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The Ultimate eCommerce Store Design Guide | Part 1: The Right Shopify Theme
There are more online stores and eommerce brands than ever. Technology has made the barrier to entry incredibly low – realistically all you need is a computer, a Shopify subscription, and you’re good to go. But as easy as it might seem, succeeding at eCommerce takes more than hanging up your virtual shingle and waiting for the customers to flood in. That’s where picking the right Shopify theme for your online store is so important.
Part 1: the right theme
Part 2: responsive design
Part 3: essential design elements
Part 4: conversion elements
A successful Shopify store has the right website design that’s built to convert website visitors into buyers. In this, the first part of our 4-part blog series, we’ll explore those 4 pillars of a successful Shopify website design: the right Shopify theme, responsive design, and essential design and conversion elements.
Read along to discover how to design deliver a Shopify store that is geared for online success.
How to pick the right Shopify theme
Shopify offers dozens of themes for free, as well as a broad selection of paid themes. The same goes for WooCommerce, Magento, or most other online store builders.
With such a huge selection of Shopify themes on offer, there are a few factors you need to consider when picking the right Shopify theme for your online store.
- What does my brand look and feel like?
- How do I want to communicate with my visitors and online customers?
- What feeling do I want visitors to get when browsing my Shopify store?
- What features do I want my Shopify store to have?
- What are my competitors doing?
Be original when choosing your Shopify theme
The second thing to consider when choosing the right Shopify theme is how you want to stand out.
Sure, there are certain design elements that must be followed in every store. But you also want to stand out and be different from all the other online stores out there that may be using the same, or a similar, Shopify theme.
Don’t be afraid to stand out from the crowd.
Keep the Shopify theme simple
Ultimately, your visitors are looking for an online shopping experience that makes finding what they want easy. Websites with a lot of clutter are not pleasing to the eye, but they also make shopping more difficult.
Your customers should find the process of online shopping with you simple and intuitive. So focus on giving them what they want by choosing the right Shopify theme. Rather than bombard them with too many choices, showcase your bestselling products, or promotions that they will find useful.
Prioritise site speed
Your website’s speed is really important. Shoppers that have to wait too long for your website to load will quickly click away… and over to your competition!
Not only does a slow site lose potential customers, but Google’s algorithm picks up that visitors ‘bounce’ from your store, and that can also negatively affect your SEO rankings. A double whammy!
Lightweight Shopify themes focus more on performance than fancy effects such as animations, video players, and other unnecessary features that can slow your online store down. When it comes to choosing the right Shopify theme for your online store, look for one that loads fast and doesn’t have too many ‘bells and whistles’ to weigh down your loading time.
Optimise your Shopify theme
Even if you’ve picked a Shopify theme you like, chances are there will still be some elements that you need to change in order to make the Shopify design better reflect your brand and capture customers’ attention.
By customising your Shopify theme to meet your target market’s shopping preferences, will help increase your conversion rate significantly. There are loads of elements to consider with your Shopify theme, such as colours, navigation options, button design, imagery, and much more.
We’ll cover many of these in the parts 3 and 4 of this series: design elements and conversion elements.
Pair with a Shopify designer
A good Shopify or WooCommerce theme can only take you so far. There are things that professional Shopify developers know that small business owner wanting an online store cannot know… after all, Shopify developers are experts in the field and design high converting Shopify websites all day, every day!
Hiring an Shopify developer and Shopify designer such as the team at Confetti Design can help take your store from ok to WOW. Confetti Design are experts in Shopify and eCommerce website designs and understand what a high converting Shopify online store needs to succeed.
They are familiar with the right Shopify themes, elements, and functionality that sets winning stores apart from the rest, and can optimise your Shopify design to increase sales, develop more loyal customers, and deliver more long-term success.
Ready to Set Up Your Shopify Ecommerce Website?
Have you got an existing online store that needs to be taken to a whole new level? Are you looking to build your first Shopify ecommerce website, but don’t know where to start?
You’re in the right place. As Shopify experts in Melbourne, we’re passionate about helping business owners with their ecommerce websites. Confetti Design will work with you to prioritise your goals while being sensitive to your budget.
Our team has extensive Shopify design, development and marketing experience and can walk you through any customisation options. Give us a call or complete an estimate request to talk with our Shopify expert developers.
We can help
Johannah Barton
Johannah is founder and owner of Confetti Design, a leading Melbourne Shopify Agency. Her extensive background in fashion, interior design, sales and marketing contributes to the Agencies great ability and reputation. She creates content that helps small businesses navigate the online space helping them to consider their website as a sales tool.
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