The metaverse is officially here and it’s going mainstream. Things like cryptocurrency, augmented reality, and NFTs that were once only on the fringes are now part of our everyday vocabulary.
Depending on your industry, you may have already seen the disruption of Web3. For eCommerce, NFTs have become the biggest shift. As of July 2021, Shopify is now allowing merchants to sell NFTs on their storefronts which for the first time ever allowed NFTs to be purchased without cryptocurrency. In a market that exceeded $40 billion in 2021 alone, this is an opportunity not to be missed.
Ready to get in on the action? If you’re in the United States, you can apply to get started with the NFT beta program today. Shopify plans to open the program up globally in the future.
In the meantime, give it a try and use our quick guide to learn how to start selling NFTs on the world’s biggest eCommerce platform.
- Create a Shopify account
This should be obvious but if you’re not already using Shopify, your first step is to create an account. You’ll need to do this before you can start browsing themes or apps for your website. Be sure to sign up for the Shopify Plus plan in order to participate in the NFT beta program.
- Develop a brand strategy
One of the major benefits to using Shopify to sell NFTs is that you can design a custom brand experience for your customers. Before you start working on your website, think about what type of NFTs you plan to sell and what values you want your brand to have. Who are your ideal customers and why would they want to buy your products? A strong brand strategy is essential to success in the bustling ecommerce industry. You may want to consider hiring an expert, like Startup Slang, to help you develop a clear brand strategy that will inform all your decisions to come.
- Build your website
Start browsing the themes or website templates offered by Shopify and thinking about how you want your website to look and feel. Be sure to take into consideration the customer journey—from when they land on your site to when they checkout—and make the process as easy as possible.
Better yet, hire a Shopify expert like Startup Slang to build your site for you. They’ll be able to make your vision come to life and will ensure your analytics and settings are set up properly.
- Choose your payment options
Once your site is designed, you’ll need to choose your payment options before you can begin selling. Shopify allows payments from most major credit card providers, plus you can opt to allow payment via bank transfer.
The changes in 2021 also allow for payments in cryptocurrency. If you opt to accept payment in digital coin, you’ll also need to set up a crypto wallet with some Ethereum ($ETH) to cover the gas fees of minting NFTs.
- Create and mint your NFTs
You’re now ready to start minting your NFTs and adding the products to your site. Shopify itself does not offer minting but does have several third-party apps that do. Be sure to consider the different fees and features of each one before adding it to your store.
Shopify currently works with the following blockchain technology:
- Ethereum
- Polygon
- Flow
- Videocoin
- Solana
You’ll need to use at least one of these to mint your digital products.
- Market your NFTs
Once your storefront is set up, the last thing you need to do is to market your products. By using Shopify to sell your NFTs, you can take advantage of the full catalogue of apps to help you with on-site marketing. You should also consider using other tools, like social media or email, to promote the launch of your eCommerce store.
Why should you sell NFTs on Shopify?
Buying and selling NFTs has never been easier. By using Shopify, you can sell your NFTs to people with or without cryptocurrency. Plus, customers are emailed their minted NFTs immediately after purchase without any additional work needed on your end. The result is a seamless brand and checkout experience.
Startup Slang hosts a community of experts available to help you create, market and sell your NFT project. Contact us today to get started!
