Shopify is a user-friendly, platform solution that generates professional-looking online stores via theme templates and over 250 plugins. It’s a great resource to start drawing more traffic and conveniently collecting payments.

A list of the basic things you’ll need to get started on your Shopify include:

• A credit card or alternative payment method to pay for your subscription after you use the two week trial
• A Web browser such as Google Chrome or Firefox
• Time allotted to work on your site and upload your products without interruption
• Photos and descriptions of all items you want to sell
• Bank and business details to set up accounts with payment providers

Creating A Shopify Account

Creating an account with Shopify is easy. Simply use Shopify’s website link. Enter a name for your Shopify store, your email address, and your chosen password. Click the green “Try Shopify Free” button. On the login page you will be prompted to provide more detailed information. You can also set up Shopify for a brick and mortar environment by choosing the second box. Enter all the requested details, then click “I’m Done.” You will then be sent to Shopify’s dashboard with a default store template that displays the remaining time you can use your free demo.

Personalization Steps

You’ve already seen the basic store template, but it still needs more personalization. From the dashboard page, click on “Edit Theme” button. On the page that appears you will see that you can change numerous aspects of the template design. You can change the colours and fonts of various elements, and upload your own logo. If you click into the menu items towards the bottom of the page, you can command more control of how each page on your site looks. Click on the link “Visit the Theme Store” if you want to explore beyond the above-mentioned features to find both free and paid themes using the link options to the left.

Themes

Click “Get Theme” then click “Publish As My Shop’s Theme” to make it immediately active. Feel free to experiment with your site until it looks just the way you want it, then click the “Save” button in the top-right. If you want to take a look at your site before your products are added, just click on the name of your site in the top-left and then click “View Your Website” and the live site will display in a new browser tab.

Add Products

A this stage of construction, your site will still look very plain since you haven’t uploaded any products yet. From the dashboard, click on “Products” and then “Add a Product.” The next screen that appears requires more details about your product, with most of the options being very easy to understand. As a minimum, fill in the product title, type and description and price fields. You should also upload at least one image. If you wish, you can use Shopify to store details of your inventory too.

Add Collections

As well as adding key details, the “Add to Collections” option, allows you to add your product to the “front page” collection so it displays on the home page. Once you’re done, click the blue “Save” button in the top-right. Make sure to fill in all mandatory fields in order to save your front page images successfully. Allow a few seconds after saving your product while the image file(s) uploads.

Preparing for Launch

If everything in your store design, including your uploaded products display well, you can now add the finishing touches to your site before it’s ready for the public.

Settings

Go to “Settings” from the dashboard and scan the first page that appears to ensure that all the details of your store are correct. From this page, you can enter meta data that will determine how your store displays to search engines.

Payment Methods

While in the “Settings” menu, select the “Checkout” link on the left. Configure your settings for taking customer payments. Although there are dozens of payment method options available, Shopify stores are already set up to receive PayPal payments by default. If you decide to stick with Paypal, click the “Settings” to configure a range of PayPal options, including the PayPal account linked to your Shopify store. Scroll further down to “Refund, Privacy and TOS Statements” in “Settings” to enter your business’s terms, policies for refunds, etc., and create sample text for these areas if you choose to.

Domains

If you already have a domain and don’t want to use Shopify’s subdomain by default, go the “Settings” menu, and click “Domains.” Shopify will provide instructions if you want to direct your existing domain to your store or you can purchase a brand new domain directly from Shopify. Make sure to change your Welcome and Blog text on the homepage. From the dashboard, just go to the “Blog posts” and “Pages” links to access the content of these areas and edit them. While you’re there, you should also customise the “About Us” page’s content. Now select “Shipping” in “Settings.” Select the countries you can ship to and control their related costs.

Selecting a Plan

You can make online store using Shopify in 12 hours without having previous Web design experience. Click “Select a Plan” from the dashboard that’s most compatible to the volume of your business’s transaction activity and compare that with the transaction fees associated with a specific. Shopify’s basic plan starts at $29 per month and includes access to a customer support team of Web designers and Internet entrepreneurs who can provide helpful advice about email marketing, payment processing and social media integration via phone, email or chat. If you need more time to decide whether or not to make online store using Shopify, the platform provides a free 14-day demo. After selecting a monthly payment plan or the demo, your store is ready to go. All you need to do now is share your site’s new address.