4 Key Elements to Consider for a Successful Shopify Redesign

First impressions matter. If your Shopify store fails to engage potential customers from the get-go, it’s probably high time to think about redesigning it. The process involves revamping and improving the look and feel as well as the functionality of an existing Shopify storefront. The modifications may vary in complexity, from a simple update of visual components to a comprehensive transformation of the store’s UX design.

If you contemplate switching to Shopify, keep in mind that some redesign work might also be necessary. Product data, customer details, and other content may not translate accurately to the new store’s design during migration. To eliminate any disruptions and ensure everything runs smoothly, turn to a team of experts providing seamless Shopify migration services.

A successful Shopify redesign is no easy fit. It requires thorough consideration of numerous factors to ensure the update aligns with your business goals and customer needs. This post will walk you through the crucial elements that eCommerce teams shouldn’t skip when planning a Shopify store redesign, including intuitive navigation, fast loading time, accessibility for all users, brand consistency, and more.

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1. Focusing on Flawless UX/UI

Any Shopify store owner should aspire to a website that is easy to navigate and provides a seamless shopping experience. An impeccable UX/UI design keeps customers engaged and effortlessly guides them through the buying process, from browsing products to making a purchase. Pay attention to the following UX aspects when redesigning your Shopify store.

Intuitive Navigation

Prioritize simple layout. Visitors shouldn’t feel confused as they navigate your website. Create a logical flow with clear categories and subcategories, as well as accessible filters and search. There are a few ways to help visitors quickly find what they want:

Opt for mega menus (for the desktop version). They’re particularly useful for online shops with an extensive product catalog. These menus can accommodate a considerable amount of options.

Screenshots taken on Macguire Shoes official website

Implement breadcrumbs to show visitors their location on a website. This feature helps prospects return to previous categories and the homepage easily.

Make sure the search bar is prominent and functions properly. Use autocorrect and autofill features to save visitors’ time and effort. A lack of autocomplete can be especially distressing for mobile shoppers. Let’s admit it: some customers might have difficulties typing queries on small screens.

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Fast Loading Speed

With users becoming increasingly impatient, Shopify store owners cannot allow slow-loading pages. People are willing to wait no more than 3 seconds. If a website takes longer to load, potential customers will drop off and go to competitors.

Design choices can dramatically affect your website’s loading speed. Follow a few proven practices to make your site lightning-fast:

Compress and resize images, as they most commonly contribute to slow loading times. Shopify has a built-in image optimizer that compresses digital assets during upload. When compressed, some image formats tend to have better visual quality than others.

Here are the top picks you should consider: WebP (fits various types of images), JPEG (a go-to solution for product images and banners), AVIF (perfect for high-quality images where details are everything), and PNG (ideal for illustrations, icons, and logos where clarity is key).

Minify code by removing optional characters from source code. Tools like UglifyJS for JavaScript and CSSNano for CSS automatically reduce the file size without compromising functionality.

Implement CDN (content delivery network) along with browser and server-side caching to ensure faster delivery of content (images, video, etc.).

Employ a lazy loading technique to make above-the-fold elements immediately visible. Meanwhile, less critical content located below the fold loads as viewers scroll down the page. This method hugely improves initial page load time.

Mobile-First Design

The number of mobile shoppers is growing consistently. With that in mind, eCommerce business owners should prioritize a seamless shopping experience no matter what device customers use to access a website.

Luckily, Shopify offers a plethora of responsive themes, meaning the layout and elements automatically adjust to fit different screen sizes, so customers can easily browse products on desktops, smartphones, or tablets. If you opt to modify the theme, be cautious of extensive customization because it may influence mobile responsiveness.

Prioritizing a mobile-first approach during Shopify store redesign will give you a competitive edge and drive more conversions. Here are some major tips for creating compelling mobile eCommerce experiences:

Opt for the bottom navigation bar. It gives users quick access to core features and allows them to switch between the main sections, like a homepage, cart, search, wishlist, and user profile, effortlessly;

Screenshots taken on Webster

Add sticky bars to spare users from scrolling back and forth. When buyers browse your store on a smartphone, they make a lot more scrolls than on the PC. Important elements like price, filtering, or calls to action may disappear from view. With sticky bars, this won’t be the case.

Screenshots taken on Bodum

Prioritize gestures to make interaction with your store more intuitive. For instance, swiping helps close pop-ups and return to the previous page. Horizontal scrolling simplifies browsing through galleries. Zooming with fingers is a common gesture for mobile users to see fine details or read small text.

Accessibility for All Users

When redesigning your Shopify store, place the accessibility point at the top of your list. All users, including people living with disabilities, should interact with the site effortlessly. For a more inclusive shopping experience, consider the following suggestions:

Clear and readable font sizes. Texts must be large enough for visually impaired customers to read the information without a hitch.

Keyboard navigation. Make sure your website supports keyboard shortcuts and is compatible with screen readers. These features are crucial for users who have mobility issues or those relying on assistive technologies to browse the web.

Color contrast. By maintaining sufficient color contrast between background and text, you help visually impaired or colorblind customers consume content without difficulty.

Image alt text. Add descriptive alt text to all images, explaining the images’ content to customers who use screen readers.

Zara, a famous clothing brand, sets the bar high in terms of accessibility features for other eCommerce sites. It offers an unbelievable amount of options, allowing online users to customize their shopping experiences by simply clicking the Accessibility icon (a black circle with a white human figure).

There are plenty of modes catering to people with various disabilities: visually impaired, dyslexic, blind, etc. To illustrate a point, we chose the accessibility profile for color-blind users, and the dark, high-contrast mode was instantly activated.

Screenshots taken on Zara

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2. Emphasizing Brand Consistency

Brand consistency is part and parcel of a Shopify website redesign. Every element, such as colors, fonts, images, product descriptions, etc., should reflect your brand’s core values and aesthetics across the entire store. This coherence creates a unified experience for customers and fosters brand identity.

Add high-quality photos and lifestyle images showcasing products in use to make your store more recognizable and visually pleasing. Let’s analyze how brand consistency is indeed important by looking at two Shopify stores: Allbirds and Fly by Jing.

Allbirds, a sustainable footwear and apparel brand, uses a neutral color palette to avoid distracting buyers from the products. The clean layout, concise messaging, and readable fonts attest to the brand’s commitment to simplicity.

Screenshots taken on Allbirds

In contrast to Allbirds, Fly by Jing, an Asian food brand, certainly stands out with its bright purple, red, and yellow colors. However, too many contrasting tones make it hard for visitors to navigate the site or grasp the main message. Overusing flashy colors creates visual clutter and may play against brand consistency.

Screenshots taken on Fly by Jing

3. Redesigning for Conversions

An effective redesign of Shopify websites goes beyond aesthetics. It involves developing a strategy to convert passers-by into paying customers. The following elements are crucial for reaching this objective.

Compelling CTAs

A clear call to action is like a persuasive nudge guiding visitors toward a desired action, be it adding items to a cart, making a purchase, or learning more information. Here’s how you can make CTAs work:

Use strong, action-oriented verbs like “Shop Now,” “Get Started,” “Act Now,” etc., to create a sense of urgency and encourage visitors to click the button.

Apply contrasting colors to your CTAs. They should be visually prominent in contrast with the website background to catch viewers’ attention.

Place CTAs strategically where it makes the most sense, for example, next to relevant product data or at the end of engaging content to capitalize on the client’s interest.

Screenshot taken on Bruvi

Trust Signals

Establishing trust is of utmost importance in the eCommerce industry. How can customers feel reassured that your store is the one they can count on? Social proof and security badges are the tried and tested ways of converting hesitant prospects.

Screenshot taken on Manitobah Mukluks

By showcasing positive customer experiences through video testimonials, star ratings, or written reviews, online shops can build stronger relationships with consumers, improve their reputation, and increase conversions. Meanwhile, security badges and trusted payment logos instill confidence in visitors that a website is safe. After seeing these indicators, customers are more likely to interact with a store and make a purchase.

Screenshot taken on Troubadour

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Streamlined Checkout Process

Complex checkout is a sure path to cart abandonment and lost sales. For a successful Shopify store redesign, you want to make the process as simple as possible. Take note of the following tactics for a streamlined experience:

Minimize steps. Keep the checkout form concise. Request only essential customer data, include an auto-fill feature, and offer a guest checkout option for fast purchases.

Look how Cocfloss, a Californian brand selling oral care and wellness products, sticks to a clean and uncluttered checkout page. First, it features express checkout options and then introduces information fields for customers to fill in. Luckily, there are not many of them, so it won’t take long to place an order.

Screenshot taken on Cocofloss

Give clear instructions throughout the checkout process. Whether submitting shipping details or choosing payment options, transparency can prevent potential confusion and encourage customers to complete a purchase.

Add a progress bar. This feature is particularly valuable if your store has a multipage checkout process. When customers see how long it takes to complete an order, they feel more in control of their purchase journey.

Screenshot taken on Gymshark

4. Integrating Data Analytics

Every modification of your website should be backed by solid evidence. That’s where data analytics comes into play. By processing vast amounts of information, Shopify merchants can make smart decisions to improve UX and increase engagement and conversions. With the right tools, data analysis becomes less daunting.

Web analytics software provides valuable insights into how customers interact with your store, what generates their interest, and where they experience friction. Equipped with this information, Shopify store teams can dedicate their redesign efforts to areas that yield lackluster results.

Also, by incorporating analytics tools into their redesign strategies, online retailers ensure every update enhances both the visual appeal and functionality of their web shops. The crucial point to remember is that data analytics is an ongoing process. Through constant assessment and testing, your Shopify store always stays up-to-date, offers an exceptional customer experience, and aligns with your business goals.

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Getting Started with Shopify Store Redesign

Revamping a Shopify store requires a strategic approach. Online merchants should focus on various aspects, ranging from UX optimization to data-informed decision-making. If you’re striving for a user-friendly and high-converting website, think of crucial elements like flawless navigation, mobile-friendliness, lightning-fast loading speed, accessibility, brand consistency, and simplified checkout.

With eCommerce trends and consumer needs changing constantly, a Shopify redesign becomes an optimal solution to stay ahead of the game, foster brand identity, establish strong customer relationships, and boost sales.

How to choose a reliable theme development company for Shopify

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About the Author: Kate Parish

Kate Parish is a chief marketing officer at Onilab. With almost a decade of experience in the company, she’s still keen on every aspect of digital marketing. Kate sees the marketing mission in ensuring balanced business growth. For this purpose, she helps companies and readers create efficient campaigns, resolve common problems, and improve key website metrics, such as conversions, bounce rates, and others.

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