What is Shopify?
If you are in the process of researching how to expand your business online, or how to start your business online, Shopify might have shown up in your search results several times.
To be looking to expand online, you are probably familiar with the terms: commerce and E-commerce.
Well, Shopify is one of the most used commerce platforms worldwide. What it does, is provide the infrastructure and features which give the opportunity to anyone to build a store online and sell their products or services.
No skills needed. No expertise. Nothing.
For the sake of clarifying, commerce is the act of selling products and buying products. Consequently, E-commerce is the process of selling and buying through the web. The so-called ‘online industry’ is based on E-commerce.
Why is Shopify widely used?
The reason why Shopify is so much appreciated and used is because of the platform’s practicality.
Themes and Features:
Themes are what make a Shopify store look the way it does. Think of a theme as a template/design. Themes are built by Shopify’s designers and developers and they come in different prices and styles.
Themes are usually built on a topic. For example, some are made for fashion stores, others for hiking equipment stores, etc. However, you can use them for any product/service you would like to.
Every theme comes with its features. Features are basically some special design elements that also have practical uses. Some features include the image zoom on your products, slideshow section, customer testimonials, or predictive research.
Some themes are made to look simple, and some others more elegant with complex designs.
One of Shopify’s very helpful features is the ability it gives you to create product collections. This is particularly helpful for businesses with many products.
In addition, Shopify allows you to create discounts on your online store and it applies them automatically at the checkout phase of the purchase. The discounts might vary from a percentage to a free product, and they can be valid from a week to a couple of hours.
And the best thing is – you can modify everything at any time.
Apps
Shopify provides a variety of apps that can be installed to help you increase your sales or add features to your store. Some apps are free, and some are paid.
In addition, some apps can provide a variety of plans – therefore whether you will pay or not, is really completely up to you and your needs.
Some of the most useful apps were listed by OptinMonster and here’s just a sum up of the 10 most helpful ones to grow your business and increase sales:
- OptinMonster
- TrustPulse
- Push Engage
- Constant Contact
- SendinBlue
- Drip
- Candy Rack
- Referral Candy
- io Rewards
- Plugin SEO
Some of these Apps allow you to create Pop-ups within your store so that you increase conversions. Others help you create organized email campaigns or newsletters. Some of them help you optimize and identify problems with SEO, build loyalty, or even give your clients the nudge they need to refer a friend.
Shopify Plans
Shopify offers a variety of plans for business owners. Each of them comes at a different price and offers different features. Some of the features in which the ‘higher plan users’ can enjoy are higher discounts they get when collaborating with specific shipping providers or increased number of staff accounts, etc.
These plans are paid monthly, and you can upgrade your plan at any time.
The obvious benefit which comes with this is that even if you are a start-up trying to kickstart their business, or a business further up in the success ladder, Shopify is a place you can find what you need.
Choose the plan that suits you!
Sales Channels
Shopify has expanded to allow its users to sell their products from their store via other platforms. What this means is that you can integrate your Shopify store (with your products) onto your Facebook or Instagram page. When people visit your Instagram page, for example, they can click on the tab ‘store’ and view your products. And if someone decides to buy it, they are redirected to your store on Shopify!
This process has been made simple and there is a ton of support online on how to do it. Thus, making it easy for anyone to be able to sell through other channels – given that they have the requirements needed (i.e. their account on Instagram is authorized to create a store).
Support
When starting off something new, it is helpful to feel secure and confident about the support you will have. It is likely that in the beginning you’ll have questions or face certain issues. And for this reason, having the support you’ll need is a vital component when choosing which commerce platform you’ll use.
Shopify is great at providing this security since all the plans have 24-hour multichannel support if you ever reach a deadlock.
How we utilize Shopify.
Shopify itself promotes the idea that any person from anywhere in the world can start a business.
The way the platform is created has gained the trust of hundreds of users worldwide, including us.
We help business owners create the ideal site for their business. We guide you through the process and build the store for you.
At Online Solutions, we try to make things a bit differently. Given that we are a small company, we care about providing our clients the best and most personal experience they can possibly get. Therefore, we work alongside you to create a Shopify store that will cover your needs and achieve your objectives.
Contact Us today and we will send you a FREE SHOPIFY ESHOP!
