The more clearly you have mapped out your customers, the better you know what is needed to reach them and persuade them to make a purchase. A target audience analysis is a useful tool to use. You can focus on one or multiple target audiences.
"}},{"accordionList":[{"richBody":{"value":"You can analyse your target audience(s), among other things, based on:
A good start is half the work, also when you are starting your own webshop. Your analysis helps you, among other things, with your product choices (from brands to sizes, types and flavours), web design and communication.
"},"title":"What do you look at in a target audience analysis?"}],"componentType":"accordion"},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Step 2: Research the market"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Having market research carried out is not cheap. For your own webshop, you can also start with:
With the results from steps 1 and 2, you can come up with (or have someone come up with) a strong name. One that stands out, conveys the right feeling and/or immediately says what you sell.
"}},{"accordionList":[{"richBody":{"value":"If you choose to start your own webshop, you must register your business name (in many cases: the name of your webshop) in the Trade Register of the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (KVK).
The Chamber of Commerce automatically passes your details on to the Dutch Tax Administration. You will then automatically be informed whether you are registered as a VAT entrepreneur. If so, you will receive your VAT number and VAT identification number (VAT ID).
"},"title":"Is a KVK registration mandatory for a webshop?"}],"componentType":"accordion"},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Step 4: Build your webshop"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"You can have a webshop designed and developed by a specialist, or do it (partly) yourself. For example, usingWordPress or Shopify.
"}},{"accordionList":[{"richBody":{"value":"The domain name is the internet address of your webshop. This is often ‘www.the-name-of-your-webshop.nl’. You can only register a domain name that is still available.
"},"title":"Don’t forget to register your domain name"}],"componentType":"accordion"},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Step 5: Set up your webshop"},{"alignedImage":{"position":"right","extension":"svg","original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/48566f9347290941/original/movingboxescat.svg","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/4fc63ca4-d25c-4866-bd01-5623d8823bef/movingboxescat"},"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"The big advantage of a webshop is that you can include thousands of items. This is also immediately the downside: for customers, it can quickly feel like looking for a needle in a haystack. There is also no staff walking around online to proactively help your customers.
Therefore, make sure you have, among other things:
With general terms and conditions, you immediately make it clear which rights and obligations your customers and you, as a webshop owner, have. This allows you to reduce certain risks. The right of return and the right of withdrawal are specific examples of what you include in your general terms and conditions.
"},"textLinks":[{"text":"How to draw up general terms and conditions","url":"https://ondernemersplein.kvk.nl/algemene-voorwaarden-opstellen/"}],"title":"Tip: Include general terms and conditions"},{"richBody":{"value":"There is nothing more frustrating than not being able to complete a purchase in the shopping basket. Not only for customers, but certainly also for you. After all, this means you miss out on income.
Volume is revenue, which is why you want as many visitors as possible in your webshop. After all, not every visitor buys a product immediately. You can encourage existing customers through, for example, a monthly newsletter or update. But how do you attract new ones?
In step 1, you already read that it is smart to know where your target audience is. This gives direction to your marketing communication. Make sure you are findable and visible where your target audience is.
"}},{"accordionList":[{"richBody":{"value":"By optimising your website for search engines (also known as SEO), you can be found more easily when potential customers enter specific search terms in Google. Think, for example, of writing keyword‑focused blogs with tips & tricks that link through to your products.
Many entrepreneurs outsource this to a specialist.
"},"title":"More visitors via Google"},{"richBody":{"value":"Think of banners on websites where your target audience is present. But paid search results in Google or advertisements on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube can also help you attract more visitors to your (newly started) webshop.
Many entrepreneurs outsource this to a specialist.
"},"title":"More visitors via online advertisements"},{"richBody":{"value":"In addition to advertising on social media, you can also actively (!) manage your own account. With the aim of turning existing and potential customers into ‘fans’ of your webshop through, for example, useful or funny posts. The more followers and the more likes, the more people will click through to your products.
"},"title":"More visitors via social media"}],"componentType":"accordion"},{"componentType":"linkList","iconTitle":{"title":"Also interesting for you"},"textLinks":[{"text":"Popular online payment methods","url":"/en/business/accepting-payments/ing-checkout/online-payment-methods"},{"text":"All about ING Checkout","url":"/en/business/accepting-payments/ing-checkout"},{"text":"Becoming a business customer with ING","url":"/en/business/payments/business-account"}]}]},"hasMacro":false,"id":"4b07f0b2-6aad-4fe9-bef2-89e53ff4a247","localeString":"en-GB","mainHeaderZone":{"componentType":"productHeader","coreHeader":{"body":"Most people start a webshop because they ‘have something’ with the product. But that doesn’t mean you’ve sold anything yet. How can you start your own webshop? We are happy to help you on your way. And… good luck in advance!","headerImage":{"extension":"jpg","original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/709b6f70256424a2/original/-Young-woman-packing-clothes-on-vintage-shop-and-for-selling-online.jpg","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/48222b7a-2645-49bf-8f5d-d5d881f9cac0/-Young-woman-packing-clothes-on-vintage-shop-and-for-selling-online","type":"image","width":2783},"subtitle":"Sell your products online in 6 steps","title":"Start your own webshop"}},"publishDate":"2026-05-27T14:43:06.841+02:00"}}