How to Create an Online Store Using Store.Link with Google Sheets

In this digital age, the process of creating an online store might appear to be very intimidating and especially to people who are not technologically proficient. Nevertheless, with the help of such tools as Store.Link, it is easy to turn your Google sheets into a full-fledged online shop. In this tutorial, a tutorialist will help you to build an online store, manage the products, process orders, and make payment integration altogether using Google Sheets.

What is Store.Link?

Store.Link is a new tool, which enables you to build an online store right in a spreadsheet on Google. It does not require a web developer to be a business owner or even a novice; the whole process is automated with this tool. Store.Link lets you develop and operate your store in just a few minutes.

Getting Started: Install the Store.Link Add-on

1. Install the Add-on:
   The first thing you have to do is to install the Store.Link add-on in Google Workspace. It only takes an installment of the add-on by simply logging into your Google account.

2. Create a New Google Sheet:
   After it is installed, open a new Google sheet by going to sheet.new. You want to venture it is called something like Annie Store to begin with.

3. Launch the Store.Link Add-on:
   On the sheet you have just created, in Extensions → Store.Link → Start from Template. Choose a template according to the products that you are going to sell (e.g., Electronics).

4. Customize Your Store:
   Store.Link will produce two sheets, one sheet is for Products and the other sheet is for Orders. You will be required to choose the name of your store, a currency (which has more than 120 different options), and in which way you would like to get the orders (e.g., WhatsApp).

Setting Up Your Store

After establishing your sheet, the second thing to do would be to insert product information. The automatic creation on the Products sheet will occur to the following columns:

• Product Name

• Price (actual and discounted)

• Description

• Category

• Stock Quantity

• Product Availability

• Thumbnail

• Additional Images

The following are ways you can begin adding your products:

1. Add Product Information

For example, let’s add a MacBook Air:

• Product Name: MacBook Air

• Price: $999

• Discounted Price: $899

• Description: [Your MacBook description here]

• Category: Electronics

• Color: Silver

• Brand: Apple

• Stock: 5

2. Upload Product Images

• Thumbnail: To add an image, one needs to head to Extensions → Store.Link → Upload Image. Choose your picture and allow the picture to upload.

• Other Images: It is possible to add more images with same procedure.

Viewing Your Store

Once a product has been added to your store, you can see your store by clicking on the Publish button included in the add-on. This will produce a live store URL in accordance with the template that you have selected. You will also get to see the default template though you can also customize your own template.

Customizing Your Store’s Design

Store.Link gives you the option of customizing the following:

1. Header and Logo:

   • Change the default logo to yours by uploading a logo of your store.

   • Include a name of a store and catchy tagline (where necessary).

2. Banner Section:

   • Change the banner and the subtitle of your store.

   • As well, you can turn the banner off.

3. Product Cards:

   • Alter the text of the call-to-action (e.g. Add to Cart or Buy Now).

   • You have an option of product page detailed, or simplified view.

4. Filters:

   • Implement product filters that will enable the customer to filter based on Price or Color or any other feature.

Advanced Features: Product Variants and More

Store.Link is also compatible with differentiating the product variants (different sizes or color, or models.

Adding Variants:

As an illustration, when selling four iPhones 13 in two colors (Blue and Black), you can create a listing of the same product with different variants in terms of changes in the information about the variants only.

1. Go to your Google spreadsheet, and add a row with the name of the iPhone 13 in Blue, and another one with the name of the iPhone 13 in Black.

2. Add some variant-specific information such as price and inventory.

3. Select a Store Settings → Variants and the Color column is to be defined as a variant.

After refreshing your store, your iPhone 13 will show both colored versions, and the right price and quantity will be available.

Adding More Product Images:

In order to provide more than two product pictures, it is just necessary to add more columns with the names Image 3, Image 4, and then add pictures when the necessity arises.

Managing Orders

The orders are automatically registered in the Orders sheet as customers make orders in your store. This includes:

• Customer Name

• Email

• Phone Number

• Items Ordered

• Order Status

You are able to monitor and maintain your inventory with the help of the column Stock Quantity that will automatically update as orders are placed.

Integrating Payments

Store.Link will optionally take payment via PayPal or Stripe:

1. Install PayPal: Enter your PayPal email address and customers will be able to pay with PayPal.

2. Install Stripe: When you have a Stripe account, add in your Publishable Key along with your Secret Key in order to accept credit or debit payments.

Once payment processing is enabled, your clients have an option of paying via Cash, PayPal and Card, depending on their preferred means of payment at the checkout.

Checkout Customization

Store.Link also has the option of customizing its checkout:

• Custom Form Fields:  Add new questions (e.g., -Is this a gift item? -) to the checkout process.

• Order Summary: The customer will view an order review, comprising of what he/she ordered, and the sum.

To have a more training process with pictures, you may follow the entire tutorial video below. In this video, I am going to show you all the steps of creating your online store with Store.Link and Google sheets, including the set-up and customization.

Translation and SEO

1. Translation: Store.Link In Store.Link you can put your translation to various languages. You may write the product descriptions by hand as well as checkout fields to target a larger audience.

2. SEO Optimization: To make your store appear highly in the search engine such as Google, you are allowed adding a Meta Title, Meta Description, and Meta Image. That is how these elements will make your store appear in the search results.

Sharing Your Store

As soon as your store is ready you can share it with people with the help of URL or you can also create a good QR code that people can use easily.

Conclusion

Store.Link simplifies the construction of online store based on Google Sheets. Need to sell electronics, clothes, or grocery products, you can create a the entire e-commerce arrangement without needing to know any code. Store.Link is the simplest solution, which includes product management functionality, with ease of use, and payment integration possibilities to choose the solution which suits the small business owner and the entrepreneur in the most efficient way possible.