Hi everyone, Julia here! Welcome to this blog. Today, we’re going to talk about how to make money on Shopify. I’m going to give you a clear overview of all the steps you will need to take to build a thriving online business—from not even having an idea to a wildly successful online store that hopefully will make you money while you sleep.
Overview of Starting an Online Business on Shopify
If you’ve been considering this path for a while or you’re just in the beginning steps, here’s a preview of what that online business journey would look like and what action you’ll need to take to make it all happen. This is going to be an honest and realistic inside view of making money on Shopify—not a bunch of crazy ideas about becoming a millionaire overnight.
We’ll cover:
- Choosing what to sell
- Finding suppliers
- Setting up your Shopify store
- Designing your website
- Driving traffic to your store
We’ll also discuss:
- The importance of creating a strong brand identity
- Building relationships with your customers
- Optimizing your store for conversions
- Marketing strategies and data analysis
By the end of this video, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to start and grow your own online business on Shopify.
Step 1: Choose a Niche
If you don’t know what that means, a niche is a specific category of products that you can sell. This can be a broad term like clothing, or you can get super specific like gifts for dads who love to cook.
If you have no ideas at all, you could use tools like Google Trends to find out what’s most popular right now. I’ll list a few great niche examples here on the screen so you can pause and see if anything resonates.
Key tip: To make money, people need to want what you’re selling. Ideally, find something you’re passionate about but also has good consumer demand.
Secret recipe: High search volume, low competition. Use SEO tools to identify niches that match this formula.
Step 2: Choose a Business Model
Two popular digital options that require almost zero upfront investment are:
- Dropshipping
- Print on Demand
What is Dropshipping?
Dropshipping lets you partner with a third-party supplier who holds the inventory and ships the products directly to the customer.
Here’s how it works:
- Someone places an order on your store.
- Shopify automatically forwards this to the supplier.
- The supplier fulfills and ships the order on your behalf.
The cool thing? You can offer a wide range of products without investing in inventory.
What is Print on Demand?
Print on demand is a type of dropshipping where the supplier creates custom products based on your designs. The product is only made when an order is placed.
For example, you design a coffee mug. When a customer places an order, the supplier prints the design on the mug and ships it directly. This eliminates the need for upfront inventory, making it a budget-friendly option.
Step 3: Set Up Your Shopify Store
This is where you’ll sell your products and manage your business. Shopify makes the process super easy with a user-friendly platform.
What Can You Do on Shopify?
- Add products
- Create collections
- Set up prices and discounts
- Manage orders
- Create automated email sequences
Shopify also offers a user-friendly theme editor. Many themes are free, and customizing them requires no coding experience. Advanced customization options are also available for those who want to dive deeper.
Step 4: Drive Traffic to Your Store
You can have a beautiful store with amazing products, but without proper marketing, no one will find it. Driving traffic takes time and effort, but the process can be fun and rewarding.
Paid Advertising
If you have a budget, the quickest way to drive traffic is with paid ad campaigns on Meta (Facebook and Instagram) and Google.
Free Marketing Strategies
- Social Media Outreach: Be active on platforms where your target audience spends time.
- SEO (Search Engine Optimization): Use high-ranking keywords in product descriptions, titles, and alt tags to improve visibility.
The key is to diversify your strategies. Consider influencer marketing, email marketing, and other tools to bring attention to your store.
Step 5: Repeat and Scale
Once you’ve made your first sales, it’s time to analyze and improve. Shopify provides valuable analytics on page performance, viewer sessions, and conversion rates.
What’s Next?
- Expand your product line or target new niches.
- Use data to refine your strategies and make informed decisions.
- Consider plugins to monitor user behavior and optimize your store further.
Building Customer Relationships
Strong relationships with customers are vital for long-term success.
Why Is This Important?
- Customer Loyalty: Loyal customers make repeat purchases and recommend your business.
- Repeat Business: Easier to market to existing customers, providing steady profits.
- Competitive Advantage: Valued customers are less likely to be swayed by competitors.
How to Strengthen Relationships:
- Provide excellent customer service.
- Engage on social media.
- Personalize email communication.
- Offer discounts and newsletters.
Conclusion: Start Your Shopify Journey
Take it step by step, and you’ll be surprised at how awesome and simplified the process can be. Building your own success story is not only possible but incredibly rewarding.
Resources Available:
- Free resource pack: A digital magazine bundle featuring a marketing and branding guide.
- Best Shopify deal: $1 for the first three months.
Thank you for reading! If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments. Happy selling!
