15+ Useful Design Tips & Tactics Which Help You in Designing Shopify Website
According to the statistics, 50% of consumers are sure that website design is crucial to a business’s overall brand. Furthermore, 42% of people leave websites because of their poor functionality. Ecommerce sites exist to generate sales and thus bring revenue to businesses. Bearing this in mind, you need to think about the store’s eye-catching design and UX/UI if you want it to be successful among the other 1,9 billion websites in the world.
Shopify, a leading eCommerce platform, empowers millions of entrepreneurs worldwide and offers numerous tools to build a top-notch website for selling various products. Creating a well-thought design of an online store can be challenging if you don’t know where to start. This post will focus on essential design tips and tactics that will help you launch an astonishing Shopify store. And, in case you wish to get a store as soon as possible, you can search for top Shopify development companies right now.
What Makes a Good Shopify Website?
A good Shopify store is a place where customers can find necessary goods and make a purchase easily. Each store element, whether it is a menu, button, or product description, should have a specific purpose and facilitate the buying process. In particular, a good Shopify website combines a well-thought organization with visual attractiveness.
Designing Shopify Website Tips
Designing a store involves a multitude of aspects. These tips are general guidelines. Yet, it’s important to consider the needs and peculiarities of specific niches and websites. For instance, a baby store and a motorcycle equipment store can use the same Shopify theme. However, the look, visual appeal, and functionality of these stores will differ.
1. Select a Theme
As mentioned above, the visual website aspect is one of the key factors of success. Shopify themes define the look and feel of an online store. There are both free and paid themes available on the official Shopify website.
There is a possibility to limit the choice by industry and catalog size. Then, it’s necessary to pay attention to the theme’s functionality and ‘check the technical side’. For instance, some themes don’t support filtering options. If filters are a must for the store, it’s advisable to pick the theme with this functionality at the very beginning. Paid themes usually have a wider range of functions than free themes.
2. Choose Necessary APIs
While designing Shopify website, you can find free and paid APIs to cover all your store creation and management needs. These apps fall into several categories: store customization and management, sourcing and selling products, shopping and delivery, marketing and conversions. With a convenient search bar, it’s possible to type in a request and find necessary apps faster.
3. Consider Custom Solutions
No matter what your imagination can produce to make your online store unique, professional Shopify developers can implement your ideas. For instance, it’s possible to create an animated menu, as on the ABV wine store’s website.
The store’s menu looks very simple, and when customers hover their mouse over a menu item, the animation lets them see various categories of wines. Again, without extra clicks, they can go to the necessary category and start choosing relevant products. As shown in the screenshot above, hovering the mouse over ‘Country’ shows collections of wine grouped according to the country.
4. Organize Products Reasonably When Designing Shopify Website
Online stores vary in size, from the smallest ones presenting a limited number of exclusive products to huge dropshipping stores and marketplaces. Small websites with up to 10 items can show the goods on their homepage or the general Shop page. Bigger stores need to organize products into categories (they are called collections in the Shopify admin panel). This will facilitate the store's search, navigation, and overall perception.
While organizing products into categories, it is essential to think about customers’ intentions and make logical collections that people expect to find.
5. Map Out Navigation
The importance of store navigation can’t be overestimated. The easier it is for people to find necessary items, the bigger chances of sales are. Depending on the number of goods that should be listed, you can arrange them in numerous ways. It’s essential to consider the menu size, position, submenus, and navigation bar.
Shopify has various solutions for designing Shopify website navigation and menus. Simply go to the Navigation and search apps and choose the one that fits your needs.
First, if space permits, it’s possible to keep the menu on the left so that customers can see and switch to other categories anytime (like in the screenshot below).
Clicking on a menu item, in this case, displays its subcategories.
This type of menu is most suitable for shops with a small number of collections. Menu items should be visible to people; scanning them shouldn’t take much time.
For bigger shops, the most common strategy is to arrange collections and subcollections in dropdown menus. The screenshot below shows the menu with the categories ‘Men’, ‘Women’, ‘Kids’, and ‘Sale’. After clicking on ‘Women’, people see three submenus (‘Shoes’, ‘Apparel’, and ‘Accessories’) with further subdivisions.
If space permits, it’s possible to add images to menu items. The screenshot below shows the shop menu on the homepage.
And the following screenshot displays the submenus of the ‘Underwear’ category where the names are complemented by images.
Undoubtedly, adding images is possible when space permits this. Otherwise, the menu may look overloaded and make a negative impression.
Another common practice for designing Shopify website navigation is adding breadcrumbs. Thus people will know where they are and how they can switch to other categories (see the example below).
6. Create Informative Product Pages
Designing Shopify website product pages is another part that shouldn’t be overlooked. Product pages should provide all information that customers may need. If products have variants (in size, color, etc.), they should be clearly seen. Additional details, such as taxes, delivery rates, etc., should be visible to people, too. This will help to avoid cart abandonment, as customers hate unexpected costs. According to statistics, extra costs that were too high (shipping, tax, fees) constituted the main reason for car abandonment during the checkout process in the USA.
All the information should be organized appropriately. A good example is a product page on the Beauty Bakerie website. Besides the general description next to the product, this page has 3 tabs informing customers about the benefits, tips, and ingredients.
The use of tabs on the mentioned page saves space and, at the same time, provides the data that people might want to check. Indeed, listing all ingredients in the general description would take too much space and distract the user. The placement of these details on a separate tab allows those who need this information to study it.
7. Use High-Quality Visuals
Any design depends on visuals, so it’s very important to pay attention to their quality. Visuals are a part of the homepage, collections, and product pages. Although Shopify offers free stock photos, it’s advisable to use unique visuals if you want your store to stand out.
This is especially true about product images. The use of high-quality product pictures is required for enlarging. This way, customers can see the tiniest details and make sure that the product quality is good. For instance, in the screenshot below, you can see handcrafted ocean-themed toys. With quality images, customers’ trust to producers increases.
Videos are also useful for designing Shopify website product pages. They can be used to demonstrate main features or as people’s reviews. A screenshot below demonstrates that the company Made In uses video as the primary visual, i.e., when opening a product page, customers first see a video and then can look at product images in the slideshow.
At the same time, it’s necessary to remember about visuals’ compression for better page speed. Shopify limits the file size for images. Yet, it’s also recommended to optimize visuals for faster page loading. In the Images and media app category, there are numerous apps for image compression and optimization.
8. Facilitate Buying Process
The purpose of any eCommerce store is to sell products. The easier it is for customers to find and purchase products, the greater the store’s revenue is. Here, two useful techniques are worth mentioning.
Product Preview
First, it’s possible to use the product preview to provide people with the necessary information without opening the product page.
The screenshot below shows the ‘Quick View’ button that appears on hovering the mouse over a specific product.
After clicking this button, people see an additional quick mini-cart (cart drawer or dropdown cart) where they can choose the desired product options and add the item to the cart. With this functionality, customers can make purchases faster than when they have to wait for a product page to load.
The look of the Quick View button may vary. For instance, the store Beneath your mask uses a ‘+’ button for opening the preview.
When clicking on this button, shoppers see brief product details and the link to a product page (if they need more information). Such design guarantees that people who are aware of the product can buy it faster, and those who haven’t decided yet can get more information.
It’s also possible to integrate slides into your product preview with the help of Shopify Product Previewer.
Add to Cart Button
Second, it’s the ‘Add to Cart’ button that should have an intuitive location. It’s possible to place it next or below the product right on the collection or home page. It will save people time while shopping.
As shown in the screenshot below, the LastObject website lists possible product options and provides the Add to cart button for each object.
A similar example is the Flourist website, where customers can press the button ‘Quick Add’ when hovering a mouse over the product, see the ‘Added to cart’ notification and continue shopping without leaving a single page.
Such functionality combined with appetizing images is definitely a successful practice.
9. Add Search Functionality
Search functionality is a must for stores with numerous categories and products. For customers, it can be faster to type in their query and see relevant results than to look through various store collections and skim through them to find a necessary item. So, designing Shopify website search bars is another essential step in store creation.
The search bar should be placed so visitors can see and use it easily. The image below illustrates a search bar that prompts users by displaying trending searches and popular products.
Shopify has a wide variety of apps that implement search functionality in the store. Clever Predictive Search Bar is one of them. It integrates directly into the Shopify admin panel and lets the store increase product visibility. The app also displays recommended products connected with the search results for better product promotion.
10. Adjust Filtering and Sorting Options
The bigger a store is, the better filtering and sorting options should be. Well-thought filtering and sorting let customers find products that meet specific criteria faster. The screenshot below shows several filtering and sorting options (availability, color, price, and size) for women’s slippers on the Manitobah website. As the collection is not very big, these options cover customers’ needs.
Another example is the Suta online store’s dresses collection. There are many more filters than in the previous example due to a more considerable product variation. Mainly, it’s possible to sort dresses by fabric, sleeve, color, neckline, occasion, pattern, and even technique (besides the typical size and price filtering).
11. Show Related Products
This will prompt people to look at more items and select the product they find more interesting. This feature also encourages customers to stay on the online store longer, thus increasing the site’s trustworthiness (in terms of SEO). It’s possible to use various phrases, such as ‘You may also like’, ‘People also viewed’, ‘Frequently bought together’, ‘Most customers also purchase’, etc. Whatever the choice is, showing similar products is a helpful designing Shopify website technique.
The screenshot below illustrates items related to shampoo on a product page. It’s possible to show alternative products (such as different shampoos similar to the one a person is viewing) or related products (like hair ties or combs, for instance).
12. Ensure Store’s Responsiveness
According to statistics, in the second quarter of 2022, smartphones generated 61 percent of online shopping orders worldwide. With more and more people using mobile devices for purchases, ensuring an online store’s responsiveness when designing Shopify websites is a must. Although Shopify themes are responsive, it’s advisable to check the store's look on various devices to ensure the design looks good.
13. Improve Loading Speed
Google states that page experience depends on how quickly pages load. Consequently, ensuring that the store loads fast is one of the keys to its success. Optimizing media has already been mentioned. While designing Shopify website pages, it’s also advisable to avoid carousels or slides as they can negatively affect the loading time.
14. Include Specific Calls to Action
It’s essential to add clear CTAs (calls to action) throughout the website. You can encourage users to see related products, subscribe to newsletters, explore products on sale, join social media profiles, etc. It’s possible to implement these calls to action with the help of buttons or simply by placing the text on the site. For instance, the screenshot below illustrates an encouragement to learn more about the Tofino Soap company by watching the video. The video button complements the phrase ‘Get To Know Tofino’.
15. Connect with Your Customers
Social media marketing is an indispensable tool for supporting and promoting an online business as it ensures constant communication with customers. So, while designing Shopify website pages, it’s necessary to include information about the store’s social media channels. It’s also possible to display an Instagram feed on the website. A screenshot below shows an example of an Instagram feed slider on the Silk & Willow website.
The Shopify app store offers numerous solutions, such as Instafeed, to present an Instagram feed. Social media help stores get more likes and followers and make people returning customers.
16. Provide Support
While shopping online, customers can have questions or require some help with their choice. So, providing support increases the chances of sales. A perfect solution is a 24/7 live chat when people can get an immediate answer whenever they need it. Alternatively, it’s possible to add a chatbot or a contact form to the store. A screenshot of the Partake contact form is presented below.
Shopify has various apps for adding a Contact Us form, and Pify Form Builder is only one of the numerous possibilities. There are also apps for Messenger, WhatsApp, and Telegram Chats (such as Whatsapp Chat Share) alongside live chat chatbots (such as BestChat). When some form of chat is available on the store, there’s a button, like the one in the screenshot below.
So, providing support doesn’t necessarily mean that a live person should answer all the questions instantly. It’s possible to install bots to guide people through the most common situations and help them find a solution. Also, there’s an opportunity to connect chats that submit people’s requests as tickets to the chosen system. Then, the store team can process requests and provide answers when available.
17. Remember about Your Brand Identity
Customizing themes in Shopify is connected with adjusting colors and typography. It’s necessary to keep the brand’s general style in mind while designing Shopify website elements.
The screenshot above shows a great example of applying typography to the brand logo, website headings, and other text pieces to emphasize the brand’s unique style.
18. Build Trust
Designing Shopify websites can’t be complete without creating special pages that will provide full information about all aspects of shopping. As mentioned above, there should be no hidden fees, so it’s better to create a page that explains all fees if necessary. It’s also a must to create a return and exchange policy page that explains whether/how customers can return goods. Similarly, the shop should contain information about shipping details, refunds, subscription options - everything relevant to your store. It’s possible to place links to these pages in the footer so people can easily find them.
Hints From Experts Which Help You Designing Shopify Website
Pick the right look for the Shopify store
You should first ensure that your Shopify store has the appropriate theme before you begin the design process. Customer perceptions of your site and its impact on your company's bottom line are directly tied to the theme you choose. According to studies, the visual appeal of a website accounts for nearly all (94%) of users' initial judgments. You should therefore ensure that the ideal theme is being used for your Shopify business in order to maximize consumer satisfaction. To your good fortune, Shopify has a plethora of premade themes from which to pick. There are a lot of free templates out there, but the vast majority of them are premium and will cost you anything from $100 to $180. But how can we determine if this is the ideal motif for the shop? Here are some things to keep in mind while selecting a Shopify theme for your online store.
Features that are clearly defined
Think about every function you need from the site. Can a smooth shopping experience be achieved in your store without infinite scrolling? Or, does Instagram need to be integrated into your store to boost social media activity? Organize your products correctly and use a theme that complements what you're selling. When selling clothing, for instance, it's important to display things with large photographs, while when selling books, it's more important to highlight the product description.
Don't forget that the quality of your site's user experience is just as important as the design of your website's interface. Keep in mind things like design structure, text arrangement, image sizes, and other elements. Additionally, be sure to go with a mobile-friendly theme. To save money on a website's design, consider using a plugin or an app that allows for easy
customization of the site's appearance without requiring you to learn any coding. But if you're just starting out, the price tag on some of them could be prohibitive. Thankfully, there is a wide variety of open-source templates to pick from.
The Homepage – Simplifying the Visitors' Journey
Your store's homepage should have an organized drop-down menu in terms of style and design. I believe that simple and clear navigation is essential if you want your Shopify store to appear appealing. A useful tip I would recommend is adding a sticky reminder or a search bar that simplifies your user’s experience, don’t make them go too far or get lost. The user only has to search for red shoes and there they have it, no need to scroll through collections.
The Collection Display Page – Evoking an Action
Your collection pages should be kept tidy and arranged. It's all about how something looks. No matter how excellent your offering is, messy or disorganized items turn users away. Spend some time designing them so that people would want to check out the featured collections. Create a relationship between your collection pages and the visitors who visit them.
The Product Page – How Not to Have an Abandoned Shopping Cart
The key here is to focus on the product and make it as catchy or visually appealing as possible. I would recommend keeping this page very to the point. You brought the visitor here now you need to sell the product. A tip that comes in handy here is to give product recommendations of some of your best-selling products.
Place your current specials announcements right at the top of the landing page where every visitor can easily see. Yes, you want to wow new visitors with inviting imagery that creates excitement about your product. But it’s likely that a returning visitor or one already familiar with your brand is there to find out about deals. Don’t make it hard on them to find them. What happens when you visit a website only to have difficulty finding out what’s on sale? You assume there isn’t a sale so you leave the website.
To make your current special deals stand out, design the text to be on its own banner atop the landing page. For us we placed it in blue against an otherwise white color scheme, making it easy on the eye to notice right away. Even when we don’t have a deal to announce, we take the opportunity to announce perks like free shipping and new popular models back in stock. This simple design choice makes our jobs easier to communicate to our customers the important information that can mean the difference between a purchase or leaving.
You can’t have a successful Shopify website without an optimized product page. If there are no high-quality images, will potential leads buy your product? They’d end up leaving your e-commerce site. So, remember to add high-def pictures of your merchandise. I can’t stress the importance of various angles and uses to give an “in-person” feel. It pushes potential shoppers to buy from your Shopify website.
Storytelling Skills
Use your storytelling skills when curating product information. Write the features in bullets so it’s easier for the shoppers to identify them. But don’t forget to mention the value proposition in the short description. It needs to convince your audience that they need to “buy now.”
Social Proof
Adding social proof to the product page can improve your conversion rate. That’s because potential consumers trust your products and services more after looking at reviews and ratings. So, it’s best to encourage customers to leave their honest feedback.
Conclusion
Keeping your customer in mind is probably the most important tactic to attempt while designing Shopify websites. While planning, it’s essential to think about the store functionality required. Then, you may choose the necessary theme, apps, or custom solutions that will provide the best user experience. Every single detail (such as product descriptions and images, product organization and filtering, search and navigation, etc.) should predict customers’ behavior and make the process of buying smooth and comfortable. Follow the guidelines mentioned in the post and create a well-thought-out Shopify store today.
