How to Start Your E-commerce Business: A Step-by-Step Guide

Starting your e-commerce journey is simpler than you think! Please don’t get confused and just sit with your pen and paper. The key is to first figure out all the important steps and then start the work on the implementation process one by one.

Here are detailed steps from the video:

Step 1: Planning & Legal Setup

The first thing we did was budget planning. Understanding how much investment is required is crucial. This gives a sense of clarity about how much risk you can take. Next, we completed the GST registration, which is mandatory for selling online. If you have a brand, you should also register for a trademark to protect it legally.

Step 2: Product Selection & Sourcing

Choosing the right products to sell is critical. In the beginning, you need to decide which products to sell and how many products to start with. And remember to do the product selection according to your budget otherwise you may go to loss later on. 

Once that’s done, you must figure out where to source these products from—whether it’s local suppliers, manufacturers, or wholesale markets.

Step 3: Creating Your Seller Account & Listing Products

The next step is setting up your seller account on the platform of your choice. 

Before you begin, ensure you have the following documents and information ready:

1. Visit the Seller Portal

Start by navigating to the Seller Portal. This is where you will initiate your registration process.

2. Create Your Seller Account

• Sign Up: Click on the “Sign Up” button to begin the registration.
• Enter Your Phone Number: Input your mobile number; it should be one you frequently use, as you will receive an OTP (One-Time Password) for verification.
• Receive OTP: Click on “Send OTP” and enter the code sent to your mobile device.
  

3. Fill in Your Business Details

Once your phone number is verified, proceed to enter your business information:

• Business Name: Enter the name of your business as you wish it to.
• Business Type and Address: Specify what type of business you are running (e.g., retail, wholesale) and provide the complete address.

4. Provide Tax Information
5. Bank Account Information

Next, provide your bank account details:

• Account Number: Enter your bank account number.
• IFSC Code: Input the IFSC code of your bank branch.

Ensure that the name associated with this bank account matches the name on your PAN card for seamless payment processing.

6. Verification Process

After entering all necessary information, submit your application. The platform will review your details, which may take a few days. You will receive notifications regarding the status of your application via email or SMS.

7. Setting Up Your Profile

Once your account is approved, log in to the Supplier Panel using the credentials you created during registration.

Upload Product Listings:

• by uploading high-quality images of your products along with detailed descriptions.
• Ensure that each product’s start listing includes essential details such as price, dimensions, and materials used.
• SEO optimization (so your products appear in search results and gain organic visibility)

Pro Tip: Your organic visibility also depends on the number of listings you are doing. Try to do as many listings as you can do.

Inventory Management:

• Keep track of stock levels to avoid overselling or stockouts.

Pro Tip: Atleast you should have the stock of next three days with you.

• Regularly update product listings based on availability.

Product Listing Strategies on Seller Panel

Creating effective product listings is essential for increasing visibility and driving sales on any platform. A well-structured listing not only attracts potential buyers but also enhances their shopping experience, leading to higher conversion rates and good reviews. Here’s a detailed guide on how to sell products on any platform through optimised product listings.

1. High-Quality Visuals

High-quality images are crucial in e-commerce as they serve as the first impression for potential customers. Clear, attractive visuals can significantly influence purchasing decisions.

• Multiple Angles: Showcase your products from different angles to provide a comprehensive view.
• Contextual Images: Consider using lifestyle images that depict the product in use, which helps customers visualise its application in real life.

2. Engaging Titles

The title of your product is the first thing customers see. An engaging title should be descriptive and include relevant keywords to enhance searchability.

• Key Elements: A good product name should include:
  • Adjective (e.g., Stylish)
  • Product Type (e.g., Kurta)
  • Colour (e.g., Blue)
  • Quality Indicator (e.g., Cotton)

For example, instead of a generic title like “Kurta,” use “Stylish Blue Cotton Kurta for Women.”

3. Detailed Descriptions

A well-crafted product description provides essential information that addresses potential customer queries and enhances their confidence in making a purchase.

• Key Features: Highlight the unique selling points of your product, such as material, size options, and care instructions.
• Benefits: Explain how the product solves a problem or improves the customer’s life.
• SEO Optimisation: Incorporate relevant keywords naturally throughout the description to improve search visibility. Ensure that your primary keyword, “Kurta”, and secondary keywords, like “Blue kurta”, are included where appropriate.

4. Competitive Pricing

Competitive pricing is crucial for attracting buyers. Research similar products on the platform you are selling to determine a reasonable price point.

If you have multiple listings then keep the variation in the pricings ranging from lowest to the highest.

• Cost Analysis: Consider your production costs, desired profit margin, and competitor pricing when setting your prices.
• Price Comparison Tools: Utilise pricing tools to help you arrive at competitive prices that can increase your chances of making sales.

5. Catalog Management

A well-organised catalogue can enhance customer navigation and improve sales performance.

• Multiple Catalogs: It is recommended that at least 5 to 7 catalogues be created initially. This diversity allows you to showcase various products and increases your chances of receiving orders.

By implementing these strategies for product listings, you can significantly enhance your visibility and success. Mastering how to sell products on any platform involves not just listing items but strategically presenting them to capture customer interest and drive sales effectively.

Step 4: Branding, Marketing & Business Growth

Now, you need to focus on branding and marketing:

🔹 Find a supplier for branded packaging & labels (I personally use Lebely for labels).

Do not compromise on this stage. Branded packaging and labels is something that can save your plenty of money. A good packaging ensures that the product reaches the customer safely without any damage. And in case of return it reaches safely to you as well. Besides this pacakging also plays important role in your profit margins as well. So you need to find a good supplier to purchase them.

🔹 Decide whether to run paid ads or rely on organic sales.

This the strategy in which I believe that is a combination of both paid ads and organic growth:

1. Start with organic – Optimize your listings, get reviews, and test demand.
2. Use ads strategically – Run paid ads for high-competition products, new launches, or during festive seasons.
3. Analyze ROI – If ads are profitable, scale them; if not, focus more on organic growth.

Pro Tip: Keep experimenting! Platforms like Amazon & Flipkart offer detailed ad analytics—track your performance and optimize accordingly.

🔹 Learn how to manage sales and returns efficiently.

For managing returns there are few steps which I personally adopt.

First it depends on the product that you are selecting. I have already made a video on this you can check it: here.

Secondly it depends on High-Quality & Branded Packaging which I have already explained you in the above point.

Third try to give on call or on chat support to your customers so that you can solve their doubts regarding your product which will reduce their reasons to return the products. By giving the support customers usually gets happy and you can encourge them to give rating and review as well.

Forth, once a product is returned it should be inspected immediately, allowing undamaged items to be resold and slightly damaged ones to be offered at discounted rates. If a product consistently receives high returns, discontinuing it might be the best option. Additionally, bad returns should be reported to the platform with a proper video proof to protect the business from losses.

Step 5: Profit & Loss Calculation

The most important part of your business is understanding profit and loss. If you can manage this well, consider yourself successful in e-commerce!

Join My E-commerce Series!

I’ll be covering all these steps in detail, one by one, in an upcoming series. My goal? To help you become a profitable e-commerce seller, just like I did!