Guide to Building an Online Business With Shopify in 2021

Recent years have seen many Filipino entrepreneurs launching a successful online business with Shopify, an online platform that enables users to create their own digital storefronts and join the booming e-commerce industry.

If you’re interested in becoming a successful entrepreneur too, then here’s a step-by-step guide to building an online business with Shopify. 

1. Register a Shopify Account

Registering an account with Shopify won’t take you any longer than 15 minutes. To help new users explore the countless features they offer, the platform provides a 14-day free trial, although be assured that their paid subscription plans afterward won’t cause you a ton of money. 

Here’s a breakdown of Shopify’s subscription plans:

• Lite Plan – $9.00 per month
• Basic Shopify Plan – $29.00 per month
• Shopify Plan – $79.00 per month
• Advanced Shopify Plan – $299.00 per month
• Shopify Plus Plan – start at $2,000.00 per month

2. Create Product Pages

While the platform’s nifty tools make building a digital storefront incredibly easy, there are still many important elements that need to be considered. 

Here are great reads with expert-recommended tips and tricks that will guarantee you a successful online business with Shopify:

• 11 Expert-Recommended Tips to Optimize Product Pages For More Sales
• 9 Ways to Write Product Descriptions that Inform and Persuade Customers
• The Definitive DIY Guide to Beautiful Product Photography
• 50 Exceptional Shopify Stores to Inspire Entrepreneurs 
• How to Create a Highly Converting Product Page 
• 5 Killer Ways to Optimize Your Store to Get More Traffic
• 4 Elements on Your Product Page to Maximize Conversion Rates

3. Identify Shipping Methods

Thanks to their partnerships with the world’s largest carriers, Shopify is able to provide its sellers with a whole host of built-in shipping options. However, many of these aren’t applicable in the Philippines, so be prepared to make use of local couriers like LBC and Ninja Van. 

Here’s a list of articles that will help you determine which couriers to opt for:

• Philippines Shipping and Selling E-Commerce Guide
• Top 10 Shipping Companies For Your E-Commerce Business
• Best Courier Services in the Philippines

4. Determine Payment Methods

There are a ton of pre-existing payment getaways on Spotify, such as PayPal and other third-party providers. Again, not all of these apply to online businesses in the Philippines, so make sure to research the best options for your customers. 

Here are a few articles that you should take a look at:

• 15 Best Online Payment Getaways in the Philippines
• Accepting E-Commerce Payments Online in the Philippines

5. Handle the Legal Requirements

While an online business is based completely on the Internet, it remains subject to legal requirements and technicalities. Besides permits and taxes, you should also ensure that your store not only has an airtight Terms and Conditions (T&C) agreement but a strong Privacy Policy, as well. 

To help you out with these legal prerequisites, check out these reads: 

• The Importance of Terms and Conditions 
• Creating a Privacy Policy For E-Commerce Stores
• A Guide to BIR Registration For Online Sellers
• Tax Compliance For Online Transactions
• How to Register Your Online Business in BIR and DTI

6. Create FAQs and Contact Pages

Many online sellers tend to overlook the importance of FAQs and contact pages. However, these play a crucial role in attracting customers and sustaining your business, so make sure that these are published before launching your store. 

Here are a few articles to help you create these pages: 

• 8 Tips For Creating FAQs that Turn Prospects into Customers
• 25 of the Best Examples of Effective FAQ Pages
• How to Build a Top-Notch Contact Us Page For Your Online Store
• 39 inspiring Examples of Contact Us Pages 

7. Design Your Digital Storefront

The theme of your online store will make or break the business, which is why you should be careful when choosing it. Take note of the other design elements too, such as the color scheme, font style, and more. 

Here’s a list of excellent reads to help with your online store’s design:

• Complete Guide to Shopify Store Design For New Online Merchants
• 7 Design Tactics For Your Shopify Store
• An In-Depth Guide to Picking the Right Shopify Theme
• 5 Things to Consider For the Perfect Shopify Theme
• Shopify Design Tips and UX Best Practices 

8. Configure a Domain 

Besides enabling your target market to easily access your digital storefront, a domain name also adds credibility and helps raise awareness for your online business. It can be a bit tricky to configure them, though, so here are a few articles to help you out: 

• How to Choose the Perfect Domain Name For E-Commerce
• Register Your Domain Name Through Shopify
• 7 Best Domain Registrars

 9. Launch Your Online Business

Once you have all these accomplished, it’s time to launch your online business. But the hard work doesn’t stop there – rather, it’s now time to pay attention to marketing your store to land the first sale. 

Good luck on your entrepreneurial journey!

Team SwiftPay