As small businesses across the nation are striving to keep their doors open amid the coronavirus pandemic, there has been a massive influx of shoppers choosing to order products online for in-store pickup or delivery. This may sound like an intimidating task for busy leaders to implement during this hectic and unpredictable time, but Magento has now made it easier than ever to create efficient, beautifully customized websites at record speed; even for those who have no coding experience.
Here are the three key steps to begin setting up your own online store and getting your products back into the hands of your loyal customers:
1. Set Up a Headless eCommerce Platform
A “headless” or “API-based” platform simply means that the frontend is separated from the backend of an online store. Changes can be made on either end of the platform without disturbing anything occurring on the opposite side, which allows for agile, flexible development and customization. Other benefits of API-based commerce include:
- Deep personalization for individual customers.
- Efficient, reliable scalability.
- Improved marketing opportunities and campaigns.
- Optimized for omnichannel businesses.
2. Add Pickup and Delivery Methods
Straight out of the box, Magento has two incredibly valuable features for small businesses: Click & Collect and standard delivery methods. Click & Collect allows customers to order online and pick up their orders at your store. For customers who would prefer their items to be shipped directly to their homes, Magento Commerce provides three standard shipping options:
- Flat Rates
- Table Rates
- Carrier Integrations (USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL)
If you chose a headless eCommerce solution, integrating these helpful Magento tools should be easier than trying to add them to a traditional “coupled” platform. Other shipping and fulfillment solution partners can be found on the Magento Marketplace for additional customizability and support.
3. Customize and Optimize Your Store
After you’ve added your products, set up payment methods, and configured your shipping options, you can start to further enhance the look and feel of your website. Selecting the right theme, providing high-quality photos, having a responsive design, and following basic web design principles will help you take your store to the next level.
If you still feel overwhelmed at the prospect of creating an online presence at this time, Wagento is one of the hundreds of organizations that are coming together to provide support for business owners. The expert team at Wagento will follow strict guidelines to help you plan your project, access plenty of resources, and go live in 30 days or less.
For more information, visit Offline2On or check out Wagento’s page to see if your business could qualify for a completely free, professionally-designed website!
