Launching an online store is not just uploading product photos and hitting publish. The difference between a shop that sells in its first week and one that stays silent usually lives in the details you check before you open. Here is a practical, ordered checklist to walk through before you open your store to the Saudi and Gulf market, based on our experience building online stores for clients at Nasj.
Product data and photos
- Give every product a clear name and a description that covers size, material, and how it is used — not one vague line.
- Shoot each product from several angles on a clean background, and keep image sizes consistent so the store looks tidy.
- Double-check the price and available quantity for each item, and set up options like color and size correctly.
- Confirm every product sits in the right category so visitors can find it easily.
Payment gateways
- Enable mada first — it is the most used method for Saudi shoppers, so do not treat it as an afterthought.
- Add Apple Pay, which shortens mobile checkout and lifts the number of completed orders.
- Offer STC Pay for the large segment that prefers digital wallets.
- Test each gateway with a small real purchase and confirm the order confirmation arrives and the amount is correct.
Shipping and cash on delivery
- Choose carriers that cover your cities, and set shipping cost by region or weight.
- Decide clearly whether you will offer cash on delivery — a share of customers still ask for it — and state any fee.
- Show the expected delivery time on the product page and in the cart so no one is surprised.
- Make sure the tracking number reaches the customer automatically after dispatch.
Policies and information pages
- Write a clear return and exchange policy that explains the window, the conditions, and how to request a return.
- Add an About page and a Contact page with a real phone number and your store accounts.
- Explain payment and shipping methods on a dedicated page that is easy to reach from the footer.
- These pages build trust, cut repeated questions, and reduce cancelled orders.
Domain and email
- Connect the store to a domain in your brand name, not a sub-link — your own domain builds trust and identity.
- Set up an email on your domain, such as info@yourstore, which looks far more professional than a free inbox.
- Confirm the security certificate is installed so the padlock shows next to the address.
Test the full purchase flow
- Enter as a fresh visitor on both mobile and desktop, add a product to the cart, and complete the order through payment.
- Check the confirmation email and SMS, and that the invoice and details are correct.
- Try a discount code if you have one, and confirm it applies correctly.
- Open the store in more than one browser and phone to be sure the design holds up everywhere.
Basic SEO for products
- Write a short title and description for each product page using the words people actually search for.
- Use clear image file names and alt text that describes the product.
- Keep categories and links organized so search engines can index your store easily.
Analytics
- Connect an analytics tool to see how many visitors arrive, where they come from, and where they drop off.
- Turn on tracking for completed orders so you measure performance with real numbers, not guesses.
Soft launch
Before the big announcement, open the store to a small circle of friends and early customers and ask them to place a real order. Their feedback will surface any glitch before the market sees it. Fix what they find, then launch with confidence.
If the list feels long, that is normal — and that is where we come in. At Nasj we design and develop online stores that are ready to sell from day one, with payments, shipping, and full testing in place. Start your project with us and request a proposal, and let us launch your store on solid ground.