Shopify Guide: How To Start an Online Store on Shopify in 2023

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In this Shopify guide, we talk about the importance of picking a niche, branding, marketing, and hiring Shopify Experts and top-rated Shopify agencies, like Ecommerce Pro.

Most of us have entertained the idea of starting our own business at some point, and in today’s digital age, starting a business, marketing, and distributing products got a lot easier in 2023 thanks to ecommerce platforms like Shopify.

A leading ecommerce platform for building, running, and growing your online business, Shopify is a user-friendly ecommerce platform that allows entrepreneurs to set up their online stores and sell their products to customers locally and worldwide.

Shopify websites run under a monthly subscription-based model and offer users many customizable themes, an easy-to-use interface, and integrated payment and shipping options, among other great features. You can think of Shopify as an out-of-the-box solution and an ideal platform for anyone looking to start an online store.

In 2023, over 4.5 million ecommerce sites are built with Shopify. These Shopify websites range from smaller businesses to multi-million dollar global brands.

Want to get started on building your Shopify website in 2023? In this Shopify guide, we’re going to provide you with an easy-to-grasp approach to starting your own online store on Shopify in 2023. Whether you're starting your first small business or expanding on an established idea and going big online, this Shopify guide will help you get started on the right foot.

Are you looking for a top-rated Shopify agency near you? Need help building your Shopify website? You can view our Shopify Experts profile here to see our work or reach out to us by filling this form.

1. Pick a Niche Product For Your Shopify Store

So you’ve decided you want to start an online business and build your store or website on Shopify.

That’s great! Now it’s time for you to make another important decision, which is deciding what specific product niche you want to build your Shopify online business around.

Picking a niche to have a clear idea of what you want to sell or offer is an important first step.

What is a product niche? Your niche is your specialty. It’s what sets you apart on the market. Your niche falls into a narrow category of products you’ll be selling to target the specific needs of a specifically defined group of people or target audience. 

For you to find your identity as a brand or as an online seller, it is crucial that you identify the industry and the niche that you want to focus your Shopify website on. For example, skincare can be considered a broad category. However, the niche of eco-friendly and organic skincare is considered much narrower, as it targets the specific wants and needs of a certain demographic. 

It might be a bit overwhelming to choose a product niche, but it is necessary for you to have a clear grasp of your business idea and what you want to offer so that you don’t get lost along the way while you build your Shopify website and brand.

2. Select the domain name and work on branding

Once you’ve signed up for an account on Shopify, one of the next steps you must take is to buy a domain name for your Shopify website. Your domain name is your website’s address that customers will use to find your store. This domain name will be unique to your website and brand, so make sure your domain name is relevant to your business, memorable, and easy to spell.

You can purchase a domain name through Shopify, or use a domain name that you already own. If you don’t purchase a domain name, your store's URL will appear as (your-store-name).myshopify.com. The majority of merchants who are serious about their brand and online store choose a bespoke URL that is exclusively theirs and does not contain the "myshopify" part, specifically for branding purposes.

Now onto branding. Branding includes your store name, logo, and the overall visual identity of your brand, which can include brand colors. Assuming you’ve already got a great business name, you must create a logo that reflects your brand's personality and values. You must also use colors and design elements that align with your brand message and what you do.

When it comes to branding, consistency is vital. You must ensure that your branding remains consistent across all aspects of your store, including on your Shopify website, social media profiles, and packaging materials. This will help customers recognize your brand and build strong associations with it, eventually building familiarity and trust with your business.

Lastly, before you finalize your domain name and branding, consider some of the legal implications. Conduct some research and make sure your brand isn’t infringing on any existing trademarks. Also, ensure that your brand name isn’t already being used by another business, as this may cause problems moving your brand and business forward.

3.  Build your Shopify website

In 2023, many businesses choose to build their online stores or websites on Shopify because of its relatively straightforward set-up process that can be accomplished following a few key steps. Once you have signed up for a Shopify account, you will have access to the platform's various intuitive tools and features. You can select from various themes (templates for your Shopify website), customize them to fit your needs and brand aesthetics, and add your products, and web content. You can also set up payment and shipping options and configure various other settings.

And while building a Shopify website can be relatively easy, there are many reasons why you might want to consider hiring a Shopify Expert and a top-rated Shopify agency like Ecommerce Pro.

Shopify Experts have a proven track record of success. They are members of the Shopify community and are reputable organizations; they are not Shopify employees but rather provide valuable services to merchants and are specially vetted by Shopify themselves, having been approved of by Shopify for providing excellent services.

Shopify Experts help online business owners and brands achieve the polished outcomes they desire for their online stores. A top-rated Shopify agency, the Ecommerce Pro team consists of expert Shopify website designers, developers and content writers.

One of the main reasons to hire a top-rated Shopify agency like Ecommerce Pro is that we can help you take full advantage of the Shopify platform's capabilities, ensuring that your website is optimized for success. We can help with everything from designing a custom theme and optimizing your product listings to setting up complex integrations with other software and services.

Another reason to hire a Shopify expert is that we can help you save time and money, helping you get your online store off the ground quicker. By working with us, you can avoid common mistakes and pitfalls that can lead to costly delays and setbacks in your ecommerce business.

Ecommerce Pro can help you stay up-to-date with the latest ecommerce trends, designs, and best practices, ensuring that your website remains competitive and highly effective as an ecommerce site. You can also subscribe to our blog to get the latest Shopify updates, trends and news in 2023.

At the end of the day, deciding to hire a Shopify expert will depend on your needs and budget. If you have the time and expertise to build a website on your own, then you may be able to get by without outside help. However, if you want to ensure that your website is optimized for success and built to last, then hiring a top-rated Shopify agency and Shopify expert can be an excellent investment in your business's future.

Let's build your Shopify Store. Fill out the contact form to get in touch and receive a quote.

4. Marketing your online store

“Build it and they will come” usually doesn’t hold true for Shopify websites, so you’ll need to put extra effort into marketing your online brand across multiple channels. There are many ways to market your business that is free and effective, as well as paid ways that will really give your brand a boost online.

However, it's important to remember that the key to marketing your online business isn’t a high budget for ads, it is about consistency and providing quality content to your customers. Just stick to it, even if your social media post didn’t garner a lot of likes, or the first few months of your business had you hearing the sound of a cricket chorus. The worst thing to do is to give up because marketing your Shopify website is an absolutely essential aspect of running a successful online brand in 2023.

Marketing your store involves promoting your products, building brand awareness, and attracting more customers (online traffic) to your online store.

However, with so many marketing strategies available, it can be challenging to know where to start. That's why it's essential to identify your target audience and have a solid marketing plan that aligns with your business goals and target market. By using a combination of social media marketing, email marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), blogging, and email marketing, you can effectively reach your target audience and grow your brand on Shopify.

Conclusion

Shopify is a great choice of ecommerce platform for entrepreneurs to set up their online businesses, and share their products and services with customers worldwide. With a monthly subscription-based model and easy-to-use interface, Shopify offers entrepreneurs an out-of-the-box solution and an ideal platform to start an online store.

In this Shopify guide to building a Shopify website and online store in 2023, we note the importance of first picking a niche and understanding what it is you want to sell. You must then select the domain name and work on branding. After which you can build a website, following the essential steps on how to build a fully functional Shopify Website, and then market your online store.

However, there can be many pitfalls in building a Shopify website in 2023 without the help of a Shopify Expert. If you are considering setting up a Shopify website or already have one but need help with its development, design, customization, or optimization, hiring a Shopify expert like Ecommerce Prop can be a good idea. Ecommerce Pro is a professional Shopify Experts agency with a deep understanding of the Shopify platform and can provide assistance with various aspects of your store, including theme customization, app installation, SEO optimization, migration, establishing payment gateways, and so much more.

Hiring a top-rated Shopify agency will help you save time, reduce stress, and avoid online business mistakes. With Ecommerce Pro, you’ll have a high-quality online store that matches your brand's vision and goals. In 2023, as more businesses move online, Shopify and Shopify Experts such as Ecommerce Pro will continue to be valuable tool for entrepreneurs looking to build a successful online business on Shopify.

Get in Touch

At Ecommerce Pro, we help entrepreneurs and business owners build better and more successful ecommerce businesses on Shopify. Have a question or a project in mind? Get in touch with us today!