Shopify is currently a well-developed independent site platform with a significant number of merchants opening stores here. For these merchants, mastering certain skills after setting up their stores is essential. Below is the most comprehensive guide to building a Shopify site.
What is the most comprehensive Shopify site-building guide?
Setting up a Shopify independent store can be divided into four main steps:
Building the website and configuring the domain name.
Uploading products and designing the store.
Setting up payment and currency exchange accounts.
Establishing a business management platform and advertising accounts.
1.1 Website Name
The website name will be used for the domain link, store name, and brand name. It should align with your product category. It is recommended to use 5-10 letters or translate a Chinese name into English—simple and elegant.
1.2 Purchasing a Domain Name
First, check if the domain name is already registered. If it is, reconsider the name.
Ensure the .com version is available.
After selection, complete real-name authentication.
Purchase the domain and choose “Individual Ownership” for payment.
Create an information template, fill in personal ID details, verify the email, and upload the ID for review.
Once approved, complete the payment.
1.3 Domain Name Configuration
After purchase, return to the control panel and configure the domain name settings.
1.4 Setting Up a Professional Email
Purchase an email service, then return to the control panel to set up the enterprise email.
Record the administrator account (e.g., postmaster@***.com), which will be used to log in to the email system.
Reset the admin password and set security questions.
Inside the email system, go to “Organization & Users” > “Employee Account Management” to create sub-accounts.
Create a new account (e.g., service@domain.com), set a password, and save it.
Log out and log back in with the new email (service@domain.com) to set security questions.
1.5 Registering an Outlook Email
The Shopify account will use an Outlook email for login.
The store name should match the purchased domain name.
After registration, fill in basic details and proceed to the address setup step.
This information can be modified later in the backend under “Settings” > “General.”
Ensure the store currency is set to USD (if not, change it).
1.6 Backend Configuration
Go to “Online Store” > “Domains” > “Connect Existing Domain” and enter the purchased domain (e.g., www.domain.com).
Click “Verify” and wait for confirmation.
Once the domain is connected, upload the store theme (compressed file) under “Online Store” > “Themes.”
After uploading, click Publish.
1.7 Category Setup
Select the product categories and create primary and subcategories (can be modified later).
Go to Products > Collections > Create Collection.
Primary Category Example: Men’s Shoes
Subcategory Example: Sports Shoes, Dress Shoes (under Men’s Shoes)
Set the Collection Type to Manual and save.
Repeat for other categories.
For reference, check popular e-commerce sites (domestic or international).
Example of a Cosmetics Store:
Primary Categories: HOME, New Arrivals, Lips, Eyes, Face, Hair, Brushes & Tools
Subcategories under Lips: Lipstick, Lip Gloss, Lip Liner
Example of Apparel/Fashion:
Primary Category: Men’s Shoes
Subcategories: Sneakers, Dress Shoes, Boots, Sandals
1.8 Navigation Menu Setup
Go to Online Store > Navigation and check if the default menus (e.g., COMPANY, HELP, MAIN MENU) are correct.
Edit the Main Menu and add all primary and subcategories (e.g., “Lips” with its subcategories).
Drag subcategories under their respective primary categories and arrange the order.
1.9 Footer Menu & Shipping Settings
Shipping Setup:
Go to Settings > Shipping > Create New Profile.
Name it based on the shipping method (e.g., “Free Shipping”).
Select applicable countries.
Add shipping rates (e.g., free shipping or a flat fee of $3-$5 to avoid hurting conversion rates).
2.1 Product Selection
Collect product links from 1688, Taobao, or AliExpress.
Edit product details in the collection:
Single Variant (e.g., one color/size)
Multiple Variants (e.g., different colors/sizes)
Ensure titles have no Chinese characters and capitalize the first letter.
Product descriptions should also avoid Chinese; use text + images.
Set a high-quality main image and configure variant displays (color/size).
Add SKUs and inventory counts. Batch-edit prices if consistent.
For SEO, ensure the URL contains no Chinese.
2.2 Post-Upload Adjustments
Go to Products > All Products, assign each item to its category manually.
Aim for ~10 products per subcategory for payment/ad account approval.
Ensure product titles are clear, descriptions are in English, and images are uniform in size.
2.3 Disabling Password Protection
After payment, go to Online Store > Preferences > Password Protection and uncheck the box to make products publicly visible.
2.4 Store Design Optimization
A high-quality store requires both product page optimization and aesthetic design.
Go to Themes > Customize to adjust:
Header: Upload logo and favicon.
Slideshow: Feature promotions/new arrivals.
Image + Text Sections: Add company introductions.
Shopify is a powerful tool for building professional cross-border e-commerce sites. All you need is a computer with internet access, a Shopify account, and basic setup to launch your own online store.
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