.webp)
If you sell products online you’ll likely have heard of Shopify.
Shopify is one of the industry leaders in e-commerce and can help you take your brick and mortar business online.
If you’re looking to create an online store, Shopify will be one of the first platforms you consider.
However, with many of the hassle-free advantages that come with using Shopify to start an online store, there are other considerations to take into account before you make a final decision.
So before you make a final decision, here’s what you need to know about Shopify and whether it’s the perfect platform for your eCommerce goals.
✔ Shopify Pros
You’re always looking for a way to boost your sales without being inconvenienced by technology or any other exhausting administrative tasks.
Shopify provides a few advantages on this front.
You can get the assistance you need when it comes to the technological front of your store.
According to e-commerce store owners at Tierra Alama, ease of use has played a big role in their loyalty to Shopify. “From web-design, to having the online infrastructure to process credit card payments securely, Shopify has been very simple to use. As someone who doesn’t have advanced IT skills, setting up the business and making it look appealing was relatively straightforward, which is why we continue to use it.”
In this regard Shopify is a powerful online platform that offers the help you need with processing transactions.
✘ The Cons
If you aren’t tech-savvy, this is the right platform for you.
However, if you are looking for more functionality for your online store, you may find Shopify limited. In these cases, you may benefit from other eCommerce ready platforms like WordPress or Magento.
If your business process is more complex than a typical ecommerce business, Shopify might not be your best fit.
✔ The Pros
Shopify’s plugins are some of the strongest features of the platform. Coming with more than 1200 apps to help you automate your tasks, app functionality is well represented.
This allows you to focus on other important tasks such as increasing your sales or marketing.
These apps help with tasks like:
Looking to custom build your own app? Chat to the expert team at Avid Bro for customisation that sets you apart.
✘ The Cons
To use eCommerce apps, you typically need to pay for them.
Keep in mind, without using these apps, you will be forced to insert your data manually and this will take time.
For e-commerce cake figurine maker, Pearl’s Creations, because these apps need to be paid for, consideration needs to be ahead of time. “While platforms such as Shopify are free to use, quite a few of the additions which make an e-commerce store run smoothly need to be paid for. Considering they aren’t always applicable for every business, such as my custom cake store, it’s worth weighing up the expense against the desired business goals.”
Where Shopify is concerned, you’re more likely to encounter apps with recurring monthly costs. This can add up in the long run, so it’s worth chatting to experts to find out what suits your business best.
✔ The Pros
Shopify comes with a range of dynamic storefront themes.
Your website will appear professional and beautiful allowing you to retain more customers. Best of all, you can enjoy any of the available themes for your eCommerce store.
Check out the range of styles available to make your eCommerce store stand out.
You can choose any theme depending on your industry such as:
You can also filter the themes and choose mobile-only or responsive options; or the paid or free themes depending on your needs.
Looking for even more options? Avid Brio can help you design and customize the theme of your choice. Or, build one completely from scratch. Find out how here.
✘ The Cons
Shopifiy themes are typically more expensive compared to other eCommerce themes.
While you may pay around $150 for Shopify themes, other platforms sit closer to the $60 mark.
According to the online business Embrace Australia, sometimes being unique means going elsewhere. “Customisation is offered by Shopify which requires understanding of Liquid Code or hiring an expert for the best results. In the interest of having our online crystal and gemstone store aesthetic be something different, hiring an expert was already on the cards meaning that we built our own theme on a different platform than what was offered.”
✔ The Pros
You can use any of the marketing tools available on Shopify to increase your SEO rankings, automate your tasks and share on social media.
You can use Shopify for the following:
✘ The Cons
Firstly, the AMP feature is only available after installing a paid app on your online store.
Also, you may need to pay for additional plugins to access extra features such as SEO.
However in terms of marketing and promotions, Shopify is excellent for those with SEO goals with intuitive controls to optimize page titles, meta descriptions and more.
✔ The Pros
The platform offers an incredibly dedicated support team. You can access them through live chat or email. You can also access them through their phone numbers.
So when you need help, it’s available.
✘ The Cons
If you have technical issues with your online store, it might be tough to get direct help from the support team.
However, you can post your question to the forum and get an answer from the developer. The support service phone numbers are listed for UK, US, Australia and New Zealand.
In need of support but out of options? Contact the Avid Brio Shopify experts
Shopify is an outstanding e-commerce solution because of the multi-purpose options. It’s very easy to setup and use, so any beginner can benefit.
The platform is very affordable too so it’s a great choice for small businesses looking to reduce their expenses.
While Shopify is intuitive for new users, to fully benefit from the many features and excellent marketing inclusions, it’s best to get professional help for a lasting edge.
Shopify scales very well so you can grow your business with the platform regardless of the number of products offered, the sales volume and the total number of customers you have retained.
Shopify is ultimately a great choice for new entrepreneurs and people looking to create online stores effortlessly.
Need help or support with your eCommerce goals? Chat to the team at Avid Brio today to grow your business online!
Luke Kurtz is a freelance writer and a student in Sydney. Passionate about writing, web design and graphic design, Luke is fascinated at the way small changes can have the largest effect. When not creating content Luke enjoys spending time in the great outdoors.
——-
Worth reads: