Did you know that 52% of Internet users watch YouTube videos at least once a month ? That’s just huge!

YouTube is therefore the ideal platform to transform your passion into income!

And we’ll explain to you how to monetize your YouTube channel, particularly through advertising, partnerships, merchandising, etc.

YouTube Monetization Basics 

What is YouTube Monetization? 

When we talk about YouTube monetization, we enter into one of the most important topics for content creators.

But what does that really mean?

YouTube monetization is the process of making money from your videos on the platform. 

• Do you have a YouTube channel?
• Do you produce content regularly?

So you can potentially turn your views into income.

How does it work in practice? YouTube offers several options:

• Advertising revenue
• Channel Subscriptions
• Super Cat
• Merchandising
• Memberships

The YouTube Partner Program ( YPP ) is the main gateway. It gives you access to these different revenue streams.

⚠️ However, not all creators are eligible. 

YouTube has specific criteria in place to ensure that only serious and committed creators can monetize their content.

Here are the basic conditions:

• 1000 subscribers minimum
• 4000 hours of viewing
• YouTube Rules Compliance
• Original and quality content

Once you meet these criteria, you can apply for YPP. YouTube will review your channel and decide if it meets their standards.

Monetization is also a responsibility.

👉 You will need to create advertiser-friendly content, respect copyright, and maintain a healthy community.

How to enable monetization on your channel?

Now, let’s get down to business. How do you enable monetization on your channel?

1. Go to YouTube Studio
2. Click on “Monetization”
3. Check your eligibility
4. Accept the terms of use
5. Connect an AdSense account

Once you submit your application: be patient. The review can take up to a month. YouTube will carefully review your content.

In the meantime, keep creating! The more you produce, the more likely you are to be accepted.

❌ You’re rejected? Don’t give up. Analyze the feedback, improve your content, and try again in 30 days.

👉 Focus on creating value for your audience. Money will follow naturally.

And don’t neglect other sources of income:

• merchandising,
• fan funding,
• partnerships…

If this question particularly interests you, find out how to make money on YouTube .

The different sources of income on YouTube

The YouTube Partner Program (YPP) 

To turn your YouTube passion into a real business, the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) is your best ally.

But what exactly is this famous YPP?

This is the key that gives you access to multiple sources of income on the platform. 

It’s a bit like a VIP club for content creators.

Once you are a member of the YPP, you can monetize your videos in several ways:

• Advertising revenue
• Super Chat during live broadcasts
• Memberships to your channel
• YouTube Premium Revenue

👉 Ad revenue is the big part. YouTube places ads on your videos and you get a percentage.

⚠️ But stay vigilant, not all content is equal when it comes to advertisers.

👉 Super Chat is a form of tipping. Your fans can pay to have their messages highlighted during your lives.

👉 Your channel memberships ? It’s like a subscription. Your fans pay for exclusive content. It’s up to you to be creative and provide them with content!

👉 YouTube Premium is the cherry on the cake. You get a share of Premium subscriptions based on the time your videos are watched.

With over $22.31 billion in revenue in 2023, they can give you some 😉

But the YPP is not just about money, it is also:

• A credibility boost
• Advanced creation tools
• Dedicated YouTube support

How to join this club? Remember the criteria:

• 1000 subscribers minimum
• 4000 hours of viewing/year
• YouTube Rules Compliance

Once you’re in the YPP, everything changes. You go from being a simple creator to a real YouTube entrepreneur.

Remember, to succeed and make a living from YouTube, it’s about consistency and quality. Money will follow naturally if you stay true to your vision and your audience.

YouTube Premium: an additional source of income 

Do you know YouTube Premium? Basically it’s:

• no ads,
• background reading,
• exclusive content.

But what does this have to do with you, the content creator?

Well, every Premium subscriber who watches your videos earns you money. How does it work?

• YouTube shares premium revenue
• Based on viewing time
• More views = more revenue

It’s like a bonus on top of your regular ad revenue.

Sale of derivative products and merchandising 

Now let’s move on to something more tangible: merchandising. Have you ever thought about selling products with your channel’s logo?

Imagine your fans proudly wearing a t-shirt with your logo, or sipping their coffee from a mug with your image on it.

Merchandising is:

• A direct source of income
• A way to strengthen your brand
• A way to involve your community

Where to start? Here are some ideas:

• T-shirts with your favorite quotes
• Mugs with your logo
• Stickers of your best memes
• Posters of your iconic thumbnails

YouTube even makes it easier with its “ Merchandising ” feature. It allows you to display your products directly below your videos.

👉 Merchandising is more than just a business. It’s an extension of your content, your personality.

Crowdfunding and fan donations 

Are you dreaming of making that crazy YouTube project that’s been on your mind for so long come true?

Crowdfunding can be your solution! It’s like your fans become your producers.

Platforms like Patreon or Tipeee allow your community to support you financially. In exchange, you can offer:

• Exclusive content
• Early Access
• Privileged interactions

Licenses and rights to use your content 

But have you thought about the value of your content beyond YouTube? Your videos can have a second life!

Selling licenses means allowing others to use your content for a fee. Imagine:

• A TV channel replaying your report
• A website integrating your video
• A company using your tutorial

In a way, it’s like renting out your content. You keep ownership, but you allow its use for a ” rent .”

Brand Partnerships and Influencer Marketing 

Now let’s talk partnerships and influence. It’s time to play in the big leagues!

Brands are looking for creators like you to reach their audience. How does it work?

• Product placement in your videos
• Sponsored Videos
• Campaigns on your social networks

⚠️ Transparency is essential here if you want to last. Always clearly indicate sponsored content to your audience.

Influencer marketing is a delicate balance. How do you stay authentic while monetizing your channel?

👉 Choose partners who match your values. Your fans will feel it and appreciate it.

Affiliate Marketing

Have you ever heard of affiliate marketing ? It’s like being a sales rep for products you love. You talk about products you already love and endorse but…

The best in history? You can do it directly from your YouTube channel!

How does it work? It’s simple:

• You recommend a product
• You provide a special link
• You earn a commission on sales

Imagine you’re making a video about your filming equipment. You could include affiliate links for each item.

Your viewers buy, you get a share. 

⚠️ Keep in mind: your audience trusts you, don’t betray them for a few dollars.

Where to find these affiliate programs?

• Amazon Associates
• Brand Specific Programs
• Affiliate Networks like CJ Affiliate

Remember to always choose products that are relevant to your content.

Do you do travel vlogs? Talk about the gear you actually use.

We recommend that you clearly mention that you are using affiliate links. Transparency is the basis of a lasting relationship with your audience.

Wondering how much you can make? It varies wildly. Some YouTubers make more with affiliate marketing than with advertising!

But as with everything, you have to find the balance.

❌ Too much promotion and you risk boring your viewers.

❌ Not enough, and you miss out on opportunities.

✅ The right balance? Everyone wins (especially you)!

Understanding YouTube Compensation

How does YouTube calculate your earnings? 

How does YouTube convert your views into euros? It’s a bit mysterious… but we’ll try to analyze all that!

YouTube uses a system called CPM ( Cost Per Thousand Views ). 

⚠️ Warning! It’s not as simple as “1000 views = X euros”.

Several factors come into play:

• Advertising type ( skippable, non-skippable )
• Ad viewing time
• Audience engagement ( clicks, likes )
• Theme of your video
• Time of year ( holidays bring in more )

Basically, YouTube calculates how much advertisers pay and then gives you a cut. It’s like a pie and you get a slice.

How much does 1000 views on YouTube cost? 

But let’s talk numbers. How much can 1000 views earn you?

The answer will surprise you: it depends!

Why such a difference? It is linked to several factors:

• Your audience ( age, country, purchasing power )
• Your niche ( finance vs humor for example )
• The season ( Christmas = jackpot )

Thinking this is unfair? Remember that views are only part of the equation.

👉 Quality content attracts more advertisers and better deals.

How many views do you need to make money? 

Let’s talk numbers!

How many views to start making money?

The answer may surprise you: it’s not just a question of views!

To join the YouTube Partner Program, you need:

• 1000 subscribers
• 4000 hours of viewing over 12 months

It’s like an entry ticket to the paid YouTubers club. But once you’re in, every view counts!

In the long run, quality trumps quantity. Better 10,000 engaged views than 100,000 passive views.

How and when do you get paid by YouTube?

Now, let’s move on to the fun part: getting your money!

YouTube is pretty cool as a payer.

He pays you every month, provided you reach the payment threshold.

This threshold is €100 (or equivalent in local currency). You reach it, YouTube pays you. Simple.

The process goes like this:

• End of the month: YouTube calculates your earnings
• Between the 10th and the 14th: Payment sent
• Banking delay: 5 to 7 working days

You get paid through AdSense, Google’s system. Make sure your account is set up correctly!

👉 A word of advice: don’t stare at your balance every day.

Focus on creating awesome content instead!

Optimize your YouTube revenue

Analyze and understand your audience 

Want to maximize your YouTube revenue?

 Start by understanding your audience! 

YouTube Analytics will give you all the data you need. It tells you who your viewers are, what they like, and how they interact with your content.

What should you watch out for?

• Demographic data (age, gender, location)
• Viewing time
• Retention rate
• Traffic sources
• Peak viewing times

This information is essential, a real gold mine to exploit! It allows you to adapt your content and increase your engagement.

👉 You discover that your audience is predominantly female and aged 25-34? Adjust your content accordingly!

👉 Retention rate drops after 5 minutes? Consider shortening your videos or adding hooks.

👉 Are your viewers most active in the evening? Post at that time to increase your initial views.

If you don’t know how to do it, don’t hesitate to take a look at the best YouTube training courses .

Create quality and regular content 

Want to turn your YouTube channel into a money-making machine?

Focus on quality and regular content. 

It’s like running a good restaurant: you need delicious food and consistent service! Otherwise, you’re disappointed and get bad ratings on Google…

But what is quality content on YouTube?

• Relevant to your audience
• Well produced ( sound, image, editing )
• Engaging from start to finish
• Providing value ( entertainment or information )

Bet everything on regularity! 

Why? It builds loyalty among your audience and boosts the YouTube algorithm . So much so that 86% of consumers are demanding more video content from the brands they follow.

How to maintain a rhythm without losing quality?

• Plan your content in advance
• Create a publishing schedule
• Prepare videos in advance
• Varies the formats ( short, long, live )

Quality over quantity. Better one great video a week than mediocre content every day.

Also, think about recycling your content. A long video can become several shorts. Currently, YouTube Shorts has 30 billion views per day

Finally, consistency pays off. Look at the big YouTubers: they all have a regular posting schedule.

⚠️ But beware of burnout! Find a balance between creation and rest. An exhausted creator does not produce good content.

YouTube is a marathon, not a sprint.

Using YouTube Tools to Increase Engagement 

To increase engagement on your YouTube channel, rely on integrated tools!

Let’s start with the end screens . This is your last shot to keep your viewers hooked. What to put in it?

• Link to another video
• Invitation to subscribe
• Thematic playlist

YouTube Cards: Smart pop-ups in your video. Use them to:

• Suggest related videos
• Promote your merchandising
• Make interactive surveys

Shorts ! YouTube loves them and they promote them. They can:

• Attracting a new audience
• Testing new ideas
• Promote your long videos

Playlists : group your videos by:

• Theme
• Series
• Best-of

Live streaming is real-time engagement. Use it to:

• Q&A with your audience
• Special Events
• Exclusive content

Diversify your sources of income

Do you really want to increase your YouTube revenue? Don’t put all your eggs in one basket!

Diversification is the best solution to transform your passion into a real business.

YouTube is a stepping stone to a content empire. What are your options?

• Merchandising: T-shirts, mugs, stickers with your image
• Sponsoring: Partnerships with brands that suit you
• Affiliation: Recommend products, earn a commission
• Crowdfunding: Let your fans finance your crazy projects
• Training: Sell your expertise in online courses
• Live Events: Meet Your Audience, Charge Admission
• Consulting: Offer your services to companies in your field

Think about what your audience would like. A gaming YouTuber could sell merchandise, a fitness coach could sell workout programs.

Don’t forget the additional platforms:

• Twitch for live streaming
• Instagram for exclusive visual content
• TikTok to reach a younger audience

What you need to remember:

• Advertisements: Revenue through the YouTube Partner Program (YPP)
• Subscriptions: Offer paid memberships to your channel
• Super Chat: Monetize messages highlighted during live broadcasts
• Merchandising: Sell products with the image of your channel
• YouTube Premium: Earn based on watch time of Premium subscribers
• Crowdfunding: Use platforms like Patreon or Tipeee
• Licenses: Selling the rights to use your content
• Partnerships: Collaborate with brands for product placements
• Affiliation: Recommend products through special links
• Training: Create and sell online courses
• Exclusive Content: Offer premium content to your most engaged supporters

What is a landing page? Definition

Wondering what a landing page is? We’ll explain everything to you! 

A landing page is like the showcase of your offer.

This is THE page where your visitors land after clicking on an ad or a specific link. Its goal? To convert these visitors into customers or leads. 

Characteristics of an effective landing page

So what makes a good landing page? 

1. A clear and concise message: No unnecessary blah blah here!
2. An eye-catching call to action ( CTA ): Want your visitor to click? Make it obvious!
3. Impactful visuals: A picture is worth a thousand words, right?
4. Social proof: Nothing like testimonials to reassure your future customers.
5. A well thought out form: Ask only for the information you really need.

You see, an effective landing page is a bit like a well-oiled conversion funnel. It guides your visitor towards the action you want them to take.

Landing page vs classic web page

You might be thinking, “But how is this different from a regular web page?” Good question!

A typical web page is like an all-you-can-eat buffet. It offers lots of options and information. 

👉 A landing page is more of a tasting menu: focused on one thing.

Here are the main differences:

Navigation: Minimal on a landing page, complete on a classic web page.

Purpose: Single for a landing page, multiple for a web page.

Content: Targeted and concise on a landing page, more general and detailed on a web page.

Links: Few or no outgoing links on a landing page, unlike a classic web page.

The different types of landing pages

Did you think there was only one type of landing page? Think again! 

There are several of them, each with its own objective:

Sales page: It aims to make you buy a product or service.

Lead capture page: Its purpose? To collect your contact information in exchange for a free offer.

Click page: It pushes you to click to go to another page ( often used in affiliation ).

Each type of landing page has its own tips and best practices.

Your goal? Choose the one that best fits your marketing objective.

How to create a landing page?

Now that you know what a landing page is, let’s take action! 

Want to create a landing page that really converts? We’ll show you how, step by step.

Define the objective and target audience

Before you dive in head first, ask yourself these questions: 

• What is your goal? 
• Who do you want to reach?

Your goal may be to:

• Sell ​​a product
• Generate leads
• Register for a webinar
• Promote an event

And your target audience? Who exactly is it?

• Marketing pros?
• Are you passionate about cooking?
• Die-hard gamers?

The more you know your audience, the more effective your landing page will be.

Steps to designing an effective landing page

1. Define your goal and audience
2. Create an eye-catching message
3. Design a clear structure
4. Choose impactful visuals
5. Write compelling content
6. Adds social proof elements
7. Integrate a powerful form or CTA
8. Optimized for mobile
9. Test and improve

Does that seem like a lot to you? Don’t panic, we’ll break it all down!

Structuring the content

Your landing page is like a good recipe. It needs the right ingredients, in the right order.

Here is a structure that has proven itself:

1. Catchy Headline
2. Explanatory subtitle
3. Main advantages
4. Detailed explanation of the offer
5. Testimonials or social proof
6. Main CTA
7. FAQ (if necessary)

👉 Remember: every element should push your visitor towards the action you want them to take. Copywriting can help you achieve this.

Optimizing design for conversion

Design isn’t just about looking pretty. It’s a real conversion booster!

Some tips:

• Use contrasting colors for your CTA
• Keep plenty of white space for easy reading
• Choose readable fonts
• Use icons to illustrate your key points

Want to know if your design works? 

👉 Take the squint test: squint your eyes while looking at your page. 

Does the most important element emerge?

Incorporate impactful calls to action (CTAs)

Some tips for a CTA that converts:

Be specific: “Get my free ebook” instead of “Click here”

Creates a sense of urgency: “Offer limited to 24 hours”

Use the first person: “I want my guide” instead of “Download the guide”

Landing page creation tools

Not a coding pro? No worries! 

There are plenty of tools to create landing pages easily:

• Leadpages : Super easy to use
• IO System : Perfect for A/B testing
• ClickFunnels : Excellent for creating complete sales funnels

Choose the tool that best suits your needs and technical level.

Embedding videos to boost conversions

A video on your landing page is like a turbo for your conversions! 

It can increase your conversion rate by up to 80%!

Some video ideas:

• Product demonstration
• Customer Testimonials
• Explanations of your offer

Remember to keep your videos short and sweet. Attention is like money: you have to earn it!

Mobile Optimization

Today, if your landing page is not optimized for mobile, it’s like you’re closing the door to half of your visitors. Do you want that? No, of course not!

Here’s how to optimize for mobile:

• Responsive design
• Buttons large enough for fingers
• Short forms
• Concise content

Test your page on different devices. It should look and function as well on a smartphone as it does on a computer.

Examples of landing pages that convert

And if you want to know more, check out our full article which presents a multitude of landing page examples .

Netflix

Netflix’s landing page is a model of conversion efficiency. 

The title “Unlimited movies and series, and much more” immediately captures attention. 

The clean design highlights the visual content. 

The bright red “Get Started” button stands out perfectly.

The key benefits are clearly presented: 

• multi-device availability,
• offline access, 
• child profiles. 

The FAQ at the bottom of the page builds confidence. 

The promotional offer acts as a powerful conversion element. 

This page demonstrates a detailed understanding of the customer journey and digital marketing techniques.

Shopify

Shopify takes a straightforward approach with its title “Build Your Online Store with Shopify.” 

The 3-day free trial offer is highlighted, with a simple sign-up form. 

Visuals reinforce the message of success. 

Logos of well-known brands serve as social proof. 

The page details the key benefits : 

• ease of use, 
• integrated marketing tools, 
• 24/7 support. 

This landing page is designed to encourage immediate action while reassuring potential users.

Dropbox

Dropbox stands out for its minimalist approach. 

The soft color palette and clean typography create an atmosphere of calm and organization. 

The key message is concise : “Keep your files organized, up to date and protected.” This simplicity reflects the essence of the service. 

However, the lack of customer testimonials or feature comparisons is notable. 

Dropbox appears to be relying on the strength of its brand and reputation to convince, rather than an abundance of information.

Landing page optimization

You’ve chosen your creation tool, that’s great! But don’t think the work stops there. 

Optimizing your landing page is like training an athlete: it’s an ongoing process. 

Improve loading speed

Do you know how long a visitor waits before leaving a page that loads too slowly? 3 seconds! 

Yes, you read that right. That’s how long it takes you to say “ landing page .” 

So how do you speed up your page?

Compress your images. Use tools like TinyPNG to reduce their size without losing quality. 

Minify your code. Remove spaces, comments, and unnecessary characters from your CSS and JavaScript. 

Use a CDN ( Content Delivery Network ) . This allows you to distribute your content from servers closer to your visitors. 

Reduce distractions

Your landing page is like a GPS. It should guide your visitor to a single destination: your CTA. 

Everything else? Potential distractions.

Remove the navigation bar. Your visitor doesn’t need to visit the rest of your site. 

Limit external links. Every link is a potential exit. 

Focus on one goal. One offer = one landing page. 

Use impactful visual elements

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. On a landing page, it can be worth a thousand conversions! Visuals are essential to capture attention and convince.

Use photos of real people. It creates trust and empathy. 

Show your product in action. A demonstration is worth more than a long description. 

Add icons. They make information more digestible and memorable. 

Advanced Strategies for Landing Pages

A/B testing: methodology and best practices

A/B testing is like being a marketing scientist.

 You create two versions of your landing page and see which one performs better. Simple, right?

Here’s how to do it:

1. Choose an element to test: title, CTA, colors, images…
2. Create two versions of your page, identical except for this element.
3. Drive half of your traffic to each version.
4. Analyze the results after reaching a significant sample.

Only test one thing at a time. Otherwise, it’s like trying to watch two games at the same time: you won’t know what really made the difference.

Dynamic content personalization

Imagine a landing page that adapts to each visitor. It’s possible with dynamic personalization!

You can adjust your content based on:

• The visitor’s location
• His browsing history
• The traffic source

For example, if someone comes from a vegan recipe site, show them a version of your page that focuses on plant-based ingredients. 

Integration with marketing campaigns

Your landing page doesn’t live on a desert island. It’s part of a larger marketing ecosystem. 

How to integrate it effectively?

👉 Make sure your landing page message matches your ads. If your ad is about magical unicorns, your landing page should be about them too!

👉 Use the same language and tone as you do in your emails or social media posts. It’s like wearing the same t-shirt to every concert of your favorite band: it creates consistency.

👉 Include social proof elements related to your campaign. Customer testimonials? Mentions of awards won? Show them off!

👉 Don’t forget post-conversion follow-up. A personalized thank you page or welcome email can make all the difference.

Performance analysis and measurement

You’ve optimized your landing page, but how do you know if your efforts are really paying off? 

This is where performance analysis and measurement come into play. 

Essential KPIs for landing pages

Imagine that your landing page is a video game. The KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) are your life points, your score, your level. They tell you if you win or lose.

👉 Conversion rate is your final boss. It’s THE number that tells you how many visitors took the action you wanted. 

Are you selling fun socks? Your conversion rate tells you how many people bought them.

But that’s not the only KPI to monitor. 

👉 Bounce rate is like the number of players who leave the game before even starting. 

If it’s high, something is wrong with your page.

👉 Time spent on the page is a bit like playing time. 

The longer people stay, the more interested they are. But be careful, if they stay too long without converting, it may be because your CTA is not clear enough.

Analysis tools for landing pages

Now, how do you get all these numbers? You have several options, each with its advantages.

👉 Google Analytics is the Swiss army knife of web analysis. 

It gives you an overview of your performance. You can see: 

• where do your visitors come from,
• how long they stay,
• and lots of other useful information.

👉 Hotjar is like having surveillance cameras on your page. It shows you: 

• where people click,
• how far they scroll. 

You can even see session recordings. It’s a little creepy, but super useful!

Comparison of the main creation tools

Are you ready to create your landing page but don’t know which tool to choose? 

Don’t panic, we’re going to compare the main creation tools to help you make the right choice.

Leadpages: Features and Pricing

 

Leadpages is like the Swiss Army knife of landing pages. Want a page that converts without having to worry about the code? This is for you!

When it comes to features, Leadpages doesn’t mess around. You have: 

• templates,
• a drag-and-drop editor,
• a tool for creating pop-ups and notification bars. 

It’s like having a personal marketing assistant!

For pricing, it starts at $37 per month if you pay annually. 

It’s the price of a good meal at a restaurant, except that here, it’s your business that you’re feeding!

Systeme.io: advantages and disadvantages

 

Are you looking for an all-in-one solution for your online business? Systeme.io might be your best choice!

The main advantage of Systeme.io is that it doesn’t just make landing pages. You can manage: 

• your landing pages,
• member areas,
• your emails,
• your webinars,
• your affiliate programs… 

But be careful, all-in-one sometimes means less specialization. If you are looking for ultra-specific features for your landing pages, you might be a little limited.

ClickFunnels: for whom and why

 

ClickFunnels is the oldest landing page tool. 

ClickFunnels shines with its ability to create sequences of interconnected pages. 

You can guide your visitor from the landing page to the sales page, then to the confirmation page, all in a seamless manner. 

Pricing wise? It starts at $97 per month. Yes, it’s steep. But if you’re serious about your online business, it can be worth every penny.

What you need to remember 

• Create a clear and impactful value proposition right from the title of your landing page.
• Opt for a clean design that guides the visitor’s attention to the essential elements.
• Place a visible and enticing call-to-action (CTA) above the fold.
• Highlight the key benefits of your product or service in a concise manner.
• Use social proof like customer testimonials or well-known brand logos.
• Integrate relevant visuals that illustrate your offer or user experience.
• Simplify the registration form to reduce barriers to entry.
• Offer a free trial or demo to encourage engagement.
• Target your message to meet the specific needs of your audience.
• Add interactive elements like calculators or videos to engage the visitor.
• Structure your page in a way that naturally guides the visitor towards conversion.
• Anticipate and respond to potential user objections.
• Ensure consistency between your message, your design and your brand.
• Optimize your page for different devices with responsive design.
• Eliminate distracting elements like complex navigation menus.

If you want to create an online store , you have several options. You can code your e-commerce from A to Z , but this requires great technical skills . Or, you can use a CMS , which makes it easy to design an online store .

Among these software, we note Shopify , the most used CMS in the world for creating e-commerce. Shopify is an all-in-one tool that allows you to create a store without the need to code. Even without skills , you will be able to have a stylish , fast and mobile-  optimized e-commerce .

Today we’re going to walk you through the Shopify test in detail so you can get an idea of ​​how it works.

🕰️ No time to read everything? Here’s what you need to remember:

👉 Best online store creation tool with simple and intuitive operation.
👉 Payment process with integrated conversion with a one-click system.
👉 Possibility of creating a flexible point of sale to promote your brand in real life and online.
👉 CMS optimized for natural referencing in order to find visitors without spending on advertising.
👉 Complete and optimized dashboard to track your online activity at a glance.
👉 Many extensions available to customize your online store in just a few clicks.

 

Shopify Overview

Shopify is a Content Managing System ( CMS ) or content management software in French. In short, it is software that will allow you to create a website without coding . It is this software that offers the possibility of putting your online store and adding functionalities , improving the graphic appearance and others.

Shopify is a Canadian company specializing in e-commerce design . Overall, if you want to create an online store, this software will take care of everything. It is he who will host your website as well as your domain name , manage payments , shipping and others.

If Shopify is so popular, it is also because it integrates many templates that allow you to design a magnificent store quickly and easily. Thanks to themes designed by designers , even if you are bad at design, you can create a professional store.

Worldwide, nearly 30% of e-commerce businesses run on Shopify . Consequently, this CMS is used both by online stores of small merchants , but also by large e-commerce businesses . In itself, there are no real limits with this CMS. With all the features, themes and plugins, there’s almost nothing you can’t do.

 

Who is Shopify for? 

Shopify is an easy-to-use tool for creating an online store . Therefore, from the moment you want to design an e-commerce to sell your products or to do dropshipping , this CMS will suit you. There are several scenarios where Shopify can be used.

If you want to get started in dropshipping ( selling directly from an existing supplier like Aliexpress, wish, Amazon, etc. ), Shopify is ideal . You can connect the Oberlo application to automate shipments from your suppliers.

Next, Shopify is great for small merchants . If you want to sell your own products online , this CMS will be perfect. Even without skills, you will be able to create a professional online store . If you have a small structure, this CMS is ideal for building and managing your e-commerce on a daily basis without taking the headache.

But if you have a bigger project , in particular creating an e-commerce that generates hundreds of thousands of visits per month, it is also possible with Shopify . Indeed, the CMS is largely capable of running a large online store . With all the extensions available, there’s actually nothing you can’t do.

In summary, you must understand that Shopify acts as a facilitator for creating e-commerce . Therefore, from the moment you want to create a store without having to worry about the technical part , this CMS will be ideal.

Services offered by Shopify

As we told you above, Shopify offers a lot of features . We will therefore present to you the most used services of the platform, so that you can get an idea of ​​how it works .

Creating a store 

Shopify aims above all to be easy to use and therefore allows you to set up an online store step by step easily from the e-commerce platform . Overall, you will be able to add all your products for sale and sort them to create categories and pages. But you can also create a “ single product ” store with a single page.

You should know that even if you have never used this software, you will be guided by the platform . As soon as you arrive on Shopify , the CMS will show you how to add or import a product , integrate a theme, configure order  shipping and more.

Shopify will guide you through all the steps of setting up your e-commerce. By following the steps shown directly from the platform, you will be able to put your store online quickly.

The step that takes the most time is surely adding product . Indeed, for each product that you add, you will have to fill in a lot of information such as its price , its characteristics , and others. But you can also integrate photos , videos as well as a description .

On the home screen, you can see that Shopify asks you to choose a delivery method . Here you can choose between several options including shipping, local delivery or local collection.

Note that if you already have an online store on another CMS like WordPress, Wix or SquareSpace, you can migrate it to Shopify . In fact, the platform allows you to recreate an existing site created with other software.

Shopify also allows you to have a blog section on its site . We have already talked about it on our blog, if you own a business that sells online, it is imperative to have a blog. By publishing articles , you will be able to attract free, hot and regular traffic . This is a great way to attract long-term customers so you can no longer rely on advertising.

From the platform, you will be able to write complete blog articles , as it is possible to do with WordPress for example. You can add images , links , videos and more. It will also be possible to optimize your articles for SEO ( by adding extensions – see below ).

Dashboard

The big advantage of Shopify is that you will be able to manage your e-commerce and have a detailed report of your sales . This is the famous dashboard that you have probably already seen if you are interested in online business. This dashboard will allow you to have access to all the statistics necessary to see the status of sales.

This dashboard provides access to a huge amount of data . Not all of them are necessarily useful, we will present to you the most interesting statistics to know.

Before you start, you should know that you can generate statistics for a day , a week , a month or a personalized period of time.

The most interesting statistic, at least the one that all e-retailers look at, is total sales . Here you can see an overview of your turnover , but also where the sales come from ( advertising, organic visits, etc. ).

Next to it, also very important, is the number of visitors . You can observe at first glance the number of Internet users who visit your store . But you can also get a more detailed report , in order to see the average time spent on your store, the most visited pages , the bounce rate and others.

On the right, you can see the customer retention rate . This percentage represents the quantity of customers who recommend to your website after purchasing a product there. At the same time, you can observe the percentage of customers who purchase for the first time from your store.

Below, Shopify displays the number of current orders . Note that a separate section on the platform allows you to see the orders to be processed . Next door, a very important statistic is your conversion rate . You will also be able to see the percentage of visitors who add a product to the cart.

👉 We invite you to regularly check your conversion rate , because it is a key indicator of your marketing performance.

Then you can also see the average basket . Here too, it is an important indicator for defining your marketing strategy . The objective is of course to increase this average basket. There are several techniques to implement in order to sell more.

Finally, one last really interesting statistic is going to be the turnover per marketing campaign . Thanks to a detailed report, you will be able to see the conversion rate , the average basket of customers coming from an advertising campaign .

Themes 

To personalize your store , you can add a theme . Themes will make it very easy to improve the graphic appearance of your site. Typically, themes are built by designers and developers.

The objective of a theme is above all to make your store more stylish . But themes must also be optimized so as not to slow down page loading times . Some themes are therefore very stylish, but too heavy and therefore reduce the speed of your site.

There are free and paid themes . While many free themes provide quite a few options, we prefer to be honest, it is better to go with a premium theme . Especially if you want to create a designer store without reducing the performance of your site.

As you can see, some themes will add features , which are not available if you keep the base Shopify theme. For example, you can add carousels, stock counter and timer, and others.

Some themes also offer pre-made e-commerce templates . In this case, you can import a template including several pages , but also product sheets and categories. Then, all you have to do is modify the template with your products, your text and others. It’s a super simple and quick way to create your e-commerce .

In our opinion, adding a theme is essential to creating an online store worthy of the name. We therefore invite you to find out before starting your e-commerce in order to choose the theme that suits you. Quickly, here are the criteria for a good Shopify theme 👇

A theme must be fast . Design is important, but if it slows down the loading time of your pages, you will lose visitors. We therefore invite you to check that your theme is not too heavy before installing it on your store.

Also, it is better to choose a theme that is optimized for SEO . SEO is very important to develop your e-commerce. With an optimized theme, you will be able to more easily have an effective SEO strategy.

As a bonus, certain themes allow you to display your site in several languages . If you want to sell internationally or simply in neighboring countries, this could be interesting.

Extensions 

Shopify includes many extensions that will allow you to add features to your store . There are thousands of extensions, some free and others paid . A good part is also based on a freemium model , that is to say with a free but limited version.

We will quickly introduce you to some extensions that are essential on Shopify.

The Boost Sales plugin allows you to add “ UpSells ” and “ CrossSells ”. Overall, as soon as a customer places an order , you will be able to display a page to offer them another product. This makes it easy to increase your average basket.

If you want to do dropshipping , the Oberlo application will be essential. This application allows you to order and ship your orders directly from your supplier ( mainly Aliexpress ). The extension also allows you to manage inventory and track shipments in real time.

Then, we recommend that you install several extensions in order to optimize your site for SEO . Shopify’s basic features allow you to change some things, but we don’t think it’s enough. We therefore invite you to install Plug In SEO which will allow you to optimize several elements and correct your errors. You can also download SEO Image Optimizer to optimize your images for SEO.

We also recommend that you install Mailbot , an email marketing extension . Thanks to this plugin, you will be able to collect emails directly from your store. But the extension also allows you to send email campaigns , such as promotional emails , newsletters and others.

You can also add the Yotpo Reviews plugin . This extension will allow you to add customer reviews to your product sheets. It is also this plugin that will allow customers to leave a review when they place an order.

Finally, we recommend the Referral Candy plugin. The latter will allow you to create an affiliate program for your online store. Publishers will be able to sign up for your program and promote your products in exchange for a commission. You can also create promo codes for your affiliates from this application . Note that the extension takes care of everything , from affiliate registration to commission payments and sales tracking .

Customer Support 

Shopify is easy to use, but there may be problems managing your store. In order to respond to your problems, customer support is available . There are several specific features of your platform’s customer support, which we will present to you.

You should know that there are several ways to contact customer service . In order to get a quick response , you can start a web chat with a Shopify employee . The only downside is that you will have to speak in English , as the company’s operators only speak this language. The chat is available 24 hours a day and allows you to get a response quickly. In case you are in a hurry, this is ideal.

As you can see, it is possible to contact Shopify on Twitter . It’s also a quick way to get a response. But in our opinion, it is better to go through the platform in order to have an answer to your questions.

If you want to contact support , you will have to do so by email. Generally, the response time is longer.

Finally, Shopify also has a discussion forum . On this forum, you can find Shopify employees, but also many CMS users, some of whom have become experts after years of use. You can register for free and ask your questions . Many users will be happy to answer your questions, but can also give an objective opinion on your store for example.

But you can also find the answer to your question simply by searching in discussions that have already taken place .

The rates 

 

Shopify offers 3 different pricing options . Depending on the plan you choose, many features can be added . Depending on the subscription plan, you can also have more or fewer administrator accounts in order to work with your collaborators on your store. The Shopify and Advanced plans also provide access to more detailed analytics reports .

Then, you should know that Shopify charges you a commission for each sale on your store. This percentage varies from 1.8 to 1.4% depending on the formulas. Obviously, the more expensive you opt for a subscription , the lower the commission will be . ( in case you make a lot of sales, the most expensive plan becomes the most advantageous )

Note that no matter which subscription plan you choose, the first 3 months will cost only $1. monthly .

Advantages disadvantages 

After testing Shopify for several weeks, here are the strong and weak points that emerged:

Advantages 

✅ Easy to use

✅ Many templates to create a design site

✅ Good value for money

✅ Ability to accept payments in multiple currencies

✅ Marketing reports and statistics

The inconvenients

❌ Customer support only in English

❌ Commission on each sale

In summary: our opinion on Shopify

 

Our opinion on Shopify is simple. It is clearly the ultimate CMS if you want to create an online store . The software is easy to use and will allow you to have a professional, stylish and optimized e-commerce. Thanks to all the extensions available, you can do absolutely everything on your store.

In addition to the ease of use which makes it easy to have an e-commerce design, this CMS is optimized for SEO . Thanks to a few plugins, you will be able to manage your SEO strategy in order to gain places on search engines.

In terms of choosing the formula , it’s up to you. If you ‘re just starting out and want to create an online store to sell your own products, the entry-level solution is perfect. But from the moment you start making a lot of sales , the Advanced formula will be more profitable.

In our opinion, Shopify offers good value for money . There are certainly cheaper CMS that allow you to create an online store, but they are not as easy to use. With Shopify, you can literally create a beautiful e-commerce store , without any special skills.

In conclusion, we recommend Shopify , which is by far the most advantageous and simplest solution for designing an e-commerce. Thanks to templates and applications, creating an online store is clearly child’s play . But the daily management of your e-commerce will also be simplified .

The alternative to Shopify 

Shopify is, in our opinion, the most complete software for designing an online store. However, there are alternatives which, like this platform, allow you to create an e-commerce without the need to code. We are therefore going to present to you the best alternatives if you do not want to use Shopify .

To start, we obviously think of WooCommerce . This completely free WordPress CMS extension allows you to create a professional online store . The software is a little more complicated to use than Shopify, but still offers great savings. If you are not afraid to train yourself or are comfortable with the technical part, WooCommerce is ideal for getting started with very little budget .

Then you can use Wix . This platform makes it easy to create an e-commerce thanks to numerous templates. The software is very easy to use and offers the possibility of creating your online store quickly . The subscription is similar to Shopify for the same features. This in itself is the alternative that most resembles Shopify .

Finally, we also think of SquareSpace , an easy-to-use CMS designed to create websites. With this platform, you will be able to design an e-commerce very quickly thanks to the numerous templates available. Prices are similar with subscriptions varying between

The alternative to Shopify 

Shopify is, in our opinion, the most complete software for designing an online store. However, there are alternatives which, like this platform, allow you to create an e-commerce without the need to code. We are therefore going to present to you the best alternatives if you do not want to use Shopify .

To start, we obviously think of WooCommerce . This completely free WordPress CMS extension allows you to create a professional online store . The software is a little more complicated to use than Shopify, but still offers great savings. If you are not afraid to train yourself or are comfortable with the technical part, WooCommerce is ideal for getting started with very little budget .

Then you can use Wix . This platform makes it easy to create an e-commerce thanks to numerous templates. The software is very easy to use and offers the possibility of creating your online store quickly . The subscription is similar to Shopify for the same features. This in itself is the alternative that most resembles Shopify .

Finally, we also think of SquareSpace , an easy-to-use CMS designed to create websites. With this platform, you will be able to design an e-commerce very quickly thanks to the  numerous templates available. Prices are similar with subscriptions varying between $11.81 and $38.64 per month .

How to use Shopify? 

There are hundreds of different ways to use Shopify , depending on the type of store you want to have. We will therefore show you how to get started on this CMS in order to put your first store online .

👉 Before you start , you should know that you can start a free trial to use Shopify without paying ( or €1 per month ) for 3 months . We invite you to do this before starting this tutorial.

When you arrive, you will directly have to choose your domain name . It will be the name of your store, but also its virtual address. Clearly, your visitors will type this name in their search bar in order to access your e-commerce. We therefore invite you to take your time before choosing this name .

Shopify will also ask you to include a logo , slogan and others. Don’t panic, you can change everything later . The best thing is to prepare several elements before starting your store, in particular an idea for a project and products to sell .

Then, you will be able to start adding your products . Each time, you will have several elements to integrate. You will need to add a title , sales price , description , photos/videos , and others. In reality, you can personalize each product page using many elements. It is therefore up to you to see which elements you wish to modify on each product.

Right after, we invite you to create the most important pages for your store. This is going to be a contact page , an about page , an FAQ page, privacy policy pages , refunds , returns and others.

Once you have a few products online and your main pages are in place, you can add a theme to your store . As you can see, a theme makes it easy to improve the graphic appearance of your site. There are thousands of themes , free and paid, that allow you to add a touch of design to your store.

Be careful, adding a theme can greatly change the visual appearance of your store . We therefore invite you to install it on your site as soon as possible . Otherwise, you will have to modify many elements and this may waste your time.

By opting for a premium theme , you will have access to templates to easily create a designer home page . If you’re just starting out, we invite you to choose a template and modify it with your products, the name of your store, your slogan and others. ( many tutorials are generally presented by theme builders )

Next, you will customize your navigation menus . This will allow your visitors to easily find your products or a way to contact your customer service, for example. Here too, you can choose different colors, typographies and more.

Right after that, it’s time to customize the checkout process . Here, you should know that Shopify gives you a lot of options to best manage this process . For example, you may or may not ask customers to create an account before ordering . But you can also ask customers which contact methods they prefer, collect emails and automate the sending of emails for abandoned carts, for example.

and €36 per month .

How to use Shopify? 

There are hundreds of different ways to use Shopify , depending on the type of store you want to have. We will therefore show you how to get started on this CMS in order to put your first store online .

👉 Before you start , you should know that you can start a free trial to use Shopify without paying ( or €1 per month ) for 3 months . We invite you to do this before starting this tutorial.

When you arrive, you will directly have to choose your domain name . It will be the name of your store, but also its virtual address. Clearly, your visitors will type this name in their search bar in order to access your e-commerce. We therefore invite you to take your time before choosing this name .

Shopify will also ask you to include a logo , slogan and others. Don’t panic, you can change everything later . The best thing is to prepare several elements before starting your store, in particular an idea for a project and products to sell .

Then, you will be able to start adding your products . Each time, you will have several elements to integrate. You will need to add a title , sales price , description , photos/videos , and others. In reality, you can personalize each product page using many elements. It is therefore up to you to see which elements you wish to modify on each product.

Right after, we invite you to create the most important pages for your store. This is going to be a contact page , an about page , an FAQ page, privacy policy pages , refunds , returns and others.

Once you have a few products online and your main pages are in place, you can add a theme to your store . As you can see, a theme makes it easy to improve the graphic appearance of your site. There are thousands of themes , free and paid, that allow you to add a touch of design to your store.

Be careful, adding a theme can greatly change the visual appearance of your store . We therefore invite you to install it on your site as soon as possible . Otherwise, you will have to modify many elements and this may waste your time.

By opting for a premium theme , you will have access to templates to easily create a designer home page . If you’re just starting out, we invite you to choose a template and modify it with your products, the name of your store, your slogan and others. ( many tutorials are generally presented by theme builders )

Next, you will customize your navigation menus . This will allow your visitors to easily find your products or a way to contact your customer service, for example. Here too, you can choose different colors, typographies and more.

Right after that, it’s time to customize the checkout process . Here, you should know that Shopify gives you a lot of options to best manage this process . For example, you may or may not ask customers to create an account before ordering . But you can also ask customers which contact methods they prefer, collect emails and automate the sending of emails for abandoned carts, for example.