While bricks and mortar retail will always have its place, there’s no doubt that we live in a world where online sales increasingly dominate. If you’re looking for ways to sell online, it can seem bewilderingly complex. From doing the actual web site development, to integration with your stock systems, through to managing the essential tax requirements for selling internationally – that’s a lot, right?
This is where Shopify thrives, because it’s been designed from the get-go to be a flexible, customisable but above all easy-to-use system. You can use it to sell everything from computer peripherals to floral bouquets.
What is Shopify?
Shopify is an all-in-one software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform. It’s custom built to make it as easy as possible to set up and run a site selling products worldwide, both online and in person.
Shopify does not assume that you know all about web standards and coding. Instead, it works from simple templates that speed up the process of creating a professional looking web store for your business, while also providing the tools you need to manage your sales, provide flexible payment options and make your products stand out in the competitive online world.
What do I need to get started with Shopify?
Not a lot more than a product to sell… and maybe a name for your store and some ideas on how you’d like to manage your branding.
There are some product categories that Shopify won’t allow for sale, but generally speaking, whether you’re selling motherboards or meringues, Shopify is ready to help you set up your online store.
All you need is a web browser on any gadget, whether that’s a smartphone, tablet or computer. Head to Shopify and click on Start Free Trial, answer the simple questions about your business type, verify your email and you’re ready to start building out your online store.
Shopify provides a number of free templates built around common business types to help you set up your store, as well as paid options to give you plenty of choice.
Why choose Shopify?
Shopify’s key advantage in the online retail space is its simplicity. You don’t need to be a code-savvy developer or have any in-depth knowledge of how the web works; you just need products to sell and a desire to become part of the rapidly expanding online sales space.
All the rest of the internet fiddly work – from payments processing, to web site hosting and even helping you work out how to list, describe and illustrate your products online – is taken care of by Shopify.
If you’re worried that Shopify might not meet your precise needs, you can relax. Shopify provides a wide array of add-on apps, providing integrations with numerous external data sources, shipping solutions and additional online places to sell your goods or services, as well as ways to add specific features to your online store.
Because Shopify is a fully online hosted service, there’s no software to install, no security worries around updating plugins or firewalls or licences to give you headaches when all you really want to do is get on with the core details of your actual business.
What’s more, because it’s fully online, you can access your Shopify storefront and analytics from any internet-connected device anywhere, so you don’t need to worry about having access to a specific computer if you discover a new product on the go, or want to see how your online marketing spend is working out. Shopify will run just as well from the café as it will from the boardroom, internet connectivity permitting.
Struggling to come up with a snappy, SEO-friendly way to describe your products and services that will grab the attention of customers? Shopify Magic uses AI to help you generate product descriptions, as well as sharpen up your product images to make them more appealing to customers. It’s included with every Shopify account at no additional charge.
Getting started
Shopify has a range of competitive monthly price points, starting as low as AU$42/month when paid yearly in advance, (or AU$56/month when paid monthly) for smaller shopfronts, and scaling upwards as your business expands rapidly and has significantly higher needs.
This gives you the room to let your business grow, secure in the knowledge that Shopify can scale up to meet your needs, including for point-of-sale transactions in the real world if you also require that kind of service.
Still not sure if Shopify is right for you? New Shopify users can enjoy the first three days free, then it’s just AU$1 per month for the first three months, which also includes your Shopify affiliate link. This lets you get to grips with the interface and start selling right away, with no ongoing commitment if your needs change. You’ve literally got nothing to lose – and plenty of customers and sales to gain.
