Learn what an eCommerce Shopify Store can do for your bricks and mortar business

Have you been thinking about taking your bricks and mortar shop online? Showcasing your products and connect with your clients in an easy to use eCommerce platform without any hassle.

Well, at Allea Marketing, we have done the research, and we believe Shopify is the best overall e-commerce software for small businesses. It gets you up and running quickly to drive your product sales and grows your revenue.

Shopify is a cloud-based software as a service (SaaS) shopping cart solution. That is packed with features and simple to use. It doesn’t require coding or tech skills to get started, and the software and its capabilities can grow as your business expands.

There are several reasons why we believe Shopify is the best platform to get up and running quickly and effortlessly.

Built for the Average User

The most compelling reason to use Shopify is that it is built for the ordinary user – not tech-savvy skilled developers. It’s dead easy to add products, create discounts, and process orders. There is even a drag-and-drop editing tool to make web design a cinch.

Affordable

Shopify offers the most affordable packages for any stage of your eCommerce business. The plans allow you to sell immediately and start from as low as $29 per month. This price includes unlimited products, a custom domain, Shopify Payment gateway, two users, 24/7 customer support, and more.

We also love that no hidden fees are lurking around. It is transparent about what you get for the price you pay.

Easy to get Started

It is simple to sign up, and you can set up your account in seconds. You are greeted with an uncomplicated dashboard and side navigation menu, which makes it fast to get around.

The store can be launched in three steps – all you need to do is add your products, customize the look of your website, and set up your domain.

You definitely don’t need any tech or coding skills to build, design, or edit your website.

You get to choose from a rich selection of free and for-purchase design templates. These themes are clean and modern, specifically designed to sell products. All you have to do is add your logo and pick colors that match your branding.

Shopify supplies the metrics and integrations to grow your business

As well as letting you create a professional storefront, this platform offers all the tools you need to manage and expand your e-commerce business. These elements include the ability to sell on social media platforms, reports and analytics, marketing tools, and mobile access.

Easy payment integrations

Shopify’s online shopping cart lets you quickly receive credit card and PayPal payments. It also offers its own payment gateway. This means you don’t have to set up third-party processors. If you utilize the company’s gateway, you will not get charged any transaction fee.

Automates your Sales

Shopify automates sales while giving customers access to a rapid and painless checkout. There is no need to worry about taxes. They are automatically calculated for your region. Products are saved into the shopping cart, so when your customer is ready to check out, all they have to do is pick their shipping method.

Everything works in the background, so orders are automatically added to the ‘Orders’ section of your dashboard. All you have to do is ship your products to the right customer.

Perfect for Dropshipping

It is the platform of choice for drop-shippers. You can implement integrations such as Spocket and Oberlo that make dropshipping from your admin dashboard a lot simpler.

Sell Digital

You can sell digital products from your store, such as MP3 files, printables, eBooks, and more. All you have to do is disable shipping on products and let customers download digital products right from your site.

Search Engine Optimized

There is a search engine optimization (SEO) wizard that helps potential customers easily find your store and individual products on Google.

Maintaining a blog is the cornerstone of SEO optimization for online stores. It helps boost your rankings and build your brand’s identity. The platform has built-in blog features where you can write, edit, and publish blog posts directly from the admin panel.

Optimized for eCommerce marketing

The platform has a range of marketing tools and features to help find and retain customers. These include discount codes, coupon generators, social network integration, Facebook selling, product reviews, custom gift cards, and much more.

Mobile Friendly

You can even access your store from a mobile device, meaning you can run your e-commerce business from anywhere in the world. You can get order notifications, fulfill orders, and even manage inventory and product or pricing information straight from the mobile app.

No Hassle Infrastructure and Security solution

The best part is you can run your entire eCommerce business without having to purchase additional solutions or worry about the IT aspects of running an online store. Shopify takes care of the infrastructure and security side of your online store and website.

Backups of all data are performed daily, and business and customer information are kept safe with 24/7 and 256-bit SSL certificates for data protection. Upgrades are installed automatically without you having to lift a finger. The bonus is a guaranteed 99.98% uptime. That means no crashing during peak times, leading to lost sales.

Multiple Shipping Solutions

The platform’s shipping module allows you to integrate with major shipping carriers to calculate real-time shipping rates. It can even display these rates in your customers’ shopping carts. You can also purchase and print shipping labels directly from your admin panel.

Excellent Support Service

Shopify provides a variety of resources to solve any issue if you find you need help with a problem. They have a dedicated support team available 24/7 via email, live chat, and phone.  There is always someone to help you. For those who prefer to resolve minor eCommerce problems themselves, there is a library of self-help resources. These include FAQs and a collection of user guides and tutorials, discussion forums, and an E-Commerce University filled with e-books, videos, and webinars.

Sync your Online store with your Bricks and Mortar

You can become multichannel with the POS system. This lets you easily complete in-person and online retail transactions. The two are synced, so every inventory change you make on one platform appears on the other.

Shopify’s Limitations

Although we love Shopify as an eCommerce software for small business, it does have a few minor drawbacks that are easily overcome.

It can be challenging to get the more advanced customizations without touching its code.  That is where we can help.  We can set up your store the way you want it, so it is optimized for your specific needs.

Another limitation is for more advanced shops, with expert needs. You will need to purchase add-ons. This definitely increases your price point. But for starting out, the basic to intermediate packages should be adequate for most e-Commerce business’ needs.

How do you get started with Shopify?

If you’re considering Shopify, you can get started by signing up here for the 14-day free trial. All they require is some contact information and a few details about your business.

During your trial, make sure you test every aspect of the software. Add products, start a blog, create marketing campaigns, change your storefront, and add on an application. Make sure the platform can handle precisely what you need to do daily. Look for the advanced features you might need, such as filtered search and abandoned cart notifications. Once you are sure this platform is the right choice for you, choose your price plan and get moving.

If the above option seems like too much work, and you are secretly repelled by having to deal with the set-up, metrics, and tech side – let us do the work for you.

We are the experts at getting you online with a custom-made storefront. Our team will design a storefront to showcase your products, get you connected with customers, and expand your revenue through optimized advertising campaigns.

That’s right; we design and build an optimized storefront to attract, convert, and make the sale. All you have to do is schedule a call and learn how the team at Allea Marketing can do it all – so you don’t have to lift a finger. You end up with an online shopfront that drives tangible results.