Considering a Shopify Redesign? The REAL Benefits Of Updating your E-Commerce Shop

One of the worst feelings is heading to a conference, or meeting a potential customer in real life and feeling nervous to send people directly to your website. If the words, “what’s your website?” gives you anxiety, it mayyyy be time to redesign your e-commerce website. 

How to know if it’s time to redesign your Shopify storefront

Here are some questions to ask yourself if you’re wondering if it is, indeed, time for a Shopify storefront redesign. Hint: it’s not always time for a complete overhaul. Sometimes your website will just need a few updates! But running through these questions will give you a better understanding of what’s truly needed right now. 

Is your theme up to date? 

Are you using Shopify 2.0? Shopify 2.0 was released at the end of 2020 and now it’s the only version of themes available in the Shopify theme store. You could still be on the vintage version, whereas upgrading to the 2.0 version would provide a faster, more flexible version of Shopify. 

Is your branding reflected well throughout your site? Do you need to refresh your brand? 

Take an honest look at your brand messaging and brand voice - do these feel like a good representation of your brand, your product, and the experience you want your customers to have (and keep coming back for)?

How long has it been since you changed your copy and images? 

You need to keep it fresh if you are expecting return customers. Ideally in e-commerce you switch up your pics once a season/quarter. 

What are your metrics saying?

What is your user experience really like? 

Conversion-focused design is the foundation of a quality user experience. Is your website easy to navigate? Does your homepage have a set goal? Are your calls to action hyper-clear and hyper-simple? If there’s too much going on with no clear direction, it may be time to do some restructuring. To help you analyze and monitor user engagement on your site, I recommend using the HotJar app!

What do you actually GET when you redesign your website? 

First things first, it’s hard to measure the exact dollar amount you’ll receive from redesigning your website because everything you’re doing up until that point - marketing, etc. - plays a role in the ultimate ROI of a website redesign and launch. 

People who say “you’ll get X return from working with me or doing XYZ,” that’s not true. There is no ROI guarantee, however there are major ways to get your investment back.

In my opinion, here are some of the REAL returns on investment when you redesign your website!

Confidence

Your confidence of showing up. Waiting to reach out to boutiques or wholesalers until you fix your website. I want you to feel so proud of your website that you’re willing to put up a billboard and shout from the rooftops. You should WANT people to see it. That’s one of the biggest returns you’ll get. 

Visibility

This is a tail-spin effect of boosted confidence - when you’re confident, you show up, when you show up your brand visibility and awareness go through the roof. Your confidence and belief in what you offer boost that coveted Know, Like and Trust Factor, too!

Improved User Experience

When you update your website you can improve user experience, making it easier for someone to make a purchase. You will find that you’ve made it easier for people to find things, navigate your website, incorporate more lifestyle images, and to see themselves using your products. 

Better SEO Performance

SEO performance is affected not just by keyword-driven content, but by site functionality and design.

Before you dive into a storefront redesign…

If you’re ready to redesign your Shopify storefront and e-commerce website, don’t dive in just yet! Here are a few steps to take before you start your website redesign.

Set goals 

What is it you’re really wanting to achieve through your website? What do you want BESIDES sales? Maybe your goal is to strengthen your brand awareness, to build community and brand engagement, to grow your email list, or something else entirely! Whatever it is, think about how you can track these via your metrics/analytics. 

For example, inside of Shopify you can see things like the percent of return customers vs. new customers, sessions and the number of views. Views are individuals to your site, and sessions are when they see more than one page. All these are important metrics to assign to your goals!

Analyze different channels to optimize traffic

Understanding the various channels from which your website referral traffic is coming from is the first step in finding out how to optimize your website ROI. Analyzing the sources of your web traffic through Google Analytics, such as organic search, direct, and social networks can help you better understand where potential customers are coming from and make educated decisions on how to maximize it.

Monitor user engagement on your site

Once you know where your web traffic comes from, you have to start monitoring user engagement. This requires tracking metrics such as page views, time on page, and click-through rate. If people are spending more time on your pages, engaging with content, and downloading resources, then it's likely they're finding what they need. This means that your website is having a desired effect on potential customers and helping to increase ROI.

Keep records

Write everything down so you can track and measure over time!

In case you’re not sold on the benefits of updating your website yet, here are even more ways you’ll see ROI!:

• Increase traffic (which leads to hello new customers!)
• Higher conversion rates
• Stronger brand equity and reputation
• Attracts higher quality team members
• Helps you retain customers and increase brand loyalty

Ready to redesign your website? Join us in DIY Shopify!