Using Joomla eCommerce for your Online Business
Implementing and leveraging online businesses can make your consumer base far beyond the existing local audience.
Creating an online store used to be a challenge a few years ago, but new and improved eCommerce tools and platforms make this process easier than ever.
Are you looking for the easiest way to start your own online business immediately?
Every online store needs a content management system (CMS) to simplify the creation and modification of online store content (lists, purchase orders, etc.). Partly due to its free and open source format, Joomla has become one of the most popular CMS options available to all potential online store operators.
Many people have questions in mind if Joomla is good for eCommerce. Let me tell you, it is very easy to create a website with Joomla. Even so, beginner eCommerce operators may still need help when using Joomla to build an online store. Therefore, I created this tutorial to teach you how to use Joomla to create an eCommerce website. After mastering this e-commerce website tutorial, you will immediately build your own powerful and versatile online store.
Find the best web host
Before choosing a domain name, you need to find the best online hosting service for your website. There are many options in this step, including the hosting provider you choose and the type of service (dedicated, shared, hosted, etc.). In fact, many web hosting providers now offer options to meet the needs of online store operators. These options may be your best choice.
Since you intend to use Joomla as a CMS, I strongly recommend that you seek dedicated Joomla hosting. These providers have optimized their user experience to maximize Joomla’s built-in features, allowing you to make the most of online stores.
Choose a domain name
Regarding building an online store, you must start from scratch. This usually means buying a digital “land” on which an online store will be built. To do this, you need to buy a domain name.
Your domain name serves as a logo on the front of the online store. In other words, it should be unique and memorable, but it shouldn’t be too complicated.
Download and Install Joomla
Once you have booked the domain name, you can take the next step and download Joomla from the official website.
After the download is complete, you will have two options to install Joomla on the website: automatic and manual. Depending on the web hosting provider you choose, you may be able to install Joomla on your new website in one click. In your website console, search for the one-click installation option, and then navigate to the colored Joomla button (if available).
However, in most cases, you will need to manually install Joomla on your website. The first step of this process can be done from the main control panel of your website. Create a MySQL database from there. This is where all your website data (including Joomla software) is stored. After completing this step, you can upload Joomla and implement it on your website.
To implement Joomla, open a new window and navigate to the URL of your website. This will start the Joomla installation process, and then you can follow the instructions on the screen to successfully complete the installation.
Install Templates and Extensions
There are two free and premium extensions available for Joomla eCommerce website. For Joomla eCommerce website development, the best component to use is Virtuemart which is non-commercial. It’s easy to integrate and user friendly. I also find HikaShop relatively useful for Joomla eCommerce solutions. And it will become an excellent alternative to Virtuemart. The eCommerce extension comes with many features that have minimal restrictions in the free version and wide opportunities in the commercial version. Therefore, in addition to the user experience, I generally like the extension. There are a lots of tutorials available over internet to setup and configure these Joomla eCommerce component.
Incase you seek any professional help or Virtuemart Services, you can contact us anytime.
Configuration and Setup of Joomla eCommerce
With the main features and appearance, you can begin to configure the many options that make up a customized online store. These options can run the color gamut in all aspects of your website, including templates, checkouts, SEO, shopping cart, etc. Be prepared to spend some time carefully reading and applying these initial settings.
Configuration is not just a step-by-step process. You need to make configuration changes regularly, especially after adding a product list. The best way to check if your changes are working as expected is by testing the site in real time and running it on a separate browser that is not logged in as the site administrator.
Addition of Products
Many people are eagerly waiting for this step, and now the product list can finally be released. At this point, you can use Joomla’s built-in functions to create and manage lists without adding trouble. In this regard, Joomla can intuitively handle a large amount of “behind the scenes” information, including price and availability.
In addition to the product list, you can also use this time to enrich your online store. This should include the creation of a homepage and important pages such as “About Me” and “Contact Us”. Each of these additional pages can improve the spirit of your online store and increase the likelihood that visitors will remember your store later.
Summary
Ultimately, Joomla makes building and deploying an eCommerce platform as easy as possible. Joomla eCommerce is simplified from start to finish, from installation to product listing.
Joomla e-commerce sites are among the most comprehensive today and are just a few clicks away to take advantage of this versatility in your own business.
Now that you have learned how to successfully implement Joomla with this eCommerce website tutorial, you can start taking the first steps towards increasing your online success.
