Shopify Tutorial (2024 Edition)
Shopify tutorial
There are plenty of Shopify tutorials online, but most of them skip the details. In 2023 I built two stores and scaled from zero to ¥350,000 in monthly sales. This article covers the operational and promotional side of Shopify in more depth, to help you get started properly. Bookmark it and follow along.
Getting to know Shopify
Shopify and independent stores
An independent store is a form of e-commerce distinct from marketplaces like Amazon or AliExpress: you get far more freedom and control over every part of the business. The trade-off is that it demands more knowledge, harder marketing, and higher costs.
Shopify is a SaaS platform focused on independent e-commerce stores. It dramatically reduces the technical, financial and staffing costs of running your own store. Alternatives include WordPress, Wix and Shopline — each with its own pros and cons.
Preparing for Shopify
- Mindset: if you have no experience, approach it like an owner, not a side hustle. If you're experienced, this article is just a refresher. See Is an independent store a good side business?
- Business license: needed for payments; Shopify itself doesn't require one.
- Overseas email: Gmail or Outlook both work — just not a domestic mailbox. Ideally a business email.
- PayPal account: for paying Shopify fees and receiving money.
- Shopify cost: the first month's trial is $1. After that, the cheapest monthly plan is about $33 (varies by market). There's also the Starter plan at $5/month, but it's a stripped-down version that can't run ad campaigns — fine for selling through social channels.
Signing up for Shopify
Go to the Shopify website and enter your email (business email first choice, otherwise Gmail/Outlook). Registration takes a minute; use password login so you don't have to sign in through Google or Facebook every time.
Store setup essentials
- Store configuration
- Setting global brand colors
- Setting global fonts
- Designing a good logo
- Choosing the right theme
- Page structure
Marketing your store
- Shopify SEO
- Running Google Ads for Shopify
- Running Facebook ads for Shopify
- Social media for Shopify
- Email marketing for Shopify
Product research
- Shopify dropshipping
- How to pick products
FAQ
How much does a Shopify store cost?
See How to build a Shopify store. Fixed costs only: a .com domain under ¥100/year, $1 for the trial month, then roughly $40/month for the cheapest plan — about ¥3,300 per year, excluding apps and per-order fees.
How many people does it take?
One. Plenty of stores I know are run by a single person after launch. With Shopify's ecosystem and AI assistance, I actively encourage small and mid-size businesses to try.
Anything to watch out for?
Have one trustworthy, hands-on person own the whole store — pricing, UI, all of it. Don't outsource unless you have money to burn or someone you truly trust. Splitting responsibilities by function tends to produce a Frankenstein store.
How do I promote it after launch?
Paid ads and influencer marketing first. For ads, start with Google Ads, then Facebook. TikTok keeps traffic inside its own closed loop, so only consider TikTok Shop. Start SEM early, optimize SEO as you go, post on social channels (YouTube + Instagram + TikTok if you make video). Once you have at least 1,000 customers, start doing email marketing. Other channels aren't recommended yet — uncertain results, long conversion cycles.
Questions?
Email me: haiwaibiji@outlook.com
FAQ
- How much does it cost to build a Shopify store?
- Counting fixed costs only：a .com domain is under ¥100/year, the Shopify trial is $1 for the first month, and the cheapest plan after that is roughly $40/month — about ¥3,300 per year in total, excluding apps and transaction-related fees.
- How many people do you need to run a Shopify store?
- Strictly speaking, one person is enough. Thanks to Shopify's mature ecosystem and today's AI tooling, many stores are managed by a single person after launch — small and mid-size businesses should absolutely give it a try.
- What should I watch out for when building a store?
- Put one reliable, willing-to-learn person in charge of the whole thing — pricing, UI, everything. Outsourcing isn't recommended; splitting the store across functional roles usually produces an incoherent result.
- How do I promote the store after launch?
- Prioritize paid ads and influencer marketing. Start with Google Ads and Facebook, work on SEO and social content at the same time, and only consider email marketing (EDM) after you've accumulated at least 1,000 customers.