Shopify is easily the world’s largest ecommerce platform, used by merchants across all types of business models. Its user-friendly interface, coupled with a comprehensive suite of tools and features, makes it an ideal choice for entrepreneurs seeking to launch and grow their online stores.
Shopify’s popularity is even more amplified by its scalability, allowing businesses to start small and expand without the need for extensive overhauls. Trusted by over a million businesses worldwide, Shopify is a powerful engine driving the success of countless online enterprises.
So, let’s see just how easy it is to set up a new Shopify store that’s built for success and WON’T shut down your business.
Connect with the best payment processor for your business.
1. Set Up Your Account
- ol]:!pt-0 [&>ol]:!pb-0 [&>ul]:!pt-0 [&>ul]:!pb-0″ value=”2″>Click “Start Free Trial” and enter an email address and password.
- ol]:!pt-0 [&>ol]:!pb-0 [&>ul]:!pt-0 [&>ul]:!pb-0″ value=”3″>Choose a payment plan.
- there are 3 options to choose from. If this is your first store, just pick the cheapest option.
- ol]:!pt-0 [&>ol]:!pb-0 [&>ul]:!pt-0 [&>ul]:!pb-0″ value=”4″>Complete any additional setup prompts related to your store (name, location, etc.).
- ol]:!pt-0 [&>ol]:!pb-0 [&>ul]:!pt-0 [&>ul]:!pb-0″ value=”3″>Choose a payment plan.
2. Add Your Products
- ol]:!pt-0 [&>ol]:!pb-0 [&>ul]:!pt-0 [&>ul]:!pb-0″ value=”2″>Set pricing, the title, description, and any media for the product.
- ol]:!pt-0 [&>ol]:!pb-0 [&>ul]:!pt-0 [&>ul]:!pb-0″ value=”3″>Add the product to your inventory.
3. Choosing a Theme
- one store per account, then it feels like a misnomer.
- ol]:!pt-0 [&>ol]:!pb-0 [&>ul]:!pt-0 [&>ul]:!pb-0″ value=”3″>Browse through free and paid themes.
- ol]:!pt-0 [&>ol]:!pb-0 [&>ul]:!pt-0 [&>ul]:!pb-0″ value=”6″>From your Shopify admin, go to “Online Store” > “Themes.”
- Colors and Fonts: Adjust to match your brand’s color palette and typography.
- Layout: Modify the layout to enhance user experience.
- Logo and Branding: Upload your logo and customize the header and footer sections.
5. Setting up Payments
- ol]:!pt-0 [&>ol]:!pb-0 [&>ul]:!pt-0 [&>ul]:!pb-0″ value=”2″>Choose from available options like Shopify Payments, PayPal, etc.
- ol]:!pt-0 [&>ol]:!pb-0 [&>ul]:!pt-0 [&>ul]:!pb-0″ value=”2″>Shopify allows you to use basically any payment provider you want. However, Shopify will charge a fee to use any other provider (like authorize.net or DirectPayNet) on top of the rate you pay for that provider. This is why we don’t often recommend using Shopify as your storefront, since you’re basically locked into their ecosystem.
- only offer PayPal.
- Get better payment processing for your Shopify store!
Select your shipping options. 6. Configuring Shipping
- ol]:!pt-0 [&>ol]:!pb-0 [&>ul]:!pt-0 [&>ul]:!pb-0″ value=”2″>Define shipping zones based on geographical locations.
- ol]:!pt-0 [&>ol]:!pb-0 [&>ul]:!pt-0 [&>ul]:!pb-0″ value=”4″>Integrate carriers like USPS, UPS, or FedEx.
Go live! 7. Launching Your Store
- ol]:!pt-0 [&>ol]:!pb-0 [&>ul]:!pt-0 [&>ul]:!pb-0″ value=”2″>Conduct a test purchase to ensure everything functions smoothly.
- ol]:!pt-0 [&>ol]:!pb-0 [&>ul]:!pt-0 [&>ul]:!pb-0″ value=”4″>Announce your store launch through social media and email campaigns.
Email, SEO, and other marketing efforts. 8. Post-Launch
- ol]:!pt-0 [&>ol]:!pb-0 [&>ul]:!pt-0 [&>ul]:!pb-0″ value=”2″>Implement email marketing campaigns.
- You should now have an up-and-running Shopify store! Pretty simple, right? Shopify is a powerful and popular platform—but it’s not without its issues. For one, Shopify doesn’t support all business types. And two, you could save thousands per month on transaction fees by hosting your store on a different platform.
We at DirectPayNet can provide faster, cheaper payment processing for your Shopify store—or wherever you host it! Get in touch with our team today to talk more about the risks of using Shopify and viable alternatives that truly support your store.