Why should you choose Shopify platform to build an online store?
If you are considering having your own online store you probably already know some hosting providers. But do you already know what the Shopify advantages and disadvantages are ? When we start a new business, we want to be sure that we have all the necessary information at hand to reach our goals.
There are various software and platforms on the market to develop online stores. All have qualities that may or may not fit the business plan that we have previously developed or the nature of our company. Shopify is a platform for electronic commerce that provides accommodation to virtual stores. It offers a complete package of features or functionalities, which serve to efficiently and quality manage Internet sales.
Shopify has evolved a lot since its launch in 2006, adding particularities and innovations to its services and growing along with the online business. Let’s start with the advantages that this platform of Canadian origin brings together.
Advantages of Shopify
The advantages of Shopify are many. For that reason, it has become one of the most popular hosting providers for e-commerce. Also with greater demand among new merchants. Now also by large and consolidated companies, including Red Bull, Sears, Citizen, General Electric, and many other brands. Next, let’s carefully review all the details of the pros of this platform. Attentive to what you can take advantage of for your online store.
Speed
With Shopify, creating and launching an online store is a matter of seconds. An important advantage is a practicality to start an online trade in a very short time. The platform guides you step by step in the process of setting up your own store, customize it to your liking, develop the design and, finally, add your products. In a simple sequence of actions that will not take you just a few minutes or hours, depending on the adjustments you make. However, if you compare the hours with the several days or months that you can take with other providers, you will see that you are saving a significant amount of time and, probably, resources.
When operating as a hosting system in the cloud, it is not necessary to generate a code or program an operating system. This would take a considerable amount of time and expenses on specialized personnel. In addition, the costs of the software or server.
You can personally manage your store
Another advantage of Shopify is the simplicity of its interface. The basic standard of the platform is to simplify any process, so you can manage your store without any inconvenience. Even if you have no previous experience on how to carry out commercial operations on the Internet, with Shopify you can manage your online store without headaches or shocks. Learning how the platform works is really simple. Its structure will be easy to understand and you can take full advantage of all the features that this provider has for virtual stores.
Elegant and professional design
Shopify is very versatile in design, with more than one hundred professional templates and adaptable to all smart device screens: computers, tablets and cell phones. Few platforms offer such a wide variety of options. All the templates were created by specialized designers, therefore the quality is very high. Also, there are several collections with options recommended by sales sectors, which can serve as a reference for the designs used in your commercial area. There is an alternative to customize each template or, if you prefer, organize your own design with HTML and CSS language editing.
A first-class accommodation, without code
Unlimited bandwidth, regardless of your service plan, how much you invest, the size of your inventory or visitor traffic you receive daily. With hosting in the cloud, you do not need to write programming codes or hire another to do it for you. You can access your admin panel from your computer or cell phone. Manage any process with comfort and precision.
At the same time, Shopify is a server that supports a large amount of data, at high speed, so you should not worry about dealing with a store that runs slowly and makes you lose sales. Consider how damaging this could be for your business.
Easy internationalization
If you want to be able to enter a global market, Shopify is your ideal option. Adopt payment gateways that accept multiple currencies and work in multiple languages. The platform automatically makes the adjustment of taxes, according to the location of your trade register. This means that everything related to the analysis of the accounting and the record of figures solve it for you.
Applications Marketplace
To expand the characteristics of stores and improve the performance of your company, there is a wide market of applications, some free and others must be paid for. Shopify always tries to be at the forefront of e-commerce platforms. Therefore, they are constantly adding resources that benefit and facilitate the sales of entrepreneurs.
Bank security
One of the most outstanding advantages of Shopify is its level of security. This works in the same way as the bank’s electronic transfer system. Your data and those of your clients will always be protected from external influences.
Automatic Updates
Not all platforms can boast their innovations. Many of its competitors have had to implement resources that Shopify has popularized. Certainly, we are talking about a server that is, at present, a leader in the market. What benefit does that represent? Constant updates are implemented automatically, in the blink of an eye.
Tools for SEO
Pros to improve the position in the search engines and attract more organic traffic to your store. Being at the top of the list of results is the best way to monetize with users. Every time you look for a product or service they will come to you. You can also create and maintain your own blog with the content of interest to the community that you try to guide your business.
The great amount of informative material
A lot of effort has been put into educating its merchants, with a vast amount of resources that gather the content of interest to the community. Your own encyclopedia, videos, guides and even an “Ecommerce University” at your entire disposal.
24 × 7 customer service
Unique in its style and with highly trained personnel to solve any problem, answer your questions, and follow up on your requests. This assistance system is working every day and at all hours. You can contact the help center by email, chat, or by phone call.
The price, advantage, or disadvantage?
It is true that there are free hosting platforms and in front of Shopify, the price could be a disadvantage. But free options will never have the same characteristics, support and benefits of a payment platform. It is necessary to evaluate what is intended to be achieved and the business plan in the medium and long term. On the other hand, Shopify has several service packages that fit any budget. Regardless of the amount to be paid, we can assure you of a quality experience.
Compared to downloadable software, with code management, Shopify is a cheaper service. Although it implies a monthly expense, it avoids costs associated with support, maintenance and updates. Therefore, from both perspectives, the price is always an advantage.