For an eCommerce platform, few can beat Shopify when it comes to a range of features and how their different plans are aimed at several sizes of business.
If you are yet to build your online store or consider yourself an experienced store owner, you can use Shopify in the way that suits you and how you want your business to grow.
Whatever your business and range of products, you should be able to find the right plan to use Shopify as your eCommerce platform.
In this guide, we will look at what Shopify is, how it works, what you can sell on the platform and the different versions of the platform.
What Is Shopify?
Shopify has become one of the most prominent eCommerce platforms (Also check out BigCommerce) as you can use it to build your store online and offline. You could use it as your eCommerce platform or simply use Shopify POS to sell your products in person at a certain event.
If you are yet to build your website then you may be interested in Shopify’s eCommerce website builder which is ideal for a novice or someone who considers themselves to be an eCommerce expert.
With Shopify, you can create then customize your very own online store. The platform allows you to manage your inventory, range of products, payments, and shipping which should cover the entire online shopping process.
You could use it to sell in a brick and mortar store, as well as online, through social media, online marketplaces, and pop-up shops. Shopify is cloud-based and hosted which means no worrying about inevitable upgrading and ensuring that software is maintained.
Shopify even offers a free 14-day trial so you can see for yourself whether it is the right eCommerce platform for you. During those 14 days, you can build your online store, use the Shopify apps, and even make your first sale if you get your business enough attention.
For those advanced business owners who have already got their website up and running, they may use Shopify Plus to advance even further or simply use Shopify POS for those in-person events when they need to.
How Shopify Works
For as little as $9 a month, you can use Shopify’s Lite plan and see how the platform can help you run your eCommerce business successfully.
A lot of rookie store owners go further with the Basic plan which is $29 a month and gives a business everything it needs for online selling. You should be expected to open a storefront, showcase your products, accept payments, and provide customer engagement.
Shopify’s platform enables you to perform all those activities by acting as a facilitator and makes it relatively easy to sell products online. Prices are correct at the time of writing.
What You Can Sell On Shopify
The range of products you can sell on Shopify is so extensive that it may be easier simply to list the things you cannot sell on the platform which are considered illegal or regulated.
Those prohibited items include firearms, gambling products, adult products, event tickets, drug paraphernalia, counterfeit/unauthorized goods, and regulated products or services.
With that out of the way, you can concentrate on what you want to sell and this tends to be centered on the home, garden, fashion, and beauty. Though there will always be an updated list of trending products that is worth checking out to see what’s currently in vogue.
The most popular items include kitchenware, beauty products, fitness accessories, clothing, jewelry, home accessories, bags/luggage, and baby or maternity products.
The Different Versions Of Shopify
There are different versions of Shopify, each with its own properties so you can find the right one for your business. A good range to look at includes Shopify Plus, Shopify Lite, and Shopify POS.
Shopify Plus
For large businesses and those that aspire to scale up, there is Shopify Plus which is the ideal enterprise eCommerce platform.
This version of Shopify includes the higher priority of customer support, developed reporting features, and the capacity to handle higher order volumes. There are other features included too so if your business matches that criteria it is worth looking into.
Shopify Lite
If your business has an existing website then you may want a more affordable plan, which you would find with Shopify Lite.
This is ideal if you want to sell products yet do not have a website that is hosted on Shopify or do your selling without Shopify’s hosting. The plan includes the ability to sell offline or online and you can also send invoices as well as benefit from Messenger chats.
Shopify POS
Of course, the POS stands for Point of Sale which means you can use this application to sell your products offline. This can be at a trade show, your physical store, an occasional pop-up shop, or those in-person events when you require a means of selling your products.
With Shopify POS, you can accept payments with an iPad or iPhone, or on Android if you are using the POS app.
Final Thoughts
No matter where in your journey you are as a business owner, there should be a plan where you can use Shopify as an eCommerce platform. That is as long as the products that you sell are legal and not considered regulated.
From Shopify’s Basic plan to Shopify Lite, Shopify Plus, and Shopify POS, the platform works as a foundation for those who want to run an eCommerce business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Make Money On Shopify Without Selling A Product?
Surprisingly, yes you can. Shopify does not require you to sell a single product to make money as you can use the Shopify affiliate marketing program to allow you to earn from successful referrals which are made from your account to the eCommerce platform.
Of course, the more sellers you entice to their platform, the more money you can earn.
Could I Have Several Websites On A Single Shopify Account?
Yes, you can. Feel free to add up to as many as ten domains/subdomains to your very own Shopify store. However, your root domain can only be pointed to one of your Shopify stores. Though you can create several subdomains which are a subset of your root domain.
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