Shopify is a popular tool for building online stores, but it can be tricky if you're new to it. In this blog, we'll walk you through every step of creating a website on Shopify and teach you how to make your website on shopify it quickly and effectively.

Before we dive in, make sure you've already set up your eCommerce store on Shopify!

What is Shopify? 

Shopify is an online tool that helps you create your own online shop. It's like having a virtual store where you can sell things over the internet. With Shopify, you can post products for sale, manage your inventory, take payments, and even connect with customers on social media.

The great thing about Shopify is that it's easy to use, even if you need to be tech-savvy. You don't need to know anything about making websites or coding. All you need is a computer and an internet connection, and you're ready!

Pros and Cons of Shopify

Shopify is a popular choice for building online stores. Here are some of its advantages and disadvantages:

Pros

• Easy to use: Shopify is known for its user-friendly interface, making it easy for businesses to set up their online stores quickly. You can customize and launch your website live without much hassle.
• Variety of Themes: Shopify offers a wide range of themes to choose from, catering to the needs of different businesses. Having an attractive and functional theme can help attract and retain customers.
• Marketing Tools: Shopify provides tools to help you promote your online store effectively. You can create landing pages, run marketing campaigns, and offer deals and discounts to attract more customers.
• Hosting and Security: Shopify handles hosting for your website, saving you the trouble and cost of managing servers. They also ensure security by regularly updating and monitoring for bugs.
• Professional Support: Shopify offers 24/7 email, live chat, and hotline support. Its dedicated support teams can assist you with any issues you encounter during website building.

Cons:

• Transaction Costs: Shopify's pricing plans include transaction fees, which can add up, especially for smaller businesses. The basic plan may need to offer more features, leading to the need for a more expensive package.
• Limited Customization: Customizing themes on Shopify can be challenging, as it uses a different setup called Liquid. This may require users to spend time learning how to make changes to their website.
• No Email Hosting: Shopify does not offer email hosting, so you'll need to use a third-party service for email management.
• Platform Lock-in: Due to Shopify's lock-in feature, switching to another platform can be difficult once you start using it. This means you may need more flexibility if you move your store elsewhere.

Before choosing Shopify, consider these pros and cons carefully to ensure it meets your business needs.

How to make your website on shopify - A detailed guide

Step 1: Register for a Shopify Account

To begin, you must now register for Shopify!

Upon signing up, you'll receive a complimentary 3-day trial. During registration, you'll be prompted to enter personal information, including your store name, address, and postcode.

Step 2: Familiarise Yourself with the Shopify Admin Panel

Within the admin panel, you can add products, configure payments, set up shipping and analytics, select a theme, and personalize your store. This Shopify guide primarily revolves around navigating this interface. While it may seem daunting at first, once mastered, your store will operate seamlessly in the future.

Step 3: Select and Personalise Your Theme

Shopify themes enable you to give your store a unique look and feel that sets it apart from others. You can change the default theme in your dashboard's Themes section by opting for a different free or purchased theme.

However, Shopify's default themes offer only basic functionality for creating pages. For more advanced customization and functionality, we suggest using a drag-and-drop page builder app like EComposer—Shopify Page Builder. Check out the detailed guide in the next section: Customise Your Website's Functionality with EComposer.

Step 4: Add Your Products

After familiarising yourself with the Shopify admin panel, you can add the products you intend to sell to your online store.

Navigate to the "Products" section and click "Add product".

This ensures that your products are easily accessible to customers. Be sure to keep in mind website SEO tips and make any necessary edits carefully.

You can read more: How to Create a High-Converting Shopify Product Page

Step 5: Set Up Important Details (Shipping, Payments, etc.)

Before your store can start selling, you need to take a few more steps to prepare.

Here are the main things to remember:

• Store Information: You can update your business's general details here.
• Payment Options: You can offer various ways for your customers to pay using Shopify.
• Checkout Process: Your customers complete their orders through the secure Shopify checkout page. You can change how it looks in the theme settings, including using One-page Checkout.
• Shipping and Delivery: In your Shopify Admin's Shipping and Delivery section, you'll set up shipping zones and prices for where you'll be sending orders.
• Taxes: Most countries require you to collect tax on product sales and send it to the government. Shopify makes this easy by handling most of the tax calculations for you.
• Locations: Locations help manage inventory, fulfill orders, and sell products. Retail stores, warehouses, drop shippers, and other locations related to inventory can all be set up as locations for your store.

Step 6: Review Your Store

Once you've finished designing your store, it's essential to thoroughly check everything before launching your Shopify online store. Click the preview button and visit your store as a customer to ensure that the checkout process and settings for order processing, inventory, shipping, notifications, and taxes are all working correctly.

Step 7: Personalise Your Domain Name

You're almost ready to launch your store. The final step is adding your domain to Shopify. Like any website, you'll need a domain name (your web address) so visitors and search engines can find you. Shopify has a solution for this, too.

Initially, Shopify provides a domain reservation like www.your-store-name.myshopify.com to help you start your business. However, if you want a more memorable or search-friendly URL like www.your-store-name.com, you can purchase a domain from Shopify or use a third-party app.

Go to Settings, choose Domain, and customize your domain to suit your preferences.

Step 8: Select a Plan and Launch Your Store

When you're prepared to make your store available to the public, it's time to select a Shopify plan that suits your needs.

Customize your website on Shopify with EcomRise: Boost Sales Pro

In the final stages of setting up your Shopify store, consider integrating apps to enhance your selling capabilities. Shopify offers an extensive app store with over 8,000 free and paid options, catering to various aspects of store optimization.

Before installing any app, it's important to read reviews and ensure compatibility with your theme and existing apps. Also, review the pricing information of specific apps to be mindful of potential additional costs associated with them.

To add an app to your store, simply visit the Shopify App Store, select your desired app, and click the "Add app" button.

Here's a recommended app: EcomRise offers a range of solutions to boost sales, enhance customer experiences, and protect your website content.

Key features: 

• Inactive Tab Messages: This feature allows you to engage with customers who have multiple tabs open in their browser. By displaying a custom message or notification when a user switches back to your tab, you can grab their attention and encourage them to complete their purchase.
• Favicon Cart Count: This feature displays a visual indicator on your browser's tab, showing the number of items in the user's shopping cart. It serves as a subtle reminder for customers, prompting them to return to your store and check out their items.

• Sales Notification, also known as Sales Pop, creates pop-up notifications on your store to showcase recent purchases made by other customers. These notifications serve as social proof, building trust and credibility among visitors by demonstrating that others are actively buying from your store.

• Content Protection prevents others from copying your website's texts and images. By disabling the ability to right-click and copy content, this feature helps safeguard your intellectual property and ensures your website's content remains unique and original.

• The Snowfall Effect adds a delightful touch to your store by simulating falling snowflakes on the screen. This festive animation creates a joyful and immersive shopping experience, especially during seasonal holidays like Christmas, enhancing the overall ambiance of your store.

• This feature lets you display trust badges, including payment icons and store policies, in prominent positions across your website. By showcasing badges such as secure payment methods and customer protection policies, you can instill confidence in visitors and encourage them to make purchases knowing that their transactions are safe and secure.

Tips to make your website on Shopify success

Certainly! Here are some tips to make your website on Shopify stand out and succeed:

• Choose the Right Theme: Select a theme that aligns with your brand and offers the necessary features and functionality. Consider factors such as design aesthetics, mobile responsiveness, and ease of customization.
• Optimise Product Pages: Create compelling product listings with high-quality images, detailed descriptions, and transparent pricing information. Use descriptive keywords to improve search engine visibility and enhance the user experience.
• Streamline the Checkout Process: Simplify the process to reduce cart abandonment rates. Offer guest checkout options, minimize the steps required to complete a purchase, and provide multiple payment gateways for convenience.
• Invest in SEO: Optimise your website for search engines to improve visibility and attract organic traffic. Use relevant keywords in product titles, descriptions, and meta tags, and regularly update your content to stay relevant.

• Leverage Social Proof: Showcase customer reviews, testimonials, and social media mentions to build trust and credibility. Highlight positive feedback and user-generated content to reassure potential customers and encourage conversions.
• Utilise Apps and Integrations: Explore the Shopify App Store to find apps and integrations that enhance your store's functionality. Whether it's marketing automation, inventory management, or customer support, countless tools are available to help streamline your operations and drive growth.
• Offer Exceptional Customer Service: Provide prompt and helpful customer support to address inquiries, resolve issues, and build long-term relationships with your customers. Use live chat, email support, and social media channels to assist whenever needed.
• Optimise for Mobile: Ensure your website is optimized for mobile devices to accommodate the growing number of mobile shoppers. Test your site's responsiveness across different devices and screen sizes to deliver a seamless user experience.
• Implement Clear Calls to Action: Use clear and compelling calls to action (CTAs) to guide visitors towards desired actions, such as purchasing, signing up for newsletters, or following your social media accounts. Make CTAs prominent and easy to find throughout your website.
• Monitor Performance and Analytics: Regularly monitor your website's performance and analytics to track key metrics such as traffic, conversion rates, and sales. Use insights to identify areas for improvement and make data-driven decisions to optimize your website for success.

FAQs

1. Why should I use Shopify to build my website?

Shopify is an excellent choice for building your website due to its user-friendly interface and comprehensive set of features tailored specifically for e-commerce. With Shopify, you can create a professional-looking online store without needing advanced technical skills. The platform offers a wide range of customizable templates, allowing you to design your website to reflect your brand's identity. Additionally, Shopify provides secure hosting, ensuring that your website is reliable and always accessible to customers. Integrated payment options make it easy for you to accept various payment methods, streamlining the checkout process for your customers. Overall, Shopify offers a complete solution for launching and managing your online store, empowering you to focus on growing your business.

2. Can I use my own domain name with Shopify?

Yes, you can use your domain name with Shopify. This means you can maintain consistency with your brand by using a custom domain that reflects your business name. Shopify offers the flexibility to purchase a new domain directly through their platform or connect an existing domain you already own. If you buy a domain through Shopify, the process is straightforward, and you'll have complete control over your domain settings. Alternatively, if you already have a domain registered with another provider, you can easily connect it to your Shopify store by updating your DNS settings. By using your domain name, you enhance the professionalism of your online store and make it easier for customers to find and remember your website.

3. What payment options does Shopify support?

Shopify supports a wide range of payment gateways to accommodate your customers' preferences. Major credit and debit cards, such as Visa, Mastercard, and American Express, are all supported, allowing customers to make secure payments directly on your website. Additionally, popular digital payment methods like PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay are integrated into the Shopify platform, making it convenient for customers to complete their purchases. Shopify Payments, Shopify's built-in payment gateway, provides a seamless checkout experience and offers competitive processing rates for merchants. By offering multiple payment options, you cater to the diverse needs of your customers and increase the likelihood of completing sales.

5. How do I market my Shopify website and attract customers?

Marketing your Shopify website is essential for attracting customers and driving sales. Fortunately, Shopify offers a variety of marketing tools and integrations to help you promote your online store effectively. One effective strategy is email marketing, where you can collect customer email addresses and send targeted campaigns to promote new products, special offers, and events. Integrating your store with social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest allows you to reach a broader audience and engage with potential customers. Implementing search engine optimization (SEO) techniques, such as optimizing product descriptions and meta tags, can improve your store's visibility in search engine results and drive organic traffic. Additionally, Shopify provides advertising options like Google Ads and Facebook Ads, allowing you to create targeted ad campaigns to reach specific demographics and increase brand awareness. By utilising these marketing strategies, you can effectively promote your Shopify website and attract more customers to your online store.

6. Can I sell internationally with Shopify?

Yes, Shopify enables you to sell your products internationally, expanding your reach beyond your local market. With Shopify's multi-currency and multi-language capabilities, you can tailor your store to accommodate customers from different countries and regions. You can set up multiple currencies to allow customers to shop in their preferred currency, providing a more convenient shopping experience. Additionally, Shopify allows you to translate your store into different languages, making it accessible to a global audience. To facilitate international shipping, Shopify offers various shipping options and integrations with major shipping carriers, enabling you to calculate accurate shipping rates and manage customs requirements. By selling internationally, you can tap into new markets and increase your sales potential, leveraging Shopify's robust platform to grow your business on a global scale.

Conclusion

Getting the hang of Shopify may seem daunting initially, but remember to approach it step by step. We trust you've gained valuable insights and skills from our How to Make Your Website on shopify - Step-by-Step guide for beginners blog.