Key Elements That Helped Us Find the Best Shopify Designers
The factors we used to shortlist candidates from a huge pool of potentially great companies can help your own search. Go over each so that you can later apply them to select the best Shopify web developer for your ecommerce business.
The Website
Visit the websites of the Shopify developers you are considering to hire and take note of the things you would want to have on your own. Developers must have a great-looking website that offers real value to customers. In other words, they have to practice what they preach.
You also want to check out the portfolio section to explore the developer’s websites for previous clients. Note any niche specializations they have, the general style of work, and any custom app, theme, or feature integrations.
Shopify Accreditation
Before delving deeper into specific services or pricing structures, let’s look at the two main accreditations of Shopify web developers.
Shopify Partner
This accreditation is awarded to ecommerce developers that operate within the Shopify ecosystem. To get this recognition, agencies must demonstrate the needed expertise through a verified list of successes in developing great Shopify sites. The platform also provides them with advanced tools to further their game.
Shopify Expert
Shopify Experts are Shopify Partners that were able to climb the ladder and get to the top tier. Aside from the perks that Partners get, Experts also enjoy outstanding opportunities to advance their knowledge and become leaders within the community.
Specializations
Once we know if the companies we’re assessing have any Shopify accreditations, we can move on to figuring out their areas of expertise.
Design
Design is much more than just how a website looks. A Shopify ecommerce website must be functional and optimized for its supposed actions, aside from providing pleasing aesthetics. Clients need the right mix of content placement, features, and visibility of brand values. Unfortunately, many developers don’t have the expertise required to deliver a product that includes all of them.
When looking at prospective Shopify web designers and developers, you want to see designs built from scratch, customizations based on the client’s wishes and needs, and seamless functioning on any device.
Shopify Mobile Apps
The overwhelming majority of all traffic and conversions happen on mobile devices, 79%, and 69%, respectively. This tells us that the companies hired to develop Shopify websites need to make sure that the apps are responsive across all devices. The top Shopify developers should also create scalable and secure apps that have all the functions and integrations the client needs.
Shopify Migration
Site migration is crucial for clients that want to use their already established webshop and transfer it to their new Shopify website. Naturally, this needs to be done efficiently and carefully not to lose any data during the migration.
Shopify Integration
When creating a robust Shopify site, your development company will need to integrate plugins to optimize its functionality. This is one of the most basic services that the top Shopify developers should offer.
Maintenance and Updates
Not all Shopify developer firms offer maintenance or site updates as part of their services. Your aim should be to find a company dedicated to helping its clients keep their competitive edge as well as increase conversions.
Search Engine Optimization
Experienced Shopify web developers include SEO services under their specializations. SEO specialists will help you create a solid structure of your site, optimize product descriptions, and come up with engaging content that targets your buyer persona throughout their journey. The best agencies will also be able to offer full-scale digital marketing that encompasses PPC advertising, email, and social media marketing.
Project Management
Shopify website design can be a hefty project. You can expect your delivery timeline to be adjusted several times during the project lifecycle. Good project management will ensure that everything stays on track even during unexpected changes.
Project Management Methods
The management methodology of your Shopify ecommerce development firm can tell you a lot about how they handle projects. In the world of software development, the typically used method is Agile. This management style ensures that Shopify web designers can remain transparent and cross-functional. Agile’s overall strengths are fast ROI, lowered risks, and strong control over the project.
Budget Management
Precise management of funds is essential for keeping the project moving forward. Take the time to talk to your potential Shopify developer about how they manage budgetary issues and if they had any problems adjusting to the budget with their previous clients.
Communication
A significant aspect of good project management is clear and frequent communication. Whether your Shopify consultants and developers use Asana, Trello, Slack, or any other project management tool, you should make sure that the end result is efficient communication. One way to do that is to have a point of contact, who will answer your questions and provide you with regular updates.
Reviews
Going through customer reviews should be a logical step in assessing Shopify website designers and development partners. Take into account the number of reviews they have and the source where you found them. Typically, third-party review websites are a much better choice than the actual developer’s website as you want objective information. Focus on both the good and bad reviews to get a balanced feel of the firm. Remember that no company is perfect, and 100% positive reviews might indicate that there is, in fact, something amiss.
Pricing
Last, but certainly not the least, clear pricing can make or break a potential collaboration with any partner, and Shopify designers are no exception. You can expect them to charge either by project or by the hour. Regardless of the pricing structure, transparency about rates is paramount, along with getting a good value for money. Make sure to note if the prices go way above or below the industry standard — a huge deviation in either direction would be a red flag.
Steps to Take Before Hiring Shopify Developers
The criteria we collected above aim to help customers figure out which of the many firms on the market can provide a quality Shopify website. However, before you move to hire any of them, here are a few steps you should consider.
Design Elements and Specific Functions
Your developer will only be as good as the information you provide. Think about what your online store needs to include in terms of design and functions. While any good Shopify website designer will ask you about it, they can’t read your mind, so a list of all the features you need will be helpful at the initial meeting.
Budget
A clearly defined budget is a great way to narrow down Shopify designers and developers. Before biting the bullet and signing the contract, be realistic about your investment abilities. The prices can range from $500 to $10,000. The more complicated your project is, the more money you’ll have to invest in getting the best result.
Content and Code Ownership
The final step involves getting a clear answer to the question of who will own the final product and its elements — you or the Shopify developers. Even though the answer here should be clear, seeing how you’re the one paying for it, make sure you don’t underestimate the possible complications you might encounter due to licensing issues. You should be the sole owner of the entire product, and any other answer and/or refusal to put it in writing should send you running the other way.
