How to launch a Shopify store in 2024 – general steps

Written on April 1, 2024. Posted in Shopify.

If you’re thinking about how to launch a Shopify store, you need to know that it requires careful attention to a range of technical details and configurations. Shopify is currently the best ecommerce platform for businesses to establish an online presence, but maximizing its capabilities requires a bit more deeper understanding of its features. For those looking for expert assistance in these complexities, our team is ready to assist in Shopify projects, simplifying the whole process from the setup to the official launch (and after).

Setting up the Shopify account

The Shopify journey begins with the account creation. The subscription plan influences your store’s available features and tools. Shopify’s subscription plans are made to accommodate businesses at various stages of growth, from startups to established enterprises.

The selection of an appropriate plan directly affects the features and tools your store will have access to. This includes but is not limited to, the volume of products you can list, the number of staff accounts you can create, and advanced features like professional reports and third-party calculated shipping rates. Factors to consider include:

Monthly sales volume – Estimate your store’s monthly sales and choose a plan that can efficiently accommodate this volume.
Inventory size – Assess the size of your inventory. Larger inventories might require bigger plan options.
Feature requirements – Consider which Shopify features are a must for your operations, such as detailed analytics, advanced report builder, or international pricing options.

During this phase, configuring essential settings such as payment gateways, SSL certificates for secure transactions, and custom domain setup are foundational tasks that lay the groundwork for a successful store.

If you choose your Shopify plan now, you pay 1$ for the first month. Keep in mind that the packages are cheaper if you buy one year in advance.

The image displays Shopify's pricing plans for 2024, with four tiers: "Basic" at $32/month, "Shopify" at $92/month, "Advanced" at $399/month, and "Plus" starting at $2,300/month. Each plan details features.

Shopify theme selection

Choosing the right Shopify theme shapes how your online store looks and, most importantly, works. The best theme should be easy to use on both desktops and mobile devices, load quickly to keep visitors interested, and perfectly match your brand’s style. Our team is skilled in picking and personalizing Shopify themes, ensuring your store looks great and provides an enjoyable shopping experience for your customers. One thing is certain – themes must be optimized for mobile devices and should support high-quality images and videos without compromising loading times.

Product catalog management

If you want to deliver a great shopping experience, the product catalog should be managed with precision. Shopify’s API for product management allows efficient uploads and updates.

Effective organization of your product catalog into intuitive categories serves two important purposes. First, it improves site navigation by making it easier for customers to find exactly what they are searching for. A catalog that guides users effortlessly through your product range boosts their shopping experience.

Second, good product categorization improves your website’s search engine rankings. Organizing products into categories and using relevant keywords can increase your site’s visibility, making it easier for potential customers to find your offerings.

SEO and site performance

At least one-third of the answers to the ‘how to launch a Shopify store’ question concern optimizing your store for search engines and ensuring it performs well. These factors account for a significant portion of the groundwork necessary for your store to attract visitors and convert them into loyal customers.

This involves implementing schema markup, optimizing meta descriptions, and conducting regular performance audits to keep loading times short. The best thing you can do is to make sure these things are well-prepared before the official launch. Preparing these elements well before your store’s official launch sets a solid foundation for your online presence. For those who may need extra guidance, seeking help with SEO and site performance is a wise decision.

Checkout process optimization

Have this in mind: a simple checkout process keeps customers happy. This involves ensuring secure payment options, making checkout smooth and easy, and following ecommerce rules.

One rule is having secure payment methods. Customers want to know their payment information is safe. Using strong security measures and offering various payment options, like credit cards and digital wallets, helps build trust and convenience.

What do we mean by a smooth and simple checkout process? It means having a quick and easy-to-understand checkout process with as few steps as possible. Allowing customers to buy without creating an account and removing unnecessary information fields can significantly reduce cart abandonment. Also, be clear about your store’s returns and privacy policies, and ensure you’re following laws that apply to selling online.

App integration

Shopify has numerous apps that upgrade your online store, covering everything from inventory management to marketing automation. Choosing the right apps can improve how your store operates.

For specialized requirements, Shopify’s API enables the creation of custom integrations, allowing for solutions that are made for your needs. So, no matter your operational demands, you can optimize your Shopify store just the way you need. And, pssst! Don’t tell anyone this, but we’re experts in creating custom Shopify apps.

Pre-launch review

Before launching your store, do a detailed review to ensure all technical elements are correctly in place and fully operational. This pre-launch check should thoroughly assess your store’s security protocols to safeguard customer information, confirm that the site is optimized for mobile responsiveness to cater to users on various devices, and evaluate the overall site performance, including page load speeds and navigation efficiency.

This review should also cover the integration of payment gateways, the accuracy of product descriptions and images, and the functionality of customer service features. Addressing these areas is vital for identifying and rectifying any issues that could impact the functionality of your store or the satisfaction of your customers. Trust us, you need a successful launch!

Going live

Switching your store to “live” mode is a step that needs careful handling. After your store starts operating for real, it’s important to monitor its progress closely. This means quickly spotting and fixing any problems that pop up, making sure that people visiting your store for the first time have an enjoyable shopping experience.

Keeping an eye on everything from page loading speeds to checkout processes helps catch any glitches early, ensuring that your customers leave happy and are more likely to return. Take a deep breath and hit that ‘Publish’ button with confidence!

Ongoing optimization

Even after your store goes live, it’s important always to try to improve. Keep refining your online store by conducting regular evaluations and making necessary adjustments.

This involves analyzing your store’s performance and listening to your customers’ words. From there, you can make informed decisions about, for example, updating your SEO tactics to increase visibility, speeding up your site to boost user experience, and strategizing for future expansion.

Regularly updating content, optimizing for search engines, and making sure your website runs well are key activities that help attract more visitors and convert them into loyal customers. By staying proactive and responsive to both data and feedback, you position your online store for scalability, and that’s what every ecommerce store dreams about!

How to launch a Shopify store – wrapping up

The process of setting up and launching a Shopify store can be divided into several general phases and isn’t such an easy task – but it’s worth it! Shopify is the ecommerce platform with all the necessary tools for a successful online business. To truly maximize what the platform offers, it will be good to understand its technical details thoroughly. As an ecommerce owner, you might not be that into technical stuff. But don’t worry, that’s where our team comes in!

We’re a Shopify expert agency and specialize in Shopify projects. We offer full service, detailed advice, and support every step of the way. Our expertise ensures that your Shopify store launches without a hitch. Let’s talk about your project!