4 simple steps to launch a successful online store
Congratulations on creating your SumUp Online Store. You’ve taken the first step towards building an online business, and we want to help you at every step in your journey. This first Help Card will show four ways to make the launch of your store smooth and successful.
Complete the setup guide
The setup guide makes it easy to get your store up and running. To complete it, all you need to do is:
Add one or more items to your catalogue
Set at least one shipping or pickup method
Tweak the store’s layout
Choose your preferred URL
Press publish
And that’s it. The setup guide is located right at the top of the overview page, so you won’t miss it.
Make your items stand out
Give customers a reason to shop by making items easy to browse. Write descriptions that show who the items are for, essential details like size and materials, and how or when a customer might use them. The trick is to keep it simple (avoid jargon) and be clear about the benefits.
Attractive images are an important purchasing decision factor, so it’s essential to include them with every item you sell. Of course you can take photos with a DSLR camera, but a smartphone also does the job. Read about how to do product photography with just your smartphone at our next ecommerce guide.
Step into your customers’ shoes
Now that you’ve finished the setup guide and added item descriptions and photos, it’s a good time to test the checkout experience for yourself. This gives you the chance to go through the store and look for mistakes or gaps you might have missed.
Are there any typos? Do images render properly? How does it look on desktop versus mobile? After checking these, add an item to the basket and head to the checkout. Do shipping and payment methods work and are you able to make a purchase? If the answer is yes, your store is ready for business.
Get the word out
It’s now time to let customers know your store is open. Look at the channels you have available to market your store and prepare a launch plan. This will typically include:
An email list
Social media
SEO – read our SEO guide here
Paid advertising – via search engines and social media
Why not also spread the word through your friends and family? It can help to raise awareness of your store through their own networks. This will leverage a larger audience than what you have on your own. Lastly, don’t forget to add links to your social media profiles inside the online store. This can help you build a following of happy customers in every channel.
