Hey there! I’m Simon, and I’m super excited to guide you through the process of creating your own e-commerce website using Shopify from scratch. This isn’t just a basic tutorial; it’s a complete guide that covers everything you need to know to build a fully functional and professional Shopify store. By the end of this guide, you’ll be ready to sell your products online!
We’ll be using a free Shopify theme that is fully responsive, ensuring your website looks great on any device—be it a computer, tablet, or mobile phone. Let’s dive right in!
1. Create Your Shopify Account
First things first, if you don’t have a Shopify account yet, you can create one using the link below:
Start your free Shopify trial (3 days free + an additional month for just $1)
Once you’re on the Shopify signup page, enter your email and click on Start Free Trial. You’ll be asked a few questions, but to save time, just click on Skip All.
Next, choose the location of your business and click on Next. You can create your account using your Apple, Facebook, or Google account, or simply sign up with your email. Choose a password and click on Create Shopify Account.
2. Activate Your Extended Trial
To get that extra month for just $1, you need to select a Shopify plan within the first 3 days of signing up. Click on Select a Plan and choose the basic plan, which has everything you need. Enter your payment information and confirm your business address. Now you’re all set!
3. Choose Your Theme
Now that your account is ready, it’s time to choose a theme for your Shopify website. Click on Online Store, and you’ll see the themes section. The default theme is the Dawn theme, but we’ll be using the Trade theme, which is one of the newest and best free themes available.
Scroll down, click on Visit Theme Store, and filter by free themes. Select the Trade theme, click on Try Theme, and then publish it to activate.
4. Customize Your Website
Click on Customize to enter the page builder. Here, you can see a lot of placeholder content. The left side shows an overview of your page. You can switch between different pages like the product page, collection page, etc.
To see how your store looks on different devices, use the mobile view option. All Shopify themes are fully responsive, so changes made in the desktop view will look good on all devices.
5. Add Your Products
Next, let’s start adding products. In your Shopify dashboard, go to Products and click on Add Product. Enter the product name, description, and upload high-quality images. Set your price, and don’t forget to manage your inventory.
For example, let’s add a backpack called “The Explorer.” You can also add variants like color options (black, blue, green) and set stock quantities for each.
6. Create Collections
To keep your products organized, you can create collections. Go to Products and then Collections. Start by deleting the default homepage collection if you don’t need it, and then create a new collection for your products. For instance, create a collection called “Backpacks.”
7. Build Your Homepage
Now that your products and collections are set up, let’s customize your homepage. You can use the Featured Collection section to showcase your best-selling items or new arrivals. Select the collection you want to display and adjust the settings to show a maximum of five products.
8. Add Other Essential Pages
Every online store should have essential pages like About Us, Contact, and FAQ. To create a new page, go to Online Store and click on Pages. Add a new page for each section, customizing them as needed.
9. Set Up Your Navigation Menu
To make it easy for customers to navigate your store, set up a clear navigation menu. Go to Navigation in your Shopify dashboard and organize your main menu and footer menu. Add links to your essential pages and collections.
10. Configure Your Store Settings
Before going live, make sure to configure your store settings. Go to Settings and check your store details, payments, shipping, and tax settings. Ensure everything is accurate to provide a smooth shopping experience for your customers.
11. Publish Your Website
Once everything is set, you can publish your store. Go to Online Store and remove the password protection. Your Shopify store is now live and ready for customers!
And there you have it! Following these steps, you can create your very own Shopify store in no time. If you’re looking for more tips on how to enhance your online visibility, check out my other blogs:
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