While it is incredibly easy to build a site that sells goods, to make an online store that is actually successful requires time and careful precision. In other words, it requires the same type of dedication you would offer to a brick and mortar business. And, if you have the funds to invest in it, some money wouldn't hurt the growth of the online store as well.

The Business and the Domain Name

The first step is to determine what type of business you are going to have. Are you selling a certain type of product? Or, are you going to be offering a service? Understanding this information can make it easier when choosing your domain name. The domain name is the name that people are going to remember, so the more specific you can get, the better without making it too long.

One of the best types of domain names is your company name. If this is available, this is a beneficial way of getting the search traffic whenever people type in that company name. However, it is not available, try and find a different domain name that fits. Sites such as GoDaddy.com allow for inexpensive domain name purchases.

Choosing the Shopping Cart

You can take two routes when you get to this point. The first is to find an ecommerce template online that has a built-in shopping cart. Or, you can hire a designer to make the website for you. However, it should be noted that some shopping carts can cost as much as $800, so depending on how big your online store is going to be, it might be more advantageous to use an ecommerce template.

Once you have the site up on the web, set up the shopping cart so that you are getting the funds. One of the more basic shopping carts is PayPal or Google Check Out. You input the price for the good and when someone pays you for it, you get an email. That way, you can ship their product to them. However, PayPal and Google Check Out both take a fee. The best bet might be to stick with PayPal until the store is making more profit and then port over to a more powerful shopping cart.