Starting an online soap business combines your craft skills with online sales know-how. This guide takes you from your first idea to your first sale, focusing on the essential steps to get your business online.
It is suitable for both seasoned soap makers and beginners, and emphasises the benefits of creating your own website. Having your own site is better because it can grow with your business, offers more freedom for promotions, and avoids the rules and fees of other platforms.
In this guide, we will show you how to research your market, build your brand, set up your own selling site, and use digital marketing to reach customers. By the end, you will know how to sell your handmade soaps online on your own terms, making your hobby a profitable business.
Designing a User-Friendly Website for Your Soap Business
Launching an online soap business successfully involves designing a user-friendly website, setting up efficient payment and shipping methods, and executing a successful launch.
1. Clear and Simple Design: Your website should reflect your brand’s aesthetic and be easy to navigate, unlike platforms where design options might be limited. This freedom allows you to create a unique and memorable shopping experience directly aligned with your brand.
2. High-Quality Product Images: Platforms may have restrictions on the number and type of product images. With your website, you can display as many photos as you like, offering multiple angles and close-up shots to truly showcase the quality and detail of your soaps.
3. Detailed Product Descriptions: You have the opportunity to provide extensive product details without any limitations on your website. This can include full ingredient lists, benefits, usage instructions, and unique selling points, all of which help build transparency and trust with your customers.
4. Mobile Responsiveness: While most platforms are mobile-friendly, having your own website allows you to tailor the mobile shopping experience completely, ensuring that it is optimized for performance and user engagement.
5. Fast Loading Times: Your website gives you control over optimizing site speed, which is crucial since slow loading times can drive customers away.
6. Easy Checkout Process: Unlike platforms that often have a fixed checkout process, your website allows you to design a straightforward and efficient checkout experience. This minimises purchase abandonment and enhances customer satisfaction.
7. Contact Information and Customer Support: On your site, you can offer comprehensive support through prominently displayed contact information, a robust FAQ section, and a live chat option.








