In today’s competitive age, nothing will work unless you go digital to reach your customers. Startups or enterprise-sized companies that do not digitally transform fail to scale their ecommerce businesses in the long run. There are countless platforms available that help businesses foster growth in the ecommerce realm. A leading option is Shopify that offers unparalleled features to propel your ecommerce enterprise to new heights.
Shopify was founded in 2006 and it has been emerging as the one of the most widely used ecommerce platforms ever since. It helps businesses to build, manage and scale their growth with Owing to its scalable nature, built-in SEO tools, and user-friendly interface, it is one of the first choices by majority of online business owners.
This article walks you through the following pointers in detail:
- What is Shopify?
- How does a Shopify platform work?
- How to get started with your Shopify ecommerce platform?
- Reasons to choose Shopify for your online business
Let’s delve into the a
rticle and get to know more about Shopify platform.
What is Shopify?
Shopify is a feature-rich e-commerce platform that enables companies to sell goods online while providing outstanding customer and order management tools. Shopify sellers can easily design eye-catching storefronts that appeal to their target market.
How Does a Shopify Platform Work?
First off, Shopify is a powerhouse and a premier option to scale your business venture. It is more than simply an online store. In other words, it is a powerhouse and a premier option to scale your business venture. Most citizens will recognise it as an internet store builder or POS to buy offline, whereas Shopify experts call it SaaS (Software-as-a-Service). It shows that customers must pay Shopify for the usage of its technologies.
When a user signs up for Shopify, they can do a lot of things including create an online store, handle inventory, take payments, and deliver orders. You can add software features (or apps) and customize the appearance and feel of your online store (referred to as a topic). You can hire a Shopify agency to move your existing website, or you can start from zero when creating your Shopify site.
Shopify is a great eCommerce platform, but it might not be sufficient if you want to create high-converting sales funnels. The method that leads customers through the entire product purchase process is known as the eCommerce sales funnel, for those who are not familiar with eCommerce marketing. Businesses utilize sales funnels to find, qualify, and close agreements with clients. Put another way, using a sales funnel is the greatest approach to increase your Shopify store’s conversion rate.
How to Get Started with Your Shopify Ecommerce Platform?
Shopify technology is based on plug-and-play theme. It does not require complex reconfiguration or adjustment by the user. Everyone can set up shopify websites without a hassle in no time. With an all-in-one eCommerce solution that’s prepared to go as soon as you are, you can avoid the years that coders would normally need to spend developing the software. This will save the cost of developing complex software that many small- to medium-sized business owners couldn’t otherwise afford. Hence, Shopify is not only convenient, but easy on the pocket as well.
Here are the three simple steps that you generally need to set your online Shopify store:
1: Choose a Shopify Plan
Before you start, make a list of your goals. Understanding and analyzing your objectives will clarify which pricing plan meets your needs. You can begin with Shopify’s free trial. It facilitates you to explore all of its potential without spending a dime. Next, you can select from Shopify’s yearly and biannual plans. Shopify offers 10 and 20 percent discounts on annual and bi-annual plans respectively.
2: Put Your Own Signature Into Your Store
A theme is a USP for your online store. It describes the look and feel of your ecommerce store, menu setup, layout, and navigation steps. There are both free and premium themes available at Shopify, but you must customize it to reflect your brand and make it unique. Check your competitors’ stores, take inspiration from them, and create your own unique Shopify store. With your own business name, custom domain, logo, and brand colors, you will come up with a unique store that will stand out in the competition.
3: Select the Functionality of Your Website
Establish your website’s objectives so you can know exactly how to optimize it for optimal performance. To add functionality to your website, choose from over 4,000 Shopify applications.
Compelling Reasons to Choose Shopify for Your Ecommerce Store
Following are the main reasons why businesses prefer Shopify over other alternatives:
1: Comprehensive Suite of Tools
One of the best reasons to use Shopify is its vast toolkit, which is made to optimize every aspect of running an online business. Shopify delivers a streamlined ecosystem with order processing, marketing, analytics, inventory management, and more that is intended to maximize effectiveness and produce outcomes. Customers will have a flawless online buying experience because of its strong backend architecture. This ensures that your store can handle large traffic volumes without sacrificing performance or dependability.
2: Third-Party Integrations
Another benefit Shopify offers to its users is its vast array of third-party app integrations. Whether you need advanced marketing and promotion, robust shipping solutions, or integration with other businesses – Shopify serves you as per your requirements.
Ease of Use
Opening an online store is made easier with Shopify, especially for business owners who are not tech savvy. With the help of the user-friendly dashboard and themes, you can quickly establish a sophisticated, business-like online presence without relying on developers.
Shopify lightens the effort of developing websites for small businesses with limited funding, allowing you to concentrate on your clients and goods.
4: Scalable Platform
Shopify is a highly scalable platform. It performs better as your business expands. You don’t need to worry about additional hosting costs, traffic volumes, and security features as you expand your business. Shopify scales up your plan without a hitch.
5: Mobile-First App Approach
Shopify adopts a mobile-friendly and mobile-first strategy, making sure your online store is naturally responsive and offers a seamless user experience on PCs, tablets, and smartphones in a world where mobile devices predominate. A Shopify store functions flawlessly on all screen sizes straight out of the box, in contrast to other platforms. This is important for the success of modern e-commerce.
6: Evolves with Ecommerce Innovation
Shopify releases updates and new features on a regular basis to stay up to date with the latest technological advancements and market trends. It sets the standard for e-commerce innovation and provides merchants with the tools they need to remain competitive in an industry that is undergoing rapid change. These tools include the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) for tailored recommendations and the development of augmented reality (AR) capabilities for immersive shopping experiences.
7: Integrated Payment Solutions
Payment methods are always a point of concern for both businesses and customers. They can make or break your online business game. With Shopify’s wide range of integrated payment options, you can enhance the shopping experience and checkout process. During the checkout process, there are many options to choose from – credit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, and other digital wallets.
8: Commitment to Customer Support
Shopify’s committed support staff is accessible around-the-clock to handle any questions or technical difficulties you may run into. Regardless of your level of experience as an e-commerce startup or seasoned pro wanting to grow your business, Shopify makes sure you have all the help and support with a plethora of resources, including tutorials, community forums, and documentation.
In a Nutshell
In summary, Shopify is a great choice to embark on your ecommerce journey. It ticks all the boxes and yields significant benefits in terms of scalability, intensive app ecosystem, engaging interface, customized themes, budget-friendly packages and 24/7 customer support. Whether you’re a nerd in online business or need to build and manage your existing ecommerce – Shopify offers an ideal foundation to maintain and unleash the full potential of your ecommerce venture.
