If you’re eager to launch an online store and kickstart your entrepreneurial journey, the good news is that there are numerous ecommerce platforms available to help you achieve this goal. Among the various options, Shopify stands out as a favorite due to its affordability, user-friendly interface, and compatibility with drop-shipped products, eliminating the need for inventory management.
This comprehensive Shopify guide aims to simplify the process of building your online store. Contrary to common misconceptions, setting up a Shopify store is a straightforward task, and you can be up and running within minutes. However, beyond the store setup itself, this guide delves into the crucial aspect of crafting an effective marketing strategy. Why? Because your marketing efforts can make all the difference in the success of your venture.
Before diving into the Shopify setup, it’s crucial to check with your local and state government regarding any necessary business licenses. While this may not be an issue for most online sellers, licensing requirements can vary based on your location and the nature of your products or services.
Step 1: Sign Up for Shopify
Begin your journey by visiting Shopify.com and clicking the «Start free trial» button. Fill in the required information and proceed to create your store by following the on-screen instructions. Your store is now ready for customization.
What is the price of Shopify?
Explore the three Shopify plans available, each offering a 14-day free trial. For most starting stores, the Basic Shopify plan at $25/month is sufficient.
Step 2: Set Up Your Online Store
Your store admin screen is the central hub for customizing your store, uploading products, configuring payments, and managing shipping options. Familiarize yourself with the various sections, including:
- Home: Providing insights into your store’s recent activity and daily tasks.
- Orders: Where you manage customer orders, either manually or through automated processes.
- Products: A comprehensive list of goods, services, digital downloads, subscriptions, and gift cards.
- Customers: An essential area for interacting with and managing customer information.
- Analytics: Access detailed sales and customer reports based on your selected Shopify plan.
- Marketing: Create and manage marketing activities and automation for customer conversion.
- Discounts: Generate discount codes and set up sale prices or automatic discounts.
- Apps: Integrate third-party apps to enhance your store’s functionality and features.
- Sales Channels: Connect various marketplaces, such as Facebook, Amazon, and Instagram, for centralized order tracking.
Step 3: Choose Your Shopify Store’s Design
Explore Shopify’s theme store, offering over 70 variations, including free options. Whether you choose a free or premium design, customization options abound. If you lack coding skills, consider hiring Shopify experts for advanced design changes.
To find the ideal layout and design:
Take a look at the Theme Store
Log in to Shopify, visit the theme store, and explore the available themes, filtering based on your preferences.
Check Reviews and Functionality
Click on a theme to access more details, including features, responsiveness, and reviews from other users.
Take a Look at the Preview
View the demo to visualize the design before activating it on your store. Explore different styles if the theme offers multiple variations.
Get the Theme
Once satisfied, click the green button to confirm theme installation. Shopify will notify you, and you can easily switch between themes if needed.
This comprehensive guide covers the initial steps of setting up your Shopify store, focusing on simplicity, functionality, and the critical component of effective marketing.
Step 4: Customize Your Shopify Settings
Tailoring the appearance of your storefront is a crucial step in ensuring your Shopify store stands out from the crowd. Fortunately, most Shopify themes offer user-friendly customization options, allowing you to make simple changes effortlessly. This helps prevent your store from looking too similar to others using the same theme.
Navigate to the «Themes» section from your admin screen’s left-hand menu. Your live theme is displayed prominently at the top, accompanied by two buttons at the upper right corner of the box. The first button, represented by three dots, enables basic settings adjustments, such as duplicating the theme. Creating a duplicate is recommended as a safety net in case you want to undo changes easily.
The «Customize Theme» button takes you to a page where you can control various aspects of your store’s functionality. Take the time to explore and test all features to familiarize yourself with your site’s capabilities.
Common Shopify Theme features include:
- Color schemes.
- Font choices.
- Logo addition.
- Slider images on the homepage.
- Related items on product pages.
- Setting the number of items per line on collection pages.
Some themes also allow repositioning elements, such as the location of product images, and offer the option to display or hide social share buttons.
Step 5: Product Addition
On the left-hand navigation bar, select «Products.» Look for the blue «Add a Product» button in the middle of the page. Fill in detailed information about your product on the subsequent screen, with a focus on search engine optimization elements like name, product description, and URL. Providing comprehensive details enhances customer understanding.
Upload product images and rearrange them as needed. Consistency in image dimensions maintains a clean aesthetic unless you prefer a dynamic look resembling a Pinterest board. For drop-shipped items from services like Spocket, choose stock photos provided with the product.
Once all details are filled, click «Save product» in the top or bottom right corner of the screen.
Create Your Collections
Collections group items with common features or those that logically complement each other. Base your collections on what customers might seek when visiting your shop, such as seasonal products, sale items, specific colors or sizes, and particular types or categories. Display collections on your homepage and in the navigation bar for easy customer access.
Choose how products are added to collections, either manually or by setting selection conditions based on specific criteria.
Inventory Management
Efficient inventory management is crucial for tracking available items, avoiding overselling, and knowing when to restock. In the «Inventory» section of the «Products» area in the admin panel, set up inventory tracking, adjust counts, and view the history of adjustments for products and variants. Import/export inventory with a CSV file, hide out-of-stock products, and utilize apps for streamlined management.
Dropshipping
If dropshipping results in longer shipping times, consider services like Shipbob for two-day shipping to prevent customer dissatisfaction. Request a quote from Shipbob to get started.
Step 6: Finalize Your Marketing Plan
Launching your store without a well-thought-out marketing plan is a significant oversight. Email marketing, particularly with automation tools like Klaviyo, is essential for converting traffic into customers. Utilize various follow-up emails, such as discovery, incentive, and post-purchase emails, for effective customer engagement.
Beyond email marketing, leverage social media integration with platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Explore the Shopify app store for features like the Automatic Discount app, live chat options, and loyalty programs to enhance the customer experience.
Add Google Shopping feed, costing $4.99/month for up to 500 products, to attract more customers. Regularly analyze store and email marketing analytics to make informed, data-driven decisions for continued success. If certain products perform well, consider expanding similar offerings or running promotions to boost sales.
Step 7: Perform a Test Launch of Your Store
As you approach the store launch, it’s essential to conduct a thorough check using this Shopify checklist to ensure readiness.
General Tasks
Before going live, attend to additional details about your company, product delivery plans, and tax obligations.
Confirm all business information in the settings area.
Utilize Google Analytics to understand visitor behavior on your site.
Payment Gateways
Selecting the right payment gateway is crucial. Consider transaction fees, features, and checkout options. Be aware of card types accepted, and understand whether the gateway keeps a percentage, flat fee, or both. Compare these fees based on anticipated sales.
Remember, payment gateway transaction fees are in addition to Shopify transaction fees. Evaluate Shopify Payments for potential cost savings based on your transaction volume and plan.
Taxes
Navigate to the product page in the admin panel.
Click on any product name.
In the variance section, ensure tax and shipping checkboxes are checked as needed.
If shipping, enter the product weight.
Repeat for all products.
Shipping
Configure shipping rates to avoid potential sales loss. Access the shipping page from the store admin settings. Adjust weight-based shipping rates for each catalog item.
Testing the System
After setup, test the system using the Shopify Bogus Gateway.
- In store admin, go to «Settings» and then «Payments.»
- If another gateway is active, deactivate it.
- In «Accept Credit Card,» choose «Bogus Gateway.»
- Simulate transactions using provided credit card details.
For real payment gateways:
- Enable the desired gateway.
- Make a purchase with genuine details.
- Cancel immediately to refund and avoid transaction fees.
- Verify funds through the gateway.
Step 8: Integrate Your Domain Name
To launch the site, a domain name is necessary, with two options:
Buy from Shopify for automatic integration (ideal for beginners) at $9-$14.
Buy from a third-party vendor like NameCheap or GoDaddy (ideal if you have an existing domain).
Add the Domain to your Shopify Account
In the Shopify admin, go to «Settings» and then «Domains.» Add the domain using the «add an existing domain» button.
Update DNS Records
Log in to your domain registrar, replace the main A record with Shopify’s IP address, and update the www CNAME with your Shopify store link.
Remove Storefront Passwords
Ensure your site is accessible by removing storefront passwords.
Set as Primary (If Relevant)
In your online store > Domains menu, select the main domain from the drop-down menu. Redirect all traffic to this domain for better Shopify SEO.
Congratulations!
If you’ve successfully followed along, you should now have a fully operational online store accompanied by a fundamental marketing strategy. Congratulations! You’re now well-equipped to embark on your journey to financial success.