October 5, 2023

The Ultimate Guide to Sell on Shopify

The Ultimate Guide to Sell on Shopify is a step-by-step guide to get you started selling on Shopify. Learn how to set up the most important Shopify features.
The Ultimate Guide to Sell on Shopify
The Ultimate Guide to Sell on Shopify

The Ultimate Guide to Sell on Shopify

Selling online has become increasingly popular over the years. More entrepreneurs and small business owners are setting up their stores on various online marketplaces and platforms. 

Shopify is a leading ecommerce platform that makes it easy for the average person to build their ecommerce store. With Shopify, you get complete control over your branding. 

In this article, we will go through everything you need to know about Shopify and an easy step-by-step guide to help you set up your store and start selling on Shopify.  

What is Shopify? 

Shopify started in June 2006 and is based in Ontario Canada. Today, there are over 1.75 million businesses globally that use Shopify. 

Shopify has gained some popularity in the ecommerce world - and for good reasons. It is an ecommerce platform that allows businesses and brands to create their online store. It is an all-in-one solution that incorporates hosting, management of orders, and other features that can help you set up your online store in the shortest possible time. 

Depending on the size and needs of your store, you can get different user plans at different prices. What’s great about Shopify is that you don’t need to know how to build a website or code. The platform comes with templates that make it easy for the average person to use. 

How much does it cost to sell on Shopify? 

Core Plans 

Shopify offers three core plans: the Basic Shopify Plan, the Shopify Plan, and Advanced Shopify Plan. 

  • Basic Shopify: The Basic Shopify plan allows you to put up as many products as you like. It offers discount and gift cards, abandoned cart recovery, 24/7 support, multiple currencies, and other sophisticated features for selling on the platform. The plan costs $29 per month. 
  • Shopify: The Shopify plan comes with everything from the Basic Shopify plan including 5 additional staff accounts, shipping discounts, additional inventory locations, fraud analysis, professional reports, and so on. This plan costs $79 per month. 
  • Advanced Shopify: The Advanced Shopify plan comes with all the features from the Shopify plan including 10 additional staff accounts, additional inventory locations, advanced reporting, and so on. This plan costs $299 per month. 

Extra Plans  

  • Shopify Lite: Shopify Lite is a plan for the smallest businesses and brands. It comes with a Buy Button you can add to your website or blog. It also comes with other standard features like an analytics page, a point-of-sale app, and finance reports. With this plan, you can enjoy Shopify features without a Shopify store. This plan sells for $9 per month. 
  • Shopify Plus: If you’ve outgrown the Advanced Shopify plan, Shopify Plus is one you can switch to. With this plan, you can grow multiple stores in different languages and currencies. It also comes with features including unlimited staff accounts, API integrations, exclusive apps, more advanced analytics, and so on. Shopify Plus costs $2000 per month. 

Why should I choose Shopify? 

Shopify comes with multiple benefits and this is why many businesses all over the world use Shopify. 

It is easy to set up

With Shopify, you can set up your store easily. Thanks to its simple admin dashboard and pre-made templates, you can set up your store without having to learn how to code or having to hire developers. 

It is easy to customize 

Shopify has tons of themes that make it easy to customize your store and create your brand experience free of technicalities. 

Hosting is already included

Shopify comes with hosting. This means you don’t have to worry about finding a hosting provider for your store. All you need to do is buy the domain and Shopify handles the rest. 

It is affordable 

Shopify comes with various plans to fit different levels of business. Whether you’re a small business or a multi-national, Shopify has a pricing plan for everyone. You can start selling at the lowest cost and start making profits. 

Mobile optimized

Shopify comes with built-in mobile responsiveness. With many consumers shopping from their mobile phones, you won’t miss out on any potential traffic and conversion. 

24/7 customer support

Shopify comes with 24/7 customer support which is available via email, phone, or live chat. Thanks to the 24/7 customer support, you can keep your store running without hitches or delays. 

Marketing & SEO

To grow your business and increase sales online, you need strong SEO and marketing. Thankfully, Shopify comes with diverse SEO features, promotional tools, and analytics to help drive traffic to your store and increase sales. 

Shopify apps

Shopify comes with many apps that you can add to your store to improve functionality. You can include print labels, and packing slips, add reviews, get in-depth analytics, and so on. You are most likely to find an app for whatever function. Most of the apps on Shopify are free while others are paid. 

What you can/cannot sell on Shopify 

You can sell both physical and digital products and services on Shopify. You can sell tangible products like jewelry, pet supplies, and clothing. You can also intangible products like memberships, digital products, classes and workshops, consultations, and so on.

However, you are not allowed to sell items like alcohol, tobacco, drugs, weapons, and adult content.Your account will be suspended or you could be subject to legal action if caught selling these items. 

How to sell on Shopify: 7 step-by-step guide to set up your store

Now that you know the benefits of using Shopify, let’s go through a simple step-by-step guide to help you set up your store and start selling on Shopify. 

  1. Setup your account

The first step is to visit the Shopify website and create an account. Fill in your email address and then click on ‘Start free trial”. Next, create your password and include your store name. 

Next, you will be directed to the “Tell us a little about yourself” page. In this section, you can describe your business and then enter your business address. Lastly, click on ‘Enter my store”. This will lead you to the Shopify dashboard. 

  1. Enter domain address

Next, you will need to create your domain name. This is the main URL that customers will enter to find your store. 

To do this, simply click on the Online Store section on your Shopify dashboard and then click on Domains. You can choose the default domain given to you (this is not recommended, as it looks less professional), connect to an existing domain address, transfer a domain or buy a new domain. If you choose to buy a new domain, you will need to enter payment information. Ensure your domain address is short, easy to spell, and easy to remember. 

  1. Choose a Shopify theme

Next, you can start designing your store. Choose a Shopify theme that goes with your brand and click on “Customize theme”. We recommend looking at various themes to ensure you go with one that perfectly suits your brand. You also want to add high-quality images and graphics. Once you are done designing your store, ensure you preview your store on both desktop and mobile to be sure it works for you. 

  1. Add your products 

Now your store is ready, it is time to add your products. Simply click on Products on the dashboard and start adding your products. On the Add Product page, you will need to enter information like your SKU, barcode, shipping details, images, product title, and so on. 

  1. Explore Shopify apps

Shopify offers an app store that has many tools you can use to grow your business. You can add Product Reviews and the Buy Button channel. There are also a number of subscription-based apps. You can select as many tools that can help your business. 

  1. Advertise your Shopify store 

Now you’ve created your store and everything is great. The next step is to tell the world about your store. Shopify comes with lots of built-in features to help with marketing and SEO. Here are some ways to advertise your Shopify store, and increase traffic and sales: 

 

  • Promote your store on social media platforms: A massive 75% of consumers use social media to research products. To increase traffic and sales on your Shopify store, work on building a loyal following on social media. Create valuable content and don’t forget to include your Shopify store URL. You can also take advantage of social media ads like Youtube ads, Facebook ads, and Google ads to target specific customers. 
  • Use email marketing: If you have an existing email list, this is a great way to reach customers who have interacted with you before. You can send personalized messages and keep them up to date with the latest deals on your Shopify store. Don’t forget to include your store URL. You can also include an email sign-up field on your store where customers can subscribe to get new information about your brand. 
  • Influencers are your friends: Influencers have a huge impact on consumer behavior. You can partner with influencers within your niche and have them promote your product to boost traffic to your store.  
  • Host giveaways: You can host giveaways on your social media platform or partner with an influencer to promote the giveaway. This will help drive traffic to your store and build a loyal following. 

  1. Pay Attention To Your Analytics 

To know how well your online store is performing, it is important to keep an eye on the analytics. Shopify provides analytics that reveal metrics like total sales, conversion rate, average order value, traffic sources, and so on. With data from your analytics, you can make changes and ensure your store is constantly generating sales. 

Other key considerations 

  • Fulfilling orders and shipping 

You can choose to fulfill your orders or use third-party logistics. If you choose to fulfill your orders, you gain complete control of the entire process. However, this could take up much space, time, and energy. If you are running a small business and can’t set up your warehouse, you can use third-party logistics to ship your orders. You can also use Amazon FBA to fulfill your Shopify orders. 

Start selling with Shopify 

Shopify continues to top the charts as an all-in-one solution for ecommerce businesses. From managing orders to inventory administration, Shopify provides powerful tools to help you create your own store within a few hours. 

We hope this guide helps you set up your online store. Don't forget to advertise your store to increase traffic and pull in sales.      

 

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