The foremost part of building a successful online business is to come up with a winning business idea. When you discuss the potential for developing a website to make your business go digital, you think of a suitable platform. If you are ready to build your online store and need a little inspiration about where to start, Shopify would be a great medium to embark on this progressive journey.

Shopify – A brief intro

Shopify is a leading e-commerce platform that allows anyone to set up an online store to sell their products. Approximately 1.7 million businesses use Shopify globally. It is an effective website builder designed for a business of any size. Whether you’re selling online, on social media, or in person, Shopify has you covered in every base.

The cloud based software offers a simple and user-friendly interface along with an all-in-one shopping cart system. Even those with little or no knowledge of online business setup can start their trade using this ecommerce platform. Today, Shopify has 7000apps in 12 different categories, available for download that help make new sales and attract more customers.

How does Shopify work?

Shopify is a monthly subscription-based platform that uses the Software-as-a-service model to help you set up a business. This third top global e-commerce cloud-based solution saves you from the hassle of maintaining or upgrading software or web servers. It allows operating your business only through an internet connection. Here are the important steps to start working with Shopify.

Step 1: Create a Shopify Id

The first step is to inform Shopify about your business and provide the required credentials to create an account on the website. You can start by clicking on the free-trial option on the website’s homepage. As the basic necessities, you will require an email address, a strong password, and your store name to open a Shopify business.

Fill in every detail on the address page. This section ensures you get your payment after fulfilling all the legalities when you start the business.

Step 2: Build your dashboard

The dashboard helps you customize your store and has a menu option that includes Orders, Products, Customers, and more. It will provide you with an interactive step-by-step setup guide. Here are the elementary steps to create a Shopify store:

• Add products
• Customize theme
• Add domain
• Set up payment methods.

Step 3: Customize your website with in-built themes

In the third step, you can modify the theme of your website and add a logo relevant to your brand. Shopify lets you browse free themes and see whether they match your brand. You can also add more products to your store.

Step 4: Use the customizer

With the help of the Shopify customizer, you can get a visual preview of your website. You can move around the header, slideshow, and sidebar sections and can add images to your website as well. It also helps you include a button in your shop.

Step 5: Add a domain

The domain name is the online address that the customers will use to get to your store. The Shopify dashboard has the features to transfer your previous domain or buy a new one.

Step 6: Configure payment settings

You need to add a payment provider to your website in this step. It allows you to receive orders and process payments. The Complete Account Setup option helps you go through the steps to link your bank account and add credentials. This is an important requirement for your application’s approval.

Step 7: Your online store is ready!

You need to select a pricing plan and publish your shop in order to go live. You can create lucrative discounts, link apps, and handle your inventory, right from the dashboard.

Talking about security, you can keep your payment details and business data safe with Shopify. The payment services offered by Shopify are Payment Card Industry or PCI compliant. It also supports 3D Secure checkouts, but does not include any third-party merchant or payment provider. As soon as you create your online store, Shopify can automatically accept all kinds of payment methods.

Takeaway

Shopify is a go-to platform for those who want to start their business but don’t know where to start. Now that you know the functionality of Shopify, design your store, stack the shelves, and start welcoming your customers. It is beyond doubt an easy and profitable platform to showcase your products or services to the word.