Shopify is among the most popular ecommerce platforms on the planet, with approximately 1.7 million merchants relying on the platform to power their storefronts.
So, what is it about Shopify that makes it so popular? And why do so many ecommerce sellers swear by the platform?
Here’s what we know: anyone looking to start an online store with limited technical expertise can achieve significant success on Shopify. But that alone shouldn’t be enough, right? Well, it is. A lot of merchants stick with Shopify because they discover how powerful it truly is.
What about non-Shopify stores? Can they find success on the platform? Yes, they can. We’ve seen many large ecommerce businesses have storefronts developed in-house, or who use more complicated ecommerce solutions, make the transition to Shopify too.
Today, Shopify claims more than 1,000,000 businesses are running on Shopify due to the platform’s ease of use, reliable security, and over 3,200 apps that streamline deploying new capabilities and features. It’s easy to see why some large ecommerce businesses are starting to take the platform seriously.
Today, we’re going to explore why Shopify is the king of ecommerce platforms, as well as why it’s time for larger ecommerce businesses to consider the platform.
What Makes Shopify Such a Powerful Ecommerce Platform?
New users certainly love the simplicity of setting up their ecommerce businesses without needing a developer, but that’s only one small part of why the platform is so popular and powerful. What else makes Shopify worth considering for bigger businesses?
1. Easy to Deploy New Pages and Sites
The same Shopify power that attracts new stores also empowers larger businesses to be more agile and respond to new demands incredibly quickly. Is there a new trend taking shape within your industry, such as demand for a new product line or preference for a specific design style?
Shopify makes it easy to change your entire site’s design, deploy new static pages to serve as landing pages for new campaigns, or even spin up an entirely new storefront to cater to a growing niche. Each of these actions can be handled by an individual or small team without needing to involve developers or engineers.
Compare this to operating an online store that was designed in-house. Simpler tasks like creating a new landing will require a developer or designer, and changing your site’s design could become a months-long project. For smaller ecommerce businesses looking to move fast and stay competitive, agility is everything, which is where Shopify excels.
2. Shopify is Ultra-Secure
Shopify is a hosted ecommerce solution, as opposed to platforms like Magento and WordPress that require businesses to have their own hosting. While not an impossible task, this can bring security issues, especially if you don’t have a dedicated team handling server maintenance and software updates.
And when it comes to WordPress, there is no shortage of known vulnerabilities that could significantly impact your business and its ability to operate. For example, WordPress is notorious for plugin-based exploits, SQL injections, SEO spam, poorly configured user roles, DDoS attacks, and more.
This isn’t the case with Shopify since they provide the security required by an online store that’s collecting sensitive data with every new sale made. Shopify takes care of server maintenance and software updates so malicious actors aren’t able to exploit a known vulnerability in outdated versions. Additionally, Shopify provides an SSL and even takes care of PCI compliance, which is required for any business that deals with credit cards.
3. Robust App Marketplace for Enhanced Marketing
Shopify is known for its massive app store that adds a variety of features and there are plenty of apps available that expand the optimization and marketing capabilities of Shopify.
Nosto is a popular marketing app that brings a lot to the table, such as A/B testing, product recommendations based on user’s actions, and easy creation of landing pages or pop-ups. It also provides a dashboard filled with the analytics required to determine what’s working and what isn’t. For stores looking for a simpler app dedicated to A/B testing, Neat A/B Testing is a common choice.
What about PPC and social media campaigns? StoreYa is a specialized app that enables advanced tracking of Google Ads, Facebook and Instagram ads, as well as Google Shopping feeds. Easy Facebook & Instagram Ads is an incredibly popular app for creating and tracking advertisements on those platforms.
Shopify’s robust app marketplace is one of the platform’s biggest selling features, especially when you consider how easy it is to integrate and deploy these apps. Whenever you need specific functionality — simply find the right app, install it, and you’re ready to go.
4. Optimized for Mobile Devices
The days of desktop-only websites are over. Mobile ecommerce continues to dominate the shopping experience. By 2024, it’s estimated that nearly 45% of retail ecommerce sales in the US will take place on mobile.
With mobile penetration so high, it’s now a requirement that every online store is optimized for mobile devices. Any bugs or poorly designed mobile UI will likely result in a higher bounce rate and higher cart abandonment rate.
Shopify is well aware of the need for online stores to be optimized for mobile devices. All of Shopify’s themes are responsive by nature, meaning they are designed to look incredible on mobile devices, along with providing the same desktop functionality users have come to expect.
5. Endless Apps That Enable Scalability
We may have touched on how massive the app store is on Shopify, but this really is one of Shopify’s biggest selling points. Shopify provides a lot more than advanced marketing capabilities.
There are a number of operations-focused apps that help source additional products, create robust loyalty programs, and assist with overall store management. Apps such as Shopify Flow, Launchpad, and Shopify Scripts add automation features that allow you to focus on growing the business instead of handling mundane tasks.
Most of the important apps will carry a monthly subscription fee, but there are also free apps to explore. Migrating your store to Shopify opens up a whole new world of potential enhancements and upgrades that can be added with a simple interface and setup wizard.
Make the Most of Shopify with Emarketed
Even the best Shopify store imaginable won’t be worthwhile if it’s not getting enough traffic. Deploying new pages quickly and expanding capabilities with apps will only get you so far.
Emarketed works with you to create paid ad campaigns that attract people ready to become customers. Our experts continually analyze and refine each campaign to target your perfect customer where they’re spending their time online.
Are you ready to maximize your advertising budget with data-driven insights? Contact our digital marketing experts today to see how we can help your business reach new heights through the power of Shopify.