The short answer? Shopify is an ecommerce platform that lets you create and manage an online store. You can manage inventory, payments, and shipping all in the Shopify system. If you’re unsure how it works or if Shopify is right for you, here’s our Beginner’s Guide with all the information you need to know:
How does Shopify work?
Shopify is cloud-based. This means that as a merchant, you do not have to worry about software or web servers. Shopify takes care of this for you. All you have to do is set up your store and manage it with Shopify’s easy to use applications. You can access Shopify from anywhere with an internet connection. Pretty simple, right?
What are the requirements to use Shopify?
You do not have to be a developer or a designer if you’re looking to use Shopify. Anyone can sign up for Shopify, and the best part? It’s super easy to set up and use. You can adjust your shop’s design easily using the online shop builder and built-in themes and features. If you’re not up for the task, you can also opt to hire a certified Shopify expert on the Shopify Expert Marketplace and they’ll take care of the design for you.
Is it limited to certain countries?
Nope! You can use Shopify in nearly every country. You are able to customize your Shopify store’s website, blog, checkout and emails for any language. If you’re considering going international, it’s important to do your research beforehand so that your shop is set up for success in the markets you’re targeting. Check out emarketing’s free Market Analyser Tool here to view PPC for that country. You don’t want to go into international selling blind. emarketing’s Market Analyser provides you with all the data to make an informed decision about going international.
Make sure to consider customs of a certain country you are targeting and then adapt your store accordingly. For example- in Japan, it’s customary to have last name first followed by first name during checkout. It’s small considerations like this that can really make or break your sales. Check out this quick guide on checkout forms by country here.
What can you sell on Shopify?
Pretty much anything. If it’s physical goods, drop ship product, digital product or service, you can sell it on Shopify (anything that’s legal to sell online of course). Shopify has a sitemap that allows you to view a list of the most popular products on the shop system. It might be coffee, bikes, an e-book… you name it, you can sell it!
It’s important to note that if you have a physical retail store, you can combine your sales and inventory system in one location with Shopify’s Point of Sale System (POS).
How do you increase traffic to your store?
This is where Google Smart Shopping Campaigns come into play. If you’re just starting out, they will be a great fit for you and your store because they are so easy to use. There are several platforms where you can set up these campaigns, but of course, we love emarketing because:
- It’s free to set-up
- Comes with valuable tools like the Market Analyser and Competitor Check
- No testing needed for placement optimization (AI does this for you)
- Perfect for beginners with 3 easy steps to get started
In addition to Google Shopping Ads, you’ll also want to have a strong presence on social media to increase the traffic to your store. Research the best practices for your niche and execute them. Regularly check in with your competitors to see what they are doing well (emulate them) and areas where they are weak (you can pick up the slack).
Questions?
Do you still have questions about how to get started? Let us know in the comments below!
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