You’ve created a beautiful Shopify store. Congrats! But before you launch, there are a few things you need to check off your list first. In this article, we’ll walk you through everything you need to do (and double check!) before making your store live.
Before You Start
1. Do your research
You can’t just start a store without knowing what you’re getting yourself into. Take some time to learn about ecommerce and Shopify specifically. This will help you avoid any surprises down the road and set you up for success.
2. Choose your niche
Think about what products you want to sell and who your target audience is. This will help you create a focused store that appeals to a specific group of people.
3. Create a budget
Building and launching a shop can be costly, so you need to make sure you have enough money saved up before you get started. Decide how much you’re willing to spend on your store and stick to that budget.
4. Find a supplier
If you’re going to be selling physical products, you need to find a reliable supplier who can provide you with high-quality merchandise at a good price. Spend some time researching potential suppliers and compare their offerings before making a decision.
Choose Your Shopify Plan
Now that you’ve chosen your Shopify plan, it’s time to start setting up your store. In this section, we’ll cover some of the key steps you need to take to get your store up and running.
1. Choose Your Domain Name
One of the first things you need to do is choose a domain name for your store. Your domain name is what customers will type into their browser to find your store, so it’s important to choose something that is easy to remember and relevant to your business.
If you don’t have a domain name yet, you can use Shopify’s Domain Name Finder tool to search for available domains. Once you’ve found a domain you like, you can add it to your cart and continue with the checkout process.
2. Set Up Payment Methods
In order to start selling products, you’ll need to set up a payment method. Shopify offers a variety of built-in payment methods that you can use, or you can connect to an external payment provider.
If you’re using Shopify Payments, simply enter your credit card information and activate the payment gateway. For other payment providers, you’ll need to create an account and obtain the necessary
Set Up Your Shopify Store
Now that you have an idea of what you need to do to launch your Shopify store, it’s time to set it up! This part of the process is relatively simple and straightforward, but there are a few key things you need to keep in mind.
1. Choose your Shopify plan. There are three different options to choose from, and each has its own set of features and pricing. You can always upgrade or downgrade later on if needed, but it’s good to have an idea of which plan will best suit your needs from the start.
2. Set up your payment methods. Shopify offers a variety of different payment gateway options, so you’ll need to decide which ones you want to use. You’ll also need to set up your billing information and tax rates (if applicable).
3. Choose your theme. This is the fun part! Shopify has a huge selection of themes to choose from, so you can really make your store stand out. Take some time to browse through the options and find one that fits your style and brand.
4. Add your products. This is where you’ll need to put in some work! You’ll need to add photos, descriptions, prices, and any other relevant information for each product you want to sell.
5. Set up your shipping options. You’ll need to decide how you want to ship your products and what kind of shipping rates you want to offer.
6. Configure your domain name. If you haven’t already, now is the time to buy a domain name and connect it to your Shopify store.
Choose a Theme for Your Shopify Store
There are a lot of factors to consider when launching a Shopify store, but one of the most important is choosing the right theme. Your theme will determine the look and feel of your store, so it’s important to pick one that reflects your brand and appeals to your target market.
Shopify has a wide selection of both free and paid themes, so you’re sure to find one that fits your needs. Once you’ve selected a theme, take some time to customize it to make it your own. Add your logo, change the colors, and experiment with the layout until you have something that feels truly unique.
Remember, first impressions count, so make sure your store looks its best before you launch!
Customize Your Shopify Store
You’ve put in the hard work and your Shopify store is finally live. But before you start patting yourself on the back, there’s one more important step to take: customizing your store to make it your own.
Think about what makes your brand unique and how you want customers to perceive you. Then, take the time to personalize your shopfront and create a style that reflects your brand identity.
Here are a few things to keep in mind as you customize your Shopify store:
1. Choose a theme that fits your brand
2. Add your logo and branding colors
3. Create custom pages (e.g., About, Contact, etc.)
4. Set up shipping and payment options
5. Add products and product images
6. Write compelling product descriptions
7. Create blog posts or other content to engage visitors
8. Promote your store on social media
By taking the time to customize your Shopify store, you’ll create a shopping experience that is unique to your brand and sure to impress customers.
Add Products to Your Shopify Store
Adding products to your Shopify store is simple and straightforward. Just follow these steps:
1. Log in to your Shopify admin panel and go to the Products section.
2. Click on the Add product button.
3. Enter a product name, description, and price. You can also add images, videos, and other types of media to your product pages.
4. Choose a product type and add any necessary details (such as size, color, etc.).
5. Save your changes and that’s it! Your product is now live on your Shopify store.
Now that you’ve added products to your store, it’s time to start promoting them. Check out our blog post on how to promote your Shopify store for some great tips.
Set Up Payment Methods
One of the most important aspects of launching a shopify store is setting up your payment methods. You need to make sure that you have a payment processor set up and working properly before you launch your store. There are a few different options for payment processors, so you will need to research which one will work best for your business.
Once you have a payment processor set up, you will need to add your payment methods to your shopify store. You can do this by going to the settings tab and selecting Payment Methods from the drop-down menu. From there, you will be able to add and edit your payment methods. Make sure that you test out your payment methods before you launch your store to make sure that everything is working properly.
Choose a Domain Name for Your Shopify Store
Your domain name is your store’s identity on the web. It’s how customers will find you, and it’s an important part of your branding. When you’re choosing a domain name for your Shopify store, keep the following in mind:
1. Keep it short and easy to remember.
2. Make sure it’s relevant to your business.
3. Avoid using hyphens or numbers.
4. Use a .com extension if possible.
Once you’ve chosen a domain name, you can set up your Shopify store by following these simple steps:
1. Go to Shopify’s website and click “Start Your Free Trial.”
2. Enter your email address and create a password.
3. Choose your plan and enter your billing information.
4. Enter your domain name (or choose one from Shopify).
5. Choose a theme for your store and start adding products!
Shopify Store Launch Checklist Summary
1. Plan your store launch. Before you launch your Shopify store, take some time to plan out the details. Decide what you’re going to sell, how you’re going to promote your store, and what kind of customer support you’ll need.
2. Choose a theme for your store. Shopify offers a wide variety of themes to choose from, so take some time to browse through them and find the one that best suits your needs.
3. Set up your payment gateway. In order to start selling products on your Shopify store, you’ll need to set up a payment gateway. Shopify offers a variety of payment gateway options, so choose the one that best suits your needs.
4. Add your products. Once you’ve set up your payment gateway, it’s time to start adding products to your store. Be sure to add high-quality product photos and descriptions, as this will help convert visitors into customers.
5. Promote your store. Once you’ve launched your store, it’s time to start promoting it! There are a number of ways to promote your Shopify store, suchas through social media, online ads, and email marketing.
6. Provide excellent customer support. Providing excellent customer support is essential for any ecommerce business. Be sure to respond to customer inquiries quickly and efficiently, and offer a great return policy in case something goes wrong.
