Magento is a secure, reliable software platform. Most SMB’s and enterprises use it to help create their shops. Also, it can be molded to your requirements as its highly customizable. You can choose where you can choose your hosting environment (Magento hosted, self-hosted).
Here’s a list of some of its features:
– Optimized for performance and speed
– SEO friendly compared to other e-commerce platforms
– List of extensions for each functionality
– Can be integrated with enterprise systems via extensions
And on this guide, we’re going to show you how to create your own eCommerce store so you can present your products to your clients.
Let’s get started!
Hosting
The first thing you should consider is what version of Magento you plan to use and its method of hosting. You can choose either Magento Enterprise Edition or Magento Community Edition (Magento CE). For the purpose of this guide, let’s assume that you’re using Magento CE.
To make the process easier for you, search for a host that pre-installs Magento for you. While the installation process isn’t difficult, but if you’re not technically adept, then this might be an issue you’d want off your plate.
Also, it’s a good idea to find a hosting company that has experience using Magento. Magento agencies like RVS Media will also be able to give you technical support if you’re having issues with the website.
Design
Now you’re thinking “Now that I’ve gained hosting, do I need a good designed to help my site stand out?” While it would help, there is a myriad of designs (site themes) that have been made and plugged right into your Magento store.
Some of them are free but pay a premium for some of their professional themes. In that case, all you have to do is change the logo to fit the brand of your company. This is cheaper than having a designer that would charge you 10x – 20x the cost. But, you can make an e-commerce website using Magento at an inexpensive price that fits your budget.
NOTE: You should think how your design is going to look on every device. How it looks on a desktop will look completely different when viewed on smartphones and tablets. Because of this, you should get a design that’s responsive so that all of your viewers can see it. Google search – Magento – Responsive Themes and use which one appeals to you the most.
Catalog, Payments, and Email
When making an e-commerce website using Magento, you have to create an easy way for your customers to pay and interact with your site.
The last thing you need to do is get your product catalog, payments and a transactional email set in place. Search around for product templates and then place your products onto it so that you can start selling to your customer base.
Obtaining payment for your products is very important. PayPal is the main form of payment, making it easier for PayPal account holders to take orders within minutes. Search the PayPal options that are in the configuration menu. Additional methods can be used, you can use SagePay, and there are a lot of other payment platforms that can be integrated.
The last thing you have to create is a transactional email. These work by notifying you whenever a customer has made a payment or requested a password that’s generated by its system. Magento has these emails pre-supplied, but only require you to make minor edits. Do through by pressing System > Transactional emails to adjust your email according to your preferences.
Conclusion
So what’s next? You have to continuously refine and modify your site according to the client’s need. Doing this allows you to adapt to the market and obtain more profit. Conclusively, keep up with your site, and you’ll see how Magento can improve your business!
