How To Sell Products On Shopify: A Complete Guide

Shopify has become a dominant force in the ever-evolving e-commerce industry, offering businesses and entrepreneurs a strong platform to fulfill their aspirations of becoming real-world product sellers.

We’ll walk you through the best way to sell products on Shopify. We’ll guide you through the fundamental techniques, tactics, and best practices for setting up your online store, locating products, enhancing your website’s conversion rate, and increasing traffic to succeed in e-commerce.

This tutorial will give you the information and understanding you need to get started, expand, and succeed in the online retail industry, regardless of whether you’re new to e-commerce or looking to improve your current Shopify business. 

Why should you sell products on Shopify? 

Selling products on Shopify offers a host of strong arguments that make it a desirable option for both established companies and budding entrepreneurs. Here are some of the key reasons why you should consider selling products on Shopify:

• User-Friendly Platform: Shopify is renowned for its user-friendly interface, making it accessible to individuals with varying levels of technical expertise. You don’t need advanced coding skills to set up and manage your online store.
• Versatility: Whether you’re a small startup or a large enterprise, Shopify can accommodate businesses of all sizes and industries. Its scalability allows you to grow your store as your business expands.
• Customization Options: With the many customizable themes and templates that Shopify offers, you can build an online store that is both distinctive and branded and meets the needs of both your target market and your vision.
• Robust E-Commerce Tools: To assist you in efficiently managing and expanding your online business, Shopify provides a large array of integrated e-commerce tools, including order tracking, inventory management, and SEO optimization.
• App Store: The Shopify App Store provides access to numerous third-party apps and plugins that can extend the functionality of your store. You can integrate various tools and services to enhance your e-commerce capabilities.
• Global Reach: Shopify is a great option for companies looking to grow internationally because it enables you to sell to customers anywhere in the world and supports a variety of languages and currencies.
• Community & Resources: Join a thriving community of entrepreneurs and access a wealth of educational resources, including guides, forums, and webinars, to help you succeed on the platform.

In summary, Shopify’s combination of ease of use, customization, security, and a vast array of features make it a compelling choice for anyone looking to sell products online. Whether you’re just starting or seeking to grow your e-commerce presence, Shopify provides a solid foundation for building and expanding your online business.

Step-by-step to sell products on Shopify 

Step 1. Enroll in the free trial of Shopify

The free trial is your entry point into the world of Shopify. During this period, you’ll get to explore the platform’s features and capabilities. It’s a great time to get a feel for the Shopify interface, try out different themes, and see how the back-end admin panel works. Even though your online store won’t be open to the public until you select a paid plan, you can begin setting it up.

During this trial period, store owners should explore the platform’s features, familiarize themselves with the dashboard, and begin the process of setting up their store.

For a quick overview of how to get started with Shopify’s free trial, check out the video below.

Step 2: Purchase a domain

Shopify offers a free URL, but it includes “Shopify” and might not be the best for search engines. Imagine having your business card say “[yourshopifystore.shopify.com]”. Not the best first impression, right?

Here’s the good news: you can create a custom domain that’s perfect for your brand. Ideally, it should be similar to your business name and social media handles. This makes it easier for customers to find you online.

Buying a domain is simple! Head over to popular registrars like A2 or GoDaddy. Just search for your desired name, pay a fee (usually quite affordable!), and that web address is all yours! It’s like buying a piece of prime real estate on the internet.

Step 3: Choose a theme

Your Shopify theme sets the vibe for your online space! Luckily, Shopify has a whole wardrobe of themes to choose from, both free and paid.

Finding them is a breeze – just look under “Themes” on the left-hand side menu.

But what exactly do themes do? Well, they’re like blueprints for your store. They determine the layout, features, and overall style. Think about it – different layouts can create totally different shopping experiences for your customers!

So how do you pick the perfect theme? Here’s a breakdown to help you decide:

Consider your niche:

• Think about the products you sell: A clothing store might benefit from a clean, minimalist theme with high-quality product photos taking center stage.
• Who is your target audience? A store aimed at young adults might choose a trendy, bold theme with vibrant colors and interactive features.

Shop around:

• Shopify Theme Store: Explore a wide variety of free and paid themes directly through Shopify https://themes.shopify.com/. They offer themes categorized by industry, making it easier to find options suited to your niche.
• Third-party marketplaces: Consider marketplaces like ThemeForest or Out of the Sandbox (https://outofthesandbox.com/) for more unique theme options.

Focus on functionality:

• Mobile-friendliness: Make sure the theme is responsive and looks great on all devices, especially smartphones! A large portion of online shopping happens on mobile these days.
• Easy navigation: Your customers should be able to find what they’re looking for quickly and intuitively. A clear and well-organized menu is key.
• Customization options: Look for themes that allow you to customize fonts, colors, and layouts to match your brand identity.

Explore more:
– Top 40 Best Shopify Themes
– 25 Best Shopify Themes For SEO
– Top 5+ Best Shopify Themes For Clothing
– Top 20+ Shopify Themes for Your Jewelry Business

Step 4. Decide which sales channels to use

Selecting the right sales channels is essential to your online business plan. Your primary sales channel is your online store, but you should also think about other channels like social media, online marketplaces, and in-person sales. 

When deciding on sales channels, consider where your target audience is most active and where your products are likely to gain the most visibility.

Example: Due to the importance of reaching a diverse audience, you should leverage multiple sales channels. You should set up your primary online store on Shopify, integrate with social media platforms for additional reach, and explore marketplaces to tap into existing customer bases. Here are some common productive sales channels for you to consider:

• Online Store: Your primary e-commerce website is hosted on Shopify.
• Social Media Platforms: Utilize platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest to sell directly to your social media followers.

Mageplaza Instagram Feed for Shopify

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• Online Marketplaces: Increase your exposure by using Shopify integration to sell on well-known marketplaces like Amazon and eBay.
• In-Person Sales: If you have a physical store or attend events, use Shopify’s Point of Sale (POS) system for seamless in-person transactions.
• Email Marketing: Create an email list and use it to send special offers and promotions.

Step 5. Assign funds

Establishing a budget is critical in ensuring that your e-commerce venture is financially sustainable. Your budget should cover various expenses, including the cost of your Shopify subscription, domain registration, marketing campaigns, and initial inventory or product sourcing. A well-defined budget helps you manage your finances effectively and avoid overspending.

Example: You should establish a comprehensive budget to cover various aspects of your e-commerce venture. This includes the monthly Shopify subscription, domain registration, product sourcing or creation costs, packaging materials, and a budget for marketing efforts to drive initial traffic to the store:

• Shopify Subscription: Monthly fee based on the plan you choose for hosting your online store.
• Domain Registration: The cost of registering and renewing a custom domain for your online store.
• Product Sourcing: Funds allocated for purchasing or creating the products you intend to sell.
• Marketing Budget: Set aside funds for advertising, social media promotions, and other marketing efforts to drive traffic to your store.
• Packaging & Shipping: Budget for packaging materials and shipping costs associated with fulfilling orders.

Step 6: Upload your products

1. Navigate to Products: In your Shopify admin, head to the “Products” section on the left-hand sidebar.
2. Click “Add product”: This button will be located at the top right corner of the page.
3. Enter product details: Fill out the product details including:
   • Title: A clear and concise title that accurately reflects your product.
   • Description: Craft a compelling description that highlights features, benefits, and why someone would want to buy it.
   • Product type: Select the appropriate category for your product (e.g., clothing, electronics).
   • Vendor: (Optional) If you’re dropshipping, specify the vendor here.
4. Upload high-quality photos: Click on “Images” and upload clear, high-resolution photos from various angles.
5. Set variants (optional): If your product comes in different sizes, colors, or materials, click on “Variants” and define the variations with unique SKUs (stock keeping units) for easy tracking.
6. Inventory management: Under “Inventory,” set your starting inventory level and consider enabling “Track quantity” to automatically update stock as you make sales.
7. Save your product: Once you’ve filled in all the details, hit “Save” to add your product to your store.

Step 7: Set up payment methods

1. Navigate to Settings: Head to “Settings” on the left-hand sidebar.
2. Click “Payments”: Within the Settings section, look for “Payments” and click on it.
3. Activate your payment gateway: Choose your preferred payment gateway like Stripe or PayPal and follow the on-screen instructions to activate it.
4. Additional payment options (optional): If you want to offer more options, explore enabling other payment gateways supported by Shopify.
5. Review your settings: Double-check that your payment gateway is active and configured correctly.

Step 8: Set up your shipping rates

1. Navigate to Settings: Head back to “Settings” on the left-hand sidebar.
2. Click “Shipping and delivery”: Within Settings, find “Shipping and delivery” and click on it.
3. Set up shipping zones: Define zones based on geographical locations (e.g., local, national, international) to determine shipping costs for each zone.
4. Configure shipping rates: For each zone, set up your preferred shipping rates. You can offer flat rates, weight-based rates, or real-time carrier calculated rates.
5. Free shipping (optional): If you plan to offer free shipping, you can set minimum order amount requirements or factor the cost into your product pricing.

Save your settings: Once you’ve configured your shipping zones and rates, click “Save” to apply the changes.

Step 9. Establish a few collection pages

Collection pages are like virtual storefronts that organize your products into categories. They help customers navigate your store, making it easier for them to find products of interest. Create collection pages based on the types of products you offer, and use descriptive titles and images to make these categories visually appealing and easy to browse.

Example: If you understand the need for a well-organized storefront, you can create collection pages on their Shopify store. These pages are designed to categorize products logically, making it easy for customers to browse and find items of interest. Here are some common collection pages of a Shopify store:

• Featured Products: A collection showcasing your top or featured products.
• New Arrivals: Highlighting the latest additions to your product catalog.
• Product Categories: Organize items into logical categories such as “Apparel,” “Accessories,” or “Home Decor.”
• Seasonal Collections: Pages dedicated to products relevant to specific seasons or holidays.
• Best Sellers: A collection showcasing your most popular and best-selling items.

Step 10. Include a few sellable items

Populating your online store with products is a crucial step. Each product listing should be meticulously crafted, with high-quality images, detailed and engaging product descriptions, competitive pricing, and accurate stock information. Ensure that your product range aligns with your chosen niche and target audience.

Example: You should curate a diverse range of sellable items for your store. Here are some product ranges in a specific niche:

• Handmade Jewelry: Earrings, necklaces, and bracelets crafted with unique designs.
• Artisanal Home Decor: Hand-painted vases, custom wall art, and decorative candles.
• Organic Skincare Products: Natural soaps, moisturizers, and facial serums.
• Custom Apparel: T-shirts, hoodies, and hats with custom prints or embroidery.
• Gourmet Food Items: Specialty chocolates, artisanal coffee blends, and organic spices.

Step 11. Launch your online shop on Shopify

Your store’s launch is an exciting milestone. Before going live, thoroughly test your website to ensure that all aspects are functioning correctly. Check for any technical issues, ensure that the checkout process is smooth, and review product listings for accuracy and completeness. After this, you can officially launch your store to the public.

Example: With your collection pages curated and products ready for sale, you should announce the opening on your Instagram or other social media accounts, enticing followers to visit your online store and experience the joy of your products.

Step 12. Place a trial order and activate it

To ensure a seamless customer experience, place a trial order in your store. This lets you verify that payment processing and order fulfillment work as expected. Once you’ve successfully placed and processed an order, you can activate your store, allowing real customers to start making purchases.

These steps represent the foundation of your e-commerce journey on Shopify. Keep in mind that building a successful online store is an ongoing process that involves continuous improvement, marketing, and customer engagement. As you progress, regularly analyze your store’s performance, gather customer feedback, and adapt to evolving market trends to optimize your business on Shopify.

5 Best Tips for Selling Product on Shopify

1. Master Your Product Pages

High-quality product pages are the cornerstone of a successful Shopify store. They convince potential customers to hit that “buy” button. Let’s explore how to achieve this:

• Compelling Product Descriptions: Write clear, concise descriptions that showcase product features, benefits, and address customer pain points.
  

• Professional Product Photos: Invest in high-resolution photos that showcase your products from multiple angles. Consider incorporating 360-degree views and lifestyle shots for added context.
  

• Detailed Specifications: Don’t leave any room for doubt. Include size charts, material information, care instructions, and anything else relevant to your product.
  
  

2. Unleash the Power of SEO

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is your secret weapon for getting your store noticed by potential customers searching for products like yours. Here’s how to leverage SEO:

• Keyword Research: Identify the keywords potential customers might use to find your products. Tools like Google Keyword Planner can be a valuable asset in this process.
  

• Product Title & Description Optimization: Integrate your target keywords into your product titles, descriptions, and meta descriptions.
  

• High-Quality Content Creation: Establish yourself as an industry authority and drive organic traffic by creating informative blog posts or articles related to your products and niche.
  

3. Build Lasting Relationships with Email Marketing

Email marketing allows you to connect directly with potential and existing customers. It’s a powerful tool to promote new products, offer discounts, and build brand loyalty. Let’s see how to get started:

• Grow Your Email List: Provide incentives like discounts or exclusive content to encourage visitors to sign up for your email list.
  

• Personalized Email Campaigns: Segment your email list and send targeted campaigns based on customer interests and purchase history for maximum impact.
  

• Regular & Valuable Content: Keep your customers engaged by providing valuable content in your emails, such as product updates, care guides, or industry insights.

4. Embrace Social Proof & Customer Reviews

Social proof, like customer reviews, testimonials, and user-generated content, acts as a powerful endorsement for your brand. It builds trust and encourages potential customers to take the leap and purchase from you. Here’s how to leverage social proof:

• Encourage Customer Reviews: Make it easy for customers to leave reviews on your product pages. You can also request post-purchase feedback to gather valuable insights.
• Showcase Positive Reviews: Feature positive reviews prominently on your product pages and social media channels. Positive testimonials serve as social currency, influencing buying decisions.
• Respond to Reviews: Demonstrate that you value customer feedback by responding to all reviews, both positive and negative. Thank customers for positive reviews and address concerns raised in negative ones in a professional and timely manner.

5. Make Mobile Shopping a Priority

Mobile shopping is booming! If your Shopify store isn’t optimized for mobile devices, you’re missing out on a significant portion of potential sales. Here’s how to ensure a seamless mobile shopping experience:

• Shopify’s Built-in Mobile Responsiveness: Thankfully, Shopify themes are designed to be mobile-friendly by default. However, it’s always a good practice to test and tweak your store’s layout for optimal mobile experience.
• Fast Loading Speeds: Mobile users are impatient. Ensure your product images and page content load quickly on mobile devices. Consider optimizing image sizes and using a Content Delivery Network (CDN) for faster loading times.
• Easy Checkout Process: Simplify your checkout process to make it quick and painless for mobile shoppers. This could involve offering guest checkout options and minimizing the number of required form fields.

How Much Does It Cost to Sell Products on Shopify?

Depending on the plan you select, selling goods on Shopify can cost anywhere from $5 to $399 per month, depending on the pricing plan you select. The primary price plan that Shopify offers are as follows:

• Shopify Lite: For companies looking to sell goods on social media or an already-existing website, this $9/month plan is appropriate. A comprehensive internet store is not included.
• Basic Shopify: Priced at $29 per month, this plan provides essential features for starting a new online store. It includes the ability to create an online store with unlimited products, two staff accounts, and access to Shopify’s Point of Sale (POS) system.
• Shopify: This plan costs $79 per month and offers more advanced features, including gift cards, professional reports, and abandoned cart recovery.
• Advanced Shopify: Priced at $299 per month, this plan is suitable for businesses with high growth and more substantial sales volume. It includes advanced report building, third-party calculated shipping rates, and up to 15 staff accounts.
• Shopify Plus: Large companies and high-volume enterprises are the target market for Shopify Plus, an enterprise-level solution. Shopify Plus pricing is customized and based on the particular requirements of the company.

In addition to these monthly plan costs, you should also consider other potential costs, including:

• Transaction Fees: You might pay extra transaction fees for every sale that is made using a payment gateway other than Shopify Payments, depending on the plan you have selected.
• Credit Card Processing Fees: Shopify Payments and other payment gateways may charge processing fees for each credit card transaction.
• Domain Registration: If you want a custom domain for your store, you’ll need to register and potentially renew the domain, which can cost around $14-20 per year.
• Apps & Add-Ons: While Shopify offers a range of built-in features, you may choose to use third-party apps or add-ons to enhance your store’s functionality. The cost of these apps can vary.

Conclusion

As you venture into this exciting realm of digital entrepreneurship, remember that success on Shopify requires dedication, continuous learning, and a deep understanding of your target audience. The tips and steps outlined here serve as a roadmap, guiding you toward a flourishing online store. Yet, the journey is ultimately yours to shape and mold, based on your unique vision and the needs of your customers.

Stay attuned to industry trends, be responsive to customer feedback, and embrace the opportunity for growth. By continuously refining your offerings, staying resilient, and providing exceptional customer experiences, you’re well on your way to establishing a successful online business on Shopify.