From Zero to Online: Creating a Shopify Account Made Simple
If you are thinking about starting an online store, Shopify is the top choice. Shopify is a popular e-commerce platform that allows you to build and run your online store in a single platform that has the tools you need to increase your chances of running a successful Shopify store.
A common concern that prevents entrepreneurs from creating their Shopify store is the fear of the unexpected because they lack the technical know-how or general background in online marketing.
Nowadays, one of the main concerns in technology development is accessibility, building a world without barriers is the premise, and the Shopify platform is not an exception.
In this blog post, we guide you through the step-by-step process to set up a Shopify account, so you can start your first online store and set your way to success.
Why Shopify?
Before diving into the account creation process, let us take the time to understand why Shopify is a top platform for building your own online store.
Shopify Is Accessible and User-Friendly
Shopify is easy to use, even for people without experience in web development or e-commerce. The platform has an intuitive interface to make it accessible to anyone willing to create a Shopify store in only a few steps.
The best part is you can customize your store to make it look like you want. It is an advantage that helps you look after your brand’s image and maintain uniformity on all your websites. Whether you own multiple online stores or this is your first Shopify store, customization is the best tool to make your storefront attractive and give your customers an excellent image with a clean and well-crafted brand.
Ecommerce Tools for Your Online Store
Shopify offers multiple features and tools to help you handle your online store. These include managing inventory, tracking orders, managing customers, payment gateways, analytics and reporting, customer service, and more.
The advantage of these features is they help you run your entire ecommerce business operation professionally because you can accept payments securely, manage orders promptly, ship products fast, provide customer service, and more importantly, track the performance of your site, so you always know how your store is performing and can identify potential improvements to increase your revenue.
Design Flexibility
There are so many marketplaces and online stores that customers feel they have seen it all. So how can you make your store unique and attractive to convert more?
Shopify has you covered because it offers a variety o themes and apps to help you customize your store to fit your brand identity and requirements.
Apart from the multiple templates and themes you can use to customize the design of your store, you can further customize the theme using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript if you have the technical know-how to do so.
Multiple Payment and Shipping Options
We briefly mentioned this item before, but it is crucial for the success of any online business. The more options you offer your customers, the more likely you are to outrank your competitors. Furthermore, using trusted and renowned payment processors will help you gain trust in front of potential customers.
For payments, Shopify supports credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, local payment methods, and more.
Shopify shipping options are USPS, UPS, DHL Express, Canada Post, and Sendle shipping options, as well as flat rate and local delivery or pickup options. Additionally, Shopify allows merchants to add free shipping rates and multiple shipping addresses.
As you can see, Shopify offers a variety of payment and shipping options to make it easy for your customers to purchase your products and receive them promptly.
Notice that we are not saying a Shopify store is your only option, but its unique features, usability, and user preference make it an excellent platform to create your online store.
So are you ready to build the ultimate Shopify store?
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Shopify Account
To own a successful Shopify store the first requirement is creating your account. The good news is there is no need to hire an expert to do so (at least not yet). Follow these simple steps to have your Shopify store up and running in a breeze!
Step 1: Sign Up for Shopify
The first step is to sign up for a Shopify account. Go to the Shopify website and don’t look for a “create Shopify account” button but a “Get Started” button. Note that you must have all the data for your online store information at hand because you’ll be prompted to enter your address (for billing), email address, password, and Shopify store name.
Note that to set up a Shopify store you need a verifiable business address, so if you are using your house as your headquarters, consider using a PO Box as your business address.
Step 2: Choose a Shopify Plan
Shopify offers different pricing plans. Shopify features and capabilities vary from plan to plan. Consider the size and scope of your business, what is the size of your store, and what products you plan to sell.
Include your specific requirements and think about your budget and what type of features you would like to have available in your store. Seize and consider all these elements before you create a Shopify store to increase your chances of success.
Step 3: Enter Your Store Details
Once select a plan, you’ll need to enter some basic information about your business, such as your name, address, and phone number. Apart from this basic info you need to enter your sales tax identification number or social security number to set up the legal details of your store.
Step 4: Customize Your Shopify Store
Now it’s time to customize your store. Choose a theme that suits your brand, it can be a free theme or a premium theme, and customize the design to your liking.
Shopify themes are an excellent way to build your ecommerce store. Think of it like a brick-and-mortar store, add your colors and your personal touch. Once you customize your Shopify store you can add products, set up collections, and create pages like About Us, Contact Us, and FAQs.
To customize your store you need to familiarize yourself with every section of your Shopify homepage
The Search Bar
helps you find the different sections of your online store. The fastest way to get to a specific section of your Shopify store is by typing the name here.
The Navigation Menu
This is where you find all the things that are fundamental for your Shopify store, get to know this menu like the palm of your hand as fast as you can.
The Add Product Tool
This is where you will create the universe of products and product variations you’ll sell.
Customize Theme
is our favorite part, the best approach is to start with a free theme and customize it as you go.
The Settings Button
displays a menu where you can change everything related to the operation of your Shopify store. Including the name.
Sales Section
Gives you access to all your sales and a sales breakdown for vital analytics and other purposes.
Profile
Add your profile picture, change your details, and enable the two-factor authentication to secure your Shopify store.
Step 5: Set Up Payment Methods and Shipping Options
Shopify makes it easy to set up payment gateways and shipping options. You can choose from multiple payment gateways, including PayPal, Stripe, and Shopify Payments. You can also set up shipping options and rates based on weight, destination, and more.
Step 6: Launch Your Shopify Store
You have already customized your store and set up payment and shipping options, and now comes the moment to launch your store! Click the “Launch Website” button, and your store will go live.
Shopify can take from 24 to 48 hours to approve your seller account. The review process may take longer in some cases.
When you submit your application, Shopify reviews your store and decides whether to approve it, it helps maintain Shopify a healthy ecosystem where sellers and shoppers can operate with trust.
Once your Shopify is approved, you will be able to start accepting payments through Shopify Payments.
How Much Does It Cost to Create a Shopify Account?
You already know the whys and the hows. It is the moment to find out the investment to access a Shopify seller account.
The ecommerce platform offers different pricing plans, each with distinctive features and capabilities depending on the tier. The cost of creating your Shopify account depends on your favorite pricing plan.
The Basic Plan
It is the most popular and basic entry-level plan. The Basic Shopify Plan has what you need to design, launch and operate your store. It starts at $19 per month (billed yearly) and includes
- Basic reports
- Up to 1,000 inventory locations
- Two staff accounts
The Shopify Plan
The upgrade includes an upgrade in your reports (professional and more detailed) and more staff accounts to grow your operations. It costs $49 per month (billed yearly) and includes
- Professional reports
- Up to 1,000 inventory locations
- Five staff accounts
The Advanced Shopify Plan
The Advanced Plan costs $299 (per month), and it gives you access to custom reporting and the lowest transaction fees.
- Custom report builder
- Up to 1,000 inventory locations
- 15 staff accounts
You have the option to test everything before you buy. Shopify offers a free 14-day trial, during which you can explore the platform and test its features before committing to a plan.
Tips and Tricks for a Successful Shopify Account
Creating a Shopify account is only the beginning. You must understand and use the best practices to grow and sustain a successful Shopify business over time. We decided to share some tips and tricks to help you make the most of your online store.
Choose the Right Theme
Your theme sets the tone for your store and can impact your brand’s image. Go to the theme store and pick the one that fits your brand and showcases your products in the best possible light.
Add High-Quality Product Images
Product images are crucial in online shopping. Use high-quality photos that show your products in detail and from multiple angles. Customers expect to have an objective idea of what they are paying for.
It is an excellent idea to include the product dimensions, as well as other important details relevant to your customer’s buying decisions.
Use Shopify Marketing Tools
Shopify offers all the tools to help you promote your store, including email marketing, social media integrations, and search engine optimization tools. Include these tools in your marketing strategy to drive traffic to your online store and increase sales.
Optimize Your Store for Mobile
More and more people are shopping on their mobile devices, so it’s essential to optimize your store for mobile devices. Shopify offers mobile-responsive themes, so your store will look great on any device.
Provide Great Customer Service
Customer service is essential in any business, and online stores are no exception. Be responsive to customer inquiries, offer a generous return policy, and provide fast and reliable shipping.
Browse the Shopify App Store
The Shopify App Store is an online marketplace where merchants can browse and download apps to enhance their Shopify store’s functionality. The apps available on the Shopify App Store are created by third-party developers to help you with marketing, inventory management, shipping, and more.
Some apps are free, while others require a fee or offer a subscription model. The Shopify App Store allows merchants to customize their store’s functions to meet their specific needs and improve their overall business operations. Test and cater to the app store to further customize your Shopify store.
Additional Resources
If you’re looking for more information on how to create a Shopify store using Shopify, check out Shopify experts’ Help Center, blog, and support team. They offer a wealth of resources and guidance to help you navigate the world of e-commerce and grow your business using their online platform.
FAQs
How Do I Set Up Payment and Shipping Options for My Shopify Store?
According to their Helping section, all you have to do is select a payment gateway and configure your shopping setting. They support the most popular payment methods like credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, 2Checkout, Stripe, Amazon Pay, local payment methods, and more.
Shopify offers four shipping methods: shipping, local delivery, local pickup, and third-party carriers. Third-party carriers are USPS, UPS, DHL Express, Canada Post, and Sendle. Always keep in mind shipping costs.
Additionally, Shopify allows merchants to add a free shipping rate and multiple shipping addresses.
Do I Need Any Technical Knowledge to Create a Shopify Account?
No, you don’t need any technical knowledge to create a Shopify account.
The Shopify system has an intuitive interface and easy-to-use tools that make it easy for anyone to build and run an online store. Furthermore, the platform offers tutorials and other resources to help you get started. The Shopify help section is always an excellent place to find answers.
How Do I Get Support for My Shopify Account?
Shopify offers extensive support resources, including a Help Center, blog, and support team.
Alternatively, you can contact Shopify Support via email at [email protected], and explore the available tutorials and resources in the Shopify Help Center to find the answers.
You can also access the community forum to connect with other Shopify users and get advice and support.
Can I Own Multiple Shopify Stores?
Yes, you can own multiple Shopify stores. Each online store is treated as a separate entity, and you can manage them all from a single login. However, you would need to create a separate account for each Shopify store and pay separate fees for each one.
Managing multiple Shopify stores can be challenging, especially if they have different product offerings, audiences, and branding. Some businesses choose to use third-party tools to manage multiple Shopify stores more efficiently, like Shopify’s multi-store management or Multi-Store Sync.
What Products Can I Sell on Shopify?
Selling no-risk items online is a rewarding experience, and Shopify knows it. When you create a Shopify store you can sell physical and digital products, as well as specialized services, consultations, memberships, and ticketed experiences.
Wrapping Up
There is nothing to fear! Creating a Shopify store is easy. The platform has a user-friendly interface and extensive features to help you create a Shopify store in no time.
Now that you know how to create a Shopify account it’s time to take control and make your online store successful. Start building an online store worthy of your brand and your customers.
Whether you want to sell products online or manage an e-commerce business, the Shopify platform is worth considering. Follow our step-by-step guide, and don’t forget to use the tips and tricks we provided to help you make the most of your Shopify account.
With a little effort and dedication, your online store can become a success!
