Why it is important to have a Shopify / Shopify Plus partner with you when you are going to build and further develop an online store

Building and further developing an online store is a demanding task that involves many elements: from technical development and design to marketing, SEO and customer service. Shopify and Shopify Plus are platforms that provide online stores with powerful tools to handle all of this, but to get the most out of the solution, having a dedicated Shopify partner on the team can be crucial.

In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at why it's important to work with a certified Shopify or Shopify Plus partner when building and developing an online store, and how it can help you maximize your potential for success.

1. Expertise and experience with the Shopify platform

Shopify partners are experts who have in-depth knowledge of Shopify and Shopify Plus. They have worked with the platform across various projects and industries, which gives them insight into best practices and the ability to avoid common pitfalls. By working with an experienced Shopify partner, you benefit from their expertise, which can save time and money and ensure that your store is built right from the start.

The benefits of Shopify partner expertise include:

• Custom setup : A Shopify partner will be able to help you customize your online store to your specific needs, including design, functionality, and integrations. This ensures that your store functions optimally from day one.
• Technical Expertise : Shopify partners are familiar with Shopify's APIs and know how to customize the platform to meet unique business requirements. This can be especially important for Shopify Plus users who need advanced functionality.
• Optimizing for growth : With a partner on the team, you can be confident that your online store is built with scalability in mind, so it can grow with your business without facing technical limitations.

2. Time efficiency and focus on the core business

Building an online store from scratch can be a time-consuming process, and maintenance and further development require continuous effort. By leaving these tasks to a Shopify partner, you can free up time to focus on what really matters to your business: creating products, marketing your business, and providing great customer service.

A Shopify partner will handle the technical aspects of the online store, including:

• Setting up integrations : From payment solutions to inventory management systems, Shopify partners can set up and ensure everything works seamlessly together.
• Ongoing maintenance : A good partner continuously monitors your store to make sure everything is working optimally, and takes care of any technical issues before they affect sales.
• Further development and scaling : Shopify partners can help extend your store with new features, improve the user experience, and support you when you launch new products or enter new markets.

3. Access to advanced features with Shopify Plus

Shopify Plus is the more powerful version of Shopify, intended for larger businesses or those that are growing rapidly. It provides a number of advanced features such as workflow automation, custom checkout features, and multiple APIs for integrations. But to fully utilize the power of Shopify Plus, it's important to have the expertise of a Shopify Plus partner.

Benefits of Shopify Plus partners include:

• Automation with Shopify Flow : Shopify Plus partners can help you set up and automate complex workflows, which can save your business time and improve efficiency. For example, you can automate inventory updates, fraud alerts, or customer segmentation based on previous purchases.
• Customized checkout experience : Shopify Plus allows you to customize the checkout so you can increase conversion rates, offer customized promotions or integrate third-party payment solutions. Shopify Plus partners know how to optimize this process to give customers a frictionless experience.
• Global scalability : For stores that sell internationally, Shopify Plus offers features such as multilingual websites, currency handling and advanced inventory management. A Shopify Plus partner can help set up and optimize these features so you can expand without hindrance.

4. Increased conversion and user experience

A Shopify partner will not only focus on the technical side of building the online store, but also on how it can be designed and structured to maximize conversion rates and improve the user experience. This includes:

• User Experience (UX) Optimization : Shopify partners know how to design websites that not only look good, but are also intuitive and easy to navigate. A good user experience is essential to reduce aborted purchases and increase sales.
• Mobile optimization : As most customers today shop via mobile, it is important that your online store is fully responsive and optimized for mobile devices. Shopify partners can ensure that the store works seamlessly on all devices.
• A/B testing : Shopify partners can A/B test different designs and features to find out what works best for your target audience. This can provide valuable insights that help increase conversion rates.

5. SEO and marketing expertise

An important part of running a successful online store is making sure it is found by potential customers. Shopify partners have experience in setting up stores that are optimized for search engines (SEO), and they can help you implement good strategies to drive traffic to your online store.

Here are some ways a Shopify partner can help with SEO and marketing:

• SEO Optimization : Shopify partners can ensure your store is optimized for search engines through technical SEO, including optimization of page title, meta descriptions, URL structure and speed. This helps your store rank higher in search results and attract organic traffic.
• Content Strategy : A partner can also help develop a content strategy, including blogging and keyword usage, to build authority and attract targeted traffic.
• Digital Marketing : Shopify partners can assist with paid advertising, email marketing and social media strategies to help you get the most out of your marketing efforts.

6. Long-term partnership and support

One of the biggest benefits of working with a Shopify partner is that they not only help you launch your store, but also provide ongoing support and guidance as your store grows. Shopify partners are invested in your success and can provide valuable insight, advice and technical support over time.

A long-term collaboration with a partner means that you get:

• Updates and new features : Shopify partners are always up-to-date on the latest features and tools launched on the platform, and they can help you take advantage of these improvements to keep your online store competitive.
• Ongoing optimization : As your online store develops, the partner can help with adjustments and improvements, whether in terms of design, functionality or marketing strategies.