Why Shopify?
Whether you’re building your first online store or planning a platform switch, Shopify is well worth exploring.
Since the first documented online purchase was made (in 1994!), e-commerce has become firmly entrenched in the global marketplace. In fact, over 2 billion people now purchase goods and services in the digital space, driving annual sales of over $4 trillion!
If your company is seeking to join the online gold rush, choosing the right e-commerce platform is a must. And whether you’re new to the game or considering a platform change, Shopify is one of the best bets around.
So why Shopify? Let’s take a look at what makes this famous e-commerce platform such a standout.
It’s Popular & Trusted
Sometimes following the herd can be a good thing. Shopify powers millions of online stores, making it one of the most popular and trusted e-commerce platforms around (and highly unlikely to shut down and leave you stranded). That scale and reach has also created an ecosystem with many benefits including Shopify’s vast number of available themes and plug-ins. In fact, custom integrations are rarely an issue with Shopify, even in corner cases. So if your company needs to expand online, it’s far easier and cheaper to accomplish.
Shopify’s immense popularity also makes it easy to find helpful guidance and support, both online and from expert professionals. Best practices are readily available as well.
It’s Affordable
Shopify is among the most attractively-priced e-commerce platforms on the market, with basic packages starting as low as $29 per month. But the bottom line impact goes even farther. Because Shopify provides many choices for shipping providers, payment gateways, and ERP systems, it lets you build a lower cost solution that works for your business. And If you plan to switch to Shopify from another e-commerce platform (Magento, for example), the migration costs also tend to be reasonable.
It’s User Friendly
What good is an affordable solution if it’s a pain to use? Thankfully, Shopify has invested heavily in their back-office and customer purchase flow, giving administrators and customers intuitive user experiences.
With Shopfiy, you can manage your online store with ease—and avoid wasting your precious time battling technical issues. Everything from navigating the store settings, to managing shipping, to integrating social media accounts, is simple and straightforward. If you do run into challenges, 24/7 support is available via phone, email or live chat. And with Shopify’s huge community of users, there are plenty of online help forums as well.
It’s Mobile Ready
With most web traffic now coming from handheld devices, it’s imperative to provide a frictionless experience for your customers on the go. Shopify knows this—all of its themes are mobile friendly and your new store will look great on all device types. There are also free mobile apps that let you manage your store from a smartphone or tablet, if desired.
It’s Social Savvy
Selling products via your website is one thing, but selling to nearly 2 billion active users directly through Facebook and Instagram is quite another. With Shopify you can do both—and manage it all from your own website. That’s because your Shopify products can automatically sync to these two social media giants, letting you create ads and social posts with ease.
To sell directly to these huge social audiences you’ll need to use Shopify Payments, which allows you to accept all major payment methods without the hassle of setting up a third-party payment provider. An accelerated checkout feature called Shop Pay is also provided, letting buyers from Facebook, Instagram or Shopify complete their transactions faster.
It’s Secure
As a merchant, one of the most important issues you’ll need to consider is security. If you accept, process, store or transmit credit or debit card information, you must maintain a secure environment. This is called the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), and it applies to any organization, regardless of size or number of transactions. The good news? All online stores on the Shopify platform are automatically PCI compliant.
The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) is also a law to keep in mind if you plan to sell to California residents (and therefore collect their information). Shopify provides helpful guidance on how CCPA affects you as a merchant and how you can comply through their platform.
Are you planning to sell in European markets? The European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) might apply. Fortunately, GDPR-compliant features are also built into Shopify's platform—although some additional steps might be needed based on evolving data laws (always consult a lawyer or privacy professional).
It’s Packed With Themes
We all know the adage, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” With Shopify, presenting an eye-catching website to potential customers is all but guaranteed. There are hundreds of attractive storefront themes and templates to choose from, categorized by industry, layout style (grid, editorial, etc.) and visual features (video, slideshows, etc.). Design and code customization is also possible, enabling you create an online shop that matches your company’s distinct look and feel.
It’s Scalable
The goal of every business is growth, and Shopify is certainly expansion friendly. There are hundreds of tools and apps available to support your selling journey—so as your needs evolve, your e-commerce platform won’t hold you back.
Looking to sell offline as well? Shopify can help you scale into the brick and mortar world. They offer a Point of Sale (POS) functionality ideal for physical stores or pop-up shops. Your customers can browse in store and buy online; buy online and pick up in store; or buy in store and have products shipped to them.
Rhythm Knows Shopify
Looking to make your new Shopify website truly unique? Rhythm offers leading e-commerce website design and development services. Over the years we’ve created and launched dozens of successful e-commerce websites ranging from a global skin care line to a beloved popped-corn snack.
Unhappy with your current online shopping platform? We’re also experts at transitioning brands away from other e-commerce platforms, particularly Magento.