How to Select the Right Shopify Theme in 2023: 8 Great Tips

First impressions matter. Especially for an ecommerce store that is more likely to have image-heavy content, it cannot be overstated. It is simply hard to deny having left a website within a few seconds just for its unappealing appearance. You’ve done it, right?

So, in this turn finding the right theme in ecommerce is crucial before even product listing or content creation. After all, it is what gives your online store life! Not just it determines the general appearance and layout of a website, but the use of the right theme can hold user interest and assist them in making a purchasing choice.

And when it comes to setting up an online store, we can’t just ignore the role of Shopify store themes. Let’s get to know more in detail.

What are Shopify themes?

Shopify themes are a set of pre-built templates that users can choose or customise to fit their business needs. There are off-the-shelf themes as well as custom themes. The off-the-shelf Shopify themes are pre-designed come in a range of free and paid options and fulfil almost any business goal. You can use them as a starting point. Or if you want to develop your online store from the stretch, you can go for custom themes. You can even customise the existing off-the-shelf themes as well.

Why do they matter?

Selling products online has never been easier than it is today with Shopify. In a matter of a few minutes and clicks, you can set up your online store and start selling. There are several benefits of using Shopify themes, including,

• Shopify themes are cost-effective. Some of the themes even cost nothing while premium themes will just cost you only a few hundred dollars.
• Fully responsive and optimised for web and mobile experience.
• Also, most of the themes allow customisation. You can tailor your site’s functionality and features in the best possible way.
• Another great advantage is easy to use.

Now that you are aware of the usefulness of Shopify themes, the question is, what Shopify theme should you choose?

Some proven tips to follow when picking the best theme

With thousands of free and paid Shopify themes available, choosing one might seem overwhelming. However, there are several factors that go into deciding on a theme that makes the perfect fit for your product or service.

1. Draw up a list of your must-have features

List all the features and functionality you want for your online store. For example

• Drop down menus
• Pop-ups
• Image zoom
• Size charts
• Landing pages
• Blog
• Shopping cart
• Product quick view

And many more

Making a list will help you highlight the key features that are your top priority. Then you can start looking for the relevant themes.

2. Focus on mobile responsiveness

When picking out a theme, put attention to the mobile view of the theme. There is no secret that most of the website traffic comes from mobile, hence looking into the mobile experience is a must. No matter how wonderfully your website is designed, if your website is not optimised for mobile devices, you will miss a large segment of users.

So, in order to increase traffic and user engagement alongside a higher conversion rate, go for a responsive theme. As an example, to determine mobile responsiveness, you can check the amount of space the images are taking or check the usability of the navigation menus and CTAs.

3. Determine your budget

Shopify themes come at varying price points. Figure out whether you are tight on budget or own a few hundred dollars to spare. If you don’t want to spend any money, you have free themes that will work for you. But if you can spend a bit, install a premium theme as they come with higher level customisation and unique design element features.

For example, paid ones might include SEO or other integrations while the free themes offer basic functions. Also, there might be costs for Shopify subscriptions, add-ons and domain names. So carefully determine what your budget is before clicking ‘buy’.

4. Take support from an experienced developer

While making the purchase and selection of the Shopify theme, don’t overlook the services extended by the developer to make sure you are making the right pick. Not just they can study your business specifications and offer the best solution, but assist you in providing all sorts of technical support.

Especially when you are selecting a theme from third-party developers, be sure of how they will provide support for your Shopify theme in the future. Because tasks like upgrading the theme, customisations to the theme, tools and plug-ins integration are often handled differently and involve complications. And these are best handled by experienced Shopify developers.

5. Prioritise conversion optimisation and user experiences

When looking at themes, make sure they are optimised for conversions. Because the more responsive your store’s theme is, the higher your conversion rates will be. Also depending on the theme, you might avail of specific user-experience functionality.

So be sure to understand what your theme is capable of in prior and pay attention to things like page loading speed, CTAs and customisation options. Find a highly customisable theme that will allow you to incorporate your brand identity, so that you can add features that you think would enhance your customer experience.

6. Prioritise an optimised checkout page

The checkout page is one of the basic major factors that impact the sales volume. The majority of buyers often abandon their carts when they reach the checkout page and the most common reason is either they require to open an account for the checkout process or the procedure itself seems long and complicated.

So, it is crucial to check whether the Shopify theme you choose has an optimised checkout experience or not. Select one that offers a short checkout process and doesn’t require buyers to create an account. Also make sure it offers functionalities like a progress bar, navigation buttons, an intuitive add-to-cart button and an option for guest checkout.

7. Consider your industry

There are no all size fits all themes that will work for every business type. In the Shopify theme store, you can search for themes by defining your niche. You will get particular functionality and design options based on your industry, no matter whether you belong to the “beauty and fashion” or “toys and games” industry.

For example, if you have a clothing store, you will need a template that features functionalities like image zoom and size charts, but if you are in the “industrial and manufacturing” industry, you might look for features like advanced typography or responsive and retina-ready design.

8. Consider how many products you will sell

When choosing Shopify themes, be sure of how many types of products you will be selling. Shopify offers to search for themes by the number of listed products. If you selling a single product type you can present everything on your homepage, but in case you are selling five or more product types choose a theme that allows you to feature a small selection on your homepage and place the rest on the separate product page.

Conclusion

Now you are all set!

Time to select a high-converting Shopify theme for your online store considering the above-listed tips. Even if there are lots of unique Shopify themes out there, finding the right fit is not as hard as it may seem when you are focusing on the right factors.

Again, picking the right theme is only halfway. Integrate your picked theme with your online store in the right way. If needed, consult with any well-known website design and development company to ensure measurable outcomes.