Shopify 101: Becoming Your Own Boss In 2020
Table of Contents:
- What is Shopify 101?
- Why Choose Shopify?
- Preparing Your Store
We could all use a little more freedom. Every day, we tell ourselves that things might be better if we could just wake up later, read longer, or enjoy a little more coffee – that our boring desk jobs are just placeholders for our true callings and one day, we’ll finally follow our passions.
Or sell all that junk in our dads’ basements.
The problem: most of us are afraid to take the first step – justifiably so, as about 90% of all online businesses fail within the first year (Forbes). And given the price tag associated with starting a new business in 2020 (registration fees, design costs, inventory, marketing, point of sale, etc.), the costs can very quickly outweigh the benefits.
Good thing you have an Ace up your sleeve. At Estlanders, we help small businesses grow their seedling stores into mighty online brands. We are your ongoing strategic partner in digital marketing, and we are committed to helping you live your passion.
What is Shopify 101?
If you’re reading this, then you’ve already taken your first step toward becoming a successful online business. (Good job, you!)
This blog series will coach you through designing, launching, managing, and marketing your own Shopify store. We’ll demonstrate how to properly run your eCommerce business and advise you on tips, tricks, tools, and best practices. After all, Shopify is a lot like cricket: easy to play, hard to master.
Why Choose Shopify?
Most online businesses fail because would-be entrepreneurs are either under-confident, uneducated, or unprepared for the digital marketplace. Many create online shops without first considering the factors crucial to generating sales: they fail to identify their target audience, their shops are hard to navigate, and they let important data slip through their fingers.
We prefer Shopify because it increases your odds of first-year success. For a small monthly fee, Shopify will help you navigate your eCommerce wilderness. Their core themes are well-designed and highly customizable, and their specialized point of sale software makes checkouts a breeze.
It’s also the easiest to use, out of the box. Creating your business takes hours, not weeks. And with Shopify’s ever-growing theme collection, you can customize your store to look and work exactly how you want. If you have a product, hobby, or passion for sales, then Shopify is the tool you need.
Preparing Your Shopify Store
But before you spend any money on your Shopify store (before you even sign up for your 14-day free trial) you need to answer two questions:
- What are you selling?
- To whom are you selling?
Though they may seem obvious, these questions tend to stump fledgling store owners; most choose to learn as they go. But figuring out the basics is important. Answering the above will help you build a solid foundation for your store and influence every decision you make, from branding to design to advertising.
For example, if you intend to sell (1) outdoor apparel to (2) 20 to 30 years old women, then your design, content, and ads should reflect them. Your site should be clean and modern, with content that promotes a healthy, empowered lifestyle – like posts and images that feature joggers, bikers, and swimmers of various shapes and sizes. Instead of blasting ads across entire search networks, figure out which sites your audience browses most and advertise there.
Remember, the more you plan, the higher your odds of success will be. In the next lesson, we’ll teach you how to find our target audience. We’ll explain the difference between your ideal consumer and buyer and walk you through targeted research.
Estlanders Is Your Strategic Digital Partner
Still feeling lost? We can help. At Estlanders, we can help you launch your first successful online businesses. Contact us, and we’ll point you down the right path.
This is the first entry in our Shopify blog series; it’s for sellers like you who want to become top-selling online store owners.
Join us as we delve into the platform and teach you how to set up and run your shop. We’ll cover everything from target audience research to design, functionality, product descriptions, and marketing strategies.
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