During the pandemic, everyone is worried about how to make money, and blogging, YouTube channels, and e-commerce businesses are among the top options. Why not start your own eCommerce business with Shopify?
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Why you should start an eCommerce business with Shopify
- Many physical stores have closed as a result of the pandemic, yet those who already had online businesses survive even in these difficult circumstances.
- It is also for convenience, which implies that instead of waiting for consumers to come to you, bring your store to them.
- Consumers conduct product research online before purchasing; 81% of people perform product research to compare costs, product details, and product reviews.
- You will be your own boss, and owning an e-commerce business can provide you with financial independence if you reach success.
E-commerce businesses after the coronavirus pandemic
Ecommerce businesses are thriving now more than ever. People are increasingly at ease shopping online, and this trend is not going away. People spend more time at home as a result of the coronavirus epidemic, which boosts e-commerce businesses.
These are just a few of the many reasons why you should start an e-commerce company. Starting any business, especially eCommerce, may be overwhelming, but we've included some simple steps in this post to help you get started with your Shopify business.
Shopify is the most well-known, easy-to-use, and trusted eCommerce platform. Shopify is used by a number of prominent businesses and brands, including The Economist, Australia Luxe Collective, Heinz, Kylie Jenner, Lady Gaga, and Adele.
Why use Shopify to start an eCommerce business?
You may be wondering why big firms choose Shopify for their e-commerce business? Let's have a look at why Shopify is a great place to start an eCommerce business. Whether you are new to this online business or have an established brand, there is a lot for you in this post.
Tools and UX design
Shopify provides a simple, user-friendly website with a variety of tools. It also includes beautiful templates for all types of businesses. Shopify also offers an in-built payment gateway, a writing blog to engage your audience, and an app for Android and iOS to help you keep track of your online performance.
Advertising your Shopify store
With Shopify, you can advertise on Facebook and Google Ads with Google Merchant Center while remaining within the platform.
Guides to start a Shopify store eCommerce business
Shopify provides fantastic tools to assist you in navigating the platform and making the most of it. It includes outstanding in-depth guides to help you in achieving success in your e-commerce business.
Shopify Dropshipping
Many individuals begin with a dropshipping business since one of the benefits of having an eCommerce business using this logistics model is that you don't have to worry about stocking items at home, you don't need an inventory so it's a low-risk business venture.
Dropshipping simply means that you add a product to your e-commerce store and then pay the supplier to send the product directly to your customer after you receive the order. There's no need to pay for storage or to worry about stockpiles that haven't sold in years.
Shopify makes it simple by allowing you to import items from AliExpress and Amazon and place them in your store using an app.
Cost of a Shopify eCommerce store
Shopify offers a 14-day free trial, after which the basic plan costs $29 a month.
Now that you know what Shopify is, let's dive further and learn how to build an e-commerce business with Shopify.
Selecting a Niche and sub-niche for your eCommerce business
If you are just getting started with an e-commerce business, you must be incredibly ambitious and eager to try new things. But, stay calm and focus on one product at a time.
Choose one niche and stick with it for a while; subsequently, you may have as many e-commerce businesses as you like; the beauty of an e-commerce business is that you never run out of ideas and opportunities.
So, first, select what type of product you're going to sell and then consider a sub-niche. For instance, you're planning to create a women's clothing company, but what type of garments will you sell? Is it going to be swimwear, formal clothing, a party dress, or a casual dress?
Narrowing down your ideas can help you in reaching your target audience in a short time.
Most people who start an eCommerce business fail because they sell things that are too generic, such as shoes, jewelry, or phone accessories.
They fail due to a high level of competition and decide never to start another eCommerce business.
However, this is why we recommend establishing a sub-niche. You can also use social networks such as Instagram and Pinterest to see what is trendy or hold an online poll to obtain feedback from people. Also, ask your friends and family what sort of women's clothing item they might want to see on the market.
Research your competitors
Once you've decided what product you're going to sell, it's important to look at how others are marketing the product. While performing your research, keep the following aspects in mind:
- Is there a specific business model that they follow?
- Do they sell a single item like yours or a variety of items?
- What advertising platforms do they use?
- What kind of interactions do they have with their audience?
- How frequently do they make special offers?
- What are the tools they use for B2C marketing?
Become an E-commerce Entrepreneur Today. Click here to start your Shopify Free Trial.
Brand name and Logo
When choosing a brand name, try to make it unique and memorable; the same is true for the logo. Make sure that it does not resemble other brands.
If your brand name is similar to another brand's name, you will likely lose visibility from hashtags that you will use for your brand. If there is another brand with the same name as yours, you will have an additional unwilling competitor.
For creating brand names, you can use the free website Namelix. Canva is the best tool for logo design.
When it comes to purchasing a domain name, you may use Shopify's free domain name generator tool.
Write a Business plan for your Shopify store
It is preferable to have everything written down so that you have a plan in front of you. You may change it while you're on the go.
If you are unsure how to begin a business plan for your eCommerce business, use Shopify's business plan template.
Advertise your brand
In today's technologically advanced world, anyone can search for anything in a matter of seconds; make sure your product is included. You must have an internet presence to show people what you sell in order to get attention.
It might be through Shopify's built-in platforms, such as Facebook Ads and Google Merchant Center for Google Shopping, or it could be through blog posts about your items.
Before you begin promoting your product or your Shopify eCommerce store, conduct significant research on what people are searching for regarding the product, and then apply those keywords in your advertising campaign or blog articles to attract a larger audience.
You must also monitor your competitors' progress and the keywords they use. You can use free keyword tools such as:
Alternatively, Moz, Semrush, Ahrefs, Ubersuggest, and, KWfinder are paid services for keyword research, however, there are also free trials available to test how they function before purchasing them.
Product description
After you've finished configuring everything, it's time to start adding products to your eCommerce Shopify store. You must provide an appealing and clear product description so that buyers understand what your product is about.
Before you list your product, keep the following in mind:
- Briefly describe your product.
- Make it SEO-friendly by using relevant keywords.
Focus on the benefits, how your product helps in solving a problem, and talk to their emotional brain, don’t just add a list of boring features. Your product should inspire your potential customers.
Write also about what isn't displayed in the photos, such as the material of the clothes. If you are selling a laptop or any high-tech gadgets, talk about the detailed specifications; a concise explanation would not work here because the specifics are crucial to that product.
You may use a dedicated Shopify SEO App to improve your product descriptions so that they are SEO-friendly and Google can bring you potential customers for free.
Some Shopify themes also have a tag option. Tags are an important aspect of your product listing. Search for the word relevant to your product in your Shopify store and then check what others have used for similar products.
The About Us page of your eCommerce business
The About Us page allows you to build a personal connection with potential clients that visit your shop. You could include some parts that explain why you launched the shop or any specific information you want your customers to know. It builds connections and demonstrates that you are aware of what you are doing and take pride in your job.
Terms and Conditions page
Adding a terms and conditions page, also known as a “Terms of Service,” is the process of including the legal agreement between you and your customers. It will help you in preventing any legal dispute. You may include a checkbox that reads “I agree with the terms and conditions” so that buyers must agree to them before making a purchase.
The Terms and Conditions page includes the following information:
- Copyright of products sold in the store
- Any extra terms or requirements for your services
Privacy Policy page
Customers want to understand what information you collect and how you use their personal data. For example, will contact information be shared with a third party?
Return Policy page
The return policy page is also essential for ensuring client satisfaction before they purchase any product.
Make your legal pages clear and easy to understand. Not everyone is an expert at understanding your industry's jargon.
Shipping rates
You can set your items to ship for free or at a flat rate. Setting delivery prices based on various regions is another option. You may, for example, specify one shipping fee for consumers in North America and another one for customers in Europe. Check out Shopify's thorough guide on how to configure shipping zones to learn more.
“Almost purchased”
Shopify allows you to automatically send a reminder email to consumers who “almost purchased” an item but then left the checkout page. This is called an abandoned cart recovery email. If a customer does not make a purchase on the checkout item within 10 hours, Shopify will automatically send a reminder email.
Because your product is still fresh in their minds, they are more likely to make a purchase if you can encourage them to return. Many Shopify apps like Klaviyo offer advanced features such as automated email sequences to recover missed sales opportunities.
Your Shopify Store & Money
Now that you've added all of the juicy information to your Shopify eCommerce store, give it some time to grow. The key to success is consistency.
Ideally, you should allow your company 6 to 12 months to make a profit. You should keep track of what is working for you and what is costing you money.
You will be able to identify your weak and strong points by narrowing down your logistics. Continue to experiment with your methods; if you discover anything that helps you succeed in your eCommerce business, continue with it.
However, if you notice that something is failing for you despite the fact that everyone else is doing it, try to modify it depending on your audience and product.
Start an eCommerce business that is mobile-friendly
In recent years, there has been an increase in mobile shopping. According to a 2018 poll, 71.6 percent of individuals use their mobile phones to purchase online. According to Shopify merchant statistics, 66 percent of customers purchased via their phone on Black Friday Cyber Monday in 2018.
As 90% of customers migrate from device to device on a regular basis, your eCommerce business website must be responsive across all platforms. Consumers will not wait too long for your website to load, and if they have to zoom in and out to read the text and view the image, they will just bypass your business. Your website should be mobile-friendly for smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices.
Shopify features a mobile app for Android and iOS, as well as some free themes that perform well on both, websites and mobile devices.
Customer experience
According to statistics, 45 percent of US shoppers would not make a purchase if their inquiries are not answered immediately or if they receive poor customer service. The greatest technique is to have a FAQ page so customers don't have to wait for your response before making a purchase. They could think about skipping your product and going to another eCommerce store instead. Live chat also contributes to the engagement of your online presence.
Final thoughts
We've covered the essentials on how to start an eCommerce business with Shopify; now it's your turn to shine. You have all of the tools and strategies you need to start a successful eCommerce business; just keep in mind that trends change on a daily basis, so you should stay current in your market.
Which Shopify plan is best for dropshipping?
The “Basic Shopify” plan at /month is all you need to start your dropshipping business. You get access to all the main features and you have 2 staff accounts to work in a team. However, with this basic plan, you won't have access to advanced reporting and analytics. Transaction fees are also a bit higher than with the “Shopify” plan but when you start it is good to keep your monthly costs down.
The next “Shopify” plan is at $79/month with advanced analytics, lower transaction fees, and more staff accounts available. It's the perfect plan when scaling up your dropshipping business.
How does Shopify dropshipping work?
Dropshipping is a fulfillment method that allows you to have no stock. You don't take care of the logistics, instead, you focus on sales and marketing. You can do dropshipping with the e-commerce platform Shopify and the free Oberlo app. When a customer buys from your store, you then purchase the product yourself from your supplier who will send it directly to your customer.
Are Shopify stores profitable?
In entrepreneurship, you always have a lot of candidates and few success stories. The same goes for Shopify stores, many of them are unprofitable and close after a few months. However, the successful ones are very profitable, like Kylie Cosmetics of Kylie Jenner or other big brands. You must try the adventure, if they are successful you also have your chances. Everyone starts from zero.
Become an E-commerce Entrepreneur Today. Click here to start your Shopify Free Trial.
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Shopify or WooCommerce, which is better? Advanced Guide
References
- Customer experience statistics which will impact your business in 2016. Ameyo.
- Study: 81% research online before making big purchases. (n.d.). Chain Store Age.
- Shopping is going mobile, in-store and out. (2018, March 13). Retail Dive.
- Black Friday Cyber Monday 2018: An analysis of over $1.5 billion in sales. (2018, November 28). Shopify.
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