Step-by-Step Guide for Setting Up a New Shopify Store & Domain Integration with Google Workspace

Starting an E-commerce business involves many steps, including setting up your Shopify store, configuring a custom domain name, and setting up professional email accounts through Google Workspace. This guide will walk you through all the steps necessary to get your Shopify store up and running, as well as how to link your domain to Google Workspace for professional email management. This is a critical step in the functionality of your website as your store grows. A verified domain email is essential for your website to not look “phishy” in the online world. Now if this is still an overload of info… do not fear! People will do all of this for you if you want to hire a professional, but if you’re excited to try yourself, here are the basics!

Part 1: Setting Up Your Shopify Store

Step 1: Sign Up for Shopify

  1. Visit Shopify’s website:
    Go to www.shopify.com and click on "Start free trial."
  2. Create an Account:
    1. What's a domain name? It's your website name, so for me it would be blossomandlove.com and my email domain is somethings like marika@blossomandlove.com or pr@blossomandlove.com. If you don't have this yet, no worries I will show you how to create this later. 
    • Enter your email address, create a password, and choose your store name (this can be changed later). To start, you can use a regular email if you do not already have the domain name secured. 
    • Click "Create your store."
    • CLICK HERE to watch a video tutorial.
  3. Set Up Your Store Information:
    • Enter your business details (address, country, etc.).
    • Click "Enter My Store" to continue.

Step 2: Select a Shopify Plan

  1. Choose a Plan:
    • After your free trial ends (usually 14 days), choose a paid plan. Plans typically range from Basic Shopify to Advanced. Basic is perfect for anyone doing less than $75,000 in sales online. Over that amount it starts to pay off to purchase the middle option for cheaper credit card rates and potential shipping discounts.
    • Shopify will prompt you to enter your billing information. You can also use a free trial to test out the platform first.

Step 3: Customize Your Store Design

  1. Choose a Theme:
    • Go to the Online Store section in the Shopify Admin dashboard and click Themes.
    • Choose a free theme or visit the Shopify Theme Store to purchase a premium theme. This is where a website designer can come in handy, or a bunch of youtube videos to learn how to use the editing tools in shopify.
  2. Customize the Theme:
    • Once you've selected your theme, click on the Customize button.
    • You can adjust the layout, colors, fonts, and overall style using the theme editor. Again, if this is not your zone of genius, the energy it would take you to learn how to build a good website, you could have paid someone else to do it faster and start making money sooner… but up to you :)

Step 4: Add Products to Your Store

  1. Add Products:
    • Navigate to the Products tab in the Shopify Admin.
    • Click Add product plus sign in the top right corner and fill in details like product title, description, price, inventory, and images. The MOST IMPORTANT section to not forget to fill out is the Collections section. If you do not assign the product to a collection, it will not show up on your website. Click Here for a full video tutorial breakdown.
  2. Organize Products:
    • You can create product collections to organize items (e.g., by category, price range, etc.).

Step 5: Configure Your Store’s Settings

  1. Set Up Payments:
    • Go to Settings → Payments and set up your preferred payment gateways (Shopify Payments, PayPal, etc.). Set up a paypal account if you haven't already. Its one of my most used platforms especially for international customers!
  2. Set Up Shipping:
    • Go to Settings → Shipping and delivery and define your shipping rates based on regions or weight. Click here to watch a video on setting up your shipping rates and one of the biggest mistakes I made when I first set mine up. Shopify automatically sets up free shipping over $50. If you don't want that, watch this video!
  3. Set Up Taxes:
    • Go to Settings → Taxes to configure how taxes are applied to products based on the customer’s location.
  4. Review Store Settings:
    • Review settings for notifications, checkout, and legal policies (return policy, terms of service, etc.) under Settings → General.

 

 

Part 2: Connecting Your Domain Name to Shopify

Step 1: Purchase a Domain Through Shopify

  1. Navigate to Domain Settings:
    • In the Shopify Admin, go to Online Store → Domains.
  2. Buy a New Domain:
    • Click Buy new domain and search for an available domain name. Make your domain name something memorable and easy for your customer to just pull up quick. Weird spellings or long website domains tend to perform poorly.
    • Once you’ve chosen a domain, follow the prompts to purchase it directly through Shopify.
    • Shopify will automatically connect your new domain to your store. You now own your website URL! WOOHOOO!

Part 2: Setting Up Google Workspace with Your Shopify Domain

Step 1: Sign Up for Google Workspace

  1. Go to Google Workspace:
    • Navigate to Google Workspace and click on Get Started. Yes, this costs money… but if you want to do any form of email marketing or not go to people's spam folders when contacting customers about orders, order confirmation emails, forgotten cart emails etc, you will need this.
  2. Enter Your Business Details:
    • Provide your business name, number of employees, and other relevant details.
  3. Choose Your Plan:
    • Select a plan (Basic, Business, or Enterprise) based on your needs. Google Workspace offers a free trial for 30 days. Basic is usually fine for most people. You can always upgrade later.
  4. Sign Up for Google Workspace:
    • Create an admin account and provide your business information, including the domain name that you’ve connected to Shopify.

Step 2: Verify Your Domain with Google Workspace

  1. Add Your Domain:
    • After signing up, Google Workspace will ask you to verify your domain. Since you've already connected your domain to Shopify, Google will guide you through adding a verification record.
  2. Add TXT Record in Shopify DNS:
    • In your Shopify admin, go to Online Store → Domains.
    • Click on the domain name you want to verify, and access DNS settings in the “ …” button in the top right corner.
    • Add the TXT record provided by Google to your DNS settings to prove domain ownership.
  3. Verify the Domain:
    • After adding the TXT record, click Verify in your Google Workspace admin console. It may take a few minutes to verify the domain.

Step 3: Set Up Email Accounts for Your Business

  1. Create Email Addresses:
    • In the Google Workspace Admin console, navigate to Users.
    • Click Add a User to create email addresses for your team or yourself (e.g., contact@yourdomain.com, support@yourdomain.com).
  2. Configure Gmail Settings:
    • Once your email accounts are created, users can access their email via Gmail using your custom domain name.
    • You can also set up email aliases and forwarders within the Google Workspace Admin console. This is advanced and not needed right away.
  3. Set Up Email on Devices:
    • Users can configure their Gmail accounts on mobile devices or desktop. Keep all of your business communication in this email for easy organization.

 

 

Part 3: Additional Steps for Shopify Store Launch

Step 1: Test Your Store

  1. Review the Store’s User Experience:
    • Test navigation, checkout, payment, and responsiveness on different devices before you launch your store. You will always find something small like a button link to adjust.
  2. Place a Test Order:
    • Place a test order to ensure your payment gateway is working and the checkout process is seamless. This also helps you answer FAQ’s of the shopping experience on your website.Double check shipping rates are set up and that the weight of each item is added into each product listing if you sell heavy items that affect the shipping price.

Step 2: Launch Your Store

  1. Remove Password Protection:
    • Under Online Store → Preferences, disable the password protection to allow the public to view your store. This is an automatic feature until you are ready to launch!
  2. Announce Your Launch:
    • Use email marketing, social media, and other channels to announce your grand opening.

Develop Your Email Campaigns

This is if you already have an email customer base. See below for a social media content plan if you don't have this. This is a perfect time to also set up automated emails for things like cart recovery and reviews after the order is placed etc.

Campaign 1: Welcome Email

  • Timing: Immediately after sign-up.
  • Subject: "Welcome to [Your Brand Name] – Flower Preservation Art Just for You!"
  • Content:
    • Thank the subscriber for joining.
    • Briefly introduce your story and expertise in flower preservation.
    • Share your website link and encourage them to explore your products.
    • Offer an exclusive discount or freebie (e.g., 10% off their first order or a guide on how to preserve flowers).
    • Call-to-Action (CTA): "Explore Our Collections" or "Shop Now."

Campaign 2: Product Showcase & Featured Work

  • Timing: 1 week after the welcome email.
  • Subject: "Preserve Your Memories with Our Custom Flower Art"
  • Content:
    • Showcase your most popular products (e.g., preserved bouquets, framed flowers, keepsake boxes).
    • Include high-quality images and descriptions.
    • Share testimonials or client stories (e.g., how someone preserved their wedding bouquet).
    • CTA: "Shop Our Flower Preservation Collections."

Campaign 3: Behind-the-Scenes/Artist’s Story

  • Timing: 2-3 weeks after the welcome email.
  • Subject: "A Glimpse into the Art of Flower Preservation"
  • Content:
    • Share a personal story about your journey as a flower preservation artist.
    • Show the process of how you create your art (e.g., drying flowers, creating frames).
    • Include a video or a time-lapse of your work.
    • CTA: "Learn More About Our Craft" or "Order Your Custom Piece."

Campaign 4: Special Offer/Seasonal Sale

  • Timing: 1 month after the welcome email or during a seasonal event (e.g., Valentine’s Day, Wedding Season).
  • Subject: "Seasonal Sale – Preserve Your Flowers with a Special Discount!"
  • Content:
    • Promote any limited-time offers or seasonal sales.
    • Highlight why preserving flowers is the perfect gift for occasions like weddings, anniversaries, or memorials.
    • Include customer reviews and testimonials.
    • CTA: "Shop Sale Now" or "Order Today & Save!"

Campaign 5: Re-engagement/Cart Abandonment

  • Timing: 1-2 weeks after a cart abandonment or inactivity.
  • Subject: "Forgot Something? Your Preserved Flowers Await!"
  • Content:
    • Remind the customer of the items left in their cart.
    • Offer an incentive (e.g., a small discount) to encourage them to complete the purchase.
    • Add urgency ("Hurry! Limited spots for custom orders").
    • CTA: "Complete Your Order."
    • Click here to watch a full video tutorial!

4. Analyze and Optimize

  • Metrics to Track:
    • Open rates, click-through rates (CTR), and conversion rates.
    • Unsubscribes and bounce rates.
  • A/B Testing:
    • Test subject lines, CTAs, and email content to see what resonates best with your audience.

For more personalized help, check out other coaching options available to you with Blossom into Love Academy. CLICK HERE to learn more.

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