Online store reading path
The order in which a store team learns its shop. Orders come first, because they cannot wait; the catalog, prices and VAT next; growth and upkeep last. Each step names who should read the page.
The first week: orders and access
| # | Read | Who | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Online stores: start here | Everyone | Who owns which part of the store |
| 2 | Logging into the admin | Store team | Where to sign in |
| 3 | Accounts, passwords and two-factor sign-in | Store team | Accounts that see customer data must be safe |
| 4 | Daily store routine | Store manager | The morning round |
| 5 | Orders day to day | Store manager | Handle an order from paid to shipped |
| 6 | Order statuses | Store manager | What each status means |
| 7 | Payment gateways | Store owner | How payments reach the order |
| 8 | Store FAQ | Store team | The questions that come first |
The first month: catalog, money and customers
| # | Read | Who | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Products and catalog | Product editor | How products are organized |
| 10 | Adding a product | Product editor | A complete product, every time |
| 11 | Prices and currencies | Store owner | Prices in every currency you sell in |
| 12 | VAT types and rules and the VAT checklist | Store owner, accountant | The right tax on every order |
| 13 | Shipping and handling | Store manager | Costs and delivery |
| 14 | Returns and refunds | Store manager | A return handled the same way every time |
| 15 | Invoices and receipts | Store manager | What the customer gets |
| 16 | Customer accounts | Store owner | Accounts and guest checkout |
| 17 | GDPR requests | Store owner | When a customer asks for their data |
The first quarter: growth and upkeep
| # | Read | Who | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | Store reports | Store owner | What sells and what does not |
| 19 | Discounts | Store owner | Promotions without surprises |
| 20 | Peak season preparation | Store owner, host | Sales days and holidays |
| 21 | Landing pages with Layouts | Marketing | Pages for campaigns |
| 22 | Newsletters | Marketing | Customers who come back |
| 23 | Security checklist for owners | Store owner | A store is a target |
| 24 | Backups and Restore test | Store owner, host | Orders must never be lost |
| 25 | Contracts and SLAs | Store owner | What your provider promises |
| 26 | Measuring ROI | Store owner | What the store earns against what it costs |
If you have only one hour
Read steps 1, 4, 5 and 7: who owns what, the morning round, handling an order and how payments arrive.
Related pages
- Online stores: start here
- Customers reading path
- Store launch checklist (businesses)
- Free documentation: this page is free to copy, translate and improve under the GNU FDL 1.3.
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