by Nick Throlson | Jun 6, 2018 | E-commerce, WordPress
If you are planning to open an online shop but you do not want the hassle of having to build a site from scratch, then coming up with a WordPress eCommerce Store using Shopify is the best option for you.
Why Use Shopify with WordPress?
Shopify has one goal: to help anybody who wishes to set up an online store (even those without the technical knowledge) do so. Coming up with your own online shop on WordPress can be a challenge as it requires a lot of technical skills. Shopify addresses this issue and helps you come up with an easy-to-setup and easy-to-maintain e-commerce site. Aside from helping aspiring but less tech-savvy online shop owners, Shopify also features a lot of benefits such as a secure shopping cart, 70 payment gateways, inventory management, and various shipping options. Shopify is also available in many different languages. Shopify can also help you manage a physical store with a POS app and a reader.If you have already had your own WordPress site, you can integrate it with Shopify so that you may enjoy its benefits while maintaining your own domain and this guide will help you do that. Otherwise, you may use Shopify?s hosting services.Shopify is definitely a handy eCommerce solution for those who would like to engage in the selling business.Integrating Shopify with WordPress
Get ready to make the best of Shopify and WordPress by following these steps to make these platforms work in your favor:Step 1: Create an Account with Shopify
The first step that you should take is to create a Shopify account. Simply go to the Shopify homepage and then click the ?Get Started? button that you can find on the upper right-hand side of the page.You are provided a free trial option so paying is not an issue now. You will be required to provide an email address, a password, and your store?s name. Give yourself some time to think of a great name for your store. Make it catchy but smart.If you are done, simply click the button for proceeding. Fill up the other requested information about the shop and yourself. Once done, just press the button to complete the process.Step 2: Integrate the Shopify eCommerce Plugin
Now that you have your Shopify account, it?s time to integrate it into your WordPress site. Go to WordPress? plugin directory, then install and activate the WordPress plugin for Shopify Ecommerce. It?s that easy.Step 3: Connect Shopify to WordPress
After having activated the Shopify WordPress plugin, a new menu item will be added to the backend of WordPress. Click on it to set up your account on Shopify. Simply input your shop?s address and then hit Connect. You can find your Shopify?s address on the browser bar while you are logged in on Shopify. Doing this will automatically connect your WordPress site to Shopify. You will then be taken to the eCommerce platform so you may confirm the page, then you will be taken to your site so you may set up various Shopify settings.Step 4: Add Products to your Store
Now that you have a store, you can now fill it up with your merchandise! Simply click on the add a product button so that a product page may open. Input a title for the product and provide a product description. Don?t forget to place the price, as well as images of the product. Do this for all the products you would like to sell on your shop.Step 5: Set up Payment and Shipping Options
As previously mentioned, there are many payment gateways that Shopify support. Some of these are Authorize.net, Paypal, and Stripe. Shopify will use your email to sign up with Paypal Express by default. You have the option to change this email address to something else. Should you wish to make use of other payment methods, simply select them to be connected. Afterward, you?ll need to set up your shipping options. Proceed to the Shopify settings page, then click on the ?Setup Shipping? button. On this page, you can easily set up shipping options that can be based on price and on weight. You would also be able to offer free shipping, then zones to be used for international shippingAlternative options
The internet is a giant melting pot of information and tools for anything and everything you can think of, making it possible for determined entrepreneurs to find effective ways to earn a living even without substantial business knowledge. If you think you have the knack to explore other e-commerce options and have the budget to play around with, you can also set-up your own e-commerce store by mastering your way through programming and creating your own platform. Building an ecommerce store is now easier, and there are tons of guides out there to help you out. Here are a few to get you started:First Steps in Managing Your E-commerce Store
Now that you?ve set-up an e-commerce store, what?s next? Just like any other business, setting it up is just the tip of the iceberg. Making it flourish and earn money is the real challenge.There are a number of techniques to spread the word about your e-commerce business and to attract customers into visiting your website. Shopify has a great guide on those looking for ROI in their first 30 days with their guide here. But if you have time and luxury to try out different marketing techniques, their 50-step guide on making your first sale can help you from social media to offline marketing.
by Nick Throlson | May 22, 2018 | WordPress
How is your website going to change in the coming months? This might be the question that is perplexing your mind every now and then. Right? Yes! Of course. This is quite an obvious fact.Everyone would certainly want to stay ahead of the curve if it is such an environment that is prevailing nowadays and which is as shifting as the internet. You need to be aware of the upcoming developments and trends to upgrade your website like never before.And, to make your website an upgraded and appealing one, WordPress must be the term that revolves around your mind. So, do you know what are the current trends of WordPress for the year 2018?Not having an idea yet? Then, just read ahead!!- A Genuine ?Mobile first? design approach
Undoubtedly, mobile phones have been a web design trend for years and in the last year of 2017, the mobile traffic has continuously beaten desktop as the prominent device present worldwide. This scenario is a clear indication of how significant traffic avenue has become over the time.Now, mobile devices have become one of the most primary and important tools to interact with websites. So, mobiles are going to get an extreme boom in the coming time. Don?t forget to design your website while keeping in mind that it is quite mobile-friendly.- The emergence of push notifications
Push-ups have been one of the most important upcoming marketing channels during the recent times. On 2017, we have seen that more and more websites have used this concept to make themselves quite helpful.Moreover, this approach has become quite pervasive because of various perks of the same which are good browser and device support, high acceptance of mobile devices, click-through rates higher than email, and so on. So, it is expected that 2018 is definitely going to bring-on this concept like never before.- Custom graphics and illustrations to be on the top
When it comes to online contents then visuals really matter!! They are immensely engaging in nature and are able to convey various things the words and texts can?t do alone. Moreover, images even have a great SEO value when optimized right!!However, stock photos are even going strong with the passage of time, so there is also a trend going on in the other direction. Thus, experts are anticipating with complete belief that instead of generic visuals, website-owners like you should get ready for some of the most custom, and handmade stuff.Also, it is being expected that outstanding graphics and unique illustrations are another couple of website design trends that you are going to see in 2018.
The advanced browser technologies are allowing web designers to move away from static visuals now and they are gradually letting the website owners embrace movements.The animations on various websites are becoming readily available now. And, it is expected that in the course of time animation will simply take over the world. So, if you are onto any online business then get ready to come up with some fantastic and appealing animations!- Vibrant color schemes and gradients will dominate
In the past, the tradition seemed to be like web-designs had to stick to web-safe colors always. But, now the scenario has changed with the due course of time. Now, colors are more vibrant and outstanding.However, it?s because of the better monitors and the devices capable of showcasing them, you can even now use myriads of colors on your website in 2018.- Asymmetry and irregular grids will do wonders
Nowadays, websites tend to appear on anything starting from huge television sets to small cell phone screens. So, if you are leading a website then you should keep in mind that your business is going to get advertised in all such media.Thus, there is no need to adhere to one single traditional grid. As a result, it is expected that asymmetric layouts are going to flourish amazingly in the coming months of 2018.And, not only 2018, but also the scenario is more likely to remain quite the same in the upcoming subsequent years.- Bold fonts and large typography will lead
It has been seen that big and bold typography has been being a trend for quite a while. In 2017, it was one of the most well-known trends of WordPress.Moreover, thanks to the fact that there are a huge number of freely available custom fronts available along with the remarkable improvements in device capabilities, websites can now easily get away with the really large letters.Also, while being paired with ample amount of whitespace, it makes the websites quite easy for reading and skimming. It?s because of such a huge number of benefits, experts are expecting that big, and bold fonts and typography will continue to roll in the rest of 2018!- Micro-interactions will increase
Are you not aware of the term? Well, micro-interactions are some subtle effects for accomplishing various tasks on websites. You can say they are no less than the staple of social networks like Facebook.Micro-interactions are quite beneficial because they give a chance to the users to interact with the contents of your website in a whole new way.However, it is believed that rest of 2018 is going to bring on a lot of visual feedback for user actions to online businessmen, abundant interactivity without the need of any reloading of pages and so on through these micro-interactions in various websites.Summing Up Well, to predict WordPress trend is definitely not an exact science. We would only understand which of the aforementioned ones dominated in 2018 only after the year has ended. But, thanks to the remarkable expertise of the industry experts, these trends which they have predicted couldn?t be ignored at all.So, just be smart, adopt the right WordPress trend for your website in 2018, and that?s it you are done!Brand-awareness, sales, and last but not the least Success will kiss your feet!About Author:Neil Helson is the marketing manager at Blurbpoint Media, SEO, and digital marketing company. He is passionate about helping small businesses and startups grow online.
by Nick Throlson | Apr 9, 2018 | Business, Web Design, WordPress
If you?re hoping to grow your business, then it?s time to give some serious consideration to the idea of starting your business blog. In a highly competitive marketplace, businesses need every advantage to stay ahead of their competitors, and a blog is one of your most useful tools. As well as offering a way for customers to engage with your company, a good blog is able to act as proof of your business knowledge and can work much more effectively than other forms of advertising. As a way to improve your SEO, or simply giving you something to share on your social media, a blog has many uses. If you?re thinking of starting a blog for your business, then here are the key steps that you need to take in order to get the most from it.Use your websiteYou may have used a WordPress or Wix site to build your website, in which case you may already be familiar with how it works. If you have used other methods, including outsourced website management systems, then now?s the time to get to grips with the way that your chosen platform works. Once you?ve made the decision to use your blog, having a clear understanding of your website platform will give you greater confidence when it comes to additional content such as images or polls.Stick to your brandingYou need to decide on your blog?s style, and that?s going to come down to your business branding. It?s vital that your blog is an extension of your branding, and acts as a reinforcement of it. This consistency will be key to engaging your customers and will be able to guide you in the manner of your interactions with both existing and potential clients. Make use of your chosen tone of voice, whether it be casual, academic, or even humorous, and ensure that it remains in-line with your branding tone across every medium and platform. Make sure that you use the blog to prove your professional knowledge and your awareness of industry changes, and you may start to be considered a market leader in your field.Make sure that you?re protectedIt?s a sad truth that despite the many benefits that the digital age has wrought, it has also brought with it a wave of cybercrime. Any business that makes use of an online platform needs to be aware of their security needs, and it?s vital that you protect your business, your employees, customers, and suppliers when it comes to storing and managing your online data. Many businesses are finding that managing their IT needs is becoming too overwhelming, which is why more are making use of outsourced IT management, the experts at Torix.co.uk being a good example. Making use of these services offers you an extra layer of protection, while also giving you and your staff the space to concentrate on your more productive daily roles.Your website isn?t merely a place where customers can come and browse new products, it?s your customer-facing store to the digital world, and failing to put as much effort into it as you would every other customer-facing element of your business is a waste of resources. Take advantage of new technologies and always keep up to date on your industry sector, and you might find that blogging becomes the best use of your time and your advertising budget.
by Nick Throlson | Mar 21, 2018 | Business, Social Media, WordPress
In many ways, setting up and running a blog is easy, and just about anyone can have their site set up in just a few minutes and start posting content. However, although setting up a blog can be easy, getting readers to the site can be more challenging. There are a few ways that you can engage more with current and new readers in an attempt to build your following and create a site that makes you proud.Create Good ContentIf you have done your research on blogging, you will know how important your content is. No matter what your niche may be, you always need to provide something your readers want to know. One of the best ways to do this is to try and find a different spin on an existing topic. Find a popular or trending topic that fits in with your niche and look at it from a new perspective. People are always interested in differing opinion, even if it's controversial, so thinking of a different angle can get you noticed.Be Visually AppealingYour blog is the face of you and what you want to say, so make sure it appeals to your readers. Many visitors like to have pictures or video to look at as this is more visually stimulating. However, there are also other ways to get your readers attention. Try adding documents or slides to your posts to reiterate a point or show a trend. There are sites such as DocRaptor that will help you convert these documents without any complications.Be Helpful to Your ReadersAlthough your visitors will like to read what you have to say, you can make it even better by offering them a solution to a problem. There may be something within your niche that has always been difficult resolve; this gives you a great opportunity. By thinking about possible solutions, you will be giving people something they haven?t had before. Not only will this be engaging to your readers, but it will also be something they will want to share with others. You might be able to make it your angle, to try and solve those seemingly impossible problems.Monitor the TrendsWhatever your blog is about, there will always be certain topics within it that are trending, or at least getting a lot of attention. To stay relevant, you need to find out what?s happening in the realm of your blog topic and write about it. TrustMyPaper For example, if you are a writing a music blog and a new band hits the scene, then you should be writing something about it. Readers will be eager to hear what you think, and it will make your blog relevant.Social MediaSocial media is by far the best way to reach your readers, not only because there are billions of potential people out there, but also because this is where the trending stories are. It is no coincidence that the clear majority of bloggers are hugely active on their social media accounts. They are all trying to gain a greater following and a larger readership. As with your posts, anything you share to social media should have a photo as these posts are more likely to be clicked statistically. You shouldn?t just use social media for sharing your content; you also need to get involved with conversations and get yourself out there. The more people see you, the more likely they are to follow you and then see your blog posts.Offer Them SomethingThe promise of free information will often lure visitors to your site. If you can develop a short eBook or perhaps a PDF file with useful information or a ?how to? guide, then you will find people eager to read and download it. You need to make it your own and offer them something they cannot get from anywhere else. If you are looking to generate income from your site, then offer the first part for free and then make any subsequent parts available for a fee. If the content is good enough, then it will encourage people to pay for it.Monitor Your TrafficSometimes gaining visitors to your site is a matter of trial and error. You can write something that is amazing, but it will only get a few readers, while something simple gets thousands. To find out what makes your readers happy, you need to analyze your visitors after each post to see how they react to it. You can then start to develop a strategy that you can incorporate into all your posts. Another reason for monitoring your site traffic is so that you can find the perfect time of day to post your content. Depending on where your visitors are located, they will be reading your latest post during their lunch break or when they are at home. By keeping your posting times the same, readers will anticipate it.Keep Your Layout SimpleHave you ever been on a website that is so cluttered by options that you don?t know where to start? For many readers, seeing a site like this will be enough to put them off wanting to explore. You must keep the design of your site simple yet enticing, use images and buttons but keep the writing to a minimum. Most bloggers like to have their posts on the front page because its easier for the visitors to see it. While this is a good idea, it isn?t essential, if there is something else you want on your front page then do it. You must remember though, that you should make your blog easy to find from any page.Whatever the reason you write your blog, make sure that you are interested in the subject matter. There is nothing worse than writing on a topic that you don?t like, it will make you demoralized, and this will show in your content. There are plenty of potential readers out there for everyone, so don?t delay.
by Nick Throlson | Jan 30, 2018 | WordPress
WordPress remains the single most popular website development platform accounting for almost 6 out of every 10 websites on the internet. From small businesses to global brands, WordPress comes with enough features and power to serve all their needs. This, however, doesn?t mean that if the majority of websites on the internet use the same platform, they are alike. There is a huge diversity in WordPress development and the tag of ?open-source? means that it is consistently updated with cool new features that further propel its popularity.This means that while WordPress remains the natural choice for businesses, WordPress development companies have to constantly reinvent themselves with new capabilities and features to deliver websites that match the latest trends. Now, given that this platform spans across the Internet, the trends of WordPress are actually a precursor to the overall web development trends to follow. So, let?s take a look at what?s in the store for this year:1. Single-page Websites
The problem with most of the online services today is not that they fall short of doing any particular thing, but that they do too much! When users visit any website, they are virtually bombarded with tabs and links that lead to another page with other similar links and tabs with information scattered all over. This, instead of making them informed, makes them confused. One of the key trends we are now witnessing is simplicity- simplicity without subduction.As the name suggests, single-page websites arrange all the information on a single page2. Parallax Scrolling
It was initially used in 2D games but is now a popular choice for website design to help create a more immersive user experience. The basic concept is that when the users scroll, the background moves slower than the content on the front. This creates an illusion of depth thus giving the website a unique feel and inciting higher user interactions.3. Microinteractions
Microinteractions are a pretty effective tool for improving the usability of websites while ensuring that it remains fun for the users as well. These are snippets of animations, gifs, or other components that make websites more vibrant and engaging.4. Mobile First Websites
The term mobile-first has been tossed around for quite a while now. But more often than not, the implementation has been towards a responsive design- that adjusts according to the type of device it is accessed from. While this has enabled businesses to deliver a uniform experience across all platforms, the focus is now shifting to exploit the prominence of mobile devices with the explicit mobile-first approach. This prioritizes interface and features for small devices and later, tailoring them for desktop use.5. E-commerce Themes
The immense success of eCommerce businesses in the last few years has also transformed how eCommerce applications are developed. While there are a plenty of frameworks and tools dedicated to building virtual stores, possibly none of them come with the simplicity of WordPress. Keeping that in mind, WordPress also offers an array of eCommerce themes and other tools, to create virtual stores by using only WordPress. This is one of the trends that are guaranteed to take off in days to come.Overall, it is the combination of simplicity and powerful components that has made WordPress the favorite among all web developers. And as the community grows and the technology is empowered with more capabilities, it is to expand its footprint to the extent that the only natural choice for building websites would be to hire WordPress developers.
by Nick Throlson | Dec 4, 2017 | Business, Guest Post, WordPress
Almost one out of every four websites on the internet is built on WordPress. From the smallest of businesses to stellar companies like Time Inc. and TechCrunch that garner millions of visits per day, WordPress remains the choice for all.This makes one thing absolutely clear- WordPress development services are reliable and suitable for businesses of all scales and industries. And it?s perhaps for this reason that despite having dozens of CMS in the market, WordPress comfortably trumps them all. Here are some of the reasons you should use it for your business as well:It?s free
The most basic factor upon which majority of the businesses focus is ROI, i.e., while they do care extensively about the quality, they are equally sensitive about the price at which that is attained. With WordPress, it's win-win. They get to deploy one of the finest CMS with a broad set of features to help them push their business in digital space and the best part, they don?t even have to pay for it.Extensive set of Plugins
Though WordPress is a complete package when it comes to creating and managing decent websites, there are thousands of other plugins and themes that you can use for additional functionality and give your website a unique feel. While most of the plugins are free to use, there are some paid themes as well for premium users.High visibility
Websites built on WordPress are known to be SEO-friendly as they are indexed by search engines much better than other websites. This helps in improving the rank of websites in search results, thus, leading to higher visibility and recognition of businesses.Simple but powerful admin panel
One of the key concerns of many businesses is that though they can get a website developed by hiring WordPress developers, managing them afterward without technical fluency remains a tough task. But with WordPress, users get a drastically simplified admin panel that required no technical knowledge whatsoever for day-to-day management of the website. Sure, having technical efficacy does have its benefits for its ability to edit CSS code for custom design, but it isn?t necessary to manage one?s website efficiently.Task delegation and roles
Websites are generally managed by a set of different people, all of whom do not necessarily need the same set of privileges. For instance, if you have guest-blogging enabled on your site, they should be able to only write and not edit anything else. Similarly, for editors, there should be privileges of only writing and editing the content but not modifying the design or other aspects. WordPress has such capabilities built-in and can be easily managed through admin panel by granting or revoking different levels of privileges.Additionally, since the admin may not be available 24*7 to manage the site, they can easily schedule content that will automatically be posted at a specified time.Social media and community integration
WordPress websites can be easily integrated with most of the popular social media platforms, and even the on-site community like the comments section can be easily managed through a simple interface.To put it simply, it creates aesthetically beautiful websites for free, offers a broad range of functionalities that even a non-technical person can easily manage, and yes, is powerful enough to handle millions of users. The only thing you need is to hire WordPress developers to create give a great start to your website and once it gets onboard, you can efficiently manage your business from anywhere you like.
If you are planning to open an online shop but you do not want the hassle of having to build a site from scratch, then coming up with a WordPress eCommerce Store using Shopify is the best option for you.
