Starting Your Own Online Store Without Technical Skills

Overview

• Learn to start an online store on your own website without technical skills.
• Covers different options for setting up an e-commerce store.
• Part of a 10-part series; sign-up for full access.

Misconceptions

• You don't need thousands of dollars for a good-looking e-commerce website.
• Open-source shopping carts are available for free or minimal cost.

Main Options for Shopping Carts

1. Free Open Source Shopping Cart

   • Source code is free but requires self-hosting.
   • Cheapest option; requires some technical knowledge.
   • Offers full control over the source code.
   • WooCommerce recommended for its ease of use and large developer community.
   • Fits users comfortable with some tech skills.

2. Fully Hosted Shopping Cart

   • Managed by a third party (e.g., Shopify, BigCommerce).
   • Easy to use; no technical worries.
   • More expensive; less control over your site.
   • Ideal for those who prefer focusing on marketing and sales over website management.

3. Hybrid Shopping Cart

   • Adds e-commerce functionality to an existing website.
   • Companies like Ecwid or BigCommerce host the e-commerce portion.
   • Suitable for those with existing websites who want to integrate a shopping cart easily.

Details on Each Option

Open Source Shopping Carts

• Provides freedom: not tied to a provider.
• Full control over customization and functionality.
• Requires management of hosting and server maintenance.
• WooCommerce runs on WordPress, making it versatile for content marketing.
• Downsides include slower performance unless optimized.

Fully Hosted Shopping Carts

• Pay for convenience and support.
• No worries about security, downtime, or backups.
• Easier to start but can become costly with added features.
• Shopify and BigCommerce are popular options.

Hybrid Shopping Carts

• No need to change current website setup.
• E-commerce sections hosted by another company, preventing site slowdowns.
• Ideal for SEO when integrated with WordPress.

Recommendations

• Start with an open-source option for full control and low cost.
• Consider paid options if installation feels too complex.
• Beware that switching platforms is difficult later.

Additional Advice

• Avoid cheap solutions like Wix, Squarespace, due to lack of extensibility.
• Decide based on where you want to allocate time: website management vs. business operations.

Conclusion

• Free 10-part series available for more information.
• Sign up for a free 6-day mini course for further education in e-commerce.
• Consider platforms wisely based on business needs and tech comfort.