It is tempting to think about making big money by being a founder, is it not? But it might not be as easy of a pursuit. To make it somewhat easier for you, we are here to help you do what is most crucial- starting right.

Embarking on the journey of being an online seller begins with a solid plan. There is a list of questions you must address and find answers to before selling online. This blog aims to lay the groundwork and guide you through the critical planning phase, thus helping find the best place to start an online store for you. Let’s take a quick look at:

The Key Questions:

1. What Products Do I Sell?
2. Who do I Sell To?
3. What Platform is Best Suited For Me?
4. How Will I Handle Logistics?
5. What Payment and Security Options Do I Offer?
6. How Will I Promote My Store?

 

1.   What Products Do I Sell?

Many factors come into play when you decide on the products you want to sell. By the sheer amount of options available to an aspiring seller, it gets overwhelming to put a finger on a product and draw the line. To decide what products you should spend your limited capital on, consider the following:

 

Passion or Expertise:

The niche or product line that you choose to associate yourself with must be something you are either passionate to learn about or already possess some expertise in. It makes you reliable as a seller. To say, for example, the buyers would find it dubious if a person who has never applied cosmetics or has shown any interest in it, ends up launching a makeup line.

Research your Competition:

Identify who you will be competing with and analyze their venture. When and how did they start with what investment? What products did they start selling with? How soon did they make a noteworthy profit? What strategy did they choose to scale up their business? How do they price their products? This will help you choose products that make you stand out from the competition and make your spin on the business.

Feasibility:

That is to say, while focusing on the uniqueness of the products you sell, see that it is unique enough to set you apart from the competition, but not unique enough to limit your sales. In addition, resort to products that are in demand throughout the year and can be scaled up or down depending on the demand. Tools like Google Trendz and Amazon BestSellers are among the best-known options for identifying goods that are bought often.

2.   Who Do I Sell To?

Now that we have the niche and product line out of the way, let us move to the next important question- the target audience. It is a matter of fact that as long as you are selling a given item, there will be buyers spending money on the item. More often than not, there will be a common pattern in the overall buyers. This could be related to:

 

Identity:

When selling kids' apparel, it's important to recognize that while the end consumers are children, the actual purchasers are usually adults, such as parents, grandparents, or relatives. Thus, marketing efforts should focus on convincing these adult buyers. However, if the target audience shifts to teenagers, the purchasing decision is more likely to be made by the teens themselves. In this scenario, advertisements should be directed toward the teenage audience.

 

Psychographics:

What do buyers relate to when choosing a product? What are they seeking in their purchase? For example, when a teenager buys a dress, their goal might be to own a piece of clothing that makes them look cool in front of their peers. Highlighting that the dresses from this seller are currently in fashion will attract the target audience. Furthermore, identifying the pain points of buyers can help create more targeted advertisements. For instance, affordability is often a concern for teenagers who have limited money to spend on fashion. By assuring them that they can look fashionable while sticking to a budget, you can capture their interest and encourage them to make a purchase.

 

3.   What Platform Is Best Suited For Me?

The next important question is deciding on a platform to sell the items on. To make the best decision there, one must start by acknowledging their requirements from their new online store. It can be done by:

Budgeting:

Allot a budget that you can spend on creating an online store. This could vary depending on who you are and what type of business you want to start. For a small business, you could resort to opening an online store on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. It is cost-efficient and serves as a brochure for your followers to browse. Since the volume of orders is limited, they can be received and processed by the seller without requiring any automation. However, for a retail store- one might need to make a website to sell stuff.

Assessing One’s Abilities:

Are you someone who can code a website from scratch? Or do you know someone you could hire to develop a website for you? If not, you might want to learn how to make a website by yourself without coding expertise. This can be achieved by choosing a website builder like Squarespace and Wix or an E-commerce platform like OrderBooks and Shopify.

 

4.   How Will I Handle Logistics?

Depending on the platform you choose to set up an online store with, you would be required to figure out how to conduct logistics.

Social Media Platforms:

As a small business, if you start a store on Instagram or Facebook, you will need to handle logistics on your own. You can do this either by going to a post office or by partnering with a logistics or shipping company. Some popular options include FedEx, Blue Dart, Delhivery, and DHL.

 

Online Marketplaces:

Platforms like Amazon and Flipkart have their shipping partners. When you register as a seller on these platforms, the logistics are managed by their shipping partners. This means you don't have to find a separate agency to handle your order shipments.

E-Commerce Platforms:

Similar to online marketplaces, e-commerce platforms generally provide a shipping partner to manage logistics for you. However, they also give you the option to use your shipping partner, allowing sellers greater flexibility in their shipping choices.

5.   What Payment and Security Options Do I Offer?

Apart from Logistics, the sellers must have an answer for what payment gateway and options would they offer for their business. The three aspects to consider would be:

Modes of Payment:

The most popular options include but are not limited to cards (debit and credit), online wallets, UPI, EMI, and Cash On Delivery. A variety in the mode of payment allows the buyers to have a flexible and seamless buying experience. It ensures the convenience of buyers and builds trust.

Payment Gateways:

Platforms like OrderBooks come with integrated payment gateways that ensure secure and easy transactions, while there are others like Shopify that allow sellers to integrate one of their own. Some popular choices include PayPal, Stripe, GPay, RazorPay, etc. Before choosing one of these, the sellers must compare the benefits offered and the fees charged by each of them.

 

Security Options:

To ensure that trust is built between the buyers and the sellers, account and payment security should be offered by online stores. SSL certification to encrypt the data transfer between buyers and sellers, Two Factor Authentication for account safety and customer logins, Data Encryption to protect the buyers’ data and payment details, and Fraud Detection to curb suspicious transactions are some ways to fool-proof the buying experience.

6.   How Will I Promote My Store?

You are done planning your forte and your store. Now the last step is to plan the course of action after your store goes live. That is, planning the promotional activities.

Targeted Ads:

Earlier, while determining the target audience, you came across the pain points of the demography you will primarily be selling to. Once your store is live, you must create ads centered around resolving the pain points- and then you boost the ads, so it reaches a wider audience.

Interactive Sessions:

Involve your buyers in promotional events. Have them make user-generated content and feature the same on your brand’s social media, for other buyers to see and relate to. Ask for feedback and share publicly, how you aim to bridge the gap between expectations and offerings. Use relevant hashtags, so the posts find people with similar interests.

E-Mail Campaigns:

The good old individual pitching never goes out of style. Provide offers and coupon codes to buyers who subscribe to your e-mails for promotional messages and newsletters. It helps you communicate with the buyers one-on-one, while the buyers benefit from the lucrative deals they get in return.

That answers all the questions that you need answers to before venturing out on your journey as an online seller in 2025. Sit with each of them and find out what is made best for you and your dream store. Happy Selling!

Also Read:

*Expert Tips for Starting an Online Store in 2025 - OrderBooks*

*How To Make a Website To Sell Stuff: 6 Steps to Success in 2025*

FAQs

1. What is the best way to sell online in 2025?

• The best way to sell online is by selecting a niche of your choice, creating a new online store, and promoting your products online.

2. Do I need to have technical expertise to sell online?

• No, you do not. There are platforms like OrderBooks and Shopify that allow you to create an online store from the convenience of your home without writing a single code.

3. How long would it take to sell online?

• If you have your products ready, you could start selling in a day with platforms like OrderBooks. Creating and setting up an online store is a breeze with them. All you need to do is have inventory and buyers ready.