Shopify website design: 9 best practices

First impressions matter, especially when it comes to a Shopify store. In fact, studies show that it takes less than two-tenths of a second for users to form an opinion about your website. That may not seem like much time, but in the fast-paced world of eCommerce, you need to make sure your store is designed to impress from the very first glance.

Luckily, we're here to help. In this blog post, we'll share best practices for Shopify website design that will help you create a stunning store that converts visitors into customers.

So without further ado, let's get started!

Use High-Quality Images 

Your product images are one of the most important elements on your website, so you'll want to make sure they're high quality and look great on all devices. 

In addition to using professional photography, there are a few other things you can do to ensure your images look their best. For example, make sure they're the right size and format, compress them for faster loading times, and include alt text and product descriptions.

Keep Your Header and Footer Consistent 

Your header and footer are two of the most important pieces of real estate on your website because they're visible on every single page. That's why it's important to keep them consistent across your entire site. 

This includes making sure your logo is always in the same place, using the same navigation menus, and including the same social media icons and contact information. By keeping things consistent, you'll create a better user experience and make it easier for visitors to find what they're looking for.

Use Negative Space 

Negative space is the area around your content that is free of any visual elements. It sounds simple enough, but incorporating negative space into your design can actually be quite tricky. 

Too much negative space and your store will look empty; too little and it will look cluttered and overwhelming. Finding the perfect balance is key to creating a stunning design that is easy on the eyes and doesn't overwhelm visitors with too much information at once. 

When in doubt, err on the side of less is more. Using too many visuals can actually be detrimental to your store's conversion rate as it can distract visitors from taking action (i.e., buying your products). 

Stick to a Limited Color Palette 

If you want your Shopify store to have a professional look, then it’s important to stick to a limited color palette. That doesn’t mean your store has to be boring—you can still use colors to create visual interest. But: limit yourself to two or three colors, tops. Any more than that will just end up looking chaotic. 

And speaking of visual interest… 

Use Visual Elements Sparingly  

Visual elements like images and videos are great for adding interest and personality to your site. But it’s important not to go overboard with them; too many visuals will make your site look cluttered and overwhelming. So use visuals sparingly and make sure each one serves a purpose. 

Include Customer Testimonials 

Including customer testimonials on your website is a great way to build trust with potential buyers and give them social proof that your products or services are high quality and worth their money. 

If you don't have any testimonials yet, don't worry! You can start by asking friends and family members if they're willing to leave a review or rating on your site. Just make sure to ask for honest feedback so you can address any areas of improvement before potential customers see them. 

Use Reviews from Trusted Sites 

If you're selling physical products, then you should also take advantage of reviews from trusted sites like Amazon or Consumer Reports. These reviews provide valuable insights into what people love (and don't love) about your products and can help increase conversions by instilling confidence in potential buyers. 

Just make sure you're only using reviews from reputable sources—you don't want to damage your credibility by sharing inaccurate information!

Keep It Simple

When it comes to Shopify website design, less is almost always more. That's because potential customers will be visiting your site with the goal of finding specific products or information—and if they can't find what they're looking for right away, they're likely to leave your site and look elsewhere. 

So, when designing your Shopify store, be sure to keep things clean and simple. Use a minimalistic design style and avoid using too many colors or font styles. And most importantly, make sure your navigation is easy to understand and use.

Pay Attention To Your Site Speed       

No matter how brilliantly conceived and executed your design is, it won't matter one bit if no one ever gets to see it because your site takes too long too load. In fact, according to Kissmetrics, 47% of visitors expect a web page too load in 2 seconds or less Yikes! 

Fortunately there are plenty off wais to speed up your Shopify store: 

• Minimize HTTP requests 
• Use CSS sprites 
• Optimize your images
• Reduce your server response time 

By making sure your shopifystore loads quickly, you'll keep more visitors around long enough to take your desired action — whether that's subscribing to your email list, buying a product from your store, or something else entirely.

Wrapping up

These are just a few tips that you can use to optimize your Shopify website design for the best results. By keeping things simple and using high-quality images, you can create a Store that's easy for visitors to navigate and makes an excellent first impression. 

And by making use of negative space in your layout, you can create a calm and pleasing visual aesthetic that will encourage visitors to stay on your site longer and explore more of what you have to offer. Implement these tips into your Shopify website design today and see how they can help take your business to the next level!