Are you planning to build a Shopify store? Since being released in 2006, Shopify has become one of the top platforms for e-commerce stores. Research conducted by BuiltWith shows that nearly one-quarter of all U.S.-based e-commerce stores are powered by it. When building a Shopify store, though, there are several things you should avoid doing.
Using the Default Address
Avoid using the default address for your Shopify store. Instead, create a custom address that features your own domain.
When setting up your Shopify account, you’ll have to enter some basic information about your business. Shopify will ask for your business’s legal name, address, timezone, currency and the name of your store. The name that you enter for your Shopify store will then be used to create a default address for it.
These default addresses feature Shopify’s domain, such as example.myshopify.com. Your Shopify store will still work with the default address, but it will likely perform better with a custom domain. More shoppers will remember your Shopify store’s address if it features a custom domain. You can choose a unique and custom domain to distinguish your Shopify store from those that use the default address.
Adding Too Many Apps
Don’t make the mistake of adding too many apps to your Shopify store. Apps are essentially plugins that offer new features or functionality. There are currently over 4,200 apps available to download in the official App Store. Some of them are designed to automate marketing activities, whereas others are designed to manage promo codes or create embedded email forms.
You can add apps to your Shopify store, but avoid using too many of them. The more apps you add, the slower your Shopify store will become. Shopify apps are applications that, like other applications, require system resources to execute. Your Shopify store will load more quickly for shoppers if you only add a limited number of apps to it.
Using the Wrong Theme
Another mistake to avoid is using the wrong theme. Like many other e-commerce platforms, Shopify has themes. A theme is a design template that defines your Shopify store’s layout. It won’t affect any of your account information, nor will it affect any of your products or content. Rather, the theme will only affect your Shopify store’s layout and overall appearance.
Some themes, though, are better than others. When building a Shopify store, choose a theme that’s fast, customizable and mobile friendly. If a theme lacks any of these features, you should typically avoid it. A fast, customizable and mobile-friendly theme will set your Shopify store on the right path.
Not Uploading a Logo
When building your Shopify store, don’t forget to upload a logo. A logo is an essential part of your Shopify store’s brand. Shoppers will identify your Shopify store by its brand elements, including its logo. They’ll associate your Shopify store with its logo, which may encourage them to return to new place orders in the future.
While Shopify doesn’t require the use of a logo, you should upload one to your store nonetheless. It will increase brand recognition for your Shopify store so that it generates more returning traffic. You can upload a logo to your Shopify store by customizing the theme. The customize theme section of Shopify’s admin panel features a logo menu. In this menu, you can select the option to use a custom logo and upload your preferred logo from your computer.
Using the Default Search Bar
A search bar is important for all e-commerce stores, and those powered by Shopify are no exception. If a shopper can’t find a particular product by navigating through your Shopify store’s categories, he or she may use the search bar. A study conducted by Forrester, in fact, found that four in 10 online shoppers use the search bar.
Rather than using the default search bar, you should use a custom search bar. A custom search bar will give you greater control over its appearance as well as its functions. You can choose a theme with a custom search bar, for instance. Alternatively, you can hard-code a custom search bar into your Shopify store’s current theme. There are also apps available, such as Smart Search & Instant Search, that will update your Shopify store with a custom search bar.
Overlooking Meta Tags
Don’t overlook meta tags when building your Shopify store. Meta tags will affect how your Shopify store’s pages are displayed in the search results, as well web browsers. Each page on your Shopify store should have a unique meta title tag and a unique meta description tag. Shoppers will see both of these elements in Google’s and Bing’s organic results, and they’ll see the title tag in their web browsers while visiting your Shopify store.
To add a meta title tag and a meta description tag to a page, pull it up in the Shopify admin panel and click the “Edit website SEO” option. In the title field, enter your desired meta title tag, which should be no longer than 70 characters. In the description field, enter your desired meta description tag, which should be no longer than 160 characters.
Supporting a Single Payment Method
Forcing shoppers to pay using a single method is never a good idea. According to Baymard, 7 percent of all abandoned carts are the result of limited payment methods. If your Shopify store only supports a single payment method, such as PayPal, you’ll inevitably generate fewer sales.
Fortunately, can enable multiple payment methods on your Shopify store. In the Shopify admin panel, there’s a payment providers section where you can choose which payment methods to support. Different methods, of course, have different fees. Regardless, your Shopify store will generate more sales if it supports multiple payment methods.
Building a Shopify store requires work. You must customize the theme, add product pages, select your tax settings, enable payment methods and more. By avoiding these mistakes, however, you’ll have an easier time not only building your Shopify store but also making it successful.
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