--- title: "How to Start an Ecommerce Business: 6 Steps to Online Success" description: Looking to start your own ecommerce business?  With online sales in the U.S. projected to grow to $600 billion by 2024, the world image: https://blog.miva.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/012020_BLOG_Start-Ecommerce-Business-Design-2-1.png --- - [![Miva, Inc logo.](https://www.miva.com/images/logos/miva-type-white.svg)](https://www.miva.com) - ![White X close button](https://www.miva.com/images/svg/icons/icon-x-white.svg) - Why Choose Miva - Solutions - [Why Miva Simplify Complexity](https://www.miva.com/why-miva) - [Platform Overview A Complete Ecommerce Solution](https://www.miva.com/platform-overview) - [Miva Connect Real-time Native Connections](https://www.miva.com/miva-connect) - [Vexture AI-powered Product Discovery](https://www.miva.com/vexture) - [PageBuilder No-code Page Creation](https://www.miva.com/pagebuilder) - [MivaPay Flexible Native Payment Solution](https://www.miva.com/mivapay) - Business Type - [B2B Robust Business Tools Built-In](https://www.miva.com/b2b-ecommerce) - [B2C Designed for Agility](https://www.miva.com/b2c-ecommerce-platform) - [Hybrid B2B + B2C, All Managed Together](https://www.miva.com/b2b-dtc-ecommerce-platform) - [Enterprise](https://www.miva.com/enterprise-ecommerce-platform) - Resources - Community - [Customer Stories Case Studies and Featured Stores Built With Miva](https://www.miva.com/customer-stories) - [Technology Partners An Ecosystem Built for Flexibility](https://www.miva.com/partners) - [Agency Partners Helping You Build and Grow](https://www.miva.com/miva-agency-partners) - Resources - [Resource Center Browse Our Extensive Library](https://www.miva.com/ecommerce-strategy-resource-guides) - [Blog Explore Miva Insights on Ecommerce](https://blog.miva.com/) - [Documentation Answers for All Your Miva Questions](https://docs.miva.com/) - [Get Pricing](https://www.miva.com/schedule-demo-admin) [![Miva, Inc logo.](https://www.miva.com/images/logos/miva-type-white.svg)](https://www.miva.com) - Why Choose Miva - Solutions - [Why Miva Simplify Complexity](https://www.miva.com/why-miva) - [Platform Overview A Complete Ecommerce Solution](https://www.miva.com/platform-overview) - [Miva Connect Real-time Native Connections](https://www.miva.com/miva-connect) - [Vexture AI-powered Product Discovery](https://www.miva.com/vexture) - [PageBuilder No-code Page Creation](https://www.miva.com/pagebuilder) - [MivaPay Flexible Native Payment Solution](https://www.miva.com/mivapay) - Business Type - [B2B Robust Business Tools Built-In](https://www.miva.com/b2b-ecommerce) - [B2C Designed for Agility](https://www.miva.com/b2c-ecommerce-platform) - [Hybrid B2B + B2C, All Managed Together](https://www.miva.com/b2b-dtc-ecommerce-platform) [![](https://www.miva.com/images/webp/apex-stat.webp)](https://www.miva.com/case-studies/apex-tools) Your Partner for Growth See how Apex Tool drove a 57% revenue lift with Miva's Vexture® solution. - [Enterprise](https://www.miva.com/enterprise-ecommerce-platform) - Resources - Community - [Customer Stories Case Studies and Featured Stores Built With Miva](https://www.miva.com/customer-stories) - [Technology Partners An Ecosystem Built for Flexibility](https://www.miva.com/partners) - [Agency Partners Helping You Build and Grow](https://www.miva.com/miva-agency-partners) - Resources - [Resource Center Browse Our Extensive Library](https://www.miva.com/ecommerce-strategy-resource-guides) - [Blog Explore Miva Insights on Ecommerce](https://blog.miva.com/) - [Documentation Answers for All Your Miva Questions](https://docs.miva.com/) - [Get Pricing](https://www.miva.com/schedule-demo-admin) - ![White, three-lined, menu icon.](https://www.miva.com/images/svg/icons/icon-menu.svg) # How to Start an Ecommerce Business: 6 Steps to Online Success By Miva | February 14, 2020 - [Ecommerce Selling](https://blog.miva.com/tag/ecommerce-selling) ![illustration of customers shopping online](https://blog.miva.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/012020_BLOG_Start-Ecommerce-Business-Design-2-1.png) ### Before You Read On... See why top ecommerce brands use Miva’s no-code platform to run multiple stores, manage massive catalogs, and grow their revenue. [Book a Demo of Miva](https://www.miva.com/schedule-demo-admin) Looking to start your own [ecommerce](https://blog.miva.com/what-is-e-commerce/) business?  With online sales in the U.S. projected to grow to [$600 billion](https://www.statista.com/statistics/272391/us-retail-e-commerce-sales-forecast/) by 2024, the world of [ecommerce](https://blog.miva.com/what-is-e-commerce/) offers a goldmine of opportunities for ambitious sellers and entrepreneurs. However, the process of starting an ecommerce store isn’t always as straightforward as it sounds.   In this article, we provide a focused six-step roadmap for how to start an ecommerce business, with pointers for creating an online site that competes, drives sales, and generates profit.  ## 1. Choosing the Most Profitable Products  The products you choose to sell can make or break your ecommerce business. Many online merchants choose to sell either popular commoditized items (like [fashion and apparel](https://blog.miva.com/agile-and-adaptable-creating-a-competitive-fashion-ecommerce-site/)), trending products (like [CBD](https://blog.miva.com/how-to-start-a-cbd-business/)), or a combination of both to maximize their online returns.  Some of the most successful products are those that **solve a problem**, **appeal to human emotions**, and **can be crafted into a brand story**. Products that you’ll be able to promote with your unique positioning and site experience will allow you to differentiate your business from the competition.  [![Click to use our brand name generator](https://blog.miva.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/5827ba98-38b4-4eb6-a500-f0ebb30c0e49-May-03-2021-04-56-14-96-PM-4-1.png?width=1540&height=400&name=5827ba98-38b4-4eb6-a500-f0ebb30c0e49-May-03-2021-04-56-14-96-PM-4-1.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5193374/5827ba98-38b4-4eb6-a500-f0ebb30c0e49) ## 2. Zeroing In on the Right Niche  Having a defined value proposition and product differentiator can help your business stand out from the competition. Consider finding a niche for your products that has a healthy level of competition but is not dominated by giant brands. This allows you to capitalize on demand while providing room for you to carve out your distinct position.  Once you’ve selected your products and determined your market, you must also select the right business model, whether it’s [direct to customer](https://www.miva.com/direct-omnichannel-ecommerce), [wholesale ecommerce](https://blog.miva.com/wholesale-ecommerce-isnt-selling/), [subscription service](https://blog.miva.com/starting-subscription-service/) or a combination of models.  ## 3. Branding: Starting an Ecommerce Business Off Right  Consistent branding across a business’ platforms has been shown to increase revenue by as much as [23 percent](https://www.forbes.com/sites/gabrielshaoolian/2018/08/10/10-marketing-web-design-branding-statistics-to-help-you-prioritize-business-growth-initiatives/#5dfe94bed708). The takeaway? Your brand not only sets the tone for what shoppers can expect from you, but also helps inform how you will shape your online experience.   While there is no perfect, one-size-fits-all approach to building a successful ecommerce brand, you’ll want to focus on consistent branding across your business’ communications and consider how your unique value proposition and messaging will be conveyed online.  ## 4. Setting Up an Ecommerce Website That Works for You  Your website serves as the face of your ecommerce business—it shapes your customer’s first impressions, directs their journey with your brand, and is often used as the deciding factor for whether or not shoppers engage with your brand.  As the online space becomes more saturated, it’ll take more than a functional ecommerce site to succeed. To meet the expectations of modern consumers, your site must **deliver a top-notch experience**, **communicate a clear brand**, and **offer something of value**. Things like your product merchandising, site design, checkout process, and overall brand experience help your site to both [measure up against the competition](https://www.miva.com/guide-5-step-website-assessment) and set your business apart.  ## 5. Launching and Marketing Your Online Store  The phrase “if you build it, they will come” doesn’t hold true in ecommerce. A competitive ecommerce business is nothing without quality traffic and an engaged customer base. Once your site is up and running, you’ll want to establish channels for both acquiring visitors and retaining them as loyal customers.  Social media, paid online ads, organic search, and affiliate marketing are all channels you can use to increase publicity for your ecommerce store, while engaging email campaigns and high-quality content marketing help to attract, nurture, and build loyalty with website visitors. ## 6. Optimizing Your Ecommerce Business Post-Launch  Launching your ecommerce store is just the beginning. Once you’ve secured a steady stream of sales, you’ll want to optimize how customers arrive at and engage with your site.   On average, [76 percent](https://optinmonster.com/cart-abandonment-statistics/) of website visitors exit a site without completing their purchase. Improve aspects of your online experience (like its speed, performance, navigation, customer support, and page layouts) to help build trust, remove purchase friction, and increase customer satisfaction. These components work together to encourage purchase completion and increase average order value.  ## How to Succeed, Grow, and Scale in Ecommerce  As more and more visitors come to your site, you’ll soon consider ways to expand your ecommerce business in order to keep up with customer demand and further generate sales.  Keep an eye on performance metrics like [customer lifetime value](https://blog.miva.com/simple-ways-increase-clv/), [average order value](https://blog.miva.com/art-of-the-up-sale-part-1/), and [cart abandonment rate](https://blog.miva.com/e-commerce-shopping-cart-check-reasons-youre-losing-online-sales/) and you’ll be able to hone in on the features, functionalities, and offerings you need to provide in order to scale your business.   Starting an ecommerce business is both an exciting and challenging endeavor. Careful planning is required to take your business from idea to launch as you learn how to sell products, build an attractive site to showcase these products, and establish profitable relationships with customers. As online sales continue to rise, a competitive ecommerce business can offer remarkable success. [![Free Whitepaper: Growth Strategies for Successful Brands](https://blog.miva.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/bdc37fc3-4cb6-4adf-90bc-365b92b32660-1-4-1.png?width=770&height=200&name=bdc37fc3-4cb6-4adf-90bc-365b92b32660-1-4-1.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5193374/bdc37fc3-4cb6-4adf-90bc-365b92b32660) [Back to top](https://blog.miva.com/how-to-start-an-ecommerce-business-6-steps-to-online-success#postAnchor) ### Want to read this blog offline? No worries, download the PDF version now and enjoy your reading later... Download PDF ![Image of Miva.](https://blog.miva.com/hubfs/Miva%2010/Miva%2010%20Email%20images/miva-logo-square.png) Miva Miva offers a flexible and adaptable ecommerce platform that evolves with businesses and allows them to drive sales, maximize average order value, cut overhead costs, and increase revenue. Miva has been helping businesses realize their ecommerce potential for over 20 years and empowering retail, wholesale, and direct-to-consumer sellers across all industries to transform their business through ecommerce. [Visit Website](https://www.miva.com/) ![White Miva, Inc logo.](https://www.miva.com/images/logos/miva-type-white.svg) Powering the Next Era of Intelligent, Connected Commerce. 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