All of us have heard about Shopify, a cloud-based e-commerce platform that permits everyone to build and manage an online store very easily. Whether you are selling any physical product, service or digital product, with the help of Shopify, it is possible to streamline the entire process. From creating the website to tracking the inventory, analyzing sales to managing the payments, everything becomes possible. Shopify is used by entrepreneurs, brands and retailers to process sales and expand their business.
After creation in 2006, Shopify has covered a very long distance. Many people are interested to know how to start a Shopify store and join millions of other active websites that utilize this platform.
Create the account with the help of the shopify
In order to get started, you can head to Shopify and sign a 14 day free trial. After you have decided to start the free trial, you will be asked to fill in some details about yourself. You will have to submit the name of your store, address along with the complete zip code.
Exploring the Shopify admin screen
After sharing all the details, press “enter” my store, and you will go to the Admin Screen of your store. You can easily add products, set up the payments, select the theme and customize the store. You will be supposed to fill a lot of information. For some people, it is challenging in the beginning, but afterwards you can smoothly fill in the information.
Customizing the theme
It is important to note that the Shopify stores are not similar, and your store can achieve a distinctive look with the help of the Shopify themes. Add a wow factor to your theme. A default theme is available, but you can change it by selecting a paid or free theme from the Shopify’s official theme store. Before selecting the theme, take a pause for a few seconds and check out the demos as well. Learn what others have said about the theme, then click the try it now button.
As per your preference, you can test and preview the changes. The option to keep a seasonal version of the published theme is also open. It depends on which Shopify plan you have selected, and it is possible to add additional themes to the account. However, only one theme can be published at time. In the theme, you will find everything that can make the impact. The themes have complete Shopify support, and you can find the Shopify themes that have been designed by the third parties.
Adding the product
In the next step, you are supposed to add the product that you intend to sell on the online store. The information related to the product that is to be shared with the customer goes here. You can also upload the product images and fill in the necessary details that describe it. In order to ensure success, you must add all the details so that the viewers can easily find your product. At the same time, it is important to keep the SEO in mind. There is a Search Engine Listing section in which a descriptive title can be entered that displays as a link in the Search Engine results. You can also add a description that uses keywords and modify the URL.
Configuration of the settings
Before your store goes live, there are a few more things that you have to select and enable. All the options can be accessed from the store’s setting area.
The details of the store: Here, some general information regarding the business is shared.
- Location: With locations, you can manage inventory, sell products and fulfill orders. The locations can be warehouses, retail outlets, etc.
- Shipping: Before beginning with the sale, you must decide about the delivery methods that are best suited for your business. You can permit the customers to choose any one method at the checkout. The rates and shipping zone relevant to the region as the countries will be shown on the shipping page of the Shopify Admin.
- Checkout page: At the checkout page, the orders are accepted through the secure Shopify checkout.
- Receiving payment: In Shopify, you are free to enable a number of payment options as per your customer’s convenience.
- Taxes: As per laws of most of the countries, the tax is collected on sales of products and then remitted to the government. Shopify uses default rates that can be confirmed or modified. You can easily compile information submission to the accountant or you can file returns with the government.
Testing the store
It is a good idea to test the store before you start taking orders. You must ensure that all the procedures have been completed. It is important to make sure that the checkout procedure, settings for inventory, order processing, shipping, taxes and notifications are working as you wanted them to. Cross check the settings and then visit the store just like any other ordinary customer. Place an order and know whether or not you have completed all the settings. You can test the system by making a genuine transaction while using an actual credit card and then ensure that the fund is transferred in a safe manner.
Do not forget to include a custom domain name
Now, you are simply one step away from going live with the store. Please add a domain to the Shopify. Just as websites require domain names, you will require a domain name so that you can be found by Search Engines and visitors.
