Step-by-Step Guide to Migrating Your Store to Shopify

Migrate to Shopify

Shopify is the talk of the town! It has more than 1 million businesses relying on it because of how secure and customizable it is. But if that weren’t enough, here are two more reasons that make Shopify an enticing platform for many eCommerce stores: flexibility and reliability.

Now, while all this sounds so fascinating that the next thought you have is: to migrate your store to Shopify. There are different options for migrating your store to Shopify: first, you could do it on your own. Second, you could hire a freelancer to do it for you. The last option is going for Shopify development services.

While you weigh your options, we at Bizmia prepared this post to detail each step of the migration process so that you know what it takes to migrate your store. Here is what we cover in this post:

On This Page

  • A Step-by-step Guide for Migrating to Shopify
  • Other Alternatives To Shopify
  • Why Hire Shopify Development Services for Migration
  • Conclusion

A Step-by-step Guide for Migrating to Shopify

There are two ways to migrate to Shopify; first, use a Shopify app and the second is to do it manually.

Pro Tip: Ensure that you have made a copy of all your data and saved it before you begin the migration.

Let’s now discuss the steps:

Step 1: Configuring basic settings

There are a couple of administrative tasks that you should do before you begin adding products or setting up your payments. These include:

  • Check out the factor your need to consider when migrating
  • Finalize the initial setup by ensuring that your store’s address, email, and other details are accurate
  • Figure out where you can manage your account and how you can access your billing information
  • Add staff (if you would like them to manage; ensure that the confidential info remains secure)

Step 2: Importing data

Before officially launching your store, you must transfer to Shopify all your data, including client transactions from your previous platform.

Pro Tip: Check out this post by Shopify to learn more about how to transfer your data securely.

Step 3: Organizing your products

There is nothing worse than losing data or creating a mess where you can’t find the required info. That’s why you must organize your products after migrating. Here is what you can do to stay on top of everything:

  • Ensure product details are correct
  • Create collections
  • Get to know your inventory

Pro Tip: You can check out different inventory apps here. This can help you ask your Shopify development services what apps you want them to include.

Step 4: Get a good theme

While there is a free default theme, there are plenty of options to choose a theme that makes your site look great. Remember, you could always go for a customized theme if you choose so. You can ask the freelancer or the agency developing your store whether they can do that for you.

Step 5: Setting up your domain

The next step includes setting up your domain; you could buy a new domain or transfer the one you were using with your earlier store/platform.

Step 6: Setting up shipping

This is an important step. You can’t send your products to the wrong addresses. That’s why you must set up your shipping rates and methods correctly before you launch.

Step 7: Configuring Taxes

Remember, you don’t want to get in trouble with the Internal Revenue Service (the IRS) for not paying taxes. That’s why you must charge taxes on products you sell.

Step 8: Setting up payment providers

Online business means online transactions. You must set up payment providers so that you can charge your customers.

Pro Tip: You must ensure that the payment method is a seamless process. Customers may not buy your product if the payment method is complicated.

Step 9: Try test orders

Now that you are all set with the payment provider, it’s time to verify that the transactions work. You can try a couple of test orders to ensure everything works fine.

Other Alternative To Shopify

Yes, if you are still in the phase of deciding on whether to move to Shopify or not, it’s a good idea to explore some other platforms as well. Here are some of the best platforms:

  • Bigcommerce
  • Magento (You can also check out our Magento development services if you would like to move to this platform)
  • WooCommerce
  • PinnacleCart
  • Wix
  • Shift4Shop

Why Hire Shopify Development Services for Migration

Moving to a new platform has its own troubles. You may lose data or it may impact the order processing and the way your products are organized. That’s why it’s always a good idea to go for professional development services. The good news is that with Bizmia you can get a good idea of which platform would suit your business. Bizmia also has extensive experience in Magento and Shopify development services. So, whether it is Magento or Shopify, we will make it a seamless migration.

Conclusion

Moving your store to a new platform can be a nightmare. What if you lose all your data? Or worse, your products aren’t properly organized. Well, there is good news. You can easily move to a new platform like Shopify without losing any of these. Even better, Bizmia has extensive experience in migrating to different platforms and can help you migrate your store to a new platform.