If you have an eCommerce website powered by Shopify, you will likely be interested in learning how to customize a Shopify website. Shopify is one of the most popular eCommerce platforms in the world because it is easy for businesses to use and customize. There are a couple of different approaches you can take towards the customization of your Shopify store.
This post will explain your options for customizing your organization’s Shopify store. If you have ever been interested in creating a custom Shopify store, you will want to carefully read through the content in this post to understand what it takes.
Customizing a Shopify Store
If you have never used Shopify before, the first thing you need to know about Shopify websites is that they are built on themes. Your Shopify theme defines how your Shopify store looks and feels to users. When you create an online store with Shopify, you are given access to free, basic themes you can use for your website. Additionally, you also have the option to purchase premium themes from the Shopify theme store.
We refer to Shopify theme customization when we talk about customizing a Shopify store. There are two ways you can customize your website’s Shopify theme:
- Do it yourself
- Hire a skilled developer
The option you choose will depend on what you want to do with your online store and your level of technical expertise. Let’s get a better understanding of what each approach requires from your organization.
Do It Yourself
Businesses love Shopify because it allows them to do many customizations independently. Remember, one of Shopify’s biggest selling points is its simplicity. So if you have a basic customization idea, chances are good you can probably do it yourself without too much trouble. You should have access to a visual theme editor on your admin page.
The theme editor tool on Shopify will allow your organization to customize theme content and settings for its online store. For example, you can add a blog page, create new product pages and categories, add FAQ and contact pages, or remove and rearrange content sections, products, and categories as your business sees fit.
In addition, the theme editor will also allow you to update color schemes, change button CTA copy, and upload banner images. Finally, the theme you choose for your online store will come with theme documentation. This documentation will give your organization all the information about which sections and settings are customizable.
If the changes you want to make to your website are not included in the Shopify theme editor, you can also access and edit the theme code to make changes directly to your theme. However, this approach will require technical app development expertise with HTML, CSS, and Liquid programming languages. If you only have a basic grasp of HTML and CSS, you should not try to customize themes on your own.
Changes to the code of your theme can break certain elements of your Shopify store in unintended ways, which will then need to be fixed. However, if you don’t have a firm grasp of HTML, CSS, and Liquid, you could potentially make matters worse instead of fixing what was broken. Therefore, we highly recommend not editing code on your own, but if you decide you want to try, make a copy of your theme’s code before making any changes so you can easily reinstate the code if you make mistakes.
Hire a Skilled Developer
The best way to create a custom Shopify theme is to hire a skilled developer or team. Instead of making custom changes to existing themes, a developer can build your business a unique custom Shopify theme that reflects the identity of your brand. If you are unsure where to find skilled Shopify developers, Shopify has a certified group of developers known as Shopify Plus Partners.
Shopify Plus Partners are development teams handpicked by Shopify for their demonstrated technical ability and capacity to handle the needs of enterprise-level customers. If you want to customize your Shopify theme, there is no better option than a Shopify Plus Partner. Go beyond the abilities of the Shopify theme editor and create a theme that truly represents your brand and business identity.
Hiring a skilled development partner also has the added benefit of allowing your team to focus on everything else related to your eCommerce business. The development team you hire will have complete project management responsibility allowing your organization to focus on its core competencies and increasing sales.
The quickest way to get a custom Shopify theme is by hiring a developer. Trying to do this on your own without the necessary technical expertise will likely only cause your organization more problems and inhibit your ability to make sales online.
It can be challenging to find the right development team, even when looking at Shopify Plus Partners. To get the best results for your online store, ask potential developers to see examples of Shopify themes they have created in the past. Explain the unique elements and designs you want to have on your Shopify store. Has the development team built themes with similar elements before?
Another aspect of your Shopify store that you need to consider when building a custom theme is accessibility. Ask your potential development teams if they understand how to design accessible websites. You don’t want to drive customers away from your online store because they have difficulty using your website.
Final Thoughts
Shopify gives organizations a lot of freedom and flexibility to create unique themes and experiences for their customers. Almost anything is possible on the Shopify platform. If you are having difficulty achieving your vision, speak with an experienced app development partner. Now that you know how to customize a Shopify website, it is time to create a stunning online store for your business.
