Elevate Your Shopify Skills – 16 Tips And Tricks For Shopify Developers

Are you struggling to progress as an up-and-coming Shopify developer? Do you want to join the list of Shopify developers leading the industry? You're in the right place…

With close to 4.6 million operating Shopify stores online, it's incredibly difficult for developers to create a site that stands out. Additionally, with 90% of e-commerce brands failing within four months of launching, it's clear that successful Shopify development is crucial.

Luckily, there are plenty of tips and tricks for Shopify developers to upgrade your skills and stand out amongst the competition.

This article was written by Stephen Rogers. Stephen has a BSc in computer science with a focus on cryptography and worked in a range of London tech startups in data security for five years before turning his hand to writing. His goal is to educate and inform people about the often opaque world of cybersecurity and help everyone be a little bit safer online. When not saving the world from hackers and fraudsters, he's a gamer, esports fan, and avid TV binger.

In this article, you'll learn 16 premier tips and tricks for Shopify developers that will take your custom apps and themes to the top of the Shopify marketplace. Read on to discover the secrets to flawless Shopify design and development and also what mistakes to avoid along the way.

Elevate your Shopify: 16 tips and tricks for Shopify developers

Whether you're new to the industry or a veteran, there are always ways you can improve your Shopify development skills. Continue to see if there are any tips and tricks for Shopify developers that you've missed.

#1. Minimalism is your friend

Shopify development newbies tend to bite off way more than they can chew. During this early learning phase, it's so important to prioritize the crucial elements of your Shopify store.

It's quite common for new developers to get carried away with new ideas – but beware not to stray too far from the path. You're being paid to create a seamless, easy-to-use website that converts the most sales possible.

Some clients will want flashy, interactive features, but they'll let you know beforehand. So, as you begin your Shopify developer adventure, focus on the important facets of your Shopify store before adding unnecessary frills.

#2. Improve your site's responsiveness

You'd think this one has sunk in by now, yet plenty of Shopify stores are still unusable on mobile devices. It's understandable, as developers often build desktop sites first, and then improve responsiveness from there.

Avoid this major hassle by building your Shopify store mobile-first. It's well-known that over half of all web traffic is via mobile devices, and it's only increasing. Building mobile-first is the only sensible decision if you want to future-proof your sites.

There are a few simple changes you can make right now to improve your site's responsiveness:

• Compress and resize images to avoid slow loading.
• Adjust margins, text size, and line heights to suit mobile.
• Include a simplified navigation menu.
• Enable "lazy-loading" on images.

#3. Include accessible features from the beginning

Okay, so you built your store mobile-first, does that mean your site is inclusive? Unless there are in-built accessibility features, you're also reducing many possible sales.

To be successful, a Shopify store should cater to customers of all kinds. As a minimum, be sure to include accessible features for those with:

• Vision impairments: clear, readable text, and alt text for images.
• Hearing impairments: subtitles for videos and visual cues.
• Cognitive disabilities: intuitive and simple user-friendly menus.
  

When talking about accessibility for e-commerce stores, this is just the tip of the iceberg. The more inclusive features you include, the more traffic you can bring to the Shopify store.

#4. Secure your progress

Of all the tips and tricks for Shopify developers, what's the bet you forgot about this one? For many Shopify developers, cybersecurity is one of the last considerations, but often one of the most crucial.

You're probably thinking – what does cybersecurity have to do with Shopify development? Well, when your entire project is held for ransom by a cybercriminal, cybersecurity will sound pretty worthwhile.

As a start, implement some powerful ground protections:

• Install antivirus and firewalls on all devices;
• Keep passwords locked up tight in a password vault;
• Employ multi-factor authentication on all Shopify and development accounts;
• Work and browse over a VPN at all times (VPNs explained);
• Encourage clients to adopt similar security protocols.

#5. Explore the Shopify store

One of the greatest tips and tricks for Shopify developers is sitting right in front of their noses at all times. Utilize the Shopify store to integrate:

• Third-party apps;
• Powerful plugins;
• Secure payment gateways;
• Responsive themes.
  

Just because you're great at building apps, doesn't mean you should build the theme too. Don't be afraid to integrate third-party apps and plugins that will only improve the store's performance and usability.

Identify your strengths so you know where to invest your time, and where you can outsource your work to pre-made options on the Shopify store.

#6. Develop your own custom apps

What if you need a very specific, uniquely designed app? Unless you want to pay for another developer, it sounds like you'll need to tackle this one on your own. But there's good news, as Shopify makes it easier to develop apps.

To begin creating your app, you'll first need to:

1. Create a Shopify Partner account.
2. Set up a development store to test your app.
3. Define the exact purpose of the app.
4. Install a code editor of your choice (e.g.: Visual Studio Code, etc.).
5. Build your app or use Shopify CLI to generate boilerplate code.
   

If you feel like your app is widely useful, consider applying to have it listed on the Shopify marketplace.

#7. Prioritize website performance

So, your Shopify stores are eye-catching, responsive, and secure — none of this matters if your loading speeds are too slow. This is one of those tips and tricks for Shopify developers that are often forgotten or ignored.

Loading times are so crucial that conversion rates are up to 3x higher when a page loads in 1 second, compared to 5. Here are a few things you can do to promptly increase loading times on your Shopify store:

• Compress all images and enable "lazy loading".
• Minify your HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code.
• Reduce the number of elements per page.
• Limit how many apps and plugins you use.
• Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to distribute assets across multiple servers.

#8. Perform thorough UX tests

At the end of the day, you're a Shopify developer, making your experience a little biased. If you want to know for sure that your website is user-friendly, it must undergo multiple User Experience (UX) tests.

UX is perhaps the most underrated part of Shopify development, as developers can't do it themselves. When testing UX, it's important to ask the following questions:

• How intuitive are the menus?
• Is the checkout process streamlined?
• Is there a consistent and visible call to action on each page?
• Do customers feel safe when purchasing from your store?
  

There are times when you can't decide between two kinds of menu, theme, app, or other element. In this case, A/B testing saves you a whole lot of time and guessing.

#9. Get to know the Shopify Theme Kit

If the site you're working on is already live, the last thing you want is to upload changes that disrupt the site or cause it to crash completely. Getting to know Shopify Theme Kit is one of the tips and tricks for Shopify developers that lead to theme mastery.

The Shopify Theme Kit allows developers to work locally and upload changes when they're ready. Developers can thoroughly test their theme, ensuring there aren't any bugs that could crash the site.

Code can be stored on GitHub, where you can enlist the help of other Shopify developers. However, if you're working on Online Store 2.0 themes, you'll need to use Shopify CLI instead.

#10. Learn Liquid templating language

For the sole purpose of developing templates, Shopify created the Liquid templating language, written in Ruby. The only way to become a Shopify theme master is to get comfortable with Liquid.

This open-source templating language has become a core part of Shopify themes. Other than building themes, developers should learn Liquid to be able to:

• Fully customize Shopify themes;
• Introduce dynamic elements into your design;
• Improve Shopify email templates;
• Integrate apps seamlessly into your store.
  

Liquid isn't exclusive to Shopify anymore, so the Liquid skills you develop can be leveraged in other areas of web development.

#11. Think about learning JavaScript and AJAX

Is your store lacking some interactive elements? Well, then it's time to brush up on your JavaScript and AJAX skills. Both of these programming languages play vital roles in producing more advanced UX.

Don't fear, and you don't need to take on this behemoth without help. Of hundreds of resources out there, the most popular JavaScript and AJAX guides are:

• Mozilla Developer Network;
• jQuery Learning Center;
• W3 Schools;
• freeCodeCamp.
  

While learning any of these programming languages isn't necessary, they do introduce a range of features that many Shopify competitors don't offer.

#12. Master Shopify theme customization

Once you're familiar with Liquid and Shopify Theme Kit, the next step is mastering theme creation. Do you want your themes to become popular in the Shopify community?

You can achieve this by:

• Becoming comfortable with Liquid and Shopify Theme Kit;
• Learning HTML and CSS;
• Getting familiar with JavaScript (AJAX can't hurt either);
• Studying Shopify theme structure;
• Experimenting with pre-existing themes;
• Sharing your progress with other developers.
  

When you feel like you've got the hang of it, create your very own theme from scratch or with the aid of boilerplates. If it turns out great, upload it to the Shopify marketplace for other Shopify developers to purchase.

#13. Implement version control

Every developer has been there — your Shopify store was perfect right up until you made those final changes. However, you can't manage to find the exact change that crashed the site.

This is an all-too-familiar experience for Shopify developers. That's why one of the best tips and tricks for Shopify developers is to implement "version control." But what is version control, and why do you need it?

In essence, version control is a system that records all changes made to a file over time. On Git, you can safely collaborate with other developers while recording and tracking all changes made.

#14. Using JavaScript instead of Liquid

Distinguishing when to use JavaScript instead of Liquid is one of the most difficult tips and tricks for Shopify developers. It may seem obvious to the more experienced developers, but if you're unaware, let's compare them.

It's probably easier to imagine that Liquid is your server-side helper while JavaScript handles the client side. There are specific scenarios in which JavaScript is the better choice over Liquid:

• Developing a dynamic User Interface (UI);
• Enhancing UX;
• Creating interactive elements;
• Ensuring forms are complete before submission.

#15. Experiment with Headless Shopify

Are you itching to use some of your other developer skills in your Shopify development? "Headless" Shopify refers to a concept in which the front and back end of your Shopify store are decoupled.

This allows developers the flexibility to introduce new features and frameworks into the front end. This way, Shopify's e-commerce framework remains untouched and fully functional in the back end.

Of all the tips and tricks for Shopify developers, this isn't one for beginners. If you have the know-how, Headless Shopify opens the door for dynamic features, faster load times, and many more customizations.

#16. Keep up to date in the world of Shopify

If you've made it this far, you've probably covered all these tips and tricks for Shopify developers. Now, the only thing left for you to do is join the wider Shopify development community.

As part of the Shopify Community, you'll have access to:

• Online and real-life meet-ups;
• Networking with other developers;
• The entire Shopify Community forum;
• Blog articles discussing Shopify news, common problems, etc.
  

As a Shopify superstar, you'll be welcomed into the community. You can share your expertise and, along the way, pick up a few extra tips and tricks for Shopify developers.

Five bad Shopify habits that are holding you back

So now you know exactly what you can improve on, but do you have any bad habits that are holding you back? Let's briefly discuss the five most common Shopify development mistakes.

#1. You're not testing enough!

It's as simple as that… thoroughly tested Shopify stores rarely encounter issues, as most bugs are identified before the site goes live. This is especially important for developing apps, themes, or plugins.

The last thing you want to do is drive away paying customers. Faulty Shopify stores bleed money — often, the problem would have been avoided had they tested their site more thoroughly.

#2. Remember to keep your code DRY

Let's say you wrote a cleaner version of the for loop you've been using for years. Awesome… but in how many places did you use that old code? This is a prime example of the importance of keeping your code DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself).

Even if the repeated code works, maintenance and updates are going to be very time-consuming. Embrace DRY code to keep your work organized, easier to maintain, and less bulky.

#3. You're not keeping backups

If you aren't keeping daily or even hourly backups of your work, don't be surprised if you have to start over. Whether due to computer error, internet issues, or cybercrime, it hurts to lose weeks of progress.

The simplest tips and tricks for Shopify developers are preemptive. You might never lose your progress, but if you ever do, you'll be so glad to know you have up-to-date, secure backups.

#4. Design over performance

Some developers are back-end warriors, while others love to spend their time honing their designs. Whatever your forté, overall store performance should always be your first priority.

This isn't to say you should cut corners on design. Credibility is earned through clean, modern design, while conversions will be boosted through quick performance speeds and website usability.

#5. Ignoring SEO

As a Shopify developer, it's unlikely your job includes much Search Engine Optimization (SEO). That doesn't mean you shouldn't include some ground-level SEO.

It can be as simple as including code for image alt text, meta tags, and more. While it's your client's job to fill the site with SEO content, they'll be a lot happier if you've included some basic SEO to start with.

Conclusion

Today marks the beginning of your arduous journey toward total Shopify mastery. With these tips and tricks for Shopify developers, you have all you need to start upgrading your development skills.

From cybersecurity to developer forums, there's a little something for almost every Shopify developer to improve on.

So, what will be your next move on the road to Shopify excellence?

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