How to Make Money on Shopify: Step-by-Step Beginner’s Guide (2024)

Hi everyone, Julia here! Welcome to this video where I'll walk you through the step-by-step process of making money on Shopify. Whether you’re starting with just an idea or already dreaming of running a wildly successful online store, this guide will show you how to build a thriving business.


This isn’t about overnight success or becoming a millionaire with zero effort. Instead, I’ll give you a realistic and honest overview of what it takes to create a profitable Shopify store. We’ll cover everything, including:

  • Choosing what to sell
  • Finding suppliers
  • Setting up your Shopify store
  • Designing your website
  • Driving traffic to your store
  • Building strong customer relationships
  • Optimizing for conversions and scaling your business

By the end of this video, you’ll have a clear understanding of the actions you need to take to start and grow your Shopify store. Let’s dive in!

Step 1: Choosing a Niche

The first step in building a profitable Shopify store is selecting a niche. A niche is a specific category of products you’ll sell, like clothing, or something more targeted, like eco-friendly gifts for dog lovers.

How to Find the Right Niche

  • Think About Your Interests: Choose something you’re passionate about. It’s easier to stay motivated when you care about your products.
  • Check Consumer Demand: Make sure people are searching for and buying what you want to sell. Tools like Google Trends and SEO platforms can help you identify popular, low-competition niches.
  • Test the Waters: Look for high search volumes combined with low competition. This is the “sweet spot” for a successful niche.

If you’re stuck, I’ve listed some great niche ideas on-screen in the video. Pause and take notes if anything resonates with you!

Step 2: Choosing a Business Model

Once you’ve decided on a niche, think about the business model you’ll use. Here are two beginner-friendly options:

1. Dropshipping

Dropshipping allows you to sell products without holding any inventory. Instead, you partner with suppliers who ship items directly to your customers.

How it Works:

  • A customer places an order on your Shopify store.
  • Shopify forwards the order to your supplier.
  • The supplier ships the product directly to the customer.

This model requires almost no upfront investment, making it a low-risk way to start.

2. Print on Demand

Print on Demand (POD) is a form of dropshipping where suppliers print custom designs onto products like mugs, t-shirts, or phone cases.

Why Choose POD?

  • You don’t need to hold inventory.
  • Products are only made when an order is placed.
  • You can showcase your creativity with unique designs.

I’ve included links to some of the best dropshipping and print-on-demand suppliers in the description. These platforms integrate seamlessly with Shopify, so you can start selling quickly.

Step 3: Setting Up Your Shopify Store

Now it’s time to create your store. Shopify makes this process incredibly easy, even for beginners.

What You Can Do in Shopify:

  • Add products and organize them into collections.
  • Set prices, create discounts, and manage orders.
  • Design your website with Shopify’s user-friendly theme editor.

You can choose from free or premium themes and customize them without any coding experience. If you’re feeling adventurous, Shopify also allows advanced customization for more unique designs.

Inspiration and Resources

To help you get started, I’ve created a digital magazine bundle featuring examples of successful Shopify stores. It includes:

  1. A branding guide with tips on creating a strong brand identity, choosing colors, and building a unique brand voice.
  2. A marketing guide with insights into what makes top stores thrive.

You can download the bundle for free in the description!

Step 4: Driving Traffic to Your Store

A beautiful store won’t succeed if no one visits it. Marketing is key to driving traffic and making sales.

Paid Strategies:

  • Meta (Facebook and Instagram) Ads: Perfect for targeting specific audiences.
  • Google Ads: Great for catching customers actively searching for your products.

Free Strategies:

  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO):
    Use high-ranking keywords in your product titles, descriptions, and alt tags to make your store easier to find on Google.
  • Social Media Marketing:
    Promote your products on platforms where your target audience hangs out. Be consistent and engaging!
  • Email Marketing:
    Build an email list and send personalized messages, exclusive offers, and product updates to your subscribers.

I’ve linked tools and tutorials to help you master these strategies in the description below.

Step 5: Scaling Your Business

Once you start making sales, it’s time to focus on growth. Shopify provides analytics tools to track:

  • Conversion rates
  • Customer behavior
  • Best-selling products

Tips for Scaling:

  • Expand your product line based on customer demand.
  • Use data insights to optimize your marketing and pricing strategies.
  • Explore advanced tools like heatmaps or screen recordings to see how visitors interact with your website.

Step 6: Building Customer Relationships

Customer loyalty is the foundation of any successful business. Strong relationships lead to repeat sales, valuable feedback, and even referrals.

How to Build Customer Loyalty:

  1. Engage on Social Media: Respond to comments, share user-generated content, and create a sense of community.
  2. Offer Exceptional Customer Service: Be available to answer questions and resolve issues quickly.
  3. Personalize Communication: Use tools like Shopify’s email templates to address customers by name and create meaningful interactions.
  4. Introduce Loyalty Programs: Reward repeat customers with discounts, freebies, or early access to new products.

Final Thoughts

Starting an online business with Shopify can feel overwhelming, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. By breaking the process into manageable steps, you’ll be well on your way to building a store that not only earns money but also makes a difference in people’s lives.

If you’re ready to dive in, check out the Shopify deal in the description: a 3-day free trial, followed by $1/month for 3 months. It’s an excellent way to test the platform without breaking the bank.

And don’t forget to download my free resource bundle for branding and marketing tips. I’ve poured all my knowledge into these guides to help you succeed.

Thank you so much for watching! If you found this guide helpful, please like, comment, and subscribe for more Shopify tutorials. See you in the next video!

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