How To Build a Magento Website: 10 Easy Steps to Create an Ecommerce Store?

When you’re planning to run an online store, choosing an E-Commerce platform can be challenging. But, you will always find Magento as a comprehensive solution for online retailers in the online market. Besides the pricing option, Magento offers numerous options along with some which depend on the annual revenue.

So, in this article, we will cover more about the various steps through which you can create an online store. If you don’t have time to develop an online store, approach a company that offers Magento development services.

What Should You Know About Magento Before Starting Your Ecommerce Website?

While you’re on the verge of using Magento as an E-Commerce solution, you must understand the various web development products. Such products include Magento Open Source, Magento Commerce, and Magento Commerce Cloud.

If you have set a budget for the online store, then it’s better to go for Magento Open Source. But, if you can be a bit more flexible with the price, you can choose between Magento’s AWS hosting or another provider.

On the contrary, you can consider Magento Commerce Cloud or Magento Commerce only when your team is working towards building a list of customers with similar interests.

How can you build an online store with Magento Open Source?

Now, let’s go through some steps that can enable you to build an online store. But, before you begin, creating a free account with Magento is always better.

You must always go through many steps to create an online store with Magento. While you have to initially choose a web server, you have to select a hosting provider and a domain name and install Magento Open Source. In case you don’t have much time or have difficulty with it, you can look for Magento web development services

Step 1: Review Magento’s Server Requirements

As you think about developing an online store through Magento, you first have to meet certain requirements for the server. You must later note down all the requirements before looking for a hosting provider. To use Magento, you will need a computer running on Linux x86-64 or Ubuntu.

Besides, you can also think about developing the website locally on Mac or Windows OS with the help of MAMP applications or virtualizations. Apart from Nginx or Apache as the web server, you must choose MySQL 5.6 or 5.7 as the database.

Step 2: Select a suitable Web Hosting Provider and a Domain Name

After considering a suitable server, you must choose a domain name and a hosting provider. Bluehost, Hostinger and DreamHost are some of the most popular sites that enable you to install Magento with just one click. But, when going through several plans, you must consider many factors.

In those instances, you must be concerned about the performance, security and many features. To ensure security for the website, you also have to ensure that the plan includes an SSL certificate and helps you with domain registration.

Step 3: Consider installing Magento Open Source

Soon after you purchase a plan, you must create an account and install Magento Open Source. Once you go to the product page, you have to click on the Get Started button and later click the ‘Download’ option. As soon as the download option directs you to the Magento Tech Resources page, you will find many ways to Download Magento Open Source.

Even when you can choose a certain format, we suggest you use Composer. Moreover, you can think about downloading the open source with or without sample data. If you’re going to install the platform all by yourself, then you can do it through the ‘Autoinstallers’ option in the cPanel.

Step 4: Configure the administration Settings

Even before you install the platform, you will have to configure the administration settings. As the installation is about to begin, you will see a prompt for customizing the Admin username and the password.

Later, you need to state the location where you want to install Magento. At that point in time, you also have to clearly mention the URL path that will take you to the admin login page. After customizing the settings, you have to click on ‘Install’.

Once you see a confirmation message on the computer screen, you have to click on the Admin URL, log in with the credentials, and check out the Magento Dashboard. When you can view the dashboard, you can later start developing the online store. 

Step 5: Install a suitable Theme for the online store

As you develop the online store, you initially have to select a theme for the store. To install the theme, you must obtain the access keys. When you log into the user account, you must go to the ‘Marketplace’ and generate the access keys under the ‘My Products’ section.

Afterwards, you have to note the private and public keys and return to the ‘Web Setup Wizard’. You must then enter the access keys and connect them with the site’s admin panel. Towards the end of this step, you have to search for a particular theme, click ‘Install’, and add it to the Extension Manager.

Subsequently, you must go to the Extension Manager and check whether the theme appears under ‘Review and Install’. Once you find the theme, select the box and click ‘Install’ to start the process. After that, you will have to go through a ‘Readiness Check’ to ensure the website’s compatibility.

Step 6: Customize Your Theme

After installing the desired theme, you have to go to the ‘Configuration’ section that you will find under ‘Content’. Next, you must change the settings by choosing the setup you wish to customize.

At that moment, you will view an interface allowing you to change the logo and many elements of the online store. Apart from this, you can determine the website’s overall structure once you start editing the web pages and widgets in the ‘Elements’ section.

But, before you move ahead, you must always understand the content hierarchy of Magento. You will also have to be aware of the term ‘scope’, which will help you apply different settings based on a certain context.

Step 7: Explore Extensions For Added Functionality

When you observe the Magento Marketplace, you will come across many extensions that can add functionality to the E-Commerce website. As soon as you filter the extensions based on certain parameters and the price, you have to follow the same steps you had observed with the installation of a theme.

But, as you select an extension, you must first download it and proceed with its installation. Furthermore, you will have to select the extensions depending on the goals that you have in mind.

Step 8: Modify Your Store Settings

Modifying the store settings is the last thing that you have to do before creating product pages. So, to change the settings, you will have to once again go to the ‘Configuration’ section under ‘Stores > Settings’.

Once you start filling the fields, you must clearly state the currency settings, the price scope, options related to shipping and payment, and the customer account settings. After changing the settings, you will have to click on the ‘Save Config’ button, so the settings are applied at the next instance.

Step 9: Spend some time setting up Product Pages

It’s actually quite simple and easy to set up product pages through Magento. If you go to ‘Catalog > Products’, you will observe a list of existing products and the ‘Add Product’ option. Once you plan to add a product, you will have to select its type from the dropdown menu.

Later, you have to state the product’s name, a short description, the SKU number, and other details that you think are important. Next, you will have to select a suitable image so that people can get an idea about what the product looks like.

Eventually, you have to click on the ‘Save’ button and remember to toggle on the ‘Product Online’ option. This step will later help to present the product on the website after some time. 

Step 10: Consider selecting options for payment and shipping

While you use Magento for the online store development, you will seek many shipping and payment options. To configure the payment modes, you must navigate to ‘Stores and Settings’ followed by ‘Configuration’.

Then, you will come across the ‘Payment Methods’ under the ‘Sales’ section. To add any information regarding the card types, you will have to click on the ‘Config’ option available with every payment gateway. But, for smooth product delivery, you must set up a solution using a certain extension.

Summary

You must always go through many steps to create an online store with Magento. While you have to initially choose a web server, you have to select a hosting provider and a domain name and install Magento Open Source.

Afterwards, you will have to configure the admin settings, customize a theme, and set up the product pages. In the end, you will have to confirm the modes through which a visitor can make the payment.