Technology is evolving rapidly, and people now spend more time online than visiting physical stores or traveling long distances. Customers want to engage with businesses from different cities, regions, or even countries—without leaving home.
To grow and expand, every modern business must consider establishing a strong online presence.
Things to Consider Before Taking the Digital Leap (Checklist)
Once you’ve decided to take your business online, the next step is to gather all necessary information to showcase it professionally.
Below is a structured checklist to help you prepare.
A. Identify Your Type of Business
Different types of businesses require different online tools and approaches.
1. Online Store (E-commerce Shop)
If you sell physical or digital products, you need:
- A product catalog
- Online checkout
- Secure payment methods
- Inventory tracking
2. Professional Services (e.g., legal advisory, consulting, accounting)
You may need:
- A good Content Management System (CMS) to post articles and expert advice
- A contact form or booking system
- Presence on platforms like YouTube or TikTok to reach wider audiences
3. Teaching, Tutorials, or Online Courses
For educational or coaching services, you may need:
- A CMS for uploading articles and lessons
- Video content on YouTube or similar platforms
- Live interaction tools such as webinars, chat systems, or Q&A apps
4. Additional business types you may consider
- Restaurants / Food Delivery → online ordering system
- Local services (plumbing, cleaning, repair) → booking scheduler
- Portfolio-based businesses (artists, photographers, designers) → image galleries with contact forms
- Nonprofits → donation system, volunteer registration
B. Assess Your Resources and Technical Knowledge
Self-awareness helps you choose the right platform and development path.
Which of the following fits you?
1. No technical knowledge
You need a simple, pre-built platform.
2. Limited technical knowledge
You can perform basic setup but might need help for customization.
3. Limited budget / small investment
You need low-cost or free platforms to start.
4. Sufficient budget and resources
You can invest in development, hosting, and long-term growth.
More considerations:
- Do you need long-term scalability?
- Will you hire experts or freelancers?
- Do you need multi-language or multi-currency support?
2. Platforms to Consider (Based on Skills, Budget, and Goals)
Here are the main platform categories available.
A. “Ready-to-Start” Platforms (No Technical Skills Needed)
1. Catalogue + Checkout Platforms (Beginner-friendly)
If you want a fast setup with minimal hassle:
- Shopify – beginner-friendly, excellent support, fast setup, requires monthly payment.
- BigCommerce – scalable and suitable for growing businesses.
Ideal for:
People who want to own a domain and run a standalone online shop.
2. Marketplaces (No domain or hosting needed)
If you don’t want to manage a website, you can simply list your products on:
- eBay
- Scoopton (UK based new Marketplace)
- Etsy
These platforms require:
- Creating an account
- Completing verification
- Meeting marketplace rules
Pros: immediate exposure
Cons: fees, competition, limited customization
B. Ready-to-Start Platforms for Content, Articles, Brochures, and Tutorials
- WIX – Simple drag-and-drop builder with strong SEO tools
- Squarespace – Beautiful templates, great for portfolios and small businesses
- Google Sites – Completely free and extremely easy to set up
C. Platforms Requiring Hosting, Some Technical Knowledge, and Maintenance
If you are willing to invest time, budget, or a development team, these offer more power and customization.
1. WordPress (CMS)
- Most popular CMS globally
- Ideal for blogs, service websites, and can become an online shop using WooCommerce
- Requires hosting
- Needs regular updates and maintenance
2. PrestaShop
- Very well-structured e-commerce platform
- Ideal for catalog-heavy stores with thousands of products
- Fast, lightweight, and customizable
- Requires hosting, technical knowledge for advanced customization
3. Adobe Commerce (Magento)
- Extremely powerful enterprise-level platform
- Suitable for large businesses
- Requires professional developers
- High hosting and maintenance cost
Opencart
A lightweight e-commerce platform that is easier than Magento but more flexible than basic builders. Good for small to medium stores but requires technical knowledge for customization.
Drupal (for content)
A highly secure CMS used by governments and large organizations. Great for complex websites but has a steep learning curve.
Drupal Commerce
Built on Drupal, suitable for businesses needing a very customized e-commerce + content approach. Requires professional development.
3. After Launch: Marketing and Growth
Launching your website is only the beginning.
A. Promote on Social Media
Use platforms like:
- TikTok
- YouTube
B. Feed Your Listings to Free Search Engines
Submit your site to:
- Google Search Console
- Bing Webmaster Tools
- Yahoo Indexing
C. Consider Paid Advertising
Paid ads help you reach more customers:
- Google Ads
- Facebook Ads
- TikTok Ads
- Microsoft Ads
D. Continue improving based on analytics
Use:
- Google Analytics
- Microsoft Clarity
- Search Console insights
To understand customer behavior and improve performance.
Conclusion
You can start small using beginner-friendly platforms, and then expand into more advanced technologies as your business grows. Building an online presence is a journey—not a single step.
With the right planning, tools, and strategy, your business can reach customers locally, nationally, or globally.
I hope this organized guide gives you a clear and confident starting point for your online business journey.
