Webflow and Shopify integration / Buy Button method (part 1)

What are e-commerce websites used for and why are they important?

E-commerce web shops and stores are online platforms that allow businesses to offer products or services to clients directly via the internet. These digital storefronts provide a comfortable shopping experience by allowing users to browse, choose, and buy products from the comfort of their own homes. Product catalogs, shopping carts, secure payment gateways, and user feedback are typical elements found in e-commerce stores. They allow businesses to access a worldwide audience, operate around the clock, and cut the overhead costs associated with physical locations. With the rise of mobile commerce and digital payment methods, e-commerce has become a critical channel for modern retail and consumer involvement.

What is Webflow?

Webflow is a versatile web design and development platform that allows users to create responsive, visually appealing websites without writing code. It combines a powerful drag-and-drop interface with advanced design capabilities, offering full control over the layout and style of your site. Webflow also includes built-in hosting and a content management system (CMS), making it a comprehensive solution for building and managing websites. This platform is ideal for designers, developers, and businesses looking to create custom, professional websites efficiently.

What is Shopify?

Shopify is a leading e-commerce platform designed to help businesses create and manage online stores with ease. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools for product management, payment processing, order tracking, and customer engagement. With its user-friendly interface, extensive app ecosystem, and robust security features, Shopify simplifies the complexities of running an online store, making it accessible for businesses of all sizes. This platform is ideal for entrepreneurs and companies looking to establish and grow their online retail presence efficiently.

Webflow and Shopify integration, why?

On the one hand, we have Webflow, the platform that broke through the most in 2023, and on the other, we have Shopify, the most popular platform for today's e-stores; both are enough for e-commerce by their own, so why combine them? From a different standpoint, why would we mix vanilla and strawberry ice creams when they are great on their own? It can get a lot better, same with Webflow and Shopify. Combining Webflow's simple design and powerful platform foundation with Shopify's payment methods and already established store functionalities results in perfection.

What types of integrations are possible for Webflow and Shopify?

1. Shopify Buy button

Allows you to embed individual product purchase buttons directly into your Webflow site.
Integration Method - Embed code provided by Shopify, as detailed in the previous steps.

2. Shopify with Webflow CMS Integration

With this connection, we effectively convert basic embed into dynamic embed, making the process much easier to update and manage.
Integration Method - Using Code Editor, extract “product component” and “product id”, using Webflow CMS and Code Embed integrate it into Webflow. (Link here)

3. Third-Party Tools (Zapier, Make, etc.)

Use automation tools like Zapier or Make to connect Webflow and Shopify, enabling data synchronization and automated workflows.
Integration Method: Set up automated workflows in Zapier or Make to transfer data between Webflow and Shopify.

Each of these integration methods has advantages and disadvantages, and they serve distinct objectives. For example, Shopify Buy Button is a no-code method for small and medium-sized e-stores, but Full-Shopify integration is for e-commerce sites that require Shopify's full payment processing capabilities. The rest of the text will focus on the no-code integration between Webflow and Shopify, which includes embedding a buy button straight into Webflow.

Shopify Buy Button Integration process

First, we need to create product in our Shopify store.

In the search field, type Shopify Buy Button app.

When you find the Buy Button app, click on it and proceed with the installation process.

After successful installation, we will need to make our buy button; hit 'make a buy button' and choose Product or Collection buy button; we will go with Product Buy Button. Select the product you wish to incorporate on the Webflow site, and change the colors and layout to look like your website.

Finally, once we've designed our Buy Button element, we'll go on to the following phase, where we'll copy specific code for our Buy Button embed.

With the code we copied earlier, we need to choose the page we want to embed the Shopify product on, setup construction in the Webflow (elements you use depending on needs), and we will continue with the basic one - Section>Container>Code Embed element.

Open the "Code Embed" element and paste your code directly into it, hit the save and close button.

Element will not appear in the Webflow designer, but when you publish your website, it will appear on the published page.

Publish and enter the page on which you embedded the Shopify Buy Button - the product is now ready to sell.

When you press the "Add to cart" button, an embedded Shopify cart will appear on the right side of a site automatically.

*Note - You can choose to only embed the button and keep the entire front-end design from the Webflow designer; instead of the Webflow button, copy and paste the Shopify Buy Button, position him well with the Div-block where you would position basic Webflow button, and everything will remain the same.

As a result, Webflow and Shopify are extremely strong tools that can simplify and expedite the process of developing an e-commerce site. You can have products ready for sale on your website in 10 steps, with no coding and with just a basic understanding of Webflow.

Conclusion

Remember how the text began with a comparison of vanilla and strawberry ice cream? Webflow and Shopify can still run independently, but why split something that works perfectly?

Integrating Shopify into a Webflow project is a strategic move for businesses looking to combine Webflow design with robust Shopify eCommerce functionality. This integration allows businesses to create visually appealing websites that are also equipped with the necessary tools to manage and grow an online store. Whether it's a small boutique, a growing brand, or a large enterprise, the Webflow x Shopify integration offers a powerful solution to meet diverse e-commerce needs.

In summary, the effortless integration of Shopify into Webflow makes it an ideal solution for e-commerce businesses looking to create beautiful, functional, and scalable online stores.