How to start selling online: your first 30 days
A simple order of work for shops and makers moving online, from choosing what to sell first to your first paid campaign.
Getting started
Start with a small range
You don’t need your whole catalogue online on day one. Pick the 10 to 30 products that already sell best in person, photograph them well and write honest descriptions. A focused store is easier to build, easier to advertise and easier for customers to understand.
Get the basics right before you spend on ads
Payments, shipping prices and returns should be clear before the first visitor arrives. Many lost first orders come from surprises at checkout: unexpected delivery costs, missing payment options or a slow page. Test the whole checkout on your phone, then ask a friend to do the same.
Set up tracking on day one
Install the Meta pixel and Google tag before launch and check that purchases are recorded. Without tracking you can’t tell which ads bring sales, and every later decision becomes a guess.
Launch small, then learn
Start with a modest daily budget on one or two channels. Watch which products and messages get clicks and orders, then move money toward what works. The goal of the first month is learning, not scale.
Want help with your store?
Book a free 30-minute call. You leave with three written next steps, whether or not we work together.