Whether you have a B2-B business realm or a B2C model, you need a platform that does more than the normal software functions such as transactions.
A comprehensive model such as Shopify will make you competitive in the fast-paced and robust markets present now. It can provide the significant advantage you need over your competitors who do not have the support of similar technology.
Shopify supplies you with the tools you need to build your store online. Once you know the basic setup, which is easy to master, you can expect a seamless functioning of the store.
And you have 24/7 phone or online support from the service. So, creating an e-commerce site for your business is just a breeze with Shopify. You will not need to know any technical codes or other background knowledge to set up your store online.
In this article, we will provide a comprehensive understanding of Shopify and the features it offers for users to build eCommerce websites. Also covered in this article will be the key features and benefits of Shopify that can be utilized by users to meet their eCommerce business needs. Keep reading to learn more!
An Overview of Shopify
Shopify is one of the best e-commerce shopping carts that is completely web-based. With Shopify, you will be able to sell your services or goods online in an effective manner.
All the aspects of an online store set up such as building a website, choosing the right design, customizing the site to fit your brand and products, managing orders and customers, tweaking the various features, receiving reports on sales, etc., are streamlined and easier to deal with when you use Shopify.
Shopify is a feature enriched sales register appropriate for small and big online retailers. The best thing about the software is you need not spend money on maintaining servers of your own, as the software is taken care of by Shopify’s servers. This effectively curbs all the efforts and costs involved in server maintenance.
Founded in 2006, Shopify has its headquarters in Ontario, Canada. It was originally developed by Daniel Welland, Scott Lake, and Tobias Lutke for the snowboarding business they owned together. The idea for Shopify was born, when they required a shopping cart with better features than what was available at that time.
They designed their own solution that met all their requirements. The efficacy of the software made them decide on marketing it. Soon Shopify became a very popular and trusted service in the e-commerce shopping cart segment.
At present, Shopify serves over 243,000 merchants and the businesses using the service are continuously growing. Shopify has clients such as Amnesty International, Github, Foo Fighters, etc. The company has done transactions that amount to more than $14 billion.
The Live Theme Editor feature and the enhanced search and filter features added to the service further increased its effectiveness. Other highlights of Shopify 2.0 include improved analytics, better reporting tools, and the facility to issue part of the refunds, instead of doing the transaction via PayPal.
Features of Shopify
A company must understand the capabilities of its Content Management System if it wishes to grow its online business. The Shopify eCommerce platform provides its customers with a number of features that facilitate the creation of attractive eCommerce websites and enable them to monitor the performance of their businesses.
Shopify also offers a lot of analytical tools to aid users in making informed business decisions for increasing sales, at the same time increasing website efficiency. Below are some of the key features:
1. Shopify POS
With Shopify’s Point Of Sale feature, companies can sell their products offline. Businesses can open pop-up stores to sell products offline and accept payments using card readers. The company’s Shopify inventory, which also keeps track of every transaction, is directly linked to the payments.
With Shopify POS, you don’t have to maintain separate records for sales from your store and online. Using the app, users can customize Orders, view customer purchase histories, and add discounts. The app is compatible with Apple devices (iPhone & iPad). If the online store has a loyalty program, it can also offer rewards to customers.
Marketing Campaigns can be planned and set up for customers in-store using Shopify POS. This application is available in two versions: Shopify POS Lite and Shopify POS Pro. Pro features include In-store Analytics, Omnichannel Selling, and more.
2. Out of the Box SEO Tools
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is crucial for the growth of any online business as it helps improve the website’s ranking in search engines. Businesses that use effective SEO practices can increase their online presence and sales by reaching out to a greater audience. The Shopify platform offers a number of SEO tools that users can utilize to achieve their goals.
Users can also integrate Shopify with third-party applications to optimize their websites. Using Smart SEO, for example, you can enter metadata automatically, provide structured data to search engines, such as Google, offer multi-language support, and many other features.
To increase traffic from image searches on Google, another application named Booster Image and SEO Optimizer can be used. Site Maps, JSON-LD, Meta Tags, Alt Text, etc., are optimized automatically.
3. Shopify Dropshipping
eCommerce companies that use dropshipping buy products from a third party and get them directly delivered to their customers. With this model, there is no need to maintain an active warehouse to store listed products. In order to control the price customers see on their websites, companies need to pay their suppliers the wholesale price.
Shopify provides multiple applications that allow businesses to connect with wholesale suppliers all over the world. Among these apps is Oberlo, which allows companies to import products directly from AliExpress and list them on their Shopify stores. Thus, businesses do not need to worry about storing products on their websites. Learn more about how to dropship on Shopify.
4. Shopify Analytics
Users can evaluate their online store’s performance using Shopify’s numerous analytics tools. In addition, Shopify Analytics generates insights related to Customer Activities, Marketing, Sales, and more to help businesses optimize their operations and make better-informed strategic decisions.
Dashboard metrics such as Product Analytics, Live View, Demography of Visitors, Total Purchase, and more are displayed in Shopify. Shopify Analytics can be easily integrated with Google Analytics to enhance its functionality. A variety of reports can be generated, including Marketing, Inventory, Acquisition, Order, Sales, Profit, and numerous Custom Reports.
5. Abandoned Cart Reminders
According to a recent report, on average 68% of customers tend to abandon their Shopping Carts before purchasing, which results in a substantial drop in sales. Shopify offers abandoned carts checkout emails to remind customers of the products they have in their cart. Adding Shopify’s advanced subscription can automate the entire process, allowing businesses to save a lot of time, improve revenue generation, and save a lot of money.
Click on Abandoned Checkouts under the Orders section of the site to access this feature.
Benefits of Shopify
As the world’s most popular Content Management System for eCommerce businesses, Shopify offers its users numerous benefits over other platforms. Some of these benefits include:
1. Enhanced Security
The online stores built and managed by Shopify are highly reliable because every website has 256-bit SSL Certification and is PCI Level-1 compliant. Information such as credit card numbers, phone numbers, email addresses, home addresses, and other sensitive customer information is completely protected by these security parameters. Customers become more loyal to brands with more security features. Having a secure digital environment is one of the key benefits of using Shopify.
2. Customization Options
The Shopify platform offers many options and tools that allow companies to customize their websites to meet their specific needs. Website themes can be customized to provide users with Personalized Coupons, Sale notifications, shipping options, payment methods, and more.
3. Mobile Friendly
Consumers prefer to shop online and browse the internet on smartphones. Mobile compatibility is, therefore, a necessity for eCommerce companies. A Shopify website can be designed, hosted, and managed perfectly for smartphones.
4. Fast Loading Speed
Users of Shopify can take advantage of the world-class infrastructure that Shopify maintains as a Cloud-based service. Shopify has robust and optimized hardware, which enables its websites to load in a matter of seconds because of its fast loading speed.
5. Quick Customer Service
One of the most impressive features of Shopify is that it provides unmatched customer service to its customers through a 24/7 customer support center. Customers can reach out to the company’s community forums, chat services, and voice support to quickly resolve issues. Users can access Shopify’s extensive FAQ database to resolve their own queries.
6. Shopify App Store
Thousands of apps are available in the Shopify app store where users can add new features to their eCommerce store. Using the app store, users can customize websites, improve search engine optimization, add analytics, and more.
Shopify App Store allows its content management system to be lightweight and provide its customers with desired features. On the Shopify store, some of the most popular apps are OptinMaster, ReferralCandy, Printful, Smart SEO, and Plugin SEO.
7. User-Friendly Interface
Shopify offers an intuitive user interface that allows its customers to quickly understand its functionalities. Users with no coding knowledge can run their online stores effectively on Shopify’s platform, which offers multiple drag-and-drop features. Shopify’s primary benefit is its ease of use. You can choose Shopify as your CMS if you’re willing to open your online store within a few days.
Final Words
With Shopify’s powerful CMS platform, users can create and manage online eCommerce websites with a number of dynamic features. Shopify’s high-end security features, wide range of integrations with third parties, and user-friendly interface make it an excellent choice. Shopify’s significant advantages over its competitors give it an edge over its competitors for customers who wish to take their business online.