If you have an ecommerce business, there’s one aspect of your operation that needs special attention, and that’s your website. You need to put in extra effort to optimize it and make sure it generates as many sales as possible. Fortunately, you can do this much more easily if you use Shopify to manage your online store instead of doing it yourself or using some other solution like WordPress or Magento. Here are the main benefits of using Shopify for your ecommerce business.
The Pros of Using Shopify
When it comes to online retail and e-commerce, there are a number of platforms available today. But none of them are as well-developed, customizable or widely adopted as Shopify. As of 2015, more than 275,000 merchants used Shopify’s platform for their operations. And even though that number has likely grown by now (there were 300K just a few months ago), there is still room for growth in what is an otherwise saturated market. One such area where you could make a splash with an innovative e-commerce solution on top of the Shopify platform is international trading: people have bought and sold products across borders since we’ve been using currency as a means of exchange.
5 Examples of Successful E-Commerce Stores on Shopify
- WhipStitch
- Replacements Ltd
- Converse
- Cornerstone
- Etsy
How Can I Make My Store Stand Out?
One of today’s biggest challenges for online store owners is making their stores stand out among thousands of others. While it’s easy to promote your products with social media, other channels and methods also work—and one of them is video. In a world where consumers are increasingly bombarded with information, video can break through that clutter. Shoppers are 53% more likely to purchase from a website if it uses video, according to Venture Beat . So why aren’t more businesses using video? Because they don’t know how. That’s why we created an in-depth Shopify guide on creating videos for your store. It includes advice on everything from planning and scripting a video project all the way through marketing it effectively and making sure it converts.
How Much Does Shopify Cost?
Shopify offers three pricing plans. The basic plan costs $29/month, and includes unlimited products, 5 GB of storage, 100 unique visits per month and no transaction fees. The professional plan costs $79/month, includes unlimited products and 25 GB of storage with an additional 200 unique visits per month. Finally, a third tier allows you to invite another user for a total cost of $179/month (you must pay for both users separately). If you’re just getting started on Shopify, then it’s worth going with their most affordable option; you can always upgrade at a later date when you outgrow it.
Can I Use a Free Alternative to Shopify?
Conclusion and Advice
To create a successful online store, first figure out who your customer is. While they may be tech-savvy and enjoy shopping on their smartphone, that doesn’t mean they want (or will buy) anything and everything. Take an honest look at what people are currently buying or selling online in your niche. Look into demographics like age, gender, location and income level—and see how closely those match up with yours. Once you’ve made a profile of your typical customer, it makes sense to invest in getting them excited about buying from you. Follow their lifestyle closely via social media sites—and maybe join them there! Post relevant content that speaks directly to them; if possible (and legal), offer special promotions just for fans of your page.
