Blog Summary:

The blog discusses why Shopify is a user-friendly platform for your e-commerce store. It compares Shopify to other options and then discusses nine top advantages. The blog primarily focuses on Shopify benefits but also demonstrates WordPress as an alternative with some unique perks.

The rise of e-commerce has sparked new possibilities for business owners. In today’s interconnected world, you no longer need brick-and-mortar stores to launch your business. E-commerce platforms simplify setting up an online shop to reach a global audience.

The e-commerce market has been experiencing explosive growth, and this trend is expected to continue for years to come. However, to succeed in this competitive domain, your online store needs to be both functional and visually appealing.

However, It’s a daunting task to build an eCommerce store from scratch. That’s why many entrepreneurs turn to a hosted platform. One such prevalent eCommerce platform, Shopify, is the largest eCommerce platform in the United States, with 28% of online stores using its services.

Shopify stands out among other platforms in many other ways due to its user-friendly solution that combines high quality, robust features, and efficient operation. There are several benefits of Shopify for building your online store. We’ll explore them in detail below and compare Shopify with other platforms to find out why it’s a great choice!

What is Shopify Platform?

Shopify is a secure and reliable platform that enables quick and easy setup of your online store. It’s particularly well-suited for beginners because it doesn’t require any coding knowledge. Shopify makes it possible for you to build a custom store and design a professional-looking website to sell your products.

Moreover, it offers pre-made themes and a user-friendly interface to customize your Shopify store. Additionally, you can manage products, add photos and descriptions, set prices, track inventory levels, and manage stock. Shopify integrates with some external payment gateways, so accepting payments from customers is more secure than ever.

With Shopify, you can grow your business with just a few clicks. The built-in marketing tools help you reach new customers and promote your store. Sell on social media platforms and marketplaces to expand your reach. Gain valuable insights into your sales and customer behavior to make informed decisions.

Shopify is an all-in-one solution for anyone looking to launch a successful online store.  They offer a free trial, so you can test it out before committing to a paid plan.

Shopify vs the Other Ecommerce Platforms – A Quick Tabular Comparison

If you’re confused about whether to go for Shopify or other platforms, this comparison table will help. It highlights the key features that matter most to startups and SMEs.

Feature Shopify WooCommerce (WordPress) BigCommerce Wix
Ease of Use Easiest Moderate Easy Easiest
Pricing Monthly subscription Free Monthly subscription Monthly subscription
Scalability Scales well for most businesses Limited scalability for high-volume online stores Scales well for most businesses Limited scalability for high-volume stores
Design & Customization Wide range of themes, moderate customization Highly customizable with plugins and themes Wide range of themes, moderate customization Easy-to-use design tools, limited customization
App Marketplace Shopify app store is large with tons of features Large plugin library (free and paid) Growing app marketplace Limited app store
Transaction Fees 2% – 3% (depending on plan) No transaction fees (payment gateway fees apply) Depending on plan Depending on plan
Security Secure and PCI-compliant Requires security plugins and updates Secure and PCI-compliant Secure and PCI-compliant

9 Key Benefits of Shopify for Ecommerce Business

Business owners can benefit from the Shopify platform for their online store. Below, we’ve outlined a few of the major benefits that make Shopify a compelling choice for your e-commerce business.

Easily Accessible E-commerce Platform

Shopify is an easy-to-use platform, even if you don’t know how to code. This is why business owners love Shopify the most. Its intuitive interface simplifies tasks like adding products, managing inventory, processing orders, and creating discount codes.

Shopify’s drag-and-drop editing tool enables users to customize their online store’s layout without needing to write complex code. Moreover, Shopify’s platform offers web hosting. Hence, business owners can get all the technical infrastructure needed from the platform itself to establish their online stores.

Customization

Shopify offers a selection of pre-designed themes, but you have complete authority over the look and feel of your online store. The customizable themes are visually appealing as well as mobile-friendly.

They also establish a strong foundation for your brand identity. You can further customize Shopify themes using the built-in editor. You can also develop a custom website by getting in touch with a Shopify development company.

Scalability

The Shopify online store easily adapts as the business grows. Additionally, it provides a range of subscription plans that accommodate all business types. Online store owners can seamlessly upgrade the plan as their sales volume increases to gain the advantage of additional features and functionalities.

Hence, there is no need to migrate to a completely new platform when the business expands.

Mobile Responsiveness

Today, mobile devices are widely used. To cope with this new age, online stores must be mobile responsive and function flawlessly across various devices. Shopify supports mobile responsiveness and automatically adjusts its layout to display perfectly on desktops, tablets, and smartphones.

Hence, Shopify store owners can provide a hassle-free user experience to their customers.

Secure Hosting

Shopify handles the behind-the-scenes tech so you can focus on running your business. This includes server maintenance, security updates, and data backups. Their platform utilizes industry-standard security measures to safeguard the customer information and financial transactions.

Therefore, you can run your business freely without worrying about managing a secure online store.

Payment Options

You can integrate Shopify with many popular payment gateways. Hence, customers can choose their preferred payment methods during checkout. This flexibility builds trust and convenience, which ultimately leads to higher conversion rates.

Additionally, Shopify payments eliminates the need for a separate merchant account for most businesses, simplifying the setup process.

Marketing Tools

Shopify offers built-in marketing tools to help you reach your target audience and promote your products. You can create email marketing campaigns, leverage discount codes and promotions, and even generate gift certificates to incentivize purchases.

Shopify also integrates with various social media platforms. Therefore, you can seamlessly connect your store and reach new customers through social media integration.

Analytics and Reporting

Data is key to understanding your customers and making informed business decisions. Shopify offers comprehensive analytics and reporting tools that track your store’s performance. You can gain valuable insights into customer behavior, identify popular products, analyze traffic sources, and monitor key metrics.

This way, you can easily optimize your marketing strategies, product offerings, and overall store experience.

Reliable Customer Support

Shopify offers 24/7 customer support through various channels, including phone, live chat, and email. The support staff is knowledgeable and can assist you with technical issues quickly.

They also answer your queries about using the platform and provide guidance on best practices for running a successful online store. The support system ensures you have access to help whenever you need it.

Bonus Benefits of Using Shopify

App Marketplace

The Shopify App Store has thousands of third-party apps that extend the platform’s functionality. These apps include features for everything from loyalty programs and social media marketing to abandoned cart recovery and advanced shipping options.

Therefore, you can tailor your store to your specific needs without needing custom coding.

Dropshipping Support

For businesses that don’t want to hold their inventory, Shopify integrates seamlessly with dropshipping suppliers. This means you can list products in your store without having to sell physical products. When a customer makes a purchase, the order is automatically forwarded to the supplier, who ships it directly to the customer.

Wholesale Channel

Shopify Plus, a higher-tier plan, offers a wholesale channel feature. This allows you to create a separate B2B portal for businesses to place bulk orders at wholesale prices.

App Selling

It is possible to develop and sell applications directly through the Shopify App Store. This is a great way to generate additional revenue and reach a large audience of potential customers.

Headless Commerce

Shopify allows for headless commerce implementations. You can use Shopify to handle the back-end commerce functionality while using a separate front-end system to build a custom user experience for your store. This gives you more control over the look and feel of your store without sacrificing the benefits of the Shopify platform.

Supercharge your Traditional Store

Get complete solutions to take your business online. Our experts can help you with everything from building custom features to integrating with third-party apps.

Get Shopify Development Services

Conclusion

Now that you are completely well-versed in the advantages of using Shopify for your eCommerce business, it’s easy to decide on the right e-commerce platform. There are many other eCommerce platforms as well, which we compared in this post. So, it’s essential to ensure that what you choose consists of all the functionalities you need to reach your goals.

FAQs

01

What is so great about Shopify?

Shopify is one of the most popular choices for e-commerce businesses. It is user-friendly even for people with no coding knowledge. You can easily set up your own online store, add products, and start selling quickly. Moreover, Shopify provides different plans that are suitable for startups and enterprises. All in all, Shopify provides a comprehensive solution for e-commerce stores.

02

What is the main purpose of Shopify?

The main purpose of Shopify is to empower businesses, especially small businesses, to set up and manage their online stores. It provides user-friendly tools to build the storefront, accept payments, manage inventory, and track sales—all without needing coding knowledge. Essentially, Shopify simplifies e-commerce for entrepreneurs, allowing them to focus on their products and reach customers.

03

What are the downsides of Shopify?

Although Shopify is a great choice for startups, it has limitations, too. Pricing includes monthly fees, transaction fees, and app costs. Moreover, design flexibility is limited compared to custom coding. You need to rely on third-party apps for advanced features. Shopify also doesn't handle email marketing, so you'll need another service.

04

Is Shopify worth it for beginners?

Shopify is definitely worthwhile for beginners because of its user-friendliness. It provides drag-and-drop tools and pre-designed themes to help you set up your Shopify store easily. It also handles payments and has features to help with things like drop shipping.
About Author

Jayanti Katariya is the CEO of Moon Technolabs, a fast-growing IT solutions provider, with 18+ years of experience in the industry. Passionate about developing creative apps from a young age, he pursued an engineering degree to further this interest. Under his leadership, Moon Technolabs has helped numerous brands establish their online presence and he has also launched an invoicing software that assists businesses to streamline their financial operations.