Do you want to sell your products online? Are you running an online store but it isn’t ranking well on the sales meter? Shopify is the best option for you. Shopify is a highly-rated platform for ecommerce. It is known for its simple interface, many features and affordable pricing. Shopify hosts at least 10% of all ecommerce businesses’ online stores, including notable brands like Red Bull, Budweiser, Nestle and Budweiser.
Most likely, you’ve noticed recent trends among budding entrepreneurs setting up Shopify online stores. However, you have many questions about Shopify. What is Shopify and how does it work? Are you looking for a place to open an online shop? Are you looking to learn the technical details involved in setting up an online functional store?
Shopify’s intuitive usability function is another plus. It works for anyone, no matter how much or little experience you have in designing. You can not only build an online store that works but you can also make it look appealing and convincing to your customers. Your online store can be plugged in to a variety of free apps. This guide will explain how Shopify can help you take your business to new heights.
It is essential that you understand how Shopify works and what it can do for your business. This Shopify tutorial 2020 will show you how to create an online store, get traffic, and convert leads to customers.
Let’s get right in!
What’s Shopify?
Shopify is the largest and most widely used online commerce and selling platform. Shopify allows both amateur and professional store owners to create an online store. You can also create an offline store with Shopify, but that’s another topic we’ll cover in a moment.
Shopify was a huge success in ecommerce due to its user-friendly interface and low start-up costs. Because it’s cloud-based (and hosted), SaaS platform, Shopify is flexible enough to be used anywhere you have an internet connection.
Supple Digital has created a great Shopify SEO guide. Make sure you check it out.
What advantages of Shopify ?
1. It is easy to use
Shopify is one the most user-friendly tools available. Shopify’s design layout and features allow anyone to plug and play with Shopify without much training, no matter how advanced or novice they are. The interface for web design is easy to use, thanks to its drag-and-drop tools and features.
2. It’s cloud-based
Cloud-based applications are more popular because they don’t require regular updates to web servers and chunky databases. Shopify is a great choice in this area. Shopify is also cloud-hosted . This means that you can easily scale your shop and continue running your business with Shopify without having to manage, update, and upgrade web servers. You won’t need to worry about crashing websites during periods of high traffic or increased product volume.
3. It can be customized
Shopify doesn’t require you to be a programmer or designer. Even if you’re just starting your store, Shopify templates will allow you to create attractive front-end designs that can be further customized or used immediately. You can also reach out to Shopify experts through the Shopify Expert Marketplace to get their assistance if you don’t have the time and resources to personalize your shop.
4. It’s language-friendly
Shopify is accessible in almost every country and has many languages integrated into its themes and interface. Users can edit the customer-facing aspects of their store such as the content, checkout stages and automated emails in the language they prefer. You can display the admin section in any language you choose, including Japanese, Norwegian Thai, Turkish and Swedish.
5. It’s multi-channel
Shopify integrates with multiple channels. Shopify allows you to connect to multiple social networks and shopping platforms to make it possible to sell on those sites as well as your online store. This is an enormous boon for any business, as it allows you to expand your product range beyond the current one.
What makes Shopify stand out from other ecommerce platforms like eBay?
You’re likely to have seen familiar names like Wix, Bigcommerce and Etsy if you ever searched for Shopify competition on search engines. Each platform is different in what they offer and how you use them. Here’s a list of Shopify alternative and how it compares to Shopify.
Shopify vs Woocommerce
Shopify powers more than 600,000 businesses. Woocommerce is another popular platform. It is up to you to decide which one you prefer, due to the vast differences in what they offer. Shopify is the perfect platform for those who need to start at the bottom. It’s an all in one platform.
Woocommerce is only available to people who have a website. This can be a disadvantage if your website is not yet online, but it can also be an advantage if you want to add a plug-in that will increase traffic and sales.
Woocommerce allows for customization because it is an open-source platform that offers almost unlimited personalization. Shopify is left behind here because you’ll need to learn Liquid, Shopify’s coding language, in order to personalize your store beyond basic templates and intermediate code.
Shopify’s Help Center can be accessed by anyone who is stuck, needs help or wants to learn more about the platform. You can also find help in the community forums. Or, you can contact support directly. Woocommerce is, however, more hands-off as it does not offer phone support. The users will need to submit a ticket or search for answers in their forums.
Shopify is the best choice for those who are just starting out or want to learn more about building and managing an online store.
Shopify vs Magento
Magento is an Adobe company that offers Magento Commerce and Open Source ecommerce platforms. This platform is geared towards small, fast-growing businesses. One of the platforms is open-source, meaning that users can download it free of charge and have unlimited customization options for their online storefronts. Shopify is the cheaper Magento Open Source option. Magento Commerce, however, hosts stores on the Cloud, and is a premium paid service.
Shopify is more user-friendly than Magento. To use Magento to its full potential, you will need to have a good understanding of how to write code. It is easy to use their drag-and-drop capabilities for novice shop owners. Magento Open Source is, however, very code-intensive and requires a steep learning curve for businesses willing to attempt it.
The decision to make in this situation comes down to your needs, budget and technical expertise. Shopify is the best choice for easy scaling and stress-free hosting.
Shopify Vs Amazon
Amazon is the ecommerce giant. There is however a subtle difference between these two players that many people seem to overlook. Shopify, an ecommerce platform that is specifically designed to help you create stand-alone online shops with distinctive brand identities, is Shopify.
Amazon allows you to sell your products with other sellers. Although you don’t have a website, your products can be grouped with thousands of other products in pre-designed categories. Shopify is more successful than Amazon in standing out from the crowd.
Amazon is a trusted site that has been around for many years. This makes it easier to promote your products and sell them, especially with the site’s record-breaking foot traffic per day. Amazon is not a big company so it can be difficult to create a brand identity and stay ahead of your competition. This could lead to business problems.
Amazon is the best place for businesses that want to sell their products. Shopify, however, is the best place to start a new niche and establish an identity through a unique shop.
Shopify vs Etsy
Etsy is an online ecommerce platform that has everything you need to get started. Users only need to upload photos and create listings to start selling. Shopify allows users to create their own ecommerce platform and sell digital or physical products. They can also connect to another store, so that product catalogs and repositories stay in sync.
Etsy is popular enough to drive traffic directly to your page. This makes it ideal for small sellers just starting out. You can only sell handmade, vintage, or custom-made items on Etsy. Shopify is a winner because you have almost no restrictions on the products you can sell. You can also use the extensive app store to identify the best way to sell your product.
Shopify vs. Volusion
The Volusion vs Shopify battle is decided by what you want more: a fully-customizable online store, tools, and insights, or a functional online shop that’s fully customizable. Shopify wins if it is the former because it has all the tools an ecommerce store owner needs to grow, scale, and expand their business.
It is also easier to use than Volusion, and it does a better job on pricing and customer service. Volusion is the best choice if you are looking for analytics and analytics. Shopify, however, is the best option if you are looking for all of that plus the freedom to create your own website.
Shopify vs Wix
Although it doesn’t sound like Wix and Shopify will be facing off, it is. Wix is a popular choice for small-scale online shops with less than 100 products.
Shopify is more targeted towards small businesses who may be just starting out but want to grow quickly in terms of product sales and customer base. Shopify has made it easy to set up Shopify stores, which is a complex process. The platform also links to tutorials to help you understand the steps.
Wix scores high in product presentation. It also has features that can extend your brand beyond the physical store. These include a website or blog, and email marketing campaigns.
Shopify vs Prestashop
Prestashop’s main draw is its open-source, free software. This means that you don’t have to pay any fees or commissions for creating an online store and selling products. Shopify offers a free 14-day trial. After that, you will be charged a monthly fee which varies depending on your plan.
Prestashop is Open Source. This means that the process of setting up your store is very simple. Shopify’s drag and drop features make it easy to move around tools quickly. If you don’t need to modify anything, the default themes and sites will suffice until you are ready to customize.
Shopify is hosted so a subscription will guarantee top speed and less technical problems. Prestashop requires you to set up your own server. This can make loading times and speeds much slower.
Shopify vs Squarespace
Squarespace is a great platform for clean design. Squarespace also offers a number of excellent ecommerce tools that will help you set up an online store. Shopify’s App Store is the best option to enhance your store with more features.
Squarespace is more widely used, although Shopify was designed for setting up ecommerce shops. This includes personal websites, portfolios, CVs, and blogs. Naturally, their tools and UI are more varied. Although this is a great option for small businesses starting out with a limited catalog, it can also be restrictive for larger companies looking to expand their catalogues and offer more payment options. Shopify wins the Squarespace vs Shopify battle for its ecommerce-centric approach.
Shopify vs Bigcommerce
Shopify is often preferred over Bigcommerce due to its ease of use. The platform required only that users provide information about their products. After that, a website was built. It can be customized. Bigcommerce can be a bit confusing for beginners due to its technical jargon.
Bigcommerce has many editing areas, which can prove difficult to use for new users or business owners who don’t have a lot of experience in technical creation. It makes up for this with an impressive collection of features. Shopify wins ease-of-use over Bigcommerce, while Bigcommerce is the winner for advanced features.
What does it cost to open a Shopify Store?
You have made the decision to venture into e-commerce. It is a rapidly growing industry that is booming and one of the largest in the world today. E-commerce trends bring together buyers from different domains in one place that is easily accessible and very competitively priced. Items can be ordered at one click. It’s also convenient for sellers.
You, the seller, get the additional benefit of using an existing eCommerce platform like Shopify. You also save money on developing your own app and website.
How much does it cost to open a Shopify Store?
Your budget for a B2C company will vary depending on its size, stage, and current status. Shopify offers the lowest Shopify prices, along with extremely affordable rates for all sellers and businesses. Shopify offers a variety of plans: basic, regular and advanced. This overview will show you what Shopify includes and what the cost of each plan is. Also, how much can you expect to spend on Shopify.
Shopify Basic
The Shopify Basic plan costs US$29/month and gives your business an online store with ecommerce capabilities. This plan allows you to list unlimited products via social media or e-commerce platforms. Shopify Basic offers round-the-clock customer support and attractive discounts on shipping solutions.
The basic plan will charge you 2.90% plus 30c for each credit card transaction. In-person rates are 2.70%.
Shopify Regular
Shopify’s regular plan offers attractive percentages and extensive support. This allows you to save on incidental costs. The Shopify regular plan is $79 per month. It includes all features of the basic plan and allows your customers to purchase Shopify gift certificates. This will allow you to expand your business.
Shopify provides monthly reports that are professionally written and sent to sellers. These reports provide information about your sales, financial performance, and other details. The $79/month plan will give you discounts up to 72% on shipping and discounts on USPS Priority Mail. Shopify handles the labeling.
The Shopify Regular plan offers extensive support for POS devices and registers shift tracking. This means that in-store transactions can be recorded and balanced on each device.
Shopify support is available to you, the seller. Support can be provided through the internal team, point of sale apps and the Shopify interface. You can track your sales online. To ensure that you don’t spend too much on Shopify while you set up your online store, there are attractive payment options available. There is a 2.5% fee for in-person credit cards and a 1% fee for third-party payments.
Shopify Advanced
Shopify Advanced is the best option if your business has been growing and you need solutions to support that growth. This plan is $299 per month and the best option for anyone looking to grow their online business. Shopify Advanced offers all the features of other Shopify plans. It also provides 10 additional staff accounts that will increase your administrative bandwidth for no additional cost. Shopify Advanced gives you the ability create advanced reports with different metrics and variables of your sales. This will give you insights into your sales, performance, accounts, trends, and other information from within your account. Shopify Advanced plans can be used to create reports for businesses looking to grow.
Sellers also enjoy attractive shipping rates, with discounts up to 74% on all major delivery providers. Your seller fee is 0.5% if you use a third party payment solution. Shopify also offers a ‘point-of-sale’ service for regular sellers.
The Shopify Advanced plan is the most expensive at $299 per monthly, but it offers the best value with comprehensive, all-inclusive support and solutions in terms of online inventory, payment solutions and delivery.
Shopify Lite is a $9/month program that allows sellers to list on Facebook. You can create invoices and sell any order. Shopify Plus is a great option for retailers and companies with large-scale operations. It allows you to connect with customers more deeply and gives you a better understanding of your business.
Conclusion
This article will discuss Shopify’s benefits and what it is. We also compared Shopify to its competitors. Also, we discussed how much it costs to open a shopify store. There are many methods to promote shopify store, increase traffic and generate more revenue. Omnistar affiliate, our friends, has a great guide for how to promote shopify store. We have listed additional resources to help you succeed with shopify.
