A Shopify website – Is it right for my business?

How do I know if a Shopify website is right for my business?

Well, first of all, before we discuss if a Shopify website if right for your business, lets dive into what Shopify is and isn’t!

What is Shopify?

Shopify is a popular eCommerce platform offering everything you need to create your eCommerce store. Shopify powers over 1 million online stores so it must be doing something right!

As a WordPress lover, I would always steer away from Shopify due to the limited page manipulation. WordPress has a drag and drop facility that makes site construction smooth. It allows for you to place content anywhere you want. Until now, Shopify was limited in where you could place your content. Previously, Shopify was limited with the flexibility of sections only available on the home page. That was until they announced Shopify 2.0.

Shopify 2.0 – What is Shopify 2.0 and why is it a game changer?

Now with Shopify 2.0, there is a new function which allows users to add sections on any page. This function unlocks a range of new opportunities to personalise EVERY aspect of a store. Yay!

And guess what? I am now a Shopify lover!

Why?

Because you need to be able to create product pages that sell. On top of this, you need to be able to push sales on your checkout and cart pages. The basic page layouts are boring, dull and don’t help drive up-purchasing. The new function allows you to do whatever you want on all pages! Hello sales funnels!! But only on selected themes at the moment.

Another feature in Shopify 2.0 is the enhanced theme editor. The editor view will now display a tree view of all the content on a page in the sidebar so you can easily remove/hide blocks and update the hierarchy of a page.

Each page can have its own template assigned to it, meaning greater control of your content. Your store can have multiple template files allowing unique layouts on different products, collection pages, custom pages, blog posts and more. For example if you are a home organiser you can have a product page for onsite organising that drills down into why it will benefit your customer. Additionally, you can have another product template that is focused on your online course that helps customers do the organising themselves. This allows your product pages to be laser focused and tweaked for conversion. Can I get another yay?!?!?

Shopify website Vs WordPress website

Now don’t get me wrong, Shopify is not about to take over my love for WordPress. But, there is a place for everything and with the new functions Shopify has come in leaps and bounds!

Like any platform there are pros and cons. Shopify (and WordPress) is no different. From high transaction fees ( unless you can use Shopify Payments) to expensive themes and apps, Shopify can be more expensive than it first appears. On the other hand, your technical requirements are much lower than WordPress. If something goes wrong there is a 24/7 support team and your site is always updated.

Shopify Themes

When it comes to Shopify themes, there are only a small amount of free themes available. While the premium themes are jam packed with features they come at a price! Most themes fall in the price range of $140-$180 with some blowing out big time!

Be sure to find a theme that works well with the new features of Shopify 2.0. If you are looking for a free theme you can’t go past Dawn or Craft.

Before selecting your Shopify website template be sure to note what features you want to have on your website. For example product quick view or live search.

This way you can select a theme that has your features built-in. Keeping in mind you can add extra apps, but choosing a theme with your favourite features built-in makes your life easier from day one! It also helps stay on top of your website bloat. Win win.

Shopify Plans

Shopify has a range of plans, so take the time to browse them before choosing. We recommend the Basic Shopify plan for most new sellers.

Don’t forget, Shopify has a 14 day trial to check out the platform. So be sure to utilise that before signing up.

Like the idea of a Shopify website but don’t know where to start? We would love to help you create your online store.

As a Shopify Developer we have the added bonus of creating a site from the ground up without having to sign up to a plan. This means we can get more than 14 days to set up your website. What does that mean for you? You don’t have to pay Shopify until you are 100% happy with your website and it is available for your customers to purchase. Sound good? Get in touch with us to discuss how we can make this happen.

Shopify Apps

Shopify relies heavily on apps, which is another way your Shopify store can become more expensive. I’m saying that, there are some nifty apps that make your store amazing and life easier!

Abandoned cart recovery:

Abandoned cart recovery is included in all of Shopify’s core plans. Another yay?!? Yes another yay!! You don’t need to install anything, or go hunting for it in the app market – it comes built-in with your plan.

You can manage your abandoned cart recovery which means you have control over how you will get the most out of this valuable feature. From discount codes and automatic/manual emails, your store will look professional AND boost sales doing so.

Shopify POS app

The Shopify POS app is free to install, although you will need to be on the $29 per month Basic Shopify plan or higher to use it. You also get a free credit card reader with this plan, allowing you to accept card payments at pop-up stores, markers and more. It also syncs to your website to keep your inventory and orders up to date.

There are plenty of other apps that will keep your store running smoothly. From payments to tax to shipping, you can find an app that will suit your needs. Keep in mind some are premium which adds to your monthly running costs. On top of this, a large number of apps can affect the running of your site, slowing down and causing issues. So only add the apps you NEED and will add value to your website.

Shopify website security

Unlike other platforms, Shopify users are not in charge of updating their site. Instead, Shopify handles security, updates and compliance on your behalf.

This is a huge positive that will make your life as an online seller much easier. You can spend more time on ‘how to sell on Shopify’ and less on ‘how do I update my Shopify website’

Shopify Support

24/7 customer support, what more can we say? Seriously, this should be your number one ‘must have’ element in all of your decision making. You most likely won’t need this but it is always great to have as an option.

Summary

In summary, we are now Shopify lovers! Okay, okay well it isn’t going to take over our love for WordPress for all business websites. BUT it is pretty amazing. From the new Shopify 2.0 features allowing you to add page sections to EVERY PAGE  to the 24/7 support. We are absolutely loving the Shopify experience. So should you get a Shopify website? Yes, if you are looking for an ecommerce platform that is easy to use, updates automatically, huge amount of functions, SEO friendly and plenty of online support.

If you would like to get your products online, check out Shopify as your number 1 option.

We would love to help guide you through the process. Contact us to find out how we can ease your workload!

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