Does My Website Need a Design Refresh? Why We Recommend a Rebuild Every 5–10 Years
In today’s fast-paced digital world, your website is often your first impression—and first impressions count. At Virtual Innovation, we oft...
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Starting an online store can feel overwhelming, but Shopify makes it easier than ever. As a trusted Shopify Web Agency, we’ve helped countless Kiwi businesses launch their eCommerce dreams. Whether you’re a small startup or an established brand looking to expand online, this guide will walk you through everything you need to get started.
Why Choose Shopify for Your eCommerce Business?
Shopify is one of the world’s most popular eCommerce platforms, and for good reason:
- User-Friendly Interface: No technical background needed.
- Fully Hosted Solution: No need to worry about servers or security.
- Scalable: Whether you have 10 products or 10,000, Shopify grows with you.
- Customisable Themes: Match your brand’s look and feel easily.
- App Integrations: Extend functionality with powerful add-ons.
Step 1: Sign Up for Shopify
Head to Shopify.com and sign up for a free trial. Choose a store name that reflects your brand and check domain availability.
Step 2: Choose a Theme
Pick a theme from Shopify’s theme store. Make sure it’s mobile-responsive and suits your product type. Our Shopify Web Agency offers custom theme development if you need a more tailored design.
Step 3: Add Your Products
Create product listings with high-quality images, detailed descriptions, and prices. Organise your products into collections to make browsing easy for customers.
Pro Tip: Use unique product descriptions to improve SEO.
Step 4: Set Up Payments
Shopify supports multiple payment gateways including Shopify Payments, PayPal, and Stripe. Choose what works best for your business and target market.
Step 5: Configure Shipping and Tax
Set your shipping zones, rates, and policies. Don’t forget to configure tax rules based on your location — Shopify can handle GST for New Zealand-based stores.
Step 6: Customise Your Domain
Buy a domain through Shopify or connect an existing one. A professional domain builds credibility and trust.
Step 7: Launch Your Store
Double-check everything — product pages, payment methods, and legal pages (Privacy Policy, Terms & Conditions, etc.). When you’re ready, remove the password and go live!
Why Work with a Shopify Web Agency?
While DIY is possible, working with a Shopify Web Agency ensures a professional, optimised, and conversion-focused store. Agencies bring:
- Experience with best practices
- Custom development and integrations
- SEO optimisation
- Ongoing support and maintenance
Tips to Boost Your Shopify Store’s Success
- Use High-Quality Images: Show your products in the best light.
- Write for SEO: Incorporate keywords naturally into your content.
- Email Marketing: Build a customer list from day one.
- Social Media Integration: Drive traffic with Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
- Analytics: Track performance with Google Analytics and Shopify reports.
Final Thoughts
Starting a Shopify website is a smart move for anyone wanting to tap into the power of eCommerce. With the right strategy and the support of a dedicated Shopify Web Agency, your online store can thrive in today’s digital landscape.
Get Started with a Free Development Store
At Virtual Innovation, we love working with Kiwi companies to help you set up your Shopify world. If you want us to help set up a development website that you can work on while getting started, we offer this at no initial cost to you.
Reach out to us, and we can get one set up. You can even choose to build most of the site yourself, and then have one of our team put the finishing touches on it. It’s a great way to get started — and we’re happy to offer this without any setup cost. Let us know if this is something that could help you!
Shopify Website Setup Support for Startups
Starting your Shopify journey can feel like a big step, but we’re here to make it simple. This isn’t a full custom website build, but we offer a great way to get set up right from the start.
We’re excited to offer access to Wayne, our Shopify expert, at $125 + GST per hour. Projects typically take 5 to 25 hours, depending on how ready and involved the client is. It’s a time and materials setup, so we tailor the support to your needs.
Wayne can help with:
- Connecting your domain to Shopify
- Structuring your site with a theme and essential pages
- Uploading your logo, colours, and branding
- Adding products and creating collections
- Setting up shipping, tax, and payment gateways
- Optimising email notifications and automations
- Ensuring everything is mobile-friendly and clean
Bonus for Startups:
We can set you up with a Shopify development store, which costs $0 to get started. You can test, play around, and perfect your site before it goes live. You’ll only start paying for Shopify once you officially launch the store.
To get started or ask questions, just email team@virtualinnovation.co.nz and we’ll help you get moving.
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