Every shopkeeper hears "make a website" advice that costs more than a month's rent. Here's the honest alternative: your shop doesn't need a website, it needs a place where customers can already reach you — and they're already chatting. This guide takes you from zero to your first order in one afternoon.
Step 1 — Claim your handle (10 minutes)
Open Dera Talk, go to Business, and create your page. Pick a handle that matches your shop name — like @aliselectronics — because it becomes your permanent address: deratalk.com/b/aliselectronics. Handles are first-come, first-served, so if your shop name is common in your market, claim it today.
Fill in the basics customers expect: full shop name, category, opening hours, and area. Add a clear photo of your shopfront — pages with a real photo get noticeably more messages than pages without.
Step 2 — Build your catalog (30–60 minutes)
Add your ten best-selling products first, not all hundred. For each one: a decent photo (daylight near the shop door works better than flash), the name, the price, and one line of description. Ten minutes per product at most.
Prices change — we know. Update them in the app anytime; customers always see the current price, which is exactly why a catalog beats a price list printed on a wall.
Step 3 — Print your QR (20 minutes)
From your business page, get your QR code and print it where eyes already are: the shop counter, the shutter, the parcel slips, the delivery rider's box. One scan opens your page; one tap starts a chat. A customer doesn't need to install anything first or type a single letter.
Step 4 — Take your first orders properly
When a customer messages "send me two," turn it into an order card: items, price, delivery or pickup, payment method. The card keeps both sides honest — your customer sees the same status you see, from new to delivered.
If the customer takes goods on credit, record it in your khata the same minute. The ledger keeps the running balance per customer, and when someone asks for their hisaab, you share a clean summary instead of arguing from memory. That's how credit stays good for business.
The afternoon checklist
Print this and tick it off:
- Business page created, @handle claimed
- Shop name, hours, area, and photo filled in
- Top 10 products listed with photos and prices
- QR printed at counter, shutter, and parcel slips
- First order card sent (even to your cousin — test it)
- Khata entry recorded for a real credit customer
What it costs
Nothing, during early access. Business tools are free while we grow together, and when paid plans ever arrive, early businesses hear it first — the full pricing promise is on our pricing page. Your handle, catalog, and QR cost nothing today. Time to open your dera.