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Introduction
How do you create a Magento website using expert tips? Magento is a powerful and flexible open-source ecommerce platform that allows businesses to create customizable online stores.
Building a Magento site has traditionally required coding expertise. The latest version of Magento Open Source 2.4.3 to Magento 2.4.6 has introduced an intuitive drag-and-drop page builder. It makes it more accessible to individuals without extensive coding knowledge or the Magento architecture.
In this guide, we cover the steps to create a Magento (Adobe Commerce) website. We’ll use the platform's robust features and user-friendly tools. From setting up the site to configuring the checkout process, we will cover the key aspects of building a Magento site to boost sales!
11 Steps to Create a Magento Site from Scratch
1. Choose a Magento Hosting Plan and Domain
Select a reliable Magento hosting provider that offers optimized servers for the Magento platform. Check your Magento 2 hosting requirements and upgrades. The hosting plan meets your needs, considering the size and traffic of your online store.
Register a domain name that not only reflects your brand but also is easy to recognize and recall. This URL will be the gateway for your customers to access your online store, making it a vital part of your branding and recognition strategy.
Consider the cost, as Magento hosting plans vary from around $5/month for shared hosting to $500/month for dedicated hosting or cloud hosting for Magento.
Optimize for Magento by ensuring your hosting provider offers features like SSL certificates, Cloudflare CDN, and caching for enhanced security.
2. Install Magento 2 on your Server
To install Magento on your server, follow these steps:
- Download Magento: Download the Magento ecommerce software from the official Magento website. Choose the Archive version, which is the easiest to install and most geared towards beginners.
- Upload Magento to Server: Use the 'File Manager' section of your hosting provider to upload the downloaded Magento archive file to the server associated with your hosting account.
- Extract Magento Archive: Extract the Magento archive file to the server, which will create the necessary directories and files for Magento to function.
- Set Up Magento: Run the Magento setup wizard to configure the installation. It also includes setting up the database and configuring the server settings.
Complete the Adobe Commerce (Magento) installation process by following the setup wizard's instructions.
- Configure Magento: Configure Magento by setting up the base URL, configuring the database, and setting up the server settings
- Install MySQL: Install MySQL and set up the database for Magento.
- Install PHP: Install PHP with all the required extensions, as specified in the Magento documentation.
- Install Elasticsearch or OpenSearch: Install a search engine like Elasticsearch or OpenSearch, which is required by Magento.
- Set Ownership and Permissions: Set ownership and permissions for the Magento installation on the Linux machine.
- Clear Cache: Clear the cache by running the command:
rm -of cache/* page_cache/* generation/* in the Magento var/ folder
- Install Sample Data: Install sample data by running the commands :
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3. Select and Configure a Magento theme
Choose a visually appealing theme from the Magento Marketplace or third-party sites that suit your industry and brand.
Consider factors like responsiveness, customizability, and speed. Once selected, customize your Magento theme by modifying settings. Edit the CSS and HTML files, and create a child theme if necessary.
4. Configure the Store’s Basic Settings
Set up your store's basic settings in Magento with the following steps:
- Navigate to Store > Configuration: Access the Magento Admin Dashboard and navigate to the "Store" section, then click on Configuration.
- General Settings: Under the General dropdown, select the "General" tab to configure your store's basic information, including:
- Country and Location: Set your store's country and location.
- Timezone: Set your store's timezone.
- Store Information: Enter your store's name, phone number, and other essential details.
- Currency Options: Configure your store's currency options under General > Currency Setup.
- Store Email Address: Set the email address used for sending order information under General > Store Email Address.
- Contact Information: Configure your store's contact information under General > Contact.
5. Set Up Magento 2 Catalog and Categories
Navigate to Catalog > Categories
Access the Magento Admin Panel and navigate to the Catalog section. Then click on Categories to integrate the changes.
Choose Scope and Parent Category
- Scope: Decide where the categories will be shown by choosing an option in the Scope field.
- Parent Category: Choose a parent category for the category you are creating in the category tree.
Create a New Category
- Add Subcategory: Click the "Add Subcategory" button.
- Basic Information: Complete some basic information and click "SAVE".
Configure Display Settings
- Display Options: Configure display options, including filtering and sorting features for category pages.
Configure category SEO Settings
- Meta Title: Fill in the meta title field for the category pages.
- Meta Description: Fill in the meta description field for the category pages.
6. Add Magento Products and Product Types
After categories, you can integrate product attributes and set up product variations. To add products in Magento, follow these steps:
Step 1: Navigate to Product Configuration
- Go to Catalog > Products
- Click on Add Product and complete the product details.
Step 2: Choose Product Type
- Simple Product
- Configurable Product
- Grouped Product
- Bundle Product
- Virtual Product
- Downloadable Product
Step 3: Configure Product Details
- Choose attribute set
- Enter product name, SKU, and description
- Set product price and tax class
Step 4: Configure SEO and Meta Information
- Use page builder to create content.
- Upload photos and edit product descriptions.
- Fill in meta titles and meta descriptions for SEO.
Step 5: Configure Custom Options and Product Recommendations
- Set up custom options for variations.
- Add relevant products for upsell and cross-sell.
7. Configure Tax, Payment Methods, and Shipping for Magento
Magento Taxes
- Set up tax rates and zones for different locations.
- Create tax rules and classes for specific customer and product groups.
- Configure default tax settings for shipping, products, and customers.
Magento Payment Methods
- Choose from available payment gateways like PayPal, Braintree, ApplePay, and more.
- Configure options for other payment methods like Cash On Delivery, Purchase Order, or Bank Transfer.
- Control geographical locations and enablement of payment methods on the website.
Magento Shipping Methods
- Set up shipping origin and custom shipment policy
- Enable delivery to multiple addresses and set minimum order quantity
- Configure settings for different delivery methods like flat rate, table rate, free shipping, and in-store delivery
- Set up handling fees and specify countries for each delivery method.
8. Configure Storefronts with Magento
You can now start creating storefronts for your Magento site. There are two primary options:
Option 1: Magento's Default Page Builder
- Enable Page Builder in Store > Configuration > General > Content Management
- Navigate to Content > Pages and click Add New or edit an existing page
- Click Edit with Page Builder to access the Page Builder tool
Option 2: Third-Party Page Builders
- Choose a page builder extension that offers templates for different e-commerce industries.
- Navigate to the page-builder dashboard and choose a template to start editing.
9. Implement Magento SEO
Optimize your Magento store for search engines so your site is visible to customers:
- Keyword Research: Identify relevant keywords and phrases for your products and services
- Meta Tags and Titles: Use descriptive and unique meta titles and descriptions for each page
- Header Tags: Organize content using header tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.)
- Image Optimization: Use descriptive and keyword-rich file names and alt tags for images
- Internal Linking: Organize content using logical internal linking
- Content Quality: Focus on high-quality, engaging, and informative content
- Site Speed: Optimize Magento 2 site speed by reducing page load times
- SSL and HTTPS: Install and configure SSL certificates to secure your site
- XML Sitemap and Robots.txt: Generate and submit an XML sitemap and configure robots.txt for crawling and indexing.
10. Magento Extensions: Enhancing Magento Functionality
To ensure that your Magento platform can scale to meet the increased demand of your business, it's essential to integrate third-party extensions that provide advanced functionality, such as product recommendations and personalized offers. This can be achieved through in-house development or by using third-party integrations.
11. Magento Site Launch
Launching a Magento website involves careful planning, configuration, and integration of various components.
Key things to check before the final launch of a Magento website:
Pre-Launch Checklist
- Ensure you are using the latest Magento version for optimal performance and security.
- Verify your system meets Magento's minimum requirements for hardware and software.
- Configure the SSL certificate to establish a secure connection for your store.
- Review and test the store URLs to ensure they are user-friendly and working correctly.
- Check the transactional emails are set up with the correct business email addresses.
- Thoroughly test the product pages, cart, checkout, and payment methods.
- Validate the tax settings and shipping method configurations.
- Customize the 404 error page to provide a better user experience.
Magento 2 Launch Checklist
- Enable search engine indexing and ensure the site is set to index/follow.
- Verify the cron jobs are configured and running as scheduled.
- Test the newsletter subscription functionality.
- Create a full database backup before going live.
- Switch the store to production mode for optimal performance.
FAQ:
How to build a website with Magento?
Magento is a popular open-source ecommerce platform for all business sizes. It allows you to build a customizable and scalable Magento website. The Magento platform is built with PHP and offers a wide range of features and functionality to create an engaging online store.
How much does it cost to build a Magento site?
The cost of building a Magento website can vary depending on factors such as the complexity of the site, the need for custom development, and whether you choose the Magento Open Source or Magento Commerce (previously Magento Enterprise) edition. Magento is a cost-effective ecommerce solution to meet your specific business needs.
Is Magento good for beginners?
Magento can be a good choice for beginners, as it offers a user-friendly interface. You get a large community of developers and resources to support new users. However, Magento also has a steep learning curve, so that it may be more suitable for those with some experience in ecommerce or web development.
What is Magento built with?
Magento is built using the Zend Framework, an open-source PHP web application framework. This allows Magento to offer a robust and flexible platform for creating ecommerce websites and online stores.
How to build a Magento website for free / beginners?
Magento Open Source (previously Magento Community Edition) is a free and open-source version of the Magento platform. It is a cost-effective option for beginners and small businesses to build their Magento website. The Magento platform offers a wide range of features and functionality to create a customizable and scalable online store.
Is Magento suitable for large enterprise B2B businesses looking for advanced features?
Magento, as an e-commerce platform, offers scalability and flexibility to meet the needs of large, Magento-based enterprises (B2B). With its robust features, Magento allows for extensive customization, advanced features, and comprehensive analytics to elevate customer experiences and enhance user experience.
How does Magento's platform allow for omnichannel integration?
Magento's commerce platform, designed for large enterprise ecommerce stores, enables omnichannel integration and personalized shopping experiences through advanced features like personalization, inventory management, and quick checkout. This enhances customer experiences and boosts online shopping engagement.
What makes Magento a preferred choice for businesses in 2024?
In 2024, Magento continues to meet the Magento Association's mission of making e-commerce accessible to all by offering a platform that caters to large enterprise needs. With everything you need for B2B businesses, Magento provides a scalable solution with extensive experience in enhancing the front-end and back-end aspects of your business.
Expert Support to Launch Adobe Commerce Site
Still unsure about where to start? Building a Magento website from scratch can create technical issues, especially for merchants new to the platform. The process includes understanding different versions of Magento, site upgrades, and Magento Association's guidelines, as well as integrating features like ERP or extensions.
Transform Agency's team of Magento specialists can help merchants create captivating ecommerce stores. Our developers have a deep understanding of Magento's architecture, including the process of building a Magento website that aligns with your brand and business goals.
Get expertise in Magento’s web design, technology partnerships, and flexible and scalable solutions. Create an online store that enhances the shopping experience for your customers.
Contact Transform Agency and let Magento experts handle the heavy lifting. Boost your online presence with customizable and user-centric ecommerce solutions.
Expert in ecommerce website development topics. Skilled SEO Specialist with a proven track record of improving website visibility and search engine rankings. Experienced in keyword research, on-page and off-page optimization, link building, and content strategy development. Passionate about staying updated with the latest SEO trends and algorithm changes to ensure optimal online presence.
Experienced SEO Specialist with a proven track record of improving website visibility and search engine rankings. Skilled in keyword research, on-page and off-page optimization, link building, and content strategy development. Passionate about staying updated with the latest SEO trends and algorithm changes to ensure optimal online presence.
