Online stores have gained popularity, thanks to their convenience and ease of access. Most shoppers prefer digital shopping over visiting physical stores. It is no surprise, then, that the global e-commerce market is set to have a whopping 6298 million users by 2028![1]
E-commerce demand is rising, pushing businesses to sell online. Both new and growing businesses now need online stores. Shopify is the best choice for building and expanding your digital presence. It bridges the gap from starting up to expanding your digital footprint.
Shopify is an e-commerce platform enabling businesses to set up online stores hassle-free. It offers tools for payments, marketing, and customer engagement. Leveraging the functions on Shopify can help your business expand its digital footprint.
This blog will explore how utilising Shopify development can boost your e-commerce business. Read on to learn about the key benefits, advanced Shopify features and e-commerce best practices.
From website creation to customisation, Shopify development does everything. It works on a subscription model with multiple plans to choose from.
Businesses can perform Shopify development themselves, if they need a simple store with minimum features. However, hiring a Shopify app development company helps with expert support to develop and manage the store. These firms offer web design, integrations, custom themes, and SEO services. They regularly update your Shopify store to align with your business targets.
Whether a startup or an established venture, Shopify provides various benefits to running a scalable online business. Businesses prefer the tool for its simple interface and growth potential.
Let’s explore Shopify features that make it an ideal platform for all businesses -
Shopify lets you create your online store without any prior knowledge of coding. A fuss-free end-to-end process and an easy-to-use interface is the highlight of this platform. Shopify's dashboard is clear and user-friendly. Key features include easy product upload and seamless order management.
Furthermore, for modifications or complex customised features, you can seek assistance from a Shopify website developer.
40% of shoppers[2] abandon an e-commerce site if it takes more than 3 seconds to open. As such, building an online storefront that runs swiftly is crucial. Shopify has solid inbuilt software and hardware infrastructure to speed your site up.
Shopify offers several popular payment options, including PayPal, Amazon Pay, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Shoppers can make payments easily without any additional charges. Besides, a Shopify developer can help you integrate any third-party payment application.
An e-commerce website’s visual appeal is crucial for retention. With many customisable options, you can design a unique storefront with Shopify. You can even use some of these themes for free.
However, beyond the basic functionalities, you can contact a Shopify developer for advanced design. With expertise, you can revamp your storefront to make it stand out from the rest.
Shopify has over 4000 apps and plugins you can integrate into your website. Utilize these tools for accounting, inventory management, operating social media accounts, and more.
Mobile shopping has increased in recent years. Reports suggest that around 50% of online shopping[3] in 2022 happened on smartphones.
As such, making your online store mobile-friendly is essential for more traffic. Shopify offers templates for designing responsive e-commerce stores.
Online shopping requests sensitive information like payment and contact details from the user. Therefore, building a website with solid security measures is essential to protect customer data.
Shopify offers a highly secure infrastructure to build your online store. It also has features like two-factor authentication and SSL for a safe shopping experience.
Along with a smooth platform to launch your store, you can access a wide range of marketing tools to boost sales. Tools for email marketing, gift cards, discount coupons, and analytics can refine your strategy for higher profits.
With Shopify, you can sell your products anywhere you want. The platform seamlessly integrates several marketplaces, like Facebook, Pinterest, Amazon, Instagram, etc., into your website. This will help you expand your customer base and increase sales opportunities.
Building a website is not enough. It has to rank high on search engine result pages. Shopify’s SEO features optimise your online store to improve SERP rankings. All functions are SEO-friendly and help with on-page and off-page optimisation.
We’ve discussed the basics and essentials of using Shopify to design your e-commerce stores. However, the platform has several lesser-known features businesses often miss out on:
You can utilise Shopify Scripts to upsell alongside the standard checkout customisation features. The Shopify Upsell app lets you recommend additional products and persuade buyers to fill their cart before checking out. As such, you can increase the order value to generate more revenue.
Shopify supports multiple currencies concerning pricing, to facilitate easier transactions. This streamlines the purchasing process for a global customer base, enhancing user experience and accessibility.
The average cart abandonment rate in e-commerce is about 69%, significantly affecting revenue generation.
Automation of abandoned cart recovery is a significant feature of Shopify. It lets you send follow-up emails with upsell offers. You can provide discounted deals on products customers may have left in their cart and entice them to complete their purchases.
The location tracking feature helps you manage inventory across different locations. If the customer wants a product unavailable in their area, use this feature to find the nearest store.
This is an excellent strategy to boost in-store traffic and improve chances for cross-selling.
Along with inventory management, product tagging can help you improve sales opportunities. Offering relevant product recommendations is easier when you tag products as per custom preferences.
For instance, tagging accessories like a laptop stand or cover can increase upselling opportunities for those looking for a laptop.
As you set up your online store using Shopify development, here are a few tips to elevate performance:
Choose a user-friendly Shopify theme that mirrors your brand's identity and values.
Optimize product pages with high-quality images and SEO-optimized descriptions.
Include customer reviews and ratings to enhance credibility.
Create an engaging brand story to distinguish your brand and resonate with your audience.
Use social media integration to drive traffic and build a brand community.
Provide excellent customer support to foster loyalty and encourage repeat business.
A custom-built online store via Shopify development is a strategic step toward e-commerce success. Brands can leverage the benefits discussed above, including a fast-loading, mobile-friendly store, third-party app integration, multi-payment support, etc.
Moreover, using the hidden features of Shopify, brands can enhance the success of their e-commerce stores. This will be much simpler and easier when you partner with Growth Jockey. Incorporating the fundamentals of digital marketing, Growth Jockey is your one-stop solution for e-commerce success.
Shopify’s product recommendations suggest items as per the customers’ preferences and their past purchases. It might motivate customers to add more items to their cart and boost purchases.
Shopify Plus has an advanced API that enables companies to synchronise their inventory management, order management and logistics systems seamlessly. This offers speed and flexibility to develop better solutions.
Yes, sending automated emails is possible through Shopify’s marketing automation feature. These emails drive more engagement for your store by communicating with customers during their purchases.