What is Shopify?

Shopify is an e-commerce platform that helps you set up your business online and also helps businesses sell their products or services both online as well as in person. It is useful for every business model from entrepreneurs and retailers to global brands. They all use Shopify to increase their sales, and grow their business. If you’re a small business owner in Ahmedabad looking to set up an online store, Shopify is a great starting point. However, working with the best web development company in Ahmedabad like DIGI-MAA or hiring a professional website developer in Ahmedabad can help you unlock the platform’s full potential. But if you are just starting out and looking for something beginner friendly then Shopify has different types of plans and each one of them is designed to support different business needs. Shopify also has a range of various tools for website building, payment processing, marketing tools, etc.

Breakdown of all the tools that Shopify offers:

• E-commerce platform
• Website building
• Payment processing
• Inventory planning
• Marketing
• POS (point-of-sale) system

To understand Shopify better in this blog we shall discuss two very important topics about Shopify – Is Shopify right for your business and a detailed step-by-step guide to use Shopify for all online sellers.

Is Shopify right for your business?

With the increasing popularity of E-Commerce, Shopify can be right for your online sales needs, as this platform provides scalable options making it equally effective for a small as well as a global brand. To identify, let's explore the possible benefits and drawbacks of using Shopify:

Pros of Shopify

1. Shopify has various plans designed for all scales of business. Shopify has 4 plans and they are designed to support different business needs, so as your business grows they grow with you.

The plans are:

• Basic – The most suitable and popular plan for sole entrepreneurs.
• Grow – For small businesses with small teams.
• Advance – Supports business as they scale.
• Plus – For complex businesses.

2. Shopify provides many factors of business including marketing, payment, and shipping all in one place. Shopify integrates factors of e-commerce and allows businesses to integrate their favorite third-party apps and choose from Shopify’s built-in apps and features.
3. The best part is that it is very easy to set up and manage, which is why so many online sellers prefer Shopify over other options.

Cons of Shopify

1. Cost – Shopify charges payment processing fees. Shopify offers 3 days free trial and low-cost plans to start with, which makes them a little affordable, but the problem is Shopify not only charges their monthly fees but they also have extra charges like transaction and processing fees. Fees vary according to your plan. So be sure to consider before taking any decision.
2. Shopify offers no automation for marketing and email hosting, so even after having Shopify you may need to rely on third parties.

Step by step guide for beginners

Shopify is very easy to use, beginner-friendly, and anyone can use it by just following these few simple steps:

Step 1 – Create an account on Shopify: Head to Shopify and register for a 3-day free trial followed by a monthly subscription. Once you begin the process, you will be required to fill up some details about yourself. The process isn’t very long, but if you don't want to complete it at the very moment then Shopify lets you quit it at any point. This feature is available till the last screen, even after you choose a plan and you are asked to provide payment information—you can simply click on “I will do this later.”

Step 2 – Explore Shopify admin screen: After the first step you will be redirected to the admin dashboard of your store. On this page you can add products, set up payments, configure shipping and analytics, choose themes, and customize your store.

Step 3 – Choose and customize your theme: To make your store stand out you can choose a theme according to your preference and after finalizing the theme you can set it as your default. Although Shopify makes it easy to design a store, working with the best web development company in Ahmedabad can help you create a professional, SEO-friendly website. Similarly, a skilled website developer in Ahmedabad from DIGI-MAA can customize your theme to perfectly match your brand identity.

Step 4 – Add your product: Add the products you intend to sell, along with SEO-friendly titles, descriptions, and details. You can also duplicate product pages, create variants, and further edit them to optimize your listings.

Step 5 – Configure settings (payments, shipping, etc.): Edit store details, location, shipping, and other preferences. Shopify also offers shipping services from locations in the USA and Canada.

Step 6 – Test your store: Before you start taking orders, test everything. Shopify offers the Bogus Gateway, so you can make sure checkout, inventory, shipping, and notifications are working correctly.

Step 7 – Add a custom domain name: Just like a website, your store needs a domain (e.g., yourstore.com). Set up a domain name so visitors and search engines can find you.

Conclusion

Shopify is a very reliable and budget-friendly option for entrepreneurs and new business owners. But if you are an established brand and can afford the DIGI-MAA. Shopify is a good option but it has its own pros and cons, so it is better to understand your business needs and select accordingly.