Online sales are booming, and more and more entrepreneurs are embarking on the adventure of creating their own online store. For novices, however, it can seem daunting and complex. Fortunately, Shopify, one of the world’s most popular e-commerce platforms, makes it easy to create your own online store. In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps needed to create your own online store with Shopify, from creating your account to customizing your website and managing your products and orders.
Create your Shopify account
To create your Shopify account and start building your online store, follow these steps:
- Go to the Shopify website (www.shopify.com) and click on the “Get Started” button at the top of the page.
- Enter your e-mail address and click on “Start”.
- Fill in the information requested to create your account, including your name, address and a password.
- Indicate your main goal for your online store: selling online, selling in person or both.
- Select your sector of activity, this will help Shopify offer you the features best suited to your business.
- Answer Shopify’s questions about your online sales experience and revenue.
- Choose a store name that will be the domain name of your online store.
- Select the payment plan that’s right for you. Shopify offers several plans with different features and rates.
Once you’ve filled in all this information, click “Enter my store” to access your Shopify dashboard and start creating your online store.
Customize your online store with Shopify
After creating your Shopify account, the next step is to customize your online store’s appearance. Here are the steps to follow:
Choose a theme
Shopify offers many free and paid themes to customize your shop’s appearance. Browse the different themes available and choose the one that best suits your business.
Customize colors and fonts
Once you’ve chosen your theme, you can customize the colors and fonts to match your brand image. Click on “Customize” to access the theme editor and make your changes.
Add your logo
Upload your logo in the “Brand Identity” section of the theme editor to add it to your online store.
Add images
Add images to showcase your products and bring your store to life. You can also add banner images to promote special offers or flagship products.
Create pages
Create pages such as “About us”, “FAQ” and “Terms and conditions” to provide additional information for your customers. You can create these pages using the Shopify page editor.
Configure your navigation menu
Configure your navigation menu so your customers can easily find the products they’re looking for. Add links to your various product collections and important pages.
Add products to your online store with Shopify
Once you’ve customized the look and feel of your online store, it’s time to add products to your store. Here are the steps to follow:
- Click on “Products” in the navigation menu of your Shopify dashboard.
- Click on “Add a product” to create a new product.
- Add basic information about your product, such as name, description and price.
- Add images of your product to present it visually to your customers.
- Configure your product options, such as size, color, quantity available, etc.
- Add your product to a collection. Collections make it easy for your customers to find the products that interest them.
- Repeat steps 2 to 6 to add all the products you wish to sell on your online store.
Configure payment and delivery options
Configuring payment and delivery options is an important step for your online store. Here are the steps to follow to configure these options:
- Click on “Settings” in the navigation menu of your Shopify dashboard.
- Click on “Payments” to configure payment options. Shopify supports over 100 payment methods, such as PayPal, Stripe and Apple Pay. Select the payment options you’d like to offer your customers and configure details such as transaction fees and account information.
- Click on “Shipping” to configure delivery options. You can configure shipping charges for different countries or regions, add free shipping options, define delivery times and more. You can also integrate third-party delivery providers such as UPS, USPS or FedEx.
- If you sell digital products, such as downloadable files, configure the digital delivery option so that your customers can easily download their purchases.
- If you wish to offer in-store pick-up options, configure the in-store pick-up option to allow your customers to collect their purchases directly from your store.
- Finally, test all payment and delivery options to make sure everything is working properly.
By configuring payment and delivery options correctly, you can provide a pleasant, hassle-free shopping experience for your customers, which can improve your online store’s reputation and increase sales.
Launch your online shop
Once you’ve set up your Shopify online store, you’re ready to launch it. Here are the final steps you need to take to launch your online store:
- Click on “Online store” in the navigation menu of your Shopify dashboard.
- Click on “Preview online store” to see what your online store looks like before you launch it.
- Make sure all your online store pages are complete and up-to-date. Check that all images, product descriptions, payment and shipping information are correct.
- Test your online store to make sure everything is working properly. Try placing a test order to make sure the payment and delivery process is working properly.
- Configure your social media accounts and marketing strategy to start promoting your online store and reach your target audience.
- Finally, click on “Launch your online store” to publish your online store and make it available to the public.
Manage your online shop
Now that your online store is up and running, you need to manage it effectively to attract customers and increase sales. Here are some key elements of managing your online store:
Manage your orders
Make sure you keep track of all orders, verify payments, process refunds and returns, and ensure products are shipped on time.
Manage your inventory
Keep an eye on your product stock levels to make sure you’re not selling products that are no longer available. Update your inventory regularly to avoid ordering errors.
Monitor your performance
Use Shopify analytics to track the performance of your online store, including visitor numbers, conversion rates and sales. Use this information to identify potential problems and improve your online store’s performance.
Stay in touch with your customers
Build relationships with your customers by responding promptly to their questions and comments, offering special offers and discounts, and sending regular newsletters and marketing emails.
Improve your online shop
Use customer feedback to improve your online store’s shopping experience. Add new products, update your product descriptions and modify your design to improve the look and functionality of your online store.
