Shopify stores saw an unprecedented surge in demand from global consumers in 2020, with as many as 457 million individuals making purchases from Shopify merchants. And India is no different. Shopify has created a big base here as well for good reasons. And that’s why today we are focusing on the procedure to launch your Shopify store.
Just like opening an offline store, it's crucial to take the time to open an online store. Although creating a new Shopify store requires time, it may be made simpler and less stressful by following a step-by-step procedure. Take a big breath, evaluate the circumstances, and confirm that everything is operating as it should before starting your business.
Because you’re here, you're probably looking to start your own business with Shopify. In this post, we'll discuss everything you need to know about starting a Shopify store, including how to do it quickly. Let's begin!
E-Business Scenario in India: A Peep into the Current Position
Now that you are all set to get your hands dirty and build your own Shopify store, there is some basic knowledge about the Indian market that you must possess. Today, it has become a diverse market for online shoppers and is expanding at a very fast pace. Key factors to consider include:
Consumer Behavior
The Indian consumer is quite rational and price-conscious and is always on the lookout for a product that gives value for money. Some of the tactics that can be used to guarantee customer attraction and retention include; offering lower prices, offering specials/discounts, and offering high-quality products.
Payment Methods
The preferred modes of payment for buyers from India are e-wallets, particularly Paytm and UPI, credit/ debit cards, and Cash on Delivery. Another essential requirement is the presence of several payment options in your Shopify store.
Logistics
Another business function that has to be effective and reliable is logistics and delivery services. Choose only those carriers that can offer delivery to all regions of the country including rural areas.
How to Launch Your Shopify Store
The first step that you will be taking when you open your Shopify store is to make an account on the platform. First, the person needs to visit the Shopify website and sign up for a trial account. Some of the details required in the creation of an account include the email address, the password, and the store name. After registration, you will be required to input more information about your shop that operates in India with a business address. This will help to avoid mistakes such as improper configuration of the store based on the needs of the Indian population.
Choosing the Right Shopify Plan
Shopify has presented several various types of plans which can be chosen depending on the type of business. The Basic Shopify plan is ideal for newcomers who have a small stock – only 2,500 products are available for $29 per month, and you get basic reports. For growing businesses, the Shopify plan offers professional reports and additional staff accounts, which are essential in managing a large-scale enterprise.
The Advanced Shopify plan is designed for larger businesses that need custom reporting and third-party calculated shipping rates. Choosing the right plan that suits your business model and future expansion path is critical for the success of your store.
Customizing Your Store
After creating the account and selecting the plan it is now the right time for setting up the look and feel of the store. Nothing is as important as the aesthetics and usability of your store when it comes to its ability to draw in customers and keep them coming back. There are a number of Shopify India themes you can look over and choose based on the look of your brand. The theme for the website should be selected to be mobile-friendly as a large portion of Indian consumers have a mobile-first approach to shopping.
Customization is not as simple as selecting a theme. When starting a new Shopify store, you should focus on adding your logo, changing colors, and modifying the layout for an even more unique shopping experience. This step is important in the branding process and is important in making sure that your store is easily recognizable in the market.
How to add products to Your Store
Now that you have designed your store, the next thing to do is add products to it. The clarity of the pictures, the textual descriptions, and the price offer should be as clear and accurate as possible. Think of providing several images and closer views of the products, which will be helpful for the customers and make the shopping experience more enjoyable.
Another factor that needs to be considered is inventory management. Shopify has features that enable you to monitor your inventory, set up notifications for low quantities, and control different variations of the product, for example, by size or color. Moreover, it is crucial to utilize keywords for product titles and descriptions which will increase the store’s online visibility and attract more customers to the store.
Setting Up Payment Gateways
Due to the payment heterogeneity in India, you need to adopt multiple payment gateways when you build your store with Shopify. Some of the widely used integrations include Razorpay, PayU, and Cashfree, which integrate with UPI, digital wallets, and credit/debit cards. COD also needs to be made available as it is still popular among Indian consumers. This will appeal to the customers, and make your store welcoming to those with different preferences the payment method.
Setting up Shipping Choices
Shipping and delivery are two important functions that must be coordinated when managing your online store. To set up shipping, determine your shipping locations which can be local or global depending on your intended coverage area. There are different ways of implementing shipping rates, and some of them include free shipping, flat-rate shipping, or even a rate based on the weight or value of the order.
It is crucial to connect with dependable courier service providers who have a stable and efficient delivery network within the country. Some of the available and reliable courier services are Blue Dart, Delhivery, and India Post. These partners can guarantee delivery of your products to the customers in time and in a secure way which helps in satisfying the customers and getting their repeat business.
Establishing of Legal and Tax Related Information
Legal and taxation laws are very important factors that one has to consider while operating an online store in India. It is vital for your business to register for GST where it is compulsory to do so. Shopify makes it possible to set up GST on products, ensuring that you are in compliance with the Indian legal requirements on taxation.
Apart from tax compliance, it’s crucial to develop and post your store’s privacy statement, terms of use, and return policy. They are legal requirements and also help to develop trust with your customers. When the expectations are communicated well, it can assist with controlling the customer’s expectations and avoid conflicts.
Marketing Your Shopify Store
Once you have your Shopify India store established, the next thing to do is to make people visit your store. Online advertising is highly effective in India and using social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter gives one the opportunity to access the market. Using advertising on these sites is effective since it allows the business to target potential clients who might be interested in their products.
Customers will be able to see the theme of your online store instantly, so you should be careful in choosing the appropriate one that will give a good initial impression of your business. Shopify offers a number of free and paid themes for its users – all of which can be customized to fit your store’s brand.
Selecting A Suitable Theme
Customers will be able to see the theme of your online store instantly, so you should be careful in choosing the appropriate one that will give a good initial impression of your business. Shopify offers a number of free and paid themes for its users – all of which can be customized to fit your store’s brand.
Take into account the following elements while selecting a theme:
- Design: Select a theme that is aesthetic and relevant to your business.
- Features: Look for a theme that has the features you need, for instance, social network integration, product galleries or responsive design.
- Customizability: Look to see if the theme can be changed as required.
Ensure that the theme is responsive because most of the clients are using their phones to make purchases.
Selecting Appropriate Plugins
So, there are a great number of plugins, or applications, that can enhance the work of your shop if they are used in Shopify. Think about the following while selecting plugins:
- Features: If you need email marketing, social media integration, and abandoned cart recovery, search for the plugins that offer these features.
- Reviews: Before using a plugin, check out other users’ feedback to understand if it is reliable and easy to use.
- Compatibility: Check for compatibility to ascertain whether the plugin is compatible with your theme and other plugins.
- Price: It is important to remember that sometimes the plugins can be expensive.
You must focus on SEO when starting a new Shopify store. It is important to place relevant keywords on your store’s content to have a better ranking on search engines and drive traffic from users. Blogging is also a good traffic generation strategy because you can post useful content that will interest your audiences.
Email marketing continues to be one of the most effective ways of reaching out to customers. Maintaining a list of customers’ email addresses, and periodically sending them new products, advertisements and other information, can also ensure that the customers keep coming back.
Launching and Post-Launch Activities
After your store is ready and you have all your promotional methods lined up, you are ready to go live. It is recommended to start with a beta test for a limited number of users to evaluate the website's performance, navigation, and payment options. With this approach, you are able to get feedback and make corrections where necessary before the actual launch.
When you’re ready to launch, make an official post on your social media platforms, newsletters, and any other marketing platforms you have. A good product launch can create demand and traffic to your store, which can help in the long run.
Analyzing Performance and Scaling
Finally, it is crucial to stay vigilant and keep track of your store’s performance after launch. The program also has integrated tools for statistics, which allow us to monitor sales, visitors, and customers. It is possible to find out which products you successfully sell online in India and which aspects of your work are not as effective.
Another source of information is the customer feedback. Gather as many reviews and feedback from customers as possible. Such feedback can be used to make decisions about your supply of stock, your prices, and the way that you treat your customers, all of which can aid in optimizing the performance of your store.
As your store remains operational, you should consider how to grow it, for example, offering more products, advertising your store or selling products across borders. But scaling requires strategy and proper management and the idea mentioned above can be useful for the Shopify store to become a successful contender in the Indian e-commerce market.
Conclusion
To start an online store with Shopify in India, one has to put in a lot of planning and focus as well as possess adequate knowledge of the market. The above Shopify launch checklist makes it possible to develop an effective online store that would be professionally designed and easy to navigate for Indian customers. With the right strategy and the right tools, one can turn the Shopify store into a successful and profitable business in one of the most competitive e-commerce markets globally.
If you have been operating an e-commerce business and you wish to take it to the next level then you must contact the professionals of the TaskerWeb team. Our team of experts is proficient in developing unique Shopify stores for your business requirements. Whether you are a new entrant or an experienced retailer, we offer you the assistance and tools to succeed in the e-commerce environment in India. Contact TaskerWeb today to begin the process of growing a strong online presence that translates into greater revenues.