An e commerce store can give you a continuous source of side income to help you save for special purchases or to use in case of emergency and can even grow to become your primary source of income over time.

If being your own boss and working full-time at your own business is your ultimate goal, it’s important that you get your e commerce store off to the best possible start. That’s why you need to do some careful work long before you even begin to build your site. You need to start off by deciding just what you plan to sell, what you’ll call your online store and how you’ll create a brand. This guide will teach you how to do just that step by step.

Step 1: Narrow Your Niche

A successful e commerce store needs to have a distinct focus, which is also sometimes referred to as a niche. You can’t expect to be all things to all people and to sell something for everyone like Amazon.com or Walmart.com. As a small business, you need to have a clear area of specialty that is obvious to your customers. The most successful entrepreneurs select a very specific target market to cater to with their online stores and then gradually expand it.

Take me for a sample. I sell dance clothing, something that I myself would never purchase. My site only features dance apparel. You won’t find workout clothing or yoga clothing or athletic gear in my inventory. Instead, dancers, dance moms and dance teachers can find everything that they need for their needs at my website.

Spend a little time thinking about the kind of niche you’d like to sell to. You may want to choose one that’s related to your interests and experience, but I’m proof that it’s not necessary to do so to succeed.

Step 2: Decide What to Sell

Once you have chosen your niche, you need to determine exactly what you should sell at your online store. There are a number of ways that you can figure this out. It’s a great idea to start by surveying the market to which you plan to sell. Once you determine what your ideal customer needs and wants, it will be easier to figure out what to carry.

Another way to gain insight into what you should sell is by doing keyword research using Google’s Keyword Planner tool. Figure out exactly what people are searching for online. After you have a good list of keywords, try Googling different types of products that people sell. Which products have the least competition? Which have the most? Google Trends can also help you see when interest in products is continuously increasing or if it’s trending downward.

Step 3: Buy a Domain Name

The next step in the process is creating the right domain name for your business. The best domain names will have one keyword in it to help with SEO. For example, my website is called “bdancewear.com.”

Step 4: Get a Logo Made

Next, you need to have a custom logo created for your company. The logo is important as it helps to solidify your brand and make your site look professional. You can try to create your own logo in Photoshop or use a site like Fiverr, UpWork or 99Designs to hire a freelance graphic designer to create a custom logo for you.

Step 5: Get Started

Now this step may seem silly, but it’s the most important. Once you’ve done everything else, get into action and start your business. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve met would-be entrepreneurs who have a great idea for an online store but haven’t followed through with it. Some of them have even bought domain names and have logos and still are procrastinating. Don’t make that mistake! Seize the day and get your site launched. The process is simpler than you think.

An e commerce store can give you a continuous source of side income to help you save for special purchases or to use in case of emergency and can even grow to become your primary source of income over time.

If being your own boss and working full-time at your own business is your ultimate goal, it’s important that you get your e commerce store off to the best possible start. That’s why you need to do some careful work long before you even begin to build your site. You need to start off by deciding just what you plan to sell, what you’ll call your online store and how you’ll create a brand. This guide will teach you how to do just that step by step.

Step 1: Narrow Your Niche

A successful e commerce store needs to have a distinct focus, which is also sometimes referred to as a niche. You can’t expect to be all things to all people and to sell something for everyone like Amazon.com or Walmart.com. As a small business, you need to have a clear area of specialty that is obvious to your customers. The most successful entrepreneurs select a very specific target market to cater to with their online stores and then gradually expand it.

Take me for a sample. I sell dance clothing, something that I myself would never purchase. My site only features dance apparel. You won’t find workout clothing or yoga clothing or athletic gear in my inventory. Instead, dancers, dance moms and dance teachers can find everything that they need for their needs at my website.

Spend a little time thinking about the kind of niche you’d like to sell to. You may want to choose one that’s related to your interests and experience, but I’m proof that it’s not necessary to do so to succeed.

Step 2: Decide What to Sell

Once you have chosen your niche, you need to determine exactly what you should sell at your online store. There are a number of ways that you can figure this out. It’s a great idea to start by surveying the market to which you plan to sell. Once you determine what your ideal customer needs and wants, it will be easier to figure out what to carry.

Another way to gain insight into what you should sell is by doing keyword research using Google’s Keyword Planner tool. Figure out exactly what people are searching for online. After you have a good list of keywords, try Googling different types of products that people sell. Which products have the least competition? Which have the most? Google Trends can also help you see when interest in products is continuously increasing or if it’s trending downward.

Step 3: Buy a Domain Name

The next step in the process is creating the right domain name for your business. The best domain names will have one keyword in it to help with SEO. For example, my website is called “bdancewear.com.”

Step 4: Get a Logo Made

Next, you need to have a custom logo created for your company. The logo is important as it helps to solidify your brand and make your site look professional. You can try to create your own logo in Photoshop or use a site like Fiverr, UpWork or 99Designs to hire a freelance graphic designer to create a custom logo for you.

Step 5: Get Started

Now this step may seem silly, but it’s the most important. Once you’ve done everything else, get into action and start your business. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve met would-be entrepreneurs who have a great idea for an online store but haven’t followed through with it. Some of them have even bought domain names and have logos and still are procrastinating. Don’t make that mistake! Seize the day and get your site launched. The process is simpler than you think.