How to Build a Website to Sell Items- Ultimate Guide

Do you want to know how to build a website to sell items and start your eCommerce business journey? Building an eCommerce website can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be!

This ultimate guide will walk you through building a website to sell your products. We’ll cover everything from choosing a domain name and hosting to adding products and setting up payment processing. Let’s get started.

Key Takeaways

• Learn the step-by-step process to create a website to sell products.
• Master how to choose between Shopify, WooCommerce, and custom options when you build a website to sell items based on your needs and budget.
• Discover must-have features for security, functionality, and user experience when you make your own website to sell things.
• Access curated template lists across platforms to start a website to sell things with professional designs that convert visitors to customers.
• Learn proven SEO, social media, and advertising strategies to drive traffic after you create a website to sell items.
• Understand when to hire developers and get insider tips for online selling success to maximize your website investment.

Why sell items online?

There are many reasons to sell items online. Perhaps you want to expand your business reach beyond physical limitations. Or maybe you’re looking to make some extra money. Whatever the reason, selling online is a great way to get rid of unwanted items and earn some extra cash.

In 2024, U.S. e-commerce sales reached $1.192 trillion, more than double the amount from 2019, highlighting the significant growth and potential of online retail.

Thanks to the internet, it’s easier than ever to reach a global audience of buyers. And with so many different platforms, you’re sure to find the perfect fit for your needs. Whether you’re selling clothes, furniture, or electronics, there’s an online marketplace waiting for you. 

Must-Have Features of a website to sell items

When you’re ready to start a website to sell things, you’ll need to consider several factors. It’s easier than ever to make your own website to sell things without extensive technical knowledge.

Modern platforms have simplified the process of how to build a website to sell products, making it accessible to beginners and experienced sellers alike.

In order to sell items online, your website must have certain essential features. 

1. It must have a top-level domain with a secure connection. This will ensure that your customers’ personal and financial information is safe. 
2. Your business logo should be prominently displayed in the header. This will help to create a professional image and build brand recognition. 
3. The navigation should be user-friendly so customers can easily find what they are looking for. 
4. You should offer a wishlist feature so customers can save items for later purchases.
5. Customers should be able to log in to their accounts for easy access to their information
6. A store finder feature will be helpful for customers who are looking for a physical location to purchase items. 
7. Language options should be available so customers worldwide can shop on your site. 
8. A shopping cart feature is essential so customers can easily add items to their purchases.  

By including these essential features, you can create a website to sell products efficiently and provide a seamless shopping experience.

How Do You Set up a Website to Sell Items?

Building an eCommerce website to sell products is a great way to start or grow a business. If you’re wondering how to make a website to sell things, you’ve come to the right place. Learning how to create a website to sell products has never been more accessible, and with the right approach, you can build a website.

Follow these simple steps to get started:

Choose a Domain Name and Web Hosting Provider.

When you’re ready to start a website to sell things, your first step is selecting a domain name and a hosting provider. Your domain name is your website’s address on the internet.

It’s how customers will find your site. So choose something memorable and relevant to your business when you create a website to sell items.

Once you’ve settled on a domain name, you’ll need to choose a web hosting provider. This company will host your website on their servers and make it available to the World Wide Web. Look for a provider that offers good customer support and relative ease of use.

Choose a Platform to Create Your Website

You can use a few different platforms to create your eCommerce website. The most popular ones are Shopify and WooCommerce.

Shopify is a platform that is designed specifically for eCommerce websites. It is a hosted platform, so you don’t need to handle website setup or maintenance. Shopify manages everything for you. This makes it a good option for beginners, as you don’t need any technical knowledge to start.

There are also a lot of templates and themes available, so you can easily create a website to sell products. However, it is also one of the more expensive options.

WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin, meaning you’ll need a website to use it. This can be a bit more complicated to set up than Shopify, but it is much more customizable. There are numerous plugins and extensions available to meet your needs. It is also a lot cheaper than Shopify.

Once you have chosen the platform you want to use, you need to decide on the design of your website. This includes elements such as colors, fonts, and layout. You should choose a design that fits with your brand and makes your products stand out.

You can find free and premium templates online or pay for a professional designer to create something custom for you.

You can also build a website from scratch if you don’t prefer any CMS platform. This will require you to have some technical knowledge, but it will also give you complete control over the design and functionality of your website.

Many ready website templates are available in the market, built in different technologies like React JS, Vue JS, Bootstrap, Tailwind, etc.

Design Your Website.

Now it’s time to start building your website. If you’re not a web designer, there are plenty of affordable options for hiring someone to create a site that looks professional and is easy to navigate.

If you feel more confident, you can also use a drag-and-drop website builder to create a site yourself. Please include key pages like an “About” section, contact information, and product pages.

Add Products and Set up Payments.

Once your website is designed and online, it’s time to add products. Include clear photos, detailed descriptions of each item, and the price. You’ll also need to set up a payment system so customers can purchase items from your site.

There are many payment processors, so do your research to find one that best meets your needs. 

Promote Your Website.

Now that everything is up and running, it’s time to start driving traffic to your site. There are many ways to promote your eCommerce store, including social media marketing, search engine optimization, and paid advertising.

Try out a few different strategies and see what works best for your business. With a little effort, you can soon start generating sales from your very own eCommerce website.

Best Templates and Themes for a Website to Sell Items

Choosing the right template or theme for your online store requires careful consideration of several key factors. The primary consideration should be your website’s functionality needs.

For e-commerce websites, select templates specifically designed for online selling. These should include essential features like shopping carts, secure checkout systems, product galleries, and payment integration. Alternatively, those creating simple product showcase sites can opt for more streamlined templates focused on visual presentation.

Design alignment plays an equally important role in template selection. Your chosen theme should reflect your brand identity and target market. Luxury retailers benefit from sophisticated, high-end designs that convey premium quality, while budget-friendly stores perform better with clean, modern layouts that emphasize value and accessibility.

Here we have recommended some vital web themes and templates on different platforms for your convenience. 

Shopify

Lezada – Fully Customizable Multipurpose Shopify Theme

Lezada is a great choice for those looking to build a website. The theme comes with a stunning classic look demo that can be used to create online stores. The theme is packed with features such as newsletter popup, product share, RTL version, notification bar, multiple currencies, breadcrumb banner, and more.

With so many features, Lezada is sure to help you build a quality website that will compete in the tough eCommerce market.

Feature list: 

• 40+ Drag and Drop page builder
• 15+ Preloader
• Color Swatches
• Multiple Currency
• Disqus Comment

Price: Regular License for $49

LeArts – Handmade Shop Shopify Theme

LeArts is a Shopify theme designed to help you make the most impact on your site. With unique features and the ability to create an online store, LeArts has everything you need to stand out from the crowd. With 13+ beautiful homepage designs, 7+ product layouts, and 50+ Drag & Drop Sections, LeArts is the perfect theme for anyone looking to take their online store to the next level.

Whether you’re in the market for a Valentine’s Gift or Decor, Thriving LeArts has the perfect design for you. So why wait? Get started today and see the difference LeArts can make on your site.

Feature list: 

• 13+ Home Versions
• 50+ Drag & Drop Section
• RTL Version
• MegaMenu & Sub Menu
• Newsletter Mailchimp

Price: Regular License for $49

Minimal Shopify Theme – Airi

Airi is a highly innovative and multipurpose online store builder that offers everything you need to create a stunning website. It comes with 24+ home page layouts, 6+ header styles, 6+ footer styles, 50+ sections, and 15+ preloaders.

Airi also supports Ajax pop-up cart, QuickView, multiple banners, newsletter, Facebook comments, Google Analytics, contact map, and many other features.

Additionally, Airi provides you with all of the necessities that you really need. This original theme also helps you to achieve your goals and aspirations. Therefore, Airi is the best option if you’re seeking an all-in-one solution for your website demands.

Feature list: 

• 24+ Home Page
• Revolution Slider
• Box Style
• Newsletter Popup
• Notification Bar

Price: Regular License for $48

Raz – Furniture Shopify Theme

Raz – Furniture Shopify Theme is a Dropshipping, sections-ready, responsive Shopify theme. It is suitable for furniture, furnishing, home & décor, and interior shops. This theme has a package of powerful features that helps you to create an online store easily.

Setting the Raz – Furniture Shopify Theme as your website, you can sell almost all kinds of products and services online. It offers multiple layout options, including a dropdown menu, a slick slider, a featured product, a tab with product, and isotope filtering.

It also provides 10+ banners (grid, masonry) and 5+ category banners for easy navigation. Additionally, the theme package includes detailed documentation to help you quickly set up your Shopify store.

Feature list: 

• 15+ Home Version
• Slick slider
• Featured Product
• Tab With Product
• Istope Filtering
• 10+ Banner

Price: Regular License for $38

Shopwise – Shopify Theme with Color Swatches

Shopwise is a robust eCommerce Shopify Theme that is adorned with numerous useful features for authors and visitors. With this theme, you can sell products and services online. It comes with a dropdown menu, slick slider, featured product, tab with the product, 2 + banner styles, and so much more. 

You can use this theme to create an online store that is easy to navigate and looks great. Plus, the color swatches make selecting the right colors for your products easy. With Shopwise, you can create a successful online store that will appeal to customers and help you make sales.

Feature list: 

• Ajax Sipnner Cart
• Redirect Add To Cart
• QuickView
• Newsletter Popup
• Notification Bar
• Multiple Currency

Price: Regular License for $29

WooCommerce

ShopLentor Ready Templates

If you’re a WooCommerce user, you know that the plugin’s default page designs can be limiting. That’s where ShopLentor comes in. With the ShopLento page builder, you can start from scratch and design any WooCommerce page using Elementor. You are no longer stuck with WooCommerce’s standard page designs.

With ShopLento, you can customize your Shop and Product pages with the free version of the plugin. The pro version also gives you additional customization options for the rest of the WooCommerce pages.

In addition, ShopLentor offers a plethora of Elementor widgets with extensive customization options that you can use to create your store exactly as you need it. So if you’re looking for more control over your WooCommerce pages, ShopLentor is the perfect solution. 

Flone- WooCommerce Theme

Flone – Minimal WooCommerce WordPress Theme is a super-smooth and creative Website design. We produce top-notch demo websites because we research the market and foresee the direction this sector will take. We have successfully inserted all the best quality features and user-friendly attributes into the Flone WordPress theme.

Some salient features are One Click Demo Install, Notification Bar, Ajax Mini Cart, Ajax Wishlist, Ajax QuickView, Multiple Currency, and 7 Header Styles. It is a complete package with a Dropdown Menu. You will get all these fantastic features for just $39. Go and grab it now! 

Feature list: 

• 25+ Sections
• Featured Product
• Tab Product
• Product With Carousel
• Collection
• Single Banner

Price: Regular License for $39

Webflow

Saasto – SaaS Website Template

The Saasto is a cutting-edge SaaS website template for SaaS enterprises. With its sleek and stylish design, this design can be easily converted for any one of your ideas. This template in Webflow is perfect for startups that feature SaaS products or digital tools.

Saasto is mainly built to showcase SaaS software and applications. It loads fast and is responsive on any device. This template features 15 pre-designed pages with premium elements and a professional look.

Take your SaaS website to the next level with Saasto and make your software solutions stand out today! Get Saasto today and set up a nice SaaS site in minutes.

Feature list: 

• Premium & Creative Design
• Webflow Optimized
• 100% Mobile Responsive
• Easy to Customize
• Fast Loading Time

Price: $49

Yogabes – Yoga Website Template

Yogabes-Yoga Website Template: This is a fresh, up-to-date, multifunctional tool at the service of yoga professionals. With its clean design and intuitive layout, it’s perfect for yoga studios and instructors. It perfectly fits any idea aimed at the promotion of yoga classes, wellness services, and fitness programs.

Yogabes comes with 18 customizable pages and is fully responsive on any device. It is SEO-friendly, ranking your yoga website higher in the search engines. Create your unique online presence now with Yogabes! Browse now and develop a unique website for yoga.

Feature list:

• Premium & Creative Design
• Easy to Customize
• 100% Mobile Responsive
• SEO Optimized
• Webflow CMS

Price: $49

Farnic – Furniture Website Template

Farnic – Webflow eCommerce Template is an exclusive and modern furniture eCommerce website template powered by the well-liked Webflow CMS. This online store builder will come in handy if you want to create a great and eye-catching eCommerce store using the Webflow platform.

This contemporary Webflow eCommerce template comes loaded with tons of robust functionalities and features right away. It has a fast loading speed, ensuring that your website loads faster than your competitors. It is also responsive so that your website can be opened and used on any device with any screen size.

Feature list: 

• Fast Loading Speed
• eCommerce Ready
• Responsive Layout
• CMS Ready
• Easy to Customize

Price: Regular License for $79

Farmzi – Agriculture Website Template

Farmzi is an agricultural website template that comes with a total of 18 pages. 9 of these pages are static, while the other 6 are collection pages that come with the content management system.

This makes it an ideal choice for those looking to create a professional and sophisticated website for their small business or service.

The template includes a media lightbox, interactions, forms, symbols, a custom 404, and web fonts. This makes it an ideal choice for those who want to create a professional and sophisticated agriculture website. 

Feature list: 

• Fast Loading Speed
• Media lightbox
• Responsive Layout
• CMS Ready
• Easy to Customize

Price: Regular License for $49

React JS Templates

Flone – React JS eCommerce Template

Flone is the perfect online store builder for your business. It includes all the tools you need to get started, including 38+ gorgeous homepages and cutting-edge react components.

On whatever device or screen size, it will look fantastic because it is 100% responsive and SEO-friendly. Plus, with 40+ unique pages included in the package, you won’t need to do any extra customization work.

Feature list: 

• Fast Loading Speed
• 38 Home Variations
• Multiple header & footer layouts.
• Using Bootstrap 4 and React
• Responsive templates support all major devices

Price: Regular License for $24

Wokiee – React Next JS Multipurpose eCommerce Template

Wokiee is the perfect e-commerce template to help you build an online store quickly and easily. It is powered by React Next JS, which makes it fast and responsive. Additionally, it is not dependent on jQuery and functions flawlessly in any browser or device. 

There will soon be more than 60 homepage options, so there will be one for every market! Whether you are selling physical or digital products, Wokiee has the features and flexibility to help you succeed online. 

Feature list: 

• Built on React Platform (v17.x.x)
• Using React NextJS Framework
• Using React Context API for State management
• No jQuery Dependency
• Prebuilt 20+ Home Layouts

Price: Regular License for $24

Lezada – React Next JS Multipurpose eCommerce Template

Lezada is a powerful eCommerce website template that is perfect for anyone looking to build an online store. The template comes with 10 different home page variations, 7 shop pages, 3 header styles, 25 sections, and 3 footer styles. This means there is an endless amount of possibilities for customization. 

The template is also responsive, meaning it will look great on all devices. In addition, Lezada comes with a clean and well-organized code that is easy to customize.

If you are looking for a user-friendly and flexible template, Lezada is the perfect choice.

Feature list: 

• Build on React Platform ( v16.13.1 )
• Build on Next JS ( v9.4.1 )
• Redux used ( v4.0.5 )
• React Hooks used
• No jQuery Dependency

Price: Regular License for $24

Helendo – React eCommerce Template

The most recent versions of React JS and Next JS were used to create the minimal and contemporary Helendo React e-commerce template. Helendo has a ton of amazing and intriguing features. 

One of the most approachable React.js e-commerce templates is Helendo. Additionally, this cutting-edge React JS template has 8 different shop pages and 5 prebuilt home page layouts, all of which are simple to customize.

Additionally, this e-commerce React template includes comprehensive documentation and lifetime free updates. For those looking for a React JS template to build an online store, Helendo is a great choice.

Feature list: 

• React Nextjs Framework (v12.2.5)
• Tailwind CSS (v3.0.24)
• Swiper Slider(v8.3.2)
• React Icons
• Next JS Static Export

Price: Regular License for $24

Bootstrap

Lezada – Multipurpose eCommerce HTML Template with multi-vendor

Lezada is the perfect eCommerce HTML Template for any online store. With 17+ home page variations, 8 product page variations, 5 blog page variations, and an AJAX contact form, Lezada has everything you need to create a unique website. Plus, it’s built with Bootstrap 4.6.0, so it’s responsive and looks great on any device. 

And it comes with 1700+ icons and Google fonts so that you can create a truly unique website in no time. So if you’re looking to create an online shopping website with everything you need to get started, look no further than Lezada.

Feature list: 

• Fully Responsive Design
• Clean Code
• Speed Optimized
• Cross-Browser Support
• Well Documented

Price: Regular License for $17

Young – Multipurpose eCommerce HTML Template

“Young” is a versatile HTML template that can be used for any business. The total package contains 43 pages, 10 of which are home pages. It also has 3 blog layouts, 6 footer styles, 8 header styles, 15 shop layouts, and 8 product layouts.

This template is 100% responsive, has a W3C code validation, and is easy to customize. In addition, it contains an Owl Carousel, Slick Slider, and a Dynamic Contact Form. The “Young” template will help you create an online shopping website that will grab your customers’ attention.

Feature list: 

• 43+ Total pages
• 10+ Home pages
• Speed Optimized
• Cross Browser Support
• Well Documented

Price: Regular License for $99

Wright – MultiPurpose HTML5 Template

Wright is a versatile HTML5 template that can be used for various purposes. Whether you need a personal website, an agency site, or a business website, Wright has the needed features. With six unique homepages, 59 HTML pages, and 8+ color variations, Wright will surely give your site the look you want. 

Additionally, this template is packed with features like W3 valid code, shortcode ready, cross-browser compatibility, and well-documented. With all these features, Wright is the perfect choice for your next website.

Feature list: 

• 6 homepages
• Html5 & Css3
• Pixel Perfect Design
• Responsive Design
• User-Friendly Code

Price: Regular License for $15

Flone – Clean, Minimal eCommerce HTML Template

Flone is an eCommerce HTML template that contains 32 homepages, 6 blog pages, and 17 shop pages. W3 Validate Markup, an ajax contact form, creative layouts that include Google Fonts, and FontAwesome icons are all included to help you get the most up-to-date support for your needs. 

All the functions are simple to use, allowing you to generate even more creative concepts. If you’re looking for a clean, straightforward eCommerce HTML template, Flone may be an excellent choice. encourage creativity while also helping you efficiently meet your goals.

Feature list: 

• 64+ total pages
• Font Awesome icons
• Valid HTML5 & CSS3
• Free Updates
• User Friendly

Price: Regular License for $99

Airi – Minimal eCommerce HTML Template

Airi is a highly innovative and multipurpose online store builder that offers everything you need to create a stunning website. It comes with 24+ home page layouts, 6+ header styles, 6+ footer styles, 50+ sections, and 15+ preloaders.

Airi also supports Ajax popup cart, QuickView, multiple banners, newsletter, Facebook comment, Google Analytics, contact map, and many other features.

Additionally, the template is elementary to customize, and updates are free. With everything that Airi offers, it is the perfect choice for any eCommerce website. Thanks to its extensive list of features and easy-to-use interface, Airi will surely make your online store a success.

Feature list: 

• 50+ HTML Pages
• HTML5 & Css3
• Pixel Perfect Design
• Responsive Design
• User-Friendly Code

Price: Regular License for $17

Hire a Developer or an Agency to Build a Website to Sell Items

A lot of people think that setting up an online store is a complicated and time-consuming process. But with ShopiBuffet, you can have your own eCommerce store up and running in no time.

ShopiBuffet provides a comprehensive service platform for setting up an online store. The services include installing and configuring a theme, setting up products and collections, and configuring navigation. 

The company’s experts are also available to answer any questions about setting up or running your online store. ShopiBuffet’s turnkey solution is a great way to get started in eCommerce with minimal hassle. Plus, the company’s experts are always available to help if you need it.

So if you’re looking for a complete eCommerce solution, ShopiBuffet is a great option.

Tips for Success when selling items online

If you want to sell products online, you can do a few things to increase your chances of success.

• First, make sure to take clear and accurate photos of your items. This will give potential buyers a good sense of what they’re looking at and help them decide.
• Secondly, describe your items accurately and in as much detail as possible. 
• Be honest about any flaws or damage, as this will build trust with potential buyers.
• Finally, be responsive to questions and queries from potential buyers.

If you can build up a good rapport, they’re more likely to purchase from you. By following these simple tips, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a successful online seller.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are a lot of considerations that go into creating an eCommerce website to sell items. There’s a lot to think about, from choosing the right platform to setting up payment processing. However, if you take the time to plan and design your site carefully, you’ll be well on your way to success. You can build a thriving online business with hard work and dedication.