Are you new to Shopify? Or, want to re-platform your business. Well, here is the complete guide about the ins and outs of Shopify.
What is Shopify?
Shopify is an e-commerce business platform that works on a subscription basis. It allows entrepreneurs to set up their businesses and sell goods/products online. Besides virtual shops, Shopify also allows its users to build a physical store using Shopify Point-on-Sale (POS) app.
Moreover, Shopify provides you the easiest and quickest way to build your dream business on this versatile platform. Shopify allows you to sync them together to make the inventory process easier for you if you have both online and on-ground stores. So, primarily, the platform works as a facilitator, making it easier for you to sell the products across the web and in person.
What is Shopify Lite?
Shopify Lite is an inexpensive plan by the platform which allows a merchant to sell products on the existing website even if it is not hosted on Shopify. Without using the Shopify hosting facility, you can use the sell button on your website for $9 per month. The difference between other plans and Shopify lite is that you will not get a shopping cart; so technically, you will not build your store on Shopify.
Further, if you are running a store on social media platforms like Facebook, you can add a shop tab using Shopify Lite.
What is Shopify Plus?
Shopify plus is an advanced plan specifically designed for larger businesses. It offers core and advanced features. Some of the Shopify Plus features are;
- It gives you a launch managerwho personalizes your store and assists you throughout the setup and integration process. Moreover, it helps you in finding partners with much more dedication.
- Secondly, Shopify plus allows you to customize your store themeby giving access to theme language and liquid.
- As compared to Shopify basic, plus will enable you to include unlimited staff accountswith further permission settings.
- In addition, Shopify plus gives you customized shipping, checkout, payment options, and customer field.
- Shopify Plus gives you additional API integrationslike Multipass and Giftcard.
- Access to Shopify exclusive apps is another fantastic feature of Shopify Plus. These exclusive appsinclude Transporter App, script editor, Shopify Channel, Launchpad, Script Editor, Shopify Flow, and Bulk Account Inviter.
How Shopify Works?
There are 9 easy steps to build a Shopify store. Let’s go through these steps quickly.
Step 1: Sign Up
Go to Shopify and click on a 14-days free trial. Add your email id, password, and your Store name. You will be prompted to answer few more questions. After answering all the questions, press “enter my store.”
Step 2: Add Your Products
You are off to get a start; add your products. Press a green button prompting “add button.” Name your products, explain them, upload pictures, and mention prices.
Step 3: Customize Your Store Theme
Shopify has its own official designer theme store, where you can get free or paid themes. You can modify them without interfering in the line of code. For extreme modifications, you have to opt for the premium package.
We recommend you don’t rush while selecting your store theme, browse them and check all the functionalities and reviews. Moreover, have a look at the preview of the theme before finally applying it to your store. After selecting your theme, hit the green button “Add Theme.” Customize your theme the way you want to and “Publish.”
Step 4: Add a Domain Name
A domain name is mandatory to make your shop live. You can either buy it from Shopify or purchase it from a third party like GoDaddy. Also, you can connect your existing domain to Shopify.
Step 5: Enable Payments
Select your payment gateways. Upon selecting Shopify, you don’t have to pay transaction fees, while if you choose any other gateway you have to pay a transaction fee.
It is advisable to make a test order before making the store live to cope with all the possible issues.
Step 6: Add Shipping
From “setting tabs,” manage your shipping process. You will see multiple shipping options, select shipping labels, add shipping zone, and determine your shipping charges.
Step 7: Integrate Apps
To improve your store’s functionality, add integrated apps. Explore Shopify App Store. You will find many paid and free apps to test and adopt.
Step 8: Select a Price Plan
Before publishing a store, you have to select a price plan ranging from $29-$229 per month.
Step 9: Publish Your Shopify Store
After choosing the price plan, you are all set to publish your store. Once you have completed all the mentioned above milestones, remove the password to let everyone access your store.
Congratulations! You have successfully set up your store.
What is Shopify Dropshipping?
Dropshipping is when the retailer doesn’t own any inventory or stock in the store. The retailer purchases the product from a third party, ships it directly to the customer, and gets the commission. This method is super efficient to lessen the risk when you experiment with a new product.
If you are an entrepreneur, dropshipping is the best business model for you. To dropship on Shopify, you have to;Select a business idea for dropshipping,
- Do product research and choose those which you feel have potential,
- Search for the dropshipping supplier,
- Build your store and get it registered,
- Load the pictures of products on your store and publish store,
- Market your store and bang on.
What You can Sell (and what you cannot) on Shopify?
Shopify is a versatile market where you can sell various products ranging from needle to heavy machinery. Besides physical products, there are many other services that you can sell on Shopify. Below is the table of what you can or cannot sell on Shopify with the restricted products.
What You Can Sell on Shopify?
- Skincare
- Health care
- Shapewear
- Pet products
- Mobile Accessories
- Jewelry
- Kitchen Utensils
- Travel Accessories
- Home Décor Items
- Art & Craft Supplies
- Sleep Wear
- Smart Watches
And much more….
What other than products can we sell on Shopify?
- Memberships
- Services
- Consultations
- Digital Products
- Rentals
- Classes & workshops
- Donations
- Tickets
- Digital Gift cards
- Event Tickets
Products Prohibited on Shopify?
- × Child Exploitation Services or Goods
- × Any product or service that can harass, threaten, or defame a specific individual or community
- × Tobacco & E-Cigarettes
- × CBD
- × Fire Works
- ×Weapons & Fire Arm
- × Internet Gaming, Video Game Currency, & Game Credits
- × Sale of Peptides, Nutraceuticals, research chemicals, pseudo-pharmaceuticals
- × Solvents including Kerosene, Gasoline, Benzene, Alcohol, etc.
What is Shopify used for?
The main use of Shopify is to let its users make their own online stores on it. But it is not about making stores only, but it also helps you to track your customers requirements. For instance, if a potential customer is adding something to their cart from your online store, you can have insights to it.
How to buy on Shopify?
To make a purchase on Shopify is really an easy peasy task. One needs to follow the simple steps provided below in order to make a purchase:
Step 1: What is Shopify buy button?
The Shopify buy button is the option linked to different blogs, websites and emails. This buy button leads the potential customers to buy whatever they want right from the same blog, website or an email from where they are learning about the product.
Step 2: How to enable buy button on your website?
- First and the foremost, you will have to login to your Shopify admin panel.
- Then you will need to select the right option from the buy button page.
- After choosing your desired stuff, Shopify will lead you to make a buy button.
- Once the buy button has been clicked on, you will be proceeded to a checkout page or in whatever other way you have designed it.
- You can also view the entire collection into your cart by selecting a collection and adding a buy button for it.
- And if you will add the buy button in the email, the customer will directly land on the checkout page after clicking on it.
Step 3: How to create a buy button for collection and products?
- First and the foremost, you will have to login to your Shopify admin panel.
- Then click the buy button option.
- After that click on the select product option.
- Now select a certain product or find the one you are looking for on your store.
- Now click on the select product option.
- You can also customize your button by changing its color, text, template or appearance. You can locate these options in create page.
- You can also design what your customer will lead to when they click on Buy button such as “add to cart”, “product details” or the “checkout page”. This can be done through action on click field.
- Now click on generate code when you are done designing it your own way.
- An embedded code dialogue box will appear on your screen. Now click on copy embedded code to clipboard.
- After copying this embedded code, you will need to paste it to the HTML page where you want the button to be appeared.
- Next, save these changes.
- In the same manner, you will be able to create a buy button for a collection on your store also.
- Next you have to click on select a collection.
- This is done right after clicking on the buy button which is available on your Shopify admin panel.
- Now simply follow in the exactly same steps in order to embed it to your website too.
How to start business on Shopify?
In order to start a business on Shopify, just follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Choose a name for your store
Step 2: Get yourself registered for a free Shopify account
Step 3: Pick a relevant theme for your store
Step 4: Add a logo
Step 5: Get the standard pages ready
Step 6: Add a payment getaway
Step: Modify settings of shipping
Step 8: Setting up the billing information for your store
Payments on Shopify
The payments on Shopify support the following countries:
- United States (Not US territories except Puerto Rico)
- United Kingdom.
- New Zealand.
- Singapore
Countries and Languages Shopify Supports
Shopify supports a number of languages which includes the following:
- Chinese (Simplified)
- Chinese (Traditional)
- Czech
- Danish
- Dutch
- English
- Finnish
- French
- German
- Italian
- Japanese
- Korean
- Norwegian
- Polish
- Portuguese (Brazil)
- Portuguese (Portugal)
- Spanish
- Swedish
- Thai
- Turkish
- Vietnamese
Final verdict
Since Shopify is an e-commerce website and as per all the guide above covering all the required information about it. We would definitely recommend each person who is interested or is planning to open an online store on Shopify as it actually makes our work easier.
Conclusion
Launching an online store on Shopify is a good choice for everyone as it does not require a lot of investments. With just a reasonable amount of subscription fee, one can start their ow business that too as soon as possible. The payment methods are also very easy as well as numerous languages are supported by it.
