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How Does Shopify Work: All you need to know about Shopify’s platform [Complete Guide]

How does Shopify work: If you’re new to the wide world of e-commerce, you might be wondering what Shopify is and how it works. Basically, Shopify is a web platform that provides you with all the tools you need to start selling your wares online. Don’t have a website? No problem! Don’t know where to start when it comes to selling online? That’s okay! Shopify has everything you need, from marketing tools to inventory management and everything in between. Keep reading for all the details on this e-commerce giant.

So, what is Shopify, exactly, and how does Shopify work?

Shopify is an e-commerce platform used by more than a million brands and companies worldwide. With Shopify, you can create your own e-commerce website, set up to showcase your products, drive sales, analyze your marketing metrics, manage orders/shipping/payments, and everything else you could possibly think of. Shopify is a subscription-based service that gives you the tools you need to set up an online store, and now also to sell in-person with Shopify POS.

What is an e-commerce platform?

It’s impossible to answer the question “how does Shopify work?” without using the phrase “e-commerce platform”. So let’s take a step back and explore what that actually means. An e-commerce platform is a software application that gives users (merchants) the ability to manage their own e-commerce website. An e-commerce platform doesn’t just allow you to create a website, it gives you everything you need to run your business online. And with so many consumers embracing the convenience of online shopping, there’s never been a better time to explore your e-commerce options and start selling online.

What’s the difference between CMS and an e-commerce platform? (How does Shopify work)

A CMS (which stands for content management system) is a software application that gives users the ability to build and manage a website, without the need for any code. CMS platforms have made building a website easy and achievable for those with no development skills or an in-depth understanding of how websites work. While you may not have heard of a CMS, you’ve certainly heard of some of the most popular CMS options, including WordPress.

While an e-commerce platform like Shopify shares many similarities with a CMS (including basic page editing functionality to add titles, content, and SEO, as well as drag-and-drop functionality), Shopify is an e-commerce platform first, and a CMS second. Shopify sites are structured, with product pages, other content pages (for information such as blogs, an about us page, contacts, and more), product collections, a cart, and a checkout. While you can of course customize each page, pretty much all Shopify websites follow this basic format.

Who should use Shopify?

Shopify is one of the largest and most popular e-commerce platforms in the world. If you’re currently selling in-person and are looking to expand your reach by selling online, Shopify is an excellent choice. Or, if you’re currently selling on an online marketplace such as Amazon or Etsy, transitioning to Shopify gives you more control over your store, allows you to implement better marketing and sales tools, and is an important step to growing your business. Shopify is suitable for small, medium, and large retailers alike, with Shopify Plus specifically designed for larger, established brands.

Grow your sales with high-performing deals.

How does Shopify work?

To properly answer the question “how does Shopify work?”, it’s important to think of Shopify not as a single product, but as an entire platform that gives you all the tools you need to sell online. You can get a simple Shopify store up and running pretty much within a day, or you can spend time customizing and building a store with unique features, fully personalized to suit your brand.

If you’re wondering “what is Shopify?” or “what do I actually get when I sign up?”, Shopify’s core product includes page templates, tools for online and in-person selling, integrated payment processing, and a checkout, plus SEO and marketing tools. These are the basic foundations of every Shopify store.

What are the top 5 features on Shopify?

#1 Store metrics and data to help you optimize your store’s performance (How does Shopify work)

Crunching the numbers is crucial when it comes to ensuring your store’s continued growth and success. Shopify analytics and reports allows you to see how many visitors are coming to your store, where they were referred from, and what products/pages they are viewing. Chart your sales, growth, store traffic, cart abandonment, and more.

how does shopify work
Source: shopify.com

#2 Access to a huge selection of theme options

The Shopify theme store contains hundreds of different themes that you can use as the template from which you build your store. With so many options, it’s easy to find a theme that’s perfect for your store and the shopping experience you wish to create. While some of the themes require a payment, there are also many themes that can be added to your store for freeBrowse your options here in the Shopify theme store.

how does shopify work
Source: themes.shopify.com

#3 Shopify’s marketing platform (How does Shopify work)

Once you start selling on Shopify, it’s critical to market your store. Shopify’s marketing platform makes it easy to reach more customers, with SEO tools and the ability to add a blog to your store. You can also create advertising campaigns for Google, Facebook, and your other social media channels. In your dashboard, you can track the success and progress of each campaign you set up.

how does shopify work
Source: shopify.com/market

#4 Shopify POS

If you’re selling in-person as well as online, Shopify POS (point of sale) allows you to centralize all of your sales and sync your inventory in one location. The Shopify POS app and hardware is ideal for anyone with a Shopify store as well as a pop-up shop, market stall, food truck, or other physical location.

Source: shopify.com/pos

#5 The Shopify app store – all the tools you could ever need for your store (How does Shopify work)

Probably Shopify’s most important feature, the Shopify app store is the icing on the cake when it comes to building your online store. Shopify’s app store is full of incredible tools for customizing and optimizing your store, including merchandising, marketing, fulfillment, conversion, shipping, customer service, and more. Whether you’re looking for an app to encourage your customers to leave reviews, or an app to increase revenue through upselling, they can easily be found on the Shopify app store – browse your options here.

Source: apps.shopify.com

How does Shopify work for payment plans?

As well as a 14-day free trial, there are three basic Shopify plans to choose from, with different features and pricing. Basic Shopify is available for $29/mo and is ideal for merchants who are just getting started. It includes all the basic Shopify features and everything you need to start selling online. Upgrading to Shopify will cost $79/mo and offers the ability to create more staff accounts, more inventory locations, and also offers standard reports for sales data and more. The Advanced Shopify plan is available for $299/mo and includes lower credit card transaction fees, as well as some more advanced features like international pricing.

How does Shopify work with PickyStory? Create deals and automate your sales

how does shopify work

PickyStory is a leading upselling and cross-selling app that helps you generate more revenue from every visitor to your Shopify store. With PickyStory, you can easily create a variety of deals to display at various locations throughout your store – deals can be added to any page or displayed as pop-ups.

how does shopify work

Display add-on products to boost upselling on your product pages, create a gallery of inspiring looks to encourage your customers to purchase sets of products, let customers build their own bundle of products, and so much more. PickyStory deals are created with clicks (no coding skills required) and can be added to your store in a matter of minutes using simple drag-and-drop features.

How does Shopify work? It makes it easy to create your very own online store

Thanks to Shopify, anyone with a product can start selling online. This incredibly powerful platform has everything you need, and with apps like PickyStory available in the Shopify app store, you can optimize and customize your store until it’s the perfect place to sell your products from.

Learn more on the PickyStory blog.

Good Luck!

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Frequently Bought Together

Present bundles of products that are frequently purchased together, simplifying the decision-making process for your customers

What is Frequently Bought Together?

It is a recommendation scenario that suggests additional products to the shopper, which are often purchased by other customers in conjunction with the item they are currently viewing or considering purchasing.

Why are brands using it?

How Zenbivy uses Frequently Bought Together

Zenbivy simplifies the shopping experience by displaying all the needed pieces of its sleeping systems on one page, under each product that is part of a sleeping system. This way, shoppers don't need to go through multiple pages and guess what goes with what. Zenbivy enjoys much larger orders, and shoppers can have a seamless experience.

www.zenbivy.com

Create Frequently Bought Together

Build Your Own Bundle

Offer shoppers the ability to create their own bundle of products by selecting from a range of available options

What is Build Your Own Bundle?

Build Your Own Bundle scenario provides shoppers with the flexibility to select specific items or features that best meet their individual needs and preferences. The selection is based on a pre-curated set of products by the merchant.

Why are brands using it?

How Prodigy uses Build Your Own Bundle

Prodigy enables its shoppers to build their own bundle of golf discs, fully personalizing the shopping experience. Shoppers get an easy way to select their favorite discs while Prodigy consistently increases its AOV.

www.prodigystore.eu

Create Build Your Own Bundle

Bundle as Product

Combine multiple individual products into a bundle and sell them as a single unit

What is Bundle as Product?

Bundle as Product scenario involves bundling multiple individual products together and selling them as a single unit. This strategy offers shoppers a curated selection of items that work together or complement each other.

Why are brands using it?

How Gravity Fitness uses Bundle as Product

Gravity Fitness knows that it's not an easy task for shoppers to collect all the required pieces for a complete home gym. That's why they have created pre-made home gym bundles for an easy shopping experience. Now they have fewer SKU issues, a higher AOV, and happier customers.

www.gravity.fitness

Create Bundle as product

Complete the Bundle

Encourage shoppers to add the missing items to complete the bundle when they add items to cart

What is Complete the Bundle?

Complete the Bundle popup is a deal that appears when a shopper has added some items to their shopping cart but has not yet added all the recommended or related products that typically go together.

Why are brands using it?

How Petliking.com uses Complete the Bundle

Petliking.com never misses an opportunity to offer more products to its shoppers after they add an item to cart. By offering to complete the bundle, Petliking.com helps shoppers to discover additional related items that complement each other while increasing its order size.

www.petliking.com

Create Complete the Bundle

Bundle as Product

Combine multiple individual products into a bundle and sell them as a single unit

What is Bundle as Product?

Bundle as Product scenario involves bundling multiple individual products together and selling them as a single unit. This strategy offers shoppers a curated selection of items that work together or complement each other.

Why are brands using it?

How Doodle Couture uses Bundle as Product

Doodle Couture makes it so easy for shoppers to equip their best friend with the required outfit. Instead of moving back and forth between pages, Doodle Couture offer a complete bundle for pets on one page with a single click. This boosts AOV while making the shopper happy.

www.doodlecouture.com

Create Bundle as product

Complete the Bundle

Encourage shoppers to add the missing items to complete the bundle when they add items to cart

What is Complete the Bundle?

Complete the Bundle popup is a deal that appears when a shopper has added some items to their shopping cart but has not yet added all the recommended or related products that typically go together.

Why are brands using it?

How A&D Performance uses Complete the Bundle

A&D Performance always seizes intent-based opportunities to offer additional supplements when shoppers add items to their cart. By displaying a 'Complete the Bundle' popup, A&D Performance increases their Average Order Value (AOV) while helping their customers discover more products.

www.andperformance.com

Create Complete the Bundle

Bundle as Product

Combine multiple individual products into a bundle and sell them as a single unit

What is Bundle as Product?

Bundle as Product scenario involves bundling multiple individual products together and selling them as a single unit. This strategy offers shoppers a curated selection of items that work together or complement each other.

Why are brands using it?

How Koala Babycare uses Bundle as Product

Koala Babycare simplifies its shoppers lives by offering complete cream & oil sets. Shoppers can easily pick their favorite bundles and save while Koala Babycare increases its AOV and number of orders.

www.koalababycare.com

Create Bundle as product

Spend X Get Y

Encourage shoppers to spend a certain amount of money (X) in order to receive a specific benefit or reward (Y)

What is Spend X Get Y?

"Spend X, Get Y" promotions are designed to motivate shoppers to spend more money with the promise of receiving something valuable in return. It's a win-win situation where customers get a benefit, and the store increases its sales.

Why are brands using it?

How Jose Pizarro uses Spend X Get Y

Jose Pizarro takes advantage of PickyCart and 'Spend X Get Y' to reward shoppers with free shipping when they spend £75 in-store. This is a win-win offer for both sides - while Jose Pizarro increases the AOV, shoppers receive a sweet reward.

www.josepizarro.com

Create Spend X Get Y

Complete the Bundle

Encourage shoppers to add the missing items to complete the bundle when they add items to cart

What is Complete the Bundle?

Complete the Bundle popup is a deal that appears when a shopper has added some items to their shopping cart but has not yet added all the recommended or related products that typically go together.

Why are brands using it?

How Agrestis uses Complete the Bundle

Agrestis makes sure to consistently display a variety of spirits to their shoppers at the right moment. As shoppers add spirits to the cart, Agrestis extends an offer to include more related spirits, resulting in an improved shopping experience and a higher Average Order Value (AOV).

www.stagrestis.com

Create Complete the Bundle

Build Your Own Bundle

Offer shoppers the ability to create their own bundle of products by selecting from a range of available options

What is Build Your Own Bundle?

Build Your Own Bundle scenario provides shoppers with the flexibility to select specific items or features that best meet their individual needs and preferences. The selection is based on a pre-curated set of products by the merchant.

Why are brands using it?

How Wisdom Foods uses Build Your Own Bundle

Wisdom Foods wanted to upgrade its shopping experience by making it easy for shoppers to pick their desired syrups. Now it allows shoppers to build their own bundles of syrups from a single page and checking out. This increases Wisdom Foods' order sizes while providing a personalized experience to their shoppers.

www.wisdomfoods.com.au

Create Build Your Own Bundle

Bundle as Product

Combine multiple individual products into a bundle and sell them as a single unit

What is Bundle as Product?

Bundle as Product scenario involves bundling multiple individual products together and selling them as a single unit. This strategy offers shoppers a curated selection of items that work together or complement each other.

Why are brands using it?

How Dineamic uses Bundle as Product

Dineamic takes advantage of bundles to package their pre-made meals by dietary requirements, so every shopper can quickly and easily find the desired category of meals and add them all with a single click. This simplifies the shopping experience and benefits both sides, as Dineamic boosts its Average Order Value (AOV).

www.dineamic.com.au

Create Bundle as product

Bundle as Product

Combine multiple individual products into a bundle and sell them as a single unit

What is Bundle as Product?

Bundle as Product scenario involves bundling multiple individual products together and selling them as a single unit. This strategy offers shoppers a curated selection of items that work together or complement each other.

Why are brands using it?

How Line Furniture uses Bundle as Product

Line furniture simplifies its shoppers lives by offering complete furniture sets in different styles. Now shoppers can easily find their favorite living room and save while Line Furniture increases its AOV and number of orders.

www.linefurniture.se

Create Bundle as product

Complete the Bundle

Encourage shoppers to add the missing items to complete the bundle when they add items to cart

What is Complete the Bundle?

Complete the Bundle popup is a deal that appears when a shopper has added some items to their shopping cart but has not yet added all the recommended or related products that typically go together.

Why are brands using it?

How Sobel Home uses Complete the Bundle

Sobel Home never misses an opportunity to offer more products to its shoppers after they add an item to cart. By offering to complete the bundle, Sobel Home helps shoppers to discover additional related items that complement each other while increasing its order size.

www.sobelathome.com

Create Complete the Bundle

Frequently Bought Together

Present bundles of products that are frequently purchased together, simplifying the decision-making process for your customers

What is Frequently Bought Together?

It is a recommendation scenario that suggests additional products to the shopper, which are often purchased by other customers in conjunction with the item they are currently viewing or considering purchasing.

Why are brands using it?

How By Benson uses Frequently Bought Together

By Benson never misses an opportunity to offer more options to its customers. While shoppers visit their product pages, they constantly offer to extend or upgrade the targeted product, resulting in better service and larger orders.

www.bybenson.com

Create Frequently Bought Together

Build Your Own Bundle

Offer shoppers the ability to create their own bundle of products by selecting from a range of available options

What is Build Your Own Bundle?

Build Your Own Bundle scenario provides shoppers with the flexibility to select specific items or features that best meet their individual needs and preferences. The selection is based on a pre-curated set of products by the merchant.

Why are brands using it?

How By Benson uses Build Your Own Bundle

As a professional destination for home gardeners, By Benson understands that it might be tricky to select all the necessary tools to make your garden shine. That's why By Benson helps its shoppers choose bundles of tools with a single click, while boosting their Average Order Value (AOV).

www.bybenson.com

Create Build Your Own Bundle

Build Your Own Bundle

Offer shoppers the ability to create their own bundle of products by selecting from a range of available options

What is Build Your Own Bundle?

Build Your Own Bundle scenario provides shoppers with the flexibility to select specific items or features that best meet their individual needs and preferences. The selection is based on a pre-curated set of products by the merchant.

Why are brands using it?

How Good Store uses Build Your Own Bundle

Good Store encourages its shoppers to build their own custom bundles of soaps. They provide a variety of soaps to choose from and leave the selection itself to the shopper. This is fun, rewarding, and makes both sides happy.

www.good.store

Create Build Your Own Bundle

Bundle as Product

Combine multiple individual products into a bundle and sell them as a single unit

What is Bundle as Product?

Bundle as Product scenario involves bundling multiple individual products together and selling them as a single unit. This strategy offers shoppers a curated selection of items that work together or complement each other.

Why are brands using it?

How Westman Atelier uses Bundle as Product

Westman Atelier understands that the attention span of the average shopper is quite short. Furthermore, with numerous options available, it's often easier to opt for a suggested bundle that's already curated for you.

www.westman-atelier.com

Create Bundle as product

Frequently Bought Together

Present bundles of products that are frequently purchased together, simplifying the decision-making process for your customers

What is Frequently Bought Together?

It is a recommendation scenario that suggests additional products to the shopper, which are often purchased by other customers in conjunction with the item they are currently viewing or considering purchasing.

Why are brands using it?

How Aim’n uses Frequently Bought Together

Aim'n never misses a shopper when it comes to its product pages. It utilizes the 'Frequently Bought Together' feature to suggest additional sizes to product viewers, ensuring that no shopper is left without a solution while keeping its main sizes as the default option.

www.aimn.se

Create Frequently Bought Together

Bundle as Product

Combine multiple individual products into a bundle and sell them as a single unit

What is Bundle as Product?

Bundle as Product scenario involves bundling multiple individual products together and selling them as a single unit. This strategy offers shoppers a curated selection of items that work together or complement each other.

Why are brands using it?

How BLANQI uses Bundle as Product

BLANQI make it easy for their shoppers to find complete maternity sets. While shoppers receive a fast, single-click shopping experience, BLANQI enjoys higher order amounts without investing any additional resources.

www.blanqi.com

Create Bundle as product

Build Your Own Bundle

Offer shoppers the ability to create their own bundle of products by selecting from a range of available options

What is Build Your Own Bundle?

Build Your Own Bundle scenario provides shoppers with the flexibility to select specific items or features that best meet their individual needs and preferences. The selection is based on a pre-curated set of products by the merchant.

Why are brands using it?

How Carly Jean uses Build Your Own Bundle

Carly Jean offers its shoppers the opportunity to build their own custom looks by selecting the individual items that comprise their desired outfit. 'Build Your Own Bundle' enables Carly Jean to easily provide a personalized experience that shoppers love and want to return to again and again.

www.carlyjeanlosangeles.com

Create Build Your Own Bundle

Spend X Get Y

Encourage shoppers to spend a certain amount of money (X) in order to receive a specific benefit or reward (Y)

What is Spend X Get Y?

"Spend X, Get Y" promotions are designed to motivate shoppers to spend more money with the promise of receiving something valuable in return. It's a win-win situation where customers get a benefit, and the store increases its sales.

Why are brands using it?

How Proclamation Jewelry uses Spend X Get Y

Proclamation Jewelry encourages its shoppers to spend at least $500 on jewelry in-store to receive free shipping. This is a win-win for both the shoppers, who get free shipping (which can be expensive at times), and the brand, which maintains a higher average order value.

www.proclamationjewelry.com

Create Spend X Get Y

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