paths: SaaS website builders and CMS systems. Below is an overview of popular options.
1. Site.pro — SaaS Website Builder with eCommerce Functionality
A great option for beginners and small businesses. Advantages:
- AI-powered site generation — Site.pro creates a ready-made site in seconds based on a simple description, which you can later customize.
- Ready-to-use eCommerce templates — no need to start from scratch. Choose a suitable layout, customize, and use.
- User-friendly interface available in many languages (40+).
- Built-in server — no need to search separately. Site files will be hosted locally in different counties.
- Integrated cart, payment, and delivery options. Supports payments via PayPal, Stripe and more.
Suitable for those who want to launch a store quickly and without programming.
2. Shopify
An international platform with powerful features. Easy to use, supports multiple payment and shipping methods. Suitable for those targeting an international market, though it may be expensive to start.
3. Ecwid
Can be added as a module to an existing website. Ideal for turning a blog or landing page into a store. Convenient to start with, but limited in customization.
4. WordPress + WooCommerce
One of the most popular and flexible options. Requires more time and skills, especially when setting up hosting and security. However, it offers almost unlimited possibilities at a low cost.
5. OpenCart, PrestaShop
Suitable for technically advanced users. Allow detailed customization of the store, but require technical knowledge and separate hosting.
Comparison of Approaches
|
Platform
|
Ease of Use
|
Flexibility
|
Price
|
Security
|
|
Site.pro
|
★★★★★
|
★★★★☆
|
Affordable
|
Built-in
|
|
Shopify
|
★★★★☆
|
★★★☆☆
|
Expensive
|
High
|
|
Ecwid
|
★★★★☆
|
★★☆☆☆
|
Moderate
|
Good
|
|
WordPress + WooCommerce
|
★★★☆☆
|
★★★★★
|
Inexpensive
|
Depends on Hosting
|
|
OpenCart, PrestaShop
|
★★☆☆☆
|
★★★★★
|
Inexpensive
|
Requires Setup
|
Register a Domain and Connect Hosting
How to Choose a Domain Name
- Simple, easy to read and remember
- Preferably use .com, .store, or .shop
- Avoid long phrases and hyphens
- Can include a keyword (e.g., summer-shoes.com)
Where to Buy a Domain
- You can buy domain directly on Site.pro and connect it to your website. Site.pro also offers up to 20% discount on domains depending on the plan.
- International: GoDaddy, Namecheap
Choosing Hosting (if not using SaaS)
If you're using WordPress, OpenCart, or another CMS, you'll need hosting. Criteria:
- Fast loading speed
- PHP/MySQL support
- SSL certificate
- Backup options
- Technical support
Popular hosting providers: Timeweb, Beget, Fozzy, Hostinger.
If you're using a website builder like Site.pro, nothing needs to be purchased separately.
How to Connect a Domain to the Platform
- On Site.pro, simply link the domain you’ve already purchased to the appropriate website.
- In SaaS platforms — enter the domain name, and the system guides you (e.g., DNS settings).
- In CMS — set the domain in hosting and site settings, install SSL, and configure redirects.
Set Up the Website Structure
A convenient structure is key to good user experience and high conversion. Think about how users will search for products, place orders, and get information about your business.
Homepage
This is the shop’s calling card. Tell visitors who you are, what you sell, showcase top-selling items, promotions, or categories. Most importantly, make it clear and compelling from the first screen.
Product Catalog
Plan the catalog structure: categories, subcategories, filters (by price, size, color, etc.). A well-organized catalog helps customers find what they need quickly.
Product Pages
Each product card should contain:
- Photos (preferably 3–5 images)
- Title and short description
- Price, discounts, options (color, size)
- “Add to Cart” or “Buy” button
- Reviews, specifications, delivery info
Shopping Cart and Checkout
The checkout process should take only 1–2 steps. Don’t overload the form — only ask for essential details. Include payment and delivery options.
Informational Pages
- About Us — builds trust
- Contacts — address, email, phone, map
- Payment and Delivery — terms, timelines, costs
- Return Policy and Privacy Policy — required by law
Create and Upload Products
Preparing Product Cards
Each card should be created carefully:
- Photos: high quality, preferably on a white background
- Title: accurate product name
- Description: benefits, composition, usage instructions
- Specifications: size, weight, materials
- Price: including discounts and taxes
- Availability: in stock or pre-order
Categories and Filters
Group products logically — this makes navigation easier. Add filters: by price, brand, attributes.
SEO Settings
For each product, specify:
- Title and meta description
- SEO-friendly URLs
- Alt tags for images
Importing Products
If you have a large selection, use import from Excel/CSV. Platforms like Site.pro often provide bulk upload or even automatic import from other sites.
Set Up Payment and Delivery
Online Payments
Connect popular payment systems:
- SBP / YooKassa
- PayPal / Stripe (for international audiences)
In many builders (including Site.pro), integration is done via API or in just a few clicks.
Alternative Payment Methods
- Cash on delivery
- Bank transfer
Delivery
Set up various delivery options:
- Pickup
- City courier
- Postal services
- Courier services with API integration
You can set delivery costs by zones, weight, or offer free shipping for orders above a certain amount.
Design and User Experience
The visual aspect of your website is the first thing users see. Convenience, style, and mobile optimization directly impact trust and sales.
Choose a Suitable Template
Website builders like Site.pro and Shopify offer ready-made eCommerce templates. Pay attention to:
- Whether the template suits your type of product
- If it has necessary blocks (catalog, product card, reviews)
- If it is responsive (displays correctly on smartphones)
Customize Visual Style
- Use brand colors and fonts
- Avoid clutter — more whitespace
- Buttons should be visible
- Consistent style across all pages — a unified brand feel
Navigation and Usability
- Menu should be simple and clear
- Add site search
- Place contacts in the header and footer
- Make the “Add to Cart” button accessible from any page
- Check the order placement process for ease
Responsiveness
Ensure the site works correctly on:
- Smartphones
- Tablets
- Different browsers
Over 50% of buyers come from mobile devices, and an inconvenient interface leads to lost customers.
Connect Analytics and Tracking
To understand how users behave on your website and what drives sales, you need to set up analytics.
Main Tools
- Google Analytics — track traffic, behavior, conversions
- Facebook Pixel / TikTok Pixel — for social media ads
- eCommerce reports — show which products are bought and where customers drop off
What to Track
- Traffic
- Behavior on site (click maps, depth of view)
- Conversions (cart additions, purchases)
- Traffic sources
These insights help improve the site and reduce customer acquisition costs.
Launch and Test the Website
Before launching, ensure everything works correctly.
Pre-Launch Checklist
- All pages open and display correctly
- All products are added and properly formatted
- Payment and delivery are configured
- Forms work (feedback, orders)
- SSL certificate is installed (https)
- The site is indexed by search engines (robots.txt, sitemap.xml)
Test Purchase
Make a test order to check:
- Cart and checkout process
- Email notifications
- Payment system
- Admin panel functionality
Promoting Your eCommerce Website
Your website is ready — now it's time to drive traffic.
SEO
- Fill in meta tags
- Add unique product descriptions
- Use keywords
- Build a structure with SEO-friendly URLs
Paid Advertising
- Google Ads / TikTok Ads
- Search and product-based ads
- Quick traffic, but requires budget and expertise
Social Media
- Instagram, Facebook, TikTok — showcase and communication channels
- Run targeted ads
- Use retargeting (ads for people who visited your site)
Email Marketing
- Build a customer database
- Send emails with new arrivals, promotions, reminders about abandoned carts
Common Mistakes When Building an eCommerce Website Yourself
Ignoring Mobile Optimization
If the website isn't mobile-friendly, up to 70% of potential buyers will leave. Always test responsiveness.
Complicated Checkout Process
Long forms, unnecessary fields, hidden buttons — all reduce conversion. The checkout should take 1–2 simple steps.
Poor Product Photos
Products without photos or with poor-quality images don't inspire trust. One good photo is better than five bad ones.
No Info on Delivery and Returns
Users must clearly understand when and how they’ll receive the item and what to do if something doesn’t fit.
Lack of Analytics
Without data, you can't improve the site. Set up analytics immediately and monitor key metrics.
Conclusion
Creating an eCommerce website yourself is entirely possible. Modern builders like Site.pro allow you to launch a full-featured online store without programming skills. It's a great option for small businesses, startups, and private sellers.
It's important to clearly define your goals, choose the right platform, design a user-friendly website, and plan promotion. Above all — start simple, test, and gradually improve.
If you feel your site is growing and needs more capabilities — you can always bring in specialists or switch to more advanced solutions.