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If you run an eCommerce business, chances are you’ve come across the name Shopify. But you might be wondering….what exactly does Shopify do?
For many entrepreneurs looking to start or expand their online presence, Shopify is a great choice.
However, many might not know exactly what Shopify does or if it’s right for their online store.
Which is why I’m here to help!
This blog post will explain what Shopify is and how to use it to set up, manage, and grow your online store.
By exploring Shopify’s simple yet comprehensive feature set, we’ll show how it can empower small business owners like you to thrive in the competitive world of eCommerce.
So, with that said, what is this multifaceted engine that fuels over 4 billion online stores globally?
Let’s find out.
Read more: Ultimate Shopify Review For Small Business.
What Exactly Does Shopify Do?
To answer your question: What exactly does Shopify do? The answer is…..a lot.
Shopify makes establishing, launching, managing, and scaling an online store easy for any online store owner, regardless of skill level.
The platform primarily functions as a software service (SaaS) that enables users to sell their products in a customizable online store.
However, Shopify is so much more than that.
With a versatile, wide range of tools and features, Shopify is an all-in-one solution that goes far beyond your typical online store builder.
Users can manage their inventory, track customer behaviors, accept and process payments, and implement marketing and sales strategies across various channels from Shopify!
Read more: Do You Need An LLC For Shopify?
What Can You Sell On Shopify?
Shopify is loved by so many because there are no limits to what you can sell on the platform.
From physical products to digital downloads, subscriptions, coaching or consulting services, gift cards, memberships, online courses, tickets, and more, you can sell it all.
In saying that, physical products are the best products to sell on Shopify.
This is because Shopify’s features can accommodate various product variations like sizes and colors.
Additionally, Shopify provides easy shipping solutions, enabling you to efficiently fulfill and dispatch orders quickly to your customers.
Read more: How To Remove Powered By Shopify On Your Website?
How To Get Started With Shopify?
Okay, now that you know what exactly Shopify does, how can you get your store up and running with Shopify?
The first step is to sign up for a Shopify account.
- Sign up for a Shopify account: Go to Shopify and get started with the 3-day trial to create your store.
- Add store details: Within your dashboard settings, add your store name, phone number, email, address, etc.
- Add a domain name: Set up your domain name through Shopify or a third-party provider for branding and online visibility.
How Does Shopify Work?
Shopify was made for beginners, and therefore, the platform offers a streamlined approach for small businesses wanting to set up and run their online storefront without delay.
To kickstart your Shopify store:
- Build your online store: Use one of Shopify’s 100+ store themes as the base of your online storefront, then use the drag-and-drop tools to personalize the color schemes, images, and fonts.
- Integrate payment solutions: Choose Shopify’s built-in payment platform (Shopify Payments) or a third-party provider to facilitate the acceptance of credit cards directly within your store.
- Expand your reach: Integrate your store with external websites or social media platforms to extend the reach of your products beyond your primary store.
- Offline sales: If you operate a physical store, use Shopify’s own POS system to synchronize your online and offline sales.
To learn more about setting up your Shopify store, check out my comprehensive step-by-step tutorial below.
How To Sell On Shopify?
Once you’ve set up your online store with Shopify, you’re ready to start selling products.
And luckily, this process is super simple. You can simply:
- List and upload your products to your Shopify storefront.
- Add descriptions, variants, photos, and prices to your products.
- Organize items into multiple categories or subcategories and then bulk edit those products and categories as you like.
The good news is that Shopify allows unlimited product listings, catering to both small and large stores.
As I mentioned earlier, you can integrate Shopify with a third-party marketplace or social media platform to expand reach and sales.
It’s also important to leverage SEO strategies and Shopify’s built-in marketing tools to increase your chances of selling more products.
And now you’re ready to start selling with Shopify!
Read more: Top 10 Advantages of Shopify.
How To Manage Sales On Shopify?
Shopify’s comprehensive suite of management functionalities allows you to effortlessly oversee your products, stock levels, and customers all from one place.
Some of Shopify’s key store management features are:
- Low stock alerts and task automation so you can maintain a comprehensive grasp of your stock levels at all times.
- Intuitive shipping features like shipping label printing, insurance, and discounted shipping rates to easily track your orders at every step.
- Customizable filters and search functionalities to help ensure visitors can find their desired items.
- Product reviews to enhance credibility and authority.
- Built-in SEO enhancements for your products’ online visibility, including customizable options for image alt text, title tags, meta descriptions, and structured URLs.
- Abandoned shopping carts and promotional discount capabilities on all plans so that you can laser focus on customers teetering on the edge of a purchase.
- Personalized checkout options to enhance your brand identity.
- Detailed analytics that unveils insightful trends about customer preferences, stock requirements, site traffic analytics, and more.
Plus, if that wasn’t enough, Shopify connects with over 8000 apps to further boost your online store functionality!
Read more: What Are The Advantages Of Shopify Over WordPress?
How Much Does Shopify Cost?
Shopify offers three easy-to-understand pricing tiers for those looking to create, sell, and operate their own online stores:
- Basic: $29 per month.
- Shopify: $79 per month.
- Advanced: $299 per month.
For storefronts needing more advanced features or customization, I suggest opting for Shopify’s range of Shopify Plus plans (custom pricing).
It’s important to note that themes and domain names may incur additional costs.
Plus, you’ll have to pay credit card and transaction fees if you don’t use Shopify Payments.
Shopify doesn’t offer a free plan, but it does provide a three-day trial, which allows you to explore all the features Shopify offers without any commitment!
Read more: Shopify vs Shopify Plus.
Who Should Use Shopify?
We’ve established that Shopify is a pretty remarkable online store builder and management system. But does that mean it’s the best choice for you?
Most likely, yes!
Shopify is one of the best eCommerce solutions available today for both small and large enterprises looking to sell and manage their products online.
From orders to inventory, customer management, and more, you can efficiently manage every aspect of your Shopify store without a second thought.
If you’re looking for an all-in-one, easy-to-use, scalable platform with built-in marketing, fulfillment, and payment processing tools, Shopify is the best choice.
Is Shopify Worth It For Small Business?
Yes! Shopify is one of the best eCommerce solutions for small businesses.
The platform is easy to use, scalable, and offers a wide range of integrations that simplify online store management and expansion.
With Shopify’s help, anyone can start, manage, and grow their business effectively.
This could potentially skyrocket small business success in the digital marketplace.
Read more: Is Shopify Good For Beginners?
Stews Final Thoughts
And that is it! We’ve now come to the end of this ‘What exactly does Shopify do?’ article.
I hope you can now see that Shopify is not just an online store builder.
Shopify represents a powerhouse platform engineered to propel businesses forward in the increasingly complex digital marketplace!
Basically, Shopify simplifies the daunting task of building and managing an online business by providing a range of easy design, commerce, and marketing tools under one roof.
Whether you’re ready to launch your first product or seeking new avenues for growth, Shopify offers tailored, scalable solutions to meet your needs.
With its comprehensive ecosystem, Shopify equips you with everything you need to succeed in today’s competitive eCommerce landscape.
I highly recommend giving this awesome platform a go for yourself!
