You’ve done your research and identified that Shopify is the best avenue for you to set up your store, and you are excited to get started. But before you jump in feet first, you need to make sure your store is fully optimized and ready to hit the ground running to support success from the very beginning.
As of Jan 2025, there are just short of 2,500,000 live stores on the platform, meaning you need to be visible above the noise to get people to see what you are doing and know where to find you.
But what do you need to know to succeed in your Shopify store?
You Need Apps
There are so many apps you can utilize to help you out with various functions. From automation apps to optimized business function apps, apps for customer self-service portals, auto return management apps, and many more, there is a plethora of technology at your fingertips to help you boost your store and deliver exceptional service and results from the very beginning.
However, to make the right decisions, you need to understand what each app does and how it will benefit your business. Some apps will be free to use, and others will have free trials or different packages you can choose from within your budget. This post details the best shopify customer support apps because every store needs exceptional customer service.
Speed Matters
Websites need to load in under 3 seconds. Ideally, this should be 2 seconds, but 3 at a push. If your website is taking longer to load, you need to rectify this. The reason is impatience.
The average attention span in 2024 was 8.25 seconds, but people are even more impatient when it comes to website loading. In fact, Google found that 53% of website users abandon websites if they take longer than 3 seconds to load.
Top ways to optimize site speed include using a fast, reliable host, ideally not Shopify, as third-party providers can offer fasting load times. You can optimize images on your site and ensure video and image formats are next-gen, as these have been created to help reduce load times while retaining quality.
Overhaul Product Descriptions
One of the most important aspects of any digital storefront is the product description. If you’re not “selling” what you’re selling, then no one is going to buy it.
While it is true that your description needs to be SEO optimized, it also needs to be appealing and descriptive. You need to tell a story and use persuasive language to inform the customer of the benefits of your product (s), not just the features. You need to show them why they need it with your description. On top of this, social proof, i.e., reviews and testimonials, can further reinforce the message you’re giving out, i.e., they need to buy this.
Emails Work
Every Shopify customer who has a paid plan gets 10,000 free emails to use each month. So use them wisely. Customize your emails and segment lists, include links, and make sure you have a clear, attention-grabbing subject line. Avoid overpromising or having a subject that is not related to the content of the email, as this will have the opposite effect.
You can collect email addresses via pop-ups, sign-up forms, account creation, and any other methods you find to be effective for you. Then, you can deliver emails on a regular basis to help you promote your store.
Include clear CTAs within the emails, test and optimize using A/B testing to find the right type of language or subject lines for improved open and click-through rates, and remember to use analytics to track actions when you send out emails.
Navigation Is A Must
Something many online shoppers find extremely off-putting is poor navigation or websites that take a lot of guesswork to find their way around.
Your store needs clear categories and subcategories, and they need to make sense to the customer, not just you. Your menu should have a maximum of 6 to 8 items; drop-down menus can help you to organize subcategories. Descriptive labels are a must, as is a search bar, so people can self-search for what they’re looking for.
And, and this is a big one, your website needs to have mobile-optimized navigation. The majority of users access the internet from their mobile devices, so make sure it’s effective on any screen size for the best results.