Shopify - everything you need to know about the popular shop system

What is Shopify?

Shopify is a comprehensive e-commerce platform that enables individuals and businesses to create, manage and scale online shops. The platform was founded in Canada in 2006 by German expat Tobias Lütke and has since become one of the leading solutions in the field of e-commerce.

Key features of Shopify

1. All-in-one commerce platform: Shopify offers subscription-based software that allows users to set up an online shop and sell products. The platform supports both online and physical sales through the Shopify POS system, which synchronises inventory and allows management from a single account.

2. Ease of use and flexibility: Shopify is known for its ease of use and flexibility. Users can choose from a variety of themes and templates created by renowned designers and customise them to their liking.
   
   No programming skills are required to create a professional online shop.

3. Powerful tools and services: Shopify offers a wide range of tools and services that support the sales, shipping, marketing and operation of an online shop. These include SEO tools, analytics, marketing tools and the integration of various payment and shipping options.

4. Extensibility through apps and APIs: Users can add additional functions and integrations via the Shopify App Store.
   
   There are over 4,000 apps that cover various business needs, from marketing tools to logistics solutions.

5. Security and hosting: Shopify is a cloud-based platform, which means that users don't have to worry about hosting, security updates or backups. All data is secure and accessible at all times.

6. International selling: Shopify supports international selling through features such as currency conversion, multilingual support and customisation of shipping options for different countries. This makes it easier for merchants to sell their products worldwide.

Price plans and target groups

Shopify offers various pricing plans tailored to the needs of different shop sizes and types. The plans range from "Basic Shopify" for small businesses to"Shopify Plus" for large businesses and corporations. More on this later.

Why Shopify could be the right shop system for you

Shopify is a great platform for creating your own online shop. Some say it's the best the e-commerce world has to offer. It's easy to use and has all the features that will help you build or grow your successful online business.

You can sell anything on Shopify. From clothing to jewellery to home decor - there's no limit to the products you can sell! And if you want more than just an online shop, there's also the option to link a physical location with Shopify POS (point of sale).

Let's take a quick look at some of the benefits:

1. Your webshop is always up and running, so you won't miss out on sales opportunities because it's down for maintenance or updates.
2. Shopify shops have the best mobile experience - customers can browse and buy from their phone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer - no matter where they are.
3. They're easy to use.
4. You don't need any technical knowledge.
5. You don't need to download and install any software.
6. There are no upfront costs.
7. In the Shopify App Store, you'll find everything you need to expand the features and customise the design.
8. There is a worldwide community and a well-functioning support team in Germany that will help you if your online shop runs into problems.
   
9. It supports numerous languages - you are not limited to German and/or English and can run your business worldwide.

Sebastian explains two further advantages in his videos:

You can sell online within minutes with just a few mouse clicks or taps on your mobile phone.

In his video, Sebastian shows you how easy it is.

You can internationalise Shopify (multiple languages with a single webshop)

Watch the video to see how:

Now let's take a look at the questions and topics you might be interested in.

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Guide and other resources about Shopify

How much does Shopify cost?

Shopify offers a solution for every size of business at acceptable prices - even if the cost structure seems a little confusing at first glance.

In the article Shopify costs | Shop plans & tariffs explained in an understandable way, we analyse Shopify's pricing structure so that everyone can understand it.

We take a look at the costs per month for the standard plans (Basic Shopify, Shopify Shopify, Advanced Shopify) and how Shopify prices are made up.

From the content:

• Overview of the Shopify tariffs, fees and prices
• Which functions are included in all Shopify online shop tariffs?
• What is not included in the Shopify price?
• What additional fees are charged by Shopify?
• Shopify Lite
• and much more.

All about Shopify Payments

Shopify Payments is the official payment gateway from Shopify. It fully integrates with your Shopify shop and allows you to manage all payment matters from one dashboard using its features..

... and your online shop's customers can use this internal alternative to choose reliably and securely from numerous payment methods.

You can find out what these are at: Shopify Payments: What you need to know about the payment gateway of the Shopify e-commerce platform

We answer all the important questions about the payment gateway, show you the advantages and disadvantages of this payment platform and give you instructions on how to set up and configure the payment gateway.

From the content:

• Definition: What is Shopify Payments?
• In which countries can Shopify Payments be used?
• Which payment methods does Shopify Payments include?
• Shopify Payments fees
• Advantages of Shopify Payments
• Disadvantages of Shopify Payments
• Step-by-step guide: How to set up Shopify Payments in Shopify
• Conclusion: What you've learnt about Shopify Payments

What you should know about Shopify Plus

Shopify Plus is a scalable enterprise and brand solution that is particularly aimed at high-growth merchants and large-scale entrepreneurs in the B2C and B2B sectors.

Like all Shopify variants, the SaaS e-commerce platform is hosted entirely in the cloud.

Shopify Plus customers include global brands such as Heinz, Kylie Cosmetics and David Beckham. However, German-speaking brands such as Giesswein and Lizza also use a scalable e-commerce shop from Shopify Plus due to their rapid growth.

Are you interested in the scalable e-commerce solution? Then take a look at our comprehensive blog article: Shopify Plus: everything you need to know about the enterprise solution for a successful e-commerce business

You'll find out what Shopify Plus is and how the enterprise e-commerce platform differs from the traditional Shopify version

We'll also tell you which functions are available to a company with this e-commerce solution and what the benefits are.

From the content:

• What is Shopify Plus?
• Shopify vs Shopify Plus: What are the differences?
• Shopify Plus: What are the running costs?
• For whom is Shopify's enterprise solution interesting?
• When does it make sense to switch to Shopify Plus?
• Shopify Plus features for e-commerce success
• 10 relevant advantages of Shopify Plus
• Conclusion: What you've learnt about Shopify Plus

50 successful Shopify shops and why they are so successful

Are you thinking about opening a Shopify shop and looking for inspiration? Or are you already running an e-commerce website, thinking about switching to Shopify and want to find out if the online shop platform is right for you?

Then this article is for you: Why these 50 Shopify shops are so successful

In this article, we will introduce you to a number of companies that have already had the best experiences with their Shopify shops (Shopify shops) and can serve as inspiration for you.

You will find out what is special about these shops and what details these companies use to score points with their customers.

From the content:

• Shopify shop basics
• What makes successful Shopify shops stand out?
• The 10 most visited Shopify shops from prominent brands
• The 10 most visited Shopify shops for fashion & clothing
• The 10 most visited Shopify shops for accessories
• The 10 most visited Shopify shops for Food & Drinks
• The 10 most visited Shopify shops for Beauty & Cosmetics
• Conclusion: What you can learn from these Shopify shops

Shopify online shop GDPR-compliant

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is binding law throughout Europe. E-commerce operators who do not adhere to the rules to protect personal data face heavy fines.

If you do not comply, fines of up to €10 million or €20 million or up to 4 per cent of annual turnover can be imposed in future. If you want to avoid a fine and have not yet addressed the issue, or have done so only to a limited extent, it is time to do so.

How can you do this? By implementing the tips in our Shopify GDPR-compliant guide.

If you follow our instructions exactly, you'll be on the safe side.

From the content:

• Why you should comply with the GDPR regulations
• Create a processing directory
• 2. Obtain GDPR-compliant consent for data processing
• 3. Adapt your privacy policy
• 4. The rights of data subjects
• 5. Obligation to report data protection violations
• 6. The cookie notice
• 7. Shopify - Using Google Analytics in compliance with the GDPR

Shopify Checkout Extensibility - a comprehensive guide

Shopify is discontinuing checkout.liquid and introducing Checkout Extensibility to make the checkout process more future-proof, efficient and secure. From August 2024, checkout.liquid will no longer be supported for the information, shipping and payment pages, and in August 2025 support for the thank you and order status pages will end.

A Shopify Plus subscription is required to take advantage of Checkout Extensibility, which offers advanced customisation options and lower transaction costs.

Find out all about it in our article Shopify Checkout Extensibility - a comprehensive guide.

From the content:

• Shopify deactivates checkout.liquid
• What is Shopify Checkout Extensibility?
• Video: Shopify Checkout with Checkout Extensibility
• The benefits of Shopify Checkout Extensibility
• Technical aspects of Checkout Extensibility
• Costs and requirements
• Tips for the changeover: checkout.liquid to Checkout Extensibility
• and much more.

Shopify or WooCommerce - which is the better e-commerce website?

You want to get started in eCommerce and are faced with the decision of which shop system to use.

During your research, you came across the two market-leading providers WooCommerce and Shopify and don't know which of the two e-commerce shops is better for you.

If this is the case, then read the article WordPress WooCommerce vs Shopify carefully and decide based on the data and facts we were able to collect in our work.

From the content:

• WooCommerce vs Shopify - the statistics
• WooCommerce vs. Shopify - the comparison
• Security, support and GDPR with WooCommerce and Shopfiy
• What are the pros and cons of WooCommerce?
• What are the pros and cons of Shopify?
• Conclusion: Shopify or WordPress WooCommerce
• Migration WooCommerce to Shopify

Shopify agency

As a Shopify partner and the first agency in Austria to deal with the Shopify system, we support you in your entry into online retail or help you to boost sales and turnover in your existing online shop. We develop and expand Shopify shops and make you successful. From planning to a ready-to-sell online shop.

You can find the link to our Shopify agency in our main menu.

Shopify SEO

In our article about Shopify SEO, we explain

• what Shopify SEO is and
• which on-page and off-page SEO measures you can use to optimise your Shopify shop for search engines.

But that's not all, you'll also find out what role keywords play in search engine optimisation for Shopify and how you can research them.

Another highlight is a useful checklist. Follow our tips and you will see your online shop ranking improve.

Frequently asked questions about Shopify

How does Shopify support online retailers in setting up pop-up stores?

Shopify enables online merchants to efficiently manage pop-up stores by providing seamless integrations between online shops and physical locations through the Shopify POS system. This system is ideal for merchants looking to expand their presence both online and offline. Shopify provides mobile solutions that facilitate commerce in temporary locations.

To what extent is Shopify considered Software as a Service (SaaS) in the e-commerce sector?

Shopify is a prime example of a Software as a Service (SaaS) e-commerce system. It offers a comprehensive platform on which users can create, manage and scale online shops without extensive technical knowledge. As a SaaS solution, Shopify takes care of maintenance, hosting and regular updates so that merchants can concentrate on selling and expanding their business.

What standards does Shopify set for security and data protection in online shops?

Shopify maintains high security standards to ensure the protection of customer data and online shop transactions. The platform is PCI-DSS compliant and uses advanced encryption technologies. Shopify continuously updates its security protocols to meet the ever-changing demands of online commerce.

How does Shopify integrate shipping options into the e-commerce system?

Shopify offers a variety of shipping solutions that are integrated directly into the e-commerce system. Merchants can automatically calculate shipping rates, print shipping labels and provide customers with real-time updates on the status of their deliveries. This integration simplifies logistics and significantly improves the customer experience.

Can I connect my social media pages directly to my Shopify online shop?

Yes, Shopify allows direct integration of social media sites with your online shop. Shopify apps allow merchants to promote and sell their products on various social media platforms. These apps simplify the management of email campaigns and social media marketing, which helps increase visibility and sales growth.

Conclusion

In this article, we have looked in detail at the features and benefits of Shopify as an e-commerce platform.

The platform is characterised by its flexibility, ease of use and ability to serve global markets through multilingual support and international payment options. The strong community and reliable customer support complement the comprehensive offering, making Shopify an excellent choice for entrepreneurs looking to expand their businesses digitally. With the ability to scale through numerous apps and customisations, Shopify remains adaptable to the ever-changing demands of e-commerce.