Technology

10 easy ways to help launch a successful online shop

Published

2 years ago

July 25, 2024

10 easy ways to help launch a successful online shop

If you ever wanted to launch an online shop, but you’re not quite sure where to start, I get it. With all the website platforms that exist out there, it can feel rather daunting.

But whether you’re looking to start a side hustle or finally begin that passion project after retiring, I want you to understand how someone with no prior experience can easily create their own online presence.

I’m here to help you launch a successful online site – like a shop, for example – one step at a time.

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A woman working on her laptop (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

How to set up your online shop: A beginner’s guide

There are many website builders available, like Squarespace, Shopify, WordPress and Wix, but only a few specialize in online selling. Among those, even fewer make it easy to design, publish, manage your shop and handle all the in-between tasks on one platform without needing to integrate other services. Here’s how you can do it in this step-by-step guide.

1. Create your online storefront

Your website design plays a crucial role in attracting and retaining customers. Although it’s often said not to judge a book by its cover, many of us naturally do. Consider the intersection of form and function, how structure and design elements guide shoppers through their buying journey. If design isn’t your strong suit, many website builders offer a variety of e-commerce templates to choose from.

Here are some tips:

For a large product catalog: Opt for a template with pre-built product categories, deep search functionality and clear navigation.
For a small product catalog: Showcase your entire catalog on the homepage, making it easy for shoppers to find and select products.
For single products: Focus on a quick buyer flow, emphasizing a straightforward purchase experience.

When it comes to colors, fonts and other design aspects, familiarize yourself with color marketing to determine what will work best for your brand and store. Ensure your logo and/or shop name is clearly placed on your storefront.

Remember, strong product images and descriptions are essential. Use this opportunity to integrate customer support, cross-selling features and social proof to pave the path to purchase.

Kurt’s best website builders for building your online shop

Illustration of a website template (Wix)

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2. Create products and product options

Once your design is ready to go, start by adding your products to the store. Whether you’re selling physical items or digital downloads, consider the following:

Physical products: These can be sold as one-time purchases or part of a subscription model.
Digital products: Offer items like e-books, software or image files.
Product options: If your product comes in different sizes, colors or materials, add variants so that customers can choose their preferred option.

Don’t worry if you don’t have all of this figured out yet or if you only have one product to sell right now. You’ll need to start somewhere, and there’s no time like the present.

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3. Use categories to organize

If you do have multiple products or plan to add them later, you’ll want to group similar products into categories. This helps organize your catalog and allows customers to browse related items together, in addition to being able to easily search and filter through what they are looking for. In order to do this, follow these steps:

Create categories: Set up categories like “Candles,” “Ceramics” or any relevant groupings.
Display categories on separate pages: Create the category, add products to it and then use a platform editor to display them. You can also manually create a page linking to all your categories if needed.

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4. Optimize product pages (and more)

After deciding which products to sell and categorizing those products, you’ll need to make it easy for your audience to find, read about and see what those products are. Without getting a good description and visual of what they’ll be getting, they’ll be less likely to order from you. So, here’s what you’ll need to optimize those product pages:

Product images: Use high-quality images and, if applicable, videos that showcase your items.
Descriptions: Add clear and compelling descriptions that highlight benefits. Bonus points if they can be optimized for SEO (more on that later).
Cross-selling: Suggest related products that customers can add to their cart to increase sales before they check out.
Social proof: Display reviews and testimonials that attest to the quality of your product.

Additionally, you’ll want to add to your site:

General information and contact info: Set your email address, location, language and currency. It’s also a good idea to have a contact page and/or phone number and email on your website for additional questions or concerns.
Customer support: Include FAQs so that customers can get answers to common questions. Depending on the size of your store, consider adding a live chat so that customers can contact you to discuss an order if need be. If your site grows, you may need to hire a team or ticketing software for this.

Kurt’s best website builders for building your online shop

Illustration of order page (Wix)

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5. Enter site settings

It’s important to enable site settings to ensure your site functions smoothly. You can do this by entering essential details such as:

Roles and permissions: If you have employees or partners, manage their limited access to your site so no one accidentally deletes products or pages from your online store.
Privacy policy: Outline how customer data is collected, used, stored and protected. This builds trust with your visitors by reassuring them their personal information is safe and complies with legal requirements.
Disclaimer: Provide a clear disclaimer to limit your liability regarding the information on your site. This is especially important for sites that provide advice, sell products or offer services that may have varying results for different users.
Security certificate: Obtain and install an SSL certificate to encrypt data transmitted between your site and its visitors. This ensures sensitive information, such as credit card details, is protected, boosting customer confidence and improving your site’s SEO ranking.

Kurt’s best website builders for building your online shop

6. Shipping and delivery options

Having a site to showcase your products is the first step, but you also need to have a way to get those products to your customers in a timely and cost-efficient manner. This is the part that can make or break your customer base, as you’ll need to be able to create expectations for your users.

Now, decide how to get your products to customers:

Shipping: Ship products to customers using Wix’s flexible shipping rules.
Local delivery: Hand-deliver to customers in your area.
Pickup: Allow local customers to collect products from your physical locations.

Kurt’s best website builders for building your online shop

7. Accept online payments

Now, how will your customers pay for those products? Be sure to set up secure payment gateways so that customers can pay seamlessly and with multiple payment options. Many platforms support various payment methods, including credit cards, PayPal and more, and it’s easy to accept those payments directly through your site.

Kurt’s best website builders for building your online shop

Example of website templates (WIX)

8. Optimize for search engines

In addition to making your product pages look snazzy, you’ll also want to take the time to optimize those pages – and other pages on your online shop – for SEO. What this means is that when someone searches for a specific product or type of store on a search engine, your site/product pages will be the ones that come up. People accomplish this by finding relevant search keywords that people are searching for, like “handmade necklaces of fruits” or “organic soaps online ship to Atlanta.”

This may require you to pay for an SEO research tool or hire an SEO specialist to help boost your visibility, ensuring your people can find you. Some platforms have SEO tools that can help you ensure you’re putting in all the keywords correctly, and you can also hire an SEO specialist directly through the site.

Kurt’s best website builders for building your online shop

9. Promote your store

SEO is a way to organically lead customers to your store, but there are other ways to spread the word with outbound marketing. You may have to put a little extra effort into this, but it can help increase your sales and, at the very least, raise awareness about your shop, which people can share with their own networks, thus spreading the word. Try to have an idea of where your audience is, though, before putting all your resources into all of these methods. Sometimes just one is enough!

Social media: Use social media platforms to share product updates, promotions and behind-the-scenes content. You can also insert social icons onto your site to help visitors share products with their network.

Email marketing: Build a subscriber list and send targeted emails. Sometimes the best place to start is by contacting people that you already have in your network, as they may be thrilled at the idea of supporting your store! Email marketing automation, like sending an automated “thank you” email after someone purchases a product from your store, can also be very effective.

Paid advertising: Consider Google Ads or social media ads to give your products and site an extra boost.

Kurt’s best website builders for building your online shop

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10. Monitor and improve

Last but not least, running an online shop isn’t much different from running a brick-and-mortar store, especially when it comes to monitoring your store’s performance and checking your inventory. There are many tools available to help you regularly check your store’s performance:

Analytics: Use analytics tools to track visitor behavior, conversion rates and popular products. This can help you determine whether you need to add, improve or remove any products on your site that aren’t serving you.
Feedback: Listen to customer feedback and make necessary improvements. Encourage visitors to write reviews on products or offer a discount if they submit a testimonial on a product they liked.

When launching a website, you have a variety of choices to suit your specific needs, whether you’re seeking simplicity, customization or advanced features. Explore these top website builders to find the perfect fit for your online presence: Wix, Squarespace, Weebly, Shopify and WordPress. Learn more about these options by clicking here.

Enhance your e-commerce experience

It’s important to have a comprehensive e-commerce solution that allows you to sell everywhere with ease: online, in person and across multiple channels. Look for features like POS systems, a branded mobile app, drop-shipping and more, so you can adapt and scale your business effortlessly.

You want to gain complete control of your business by managing all your inventory, orders and sales from one centralized dashboard. You also want to optimize your site traffic with built-in SEO tools, marketing automations and ad campaigns. The ultimate goal is to ensure a seamless experience for your customers.

Kurt’s best website builders for building your online shop

Kurt’s key takeaways

Launching an online shop might seem overwhelming at first, but with the right tools and guidance, it can be a smooth and rewarding process. A comprehensive platform that simplifies everything from design to payment processing can make it easier for you to focus on what you love: selling your products. Remember, every successful store starts with a single step, so don’t hesitate to dive in and start building your dream shop today.

Now that you’ve learned how to set up your online shop, we’d love to hear from you! What challenges or successes have you experienced in your journey to launch an online store? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Technology

It’s a new heyday for gas thanks to data centers

Published

3 hours ago

January 30, 2026

Press Room

It’s a new heyday for gas thanks to data centers

The US is now leading a global surge in new gas power plants being built in large part to satisfy growing energy demand for data centers. And more gas means more planet-heating pollution.

Gas-fired power generation in development globally rose by 31 percent in 2025. Almost a quarter of that added capacity is slated for the US, which has surpassed China with the biggest increase of any country. More than a third of that growth in the US is expected to directly power data centers, according to a recent analysis by the nonprofit Global Energy Monitor (GEM).

More gas means more planet-heating pollution

The rush to install more powerful hardware into expanding data centers used for generative AI has led to forecasts of skyrocketing power demand. There’s still a lot of uncertainty about whether AI will become as ingrained in everyday life as tech companies might like, and many proposed data centers could fall flat. Even so, plans to build out more gas plants in the name of AI are stalling efforts to transition to cleaner energy sources.

“There is a risk that this capacity could lock in future emissions and become stranded assets if anticipated electricity demand from AI never materializes,” Jenny Martos, project manager for GEM’s Global Oil and Gas Plant Tracker, said in a press release.

Already, 2026 is shaping up to be a record-smashing year for gas. If all of this year’s proposed projects cross the finish line, it would be an even bigger jump in added capacity than the record set in 2002. That’s pretty remarkable considering the 2000s ushered in America’s so-called “shale gas revolution,” when fracking suddenly unleashed previously hard-to-reach reserves. Gas is now a cheaper power source than coal and creates less carbon pollution when burned. But gas production releases methane, a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide even though it doesn’t persist in the atmosphere for as long.

Image: Global Energy Monitor

Ramping up electricity generation from gas is also a sharp pivot away from global climate goals. A decade ago, nearly every country on Earth — including its two biggest greenhouse gas polluters, China and the US — signed a historic deal in Paris to limit global warming. The only way to achieve the most ambitious goals set out in the Paris agreement would be to replace fossil fuels with less-polluting alternatives like renewable energy and slash greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by around 2050.

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Justine Calma

Technology

Thousands of iPhone apps expose data inside Apple App Store

Published

3 hours ago

January 30, 2026

Press Room

Thousands of iPhone apps expose data inside Apple App Store

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Apple often promotes the App Store as a secure place to download apps. The company highlights strict reviews and a closed system as key protections for iPhone users. That reputation now faces serious questions.

New research shows that thousands of iOS apps approved by Apple contain hidden security flaws. These flaws can expose user data, cloud storage and even payment systems.

The issue is not malware; it’s poor security practices baked directly into the app code.

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APPLE WARNS MILLIONS OF IPHONES ARE EXPOSED TO ATTACK

Cybernews researchers found that many iOS apps store sensitive secrets directly inside app files, where they can be easily extracted. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

What researchers discovered inside iOS apps

Security researchers at Cybernews, a cybersecurity research firm, analyzed the code of more than 156,000 iPhone apps. That represents about 8% of all apps available worldwide.

Here is what they found:

Over 815,000 hidden secrets inside app code
An average of five secrets per app
71% of apps leaked at least one secret

These secrets include passwords, API keys and access tokens. Developers place them directly inside apps, where anyone can extract them. According to Cybernews researcher Aras Nazarovas, this makes attackers’ jobs much easier than most users realize.

What are hardcoded secrets in simple terms?

A hardcoded secret is sensitive information saved directly inside an app instead of being protected on a secure server. Think of it like writing your bank PIN on the back of your debit card. Once someone downloads the app, they can inspect its files and pull out those secrets. Attackers do not need special access or advanced hacking tools. Both the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation warn developers not to do this. Yet it is happening at a massive scale.

Cloud storage leaks exposed huge amounts of data

One of the most serious problems involves cloud storage. More than 78,000 iOS apps contained direct links to cloud storage buckets. These buckets store files such as photos, documents, receipts and backups. In some cases, no password was required at all. Researchers found:

836 storage buckets are fully open to the public
Over 76 billion exposed files
More than 406 terabytes of leaked data

This data included user uploads, registration details, app logs and private records. Anyone who knew where to look could view or download it.

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This chart shows the most common types of hardcoded secrets found inside iOS apps, with Google-related keys appearing most often, according to Cybernews research. (Cybernews)

Firebase databases were also left open

Many iOS apps rely on Google Firebase to store user data. Cybernews found more than 51,000 Firebase database links hidden in app code. While some were protected, over 2,200 had no authentication. That exposed:

Nearly 20 million user records
Messages, profiles, and activity logs
Databases that are mostly hosted in the U.S.

If a Firebase database is not locked down, attackers can browse user data like a public website.

Payment and login systems were at risk too

Some of the leaked secrets were far more dangerous than analytics or ads. Researchers discovered secret keys for:

Stripe, which handles payments and refunds
JWT authentication systems that control logins
Order management tools used by shopping apps

A leaked Stripe secret key can allow attackers to issue refunds, move money or access billing details. Leaked login keys can let attackers impersonate users or take over accounts.

AI and social apps were among the worst offenders

Some of the apps with the largest leaks were related to artificial intelligence. According to VX Underground, security firm CovertLabs identified 198 iOS apps leaking user data. The worst known case was Chat & Ask AI by Codeway. Researchers say it exposed chat histories, phone numbers and email addresses tied to millions of users. Another app, YPT – Study Group, reportedly leaked messages, user IDs and access tokens. CovertLabs tracks these incidents in a restricted repository called Firehound. The full list of affected apps has not been publicly released, and researchers say the data is limited to prevent further exposure and to give developers time to fix security flaws.

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This example shows how sensitive keys like Google API credentials and Stripe payment secrets can be stored directly inside an iOS app’s files, where they are easy to extract. (Cybernews)

Why Apple’s App review can miss hidden security risks

Apple reviews apps before they appear in the App Store. However, the review process does not scan app code for hidden secrets. If an app behaves normally during testing, it can pass review even if sensitive keys are buried inside its files. This creates a gap between Apple’s security claims and real-world risks. Removing leaked secrets is not simple for developers. They must revoke old keys, create new ones and rebuild parts of their apps. That can break features and delay updates. Even though Apple says most app updates are reviewed within 24 hours, some updates take weeks. During that time, vulnerable apps can remain available.

CyberGuy contacted Apple for comment, but did not receive a response before publication.

Ways to stay safe right now

You cannot easily inspect an app for hidden secrets. Apple does not provide tools for that. Still, you can reduce your risk and limit exposure by being selective and cautious. These steps help reduce the risk if an app leaks data behind the scenes.

1) Stick to established app developers

Well-known developers tend to have stronger security teams and better update practices. Smaller or unknown apps may rush features to market and overlook security basics. Before downloading, check how long the developer has been active and how often the app is updated.

2) Review and limit app permissions

Many apps ask for more access than they need. Location, contacts, photos and microphone access all increase the risk of data leaks. Go into your iPhone settings and remove permissions that are not essential for the app to work.

3) Delete apps you no longer use

Unused apps still retain access to data you shared in the past. They may also store information on remote servers long after you stop opening them. If you have not used an app in months, remove it. Here’s how: Open Settings, tap General, select iPhone Storage, and scroll through the list of apps to see when each one was last used. Tap any app you no longer need and select Delete App to remove it and reduce ongoing data exposure.

4) Be cautious with personal and financial details

Avoid entering sensitive information unless it is absolutely necessary. This includes full names, addresses, payment details and private conversations. AI apps are especially risky if you share deeply personal content.

5) Use a password manager for every account

A password manager creates strong, unique passwords for each app and service. This prevents attackers from accessing multiple accounts if one app leaks data. Never reuse passwords tied to your email address.

Next, see if your email has been exposed in past breaches. Our No. 1 password manager pick includes a built-in breach scanner that checks whether your email address or passwords have appeared in known leaks. If you discover a match, immediately change any reused passwords and secure those accounts with new, unique credentials.

Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2026 at Cyberguy.com.

6) Change passwords tied to exposed apps

If an app uses your email address for login, change that password immediately. Do this even if there is no confirmation of a breach. Attackers often test leaked credentials across other services.

7) Consider using a data removal service

Some leaked data ends up with data brokers that sell personal information online. A data removal service can help find and remove your details from these databases. This reduces the chance that exposed app data gets reused for scams or identity theft.

While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.

Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.

Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com.

8) Monitor your accounts for unusual activity

Watch for unexpected emails, password reset notices, login alerts, or payment confirmations. These can signal that leaked data is already being abused. Act quickly if something looks off.

9) Pause use of risky AI and chat apps

If you use AI apps for private conversations, consider stopping until the developer confirms security fixes. Once data is exposed, it cannot be pulled back. Avoid sharing sensitive details with apps that store conversations remotely.

Kurt’s key takeaways

Apple’s App Store still offers important protections, but this research shows it is not foolproof. Many trusted iPhone apps quietly expose data due to basic security mistakes. Until app reviews improve, you need to stay alert and limit how much data you share.

How many apps on your iPhone have access to information you would not want exposed? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Technology

Apple just had a record-breaking iPhone quarter

Published

15 hours ago

January 29, 2026

Press Room

Apple just had a record-breaking iPhone quarter

Apple says the iPhone had its “best-ever” quarter, with revenue hitting more than $85.3 billion over the past few months. The company announced the news as part of its Q1 2026 earnings report, which also revealed record-breaking revenue of $143.8 billion, up 16 percent when compared to the same time last year.

“iPhone had its best-ever quarter driven by unprecedented demand, with all-time records across every geographic segment, and Services also achieved an all-time revenue record, up 14 percent from a year ago,” Apple CEO Tim Cook says in the press release.

Apple’s services revenue, which includes subscriptions like Apple Music, iCloud, and Apple TV surged 14 percent year over year, while Mac and wearable revenue were down.

In the coming months, Apple will bring promised AI-powered personalization features to Siri. Apple is partnering with Google to power this upgrade, which will use a custom version of Google’s Gemini AI model.

The company is also acquiring an AI startup, called Q.ai, for $2 billion, according to the Financial Times. Though there aren’t any details on how Apple plans to use the startup’s technology, the Financial Times reports that Q.ai’s patents “show its technology being used in headphones or glasses, using ‘facial skin micro movements’ to communicate without talking.”