How to Sell on Shopify

So, you want to sell something online—handmade candles, stylish hoodies, phone cases, or digital art? Good news: Shopify makes it super easy to set up your online store and start selling worldwide.

It’s great if you’re already familiar with Shopify! But you might be wondering:

“Okay… but how do I actually sell on it?”

Let’s walk through the process step by step—in clear, simple language.

Step 1: Sign Up for a Free Trial

Head to shopify.com and click “Start Free Trial.” You’ll need to enter:

• Your email address

• A password

• Your store name

Once you’re in, you’ll land on your dashboard—your control center for everything.

Step 2: Decide What to Sell

First, decide what you want to sell:

• Physical items (shirts, mugs, books)

• Digital items (ebooks, music, art files)

• Services (coaching, classes, custom work)

• Dropshipping products (items you don’t handle or ship yourself)

What products are you excited to sell? Share your ideas below!

Step 3: Customize Your Store’s Appearance

Design your store’s look to match your brand:

• Select a free or paid theme

• Customize colors, fonts, and layout

• Add your logo and store name

It’s all click-and-drag—no coding required. Choose a style that fits your brand’s personality.

Step 4: Add Products

Click on Products → Add product, then fill in:

• Product name

• Description (What is it? Why will people love it?)

• Price

• Product photos

• Inventory quantity

• Variants (like sizes or colors)

Click Save. You can update this info anytime.

Step 5: Set Up Payments

To get paid, go to Settings → Payments. Shopify supports:

• Credit cards (via Shopify Payments)

• PayPal

• Apple Pay, Google Pay, and more

Add your bank details so Shopify can deposit your earnings.

Tip: Shopify Payments offers low fees—great for small businesses. PayPal is excellent for reaching international buyers.

Step 6: Set Up Shipping

If you’re mailing physical items, go to Settings → Shipping. Here, you can:

• Choose shipping regions

• Set rates (free, flat, or weight-based)

• Pick carriers (UPS, USPS, DHL)

• Print shipping labels right in Shopify

Step 7: Choose a Domain Name

You get a free Shopify domain (yourstore.myshopify.com), but a custom domain looks more professional.

• Buy a domain through Shopify
• Or connect one you already own

Step 8: Set Up Store Pages & Navigation

Create essential pages:

• About Us – Tell your story

• Contact – Let customers reach you

• FAQs – Answer common questions

• Policies – Cover returns, shipping, privacy

Add these under Online Store → Pages, then link them in your site menu under Navigation.

Step 9: Test Everything

Before launch, test your store:

• Browse like a customer

• Add items to your cart

• Run through checkout (Shopify has a test mode)

• Check confirmation emails

Better to catch bugs now than after you start selling!

Step 10: Launch Your Store

Once you’re happy with everything:

• Go to Settings → Preferences

• Disable the password page

Your store is now live—congratulations!

Step 11: Promote Your Store

Let the world know you’re open for business:

• Share your store on social media

• Post behind-the-scenes content or product videos

• Start an email list with tools like Mailchimp

• Run simple ads if desired

Tip: Short Instagram videos and email blasts can be super effective!

Step 12: Manage Orders and Grow

When orders come in, Shopify notifies you. You’ll see:

• Order details

• Shipping info

• Payment confirmation

You can:

• Print labels

• Mark orders as fulfilled

• Track inventory

• Send updates

Stay organized and focused with Shopify’s dashboard.

Bonus: Use Apps to Supercharge Your Store

The Shopify App Store lets you add powerful features:

• Customer reviews

• Discount codes

• Social media integrations

• Dropshipping tools (e.g., Oberlo, DSers)

Many apps are free or low-cost, and they save time and boost sales.

Final Thoughts

Selling on Shopify is simple when you follow the right steps:

1. Set up your store

2. Add products

3. Configure payments and shipping

4. Launch your shop

5. Promote it

6. Manage your business

You don’t need to be a tech wizard. Whether you’re selling cookies, courses, or cool t-shirts, Shopify helps you do it from one place.

Now it’s your turn—start selling today!