15-Step Shopify Development Checklist for your eCommerce Business

This checklist, meticulously crafted with the help of experts in Shopify development services, will discuss how to build an ecommerce website with Shopify. Remember, a well-developed store isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about creating a seamless user experience that converts visitors into loyal customers.

Tip: Bookmark this comprehensive checklist for Shopify Development and check back before you launch your eCommerce launch.

• Add Sales Channels
• Create a Custom Domain for Your e-Commerce Site
• Review your Checkout Experience
• Build the Essential Pages
• Refine your Automated Emails
• Conduct a Content Audit
• Set Up Analytics and Tracking
• Optimize Your Store for Search Engines
• Optimize Images for Speed
• Build a Prelaunch Marketing Plan
• Define Tax and Shipping Rates
• Review Communication Channels
• Enhance Functionality with Apps and Integrations
• Update your Billing Information
• Organize Back Office Tasks

Think beyond your Shopify storefront. Your ideal customer might be browsing on Facebook Marketplace or Instagram. A Shopify Development Company can integrate your store with various sales channels, expanding your reach and boosting sales. Here are some online sales channels you can add to your eCommerce store:

• Instagram & Facebook
• eBay
• TikTok
• Amazon
• Pinterest
• Buy Button

Your domain name is your digital storefront’s address. A custom domain like “yourbrandname.com” builds trust and professionalism compared to a generic Shopify subdomain. To start with, you can conduct a domain name search to see if the business name is available. If available, you can purchase the same, if not, you will need to flex some brain muscles to find an appropriate one. You can also experiment with Top Level Domains(TLD) like .com, .shop, .store, etc.

Cart Abandonment rates have been climbing steadily since 2006, after reaching an all-time high of 71.98% in 2012. Though between 2013 and 2022, the rate varied from 68%-69%, in 2023 and 2024 it again crossed the 70% mark(Source: Statista). Therefore, it is important for you to test your checkout process before you launch. Shopify allows you to place a test order on your site using a live payment gateway that you can utilize to make sure that everything is working as intended.

Alternatively, working with a Shopify eCommerce Development Company can help you keep your checkout flow smooth and ensure a safer and more secure checkout experience that keeps customers happy.

Your store needs informative pages like “About Us,” “Contact Us,”, “Terms and Conditions”, “Privacy Policy”, “Shipping & Refund Policy”, and a robust “FAQs” section. Qualified Shopify Development Services providers can create these pages, fostering transparency and building trust with your customers. Also, don’t forget to add other pages like category and product pages. Finally, make sure your landing pages and shopping cart are functioning properly.

Welcome emails, abandoned cart reminders, and order confirmations- these automated emails nurture leads and keep customers engaged. You can use Shopify’s own email marketing app- Shopify Email as part of your overall marketing strategy and automating customer communication. You can consider these automated emails to add to the flow:

• Welcome Emails
• Order Receipts and Confirmation Emails
• Cart Abandonment Notification Emails
• Offer Reveal Emails
  
• Promotional Emails

High-quality valuable content is key to attracting and retaining customers. Ensure that you write high-quality product descriptions, engaging blog posts, and informative guides that are grammatically immaculate and engage the audience. But before you post this content, make sure that you have audited it. 

Read back every word on the site- or find someone to do it for you. A content audit by an e-commerce website development team ensures your content is up-to-date and optimized for search engines. Finally, also look for broken links, 404 errors, mobile responsiveness, and other technical issues to ensure that your e-commerce store is as immaculate as it can be.

Hire the Shopify Experts at Webguruz to help you set up a Shopify Store and test it for issues.

Data is the lifeblood of any eCommerce business. You can obtain valuable insights and analytics that can help you track user behavior, the source they are coming from, and the issues they may be facing. Tools like Google Analytics or Google Search Console and others can be integrated into your Shopify e-commerce store to analyze the specific aspects of your business. A Shopify development company can help with the integration so you can easily track user behavior, identify trends, and optimize your store for better conversions.

While social media has now become a go-to for product discovery among the younger generation, 49% of shoppers still prefer Google to discover or find a new product online (Source: thinkwithgoogle). And for this reason, the importance of Google SEO should not be undermined. Leveraging SEO tactics can help you generate consistent, high-quality, and free traffic to your store. 

eCommerce SEO ensures your products rank high in search results. A professional Shopify development services provider can optimize your product titles, descriptions, and meta tags for relevant keywords, driving organic traffic to your store.

High-resolution product images are essential, but large file sizes can slow down your website. Image optimization techniques employed by a team at Shopify eCommerce development company ensure fast loading times, leading to a better user experience. The DIY approach involves optimizing the file names using keywords, using descriptive Alt text for accessibility, preferring JPEG or PNG images, and A/B testing them to know what works best in different situations.

Also Read: Shopify vs WooCommerce– Comparison Guide

Having a prelaunch marketing strategy in hand will help you spread the word among your audience. The strategy would include actions you can take to build an audience or build up anticipation like creating a landing page to capture emails, posting on social media to keep users informed, hosting a pre-launch event, setting up pre-orders, etc. A Shopify development company can help you craft a strategy that attracts potential customers.

Transparency is key. Clearly define your tax and shipping rates to avoid any surprises for your customers at checkout. Check if the shipping rates are appropriate for your products in the location you’re selling them. Additionally, also check if you need to charge the sales tax to remit to the government at tax time. These things can be set up with the help of your accountant.

Live chat, email support, and phone numbers- provide multiple ways for customers to connect with you. According to a study, 77% of customers prefer contacting brands via email, while 63% of them prefer Live Chat as a channel of support communication(Source: HiverHQ). 

Another study revealed that using Live Chat on your ecommerce store leads to a 48% increase in revenue per chat hour and a 40% increase in conversion rate(Source: SuperOffice). Determine the most appropriate channel for your business and make sure it is well-integrated and functional so customer experience is not hampered. A Shopify eCommerce development company can ensure these options are easily accessible on your store.

The Shopify App Store offers a vast array of apps to extend your store’s functionality. If you are a new business, focus on apps to help with marketing, customer support, and conversions. On the other hand, if you have a store already, you can look for apps that can support it.

A Shopify development services provider can help you choose and integrate the most relevant apps to streamline operations and improve customer experience.

Before you go live, choose the right plan on your ecommerce platform and set up the billing information. This will ensure a smooth financial flow to your business.

A well-organized back office is crucial for efficient inventory management, order fulfillment, and customer service. So, before your ecommerce launch, ensure that your processes are in order so you can avoid shipping delays, inventory issues, and customer complaints. A Shopify ecommerce development company can help you streamline your back-end operations.

The Final Word

Launching a successful eCommerce business requires meticulous planning and a focus on user experience. By following this checklist and partnering with a reputable Shopify eCommerce Development Company like Webguruz, you can navigate the development process with confidence and create a thriving online store that converts. Remember, a well-developed Shopify store isn’t just a platform; it’s a powerful tool to turn your vision into reality.