How to Build a Shopify Store That Works for You

Shopify is the biggest eCommerce platform in the world, particularly in the US, where it controls around 30% of the industry software market. And for good reason! A Shopify store is easier to build and scale than any of its competitors, allowing businesspeople, new and experienced, to represent their business effectively from an online storefront.

However, while it’s simple to complete the basics, knowing how to set up Shopify store architecture that truly works for your business is easier said than done. This blog will offer some guidance on Shopify website design, highlighting the techniques and features that contribute to impactful online channels.

 

A clearly defined brand is essential

Before you actually dig into the meat and potatoes of Shopify store building, you need to have a clear identity and style guide in place. You should already understand what you’re trying to communicate with elements like: 

• Copywriting style
• Typography 
• Imagery
• Logo 

 

Collating these elements in a cohesive guide makes it easier to refer to what you’re doing when building the store. This should then guide your next choice – picking a theme!

 

Selecting your Shopify theme

The Shopify Theme Store is packed with theme options – essentially Shopify store templates that define how users will experience the site – ranging from free to costing a few hundred pounds. Shopify themes aren’t just about how the site looks, they also encompass various functional elements, such as: 

• Navigation options
• Product range size
• Embedded video features
• Mobile experience factors

 

We would argue that the most important things to consider when picking your theme are clean navigation, mobile-friendliness and brand consistency – these are the elements that will make for the most enjoyable user experience. 

 

Integrate your branding

Once your theme is selected, make sure to populate the site with quality introductory copy, premium, purpose-made images and photography and expressive product descriptions. You can also customise the theme to include your colours and change the prefixed layout. If you really want to make an impression, you can brand your checkout section!

 

Be conscious of eCommerce SEO

Organic traffic is a massive part of building a business today. The best Shopify stores achieve this by embracing the principles of SEO. While Shopify does offer some SEO tools in the builder, it’s important to consider more proactive techniques, such as: 

• Keyword integration throughout the content
• Mobile optimisation design principles
• The use of proper metadata

 

SEO is a long-term process, but its effects on your business can be major and stand the test of time. 

 

Actively engage with your audience

Your Shopify online store will be the face of your operation to many of your potential customers, which is why you should integrate engagement techniques to maximise its impact. This means making considerations for: 

• Offering strong customer service
• Incorporating social proof like reviews and testimonials onto pages
• Integrating your Shopify store onto your social media channels, and aligning their presentation

 

These kinds of steps will help you to foster a more engaged audience over time, amplifying the efficacy of your store. 

If you need help building a Shopify store, get in touch with professionals today. The right team will be able to enact all of these steps to bring your digital shopfront to life with this industry-leading application!