In the world of eCommerce, Shopify is the clear leader. It continues to set the standards for design and usability. In fact, Shopify powers around 300,000 online stores that have earned over $17 billion in 2015 alone.
A large part of its success has been due to the software’s combination of ease of use and functionality. Even beginners can build an impressive storefront that is packed with features.
However, with such a capable and expansive program, users can be left wondering whether that are taking full advantage of Shopify. Without prior experience it can be hard to leverage sales in the most efficient way possible. Unless you are an expert, you might question whether there is more you could be doing to integrate available apps and tools.
Instead of wondering, you can rely on the experience and expertise of professional web development companies. Some of the industry’s leading firms specialize in making the most of Shopify.
The trick is choosing the best firm to provide the right balance between expertise and cost. To help narrow down your choices, be sure to start by asking yourself a few simple questions:
What is your budget?
For most businesses, cost is the first and most important deciding factor to take into account. While there are plenty of free options available on the web, they come with limitations. The wrong software can ultimately stunt the growth of the business.
Bottom line: if you are serious about making money, you are going to have to invest some money into your business. Putting money into software, hosting fees and other operational costs will pay off in the end and streamline day-to-day tasks in the meantime.
Take some time to think about how much you can afford to put towards basic setup costs. Keep in mind that there is a proportionate relationship between operating costs and revenue earned.
What is your timeline for launch?
The beauty of some eCommerce platforms is that you can launch a site in just a matter of hours. For more complicated sites that features dozens of products, pictures and descriptions, you may need more time to prepare the site and your inventory before you are ready to go live. You will need a platform that can be scalable according to your needs.
How important is design flexibility?
During the initial store setup process, you will probably be caught up in designing the storefront. While most platforms will offer impressive flexibility when it comes to design, they may not be quite as elastic when it comes to managing your inventory and sales.
You can rest assured that Shopify eCommerce Software can handle practically anything your throw at it. The real challenge is knowing whether you have setup the store to be as flexible as it can be and as you need it to be. This is where some expert advice can be well worth the price.
Does your platform integrate well with other programs?
You want the answer to this question to be a resounding yes. Your online store builder needs to seamlessly integrate with social media, a variety of payment gateways, Amazon and other programs. These additions will expand the functionality of your site.
Once you have taken the time to explore some important questions and figure out a budget, you can begin vetting web design and development experts in Canada. Keep reading for a list of top-rated developers who should be at the top of your list.
The Heavy Hitters Who Can Do Everything
BOLD
BOLD is responsible for creating some of the most popular apps available on Shopify. They also offer custom services for small start-ups or large businesses. Originally, the company was born out of necessity. The founders were surprised by the lack of apps designed to help increase sales. Instead of waiting for the right app to hit the market, they decided to create their own.
Since BOLD released their first app in 2012, they have won numerous industry awards. With over 90 employees based out of Winnipeg Canada, they stand out as a full-service company. Call them if you need a firm who can do it all.
Pixel Union
Pixel Union is headquartered in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, and has been around since 2009. Their portfolio has a list of impressive clients, including: Tesla Motors, Taco Bell and the LA Lakers. Use an existing theme or partner with them to building a custom website.
Pixel Union team of experts offer support through every step of development. Use their skills to harness the power of Shopify and create beautiful and functional sites. Be sure to stop by their site and take a look at their extensive portfolio of sleek and modern websites.
Diff
Most web development firms are founded by software engineers and programmers. However, Diff was started by a retailer. This gives the Montreal based company a different perspective on eCommerce.
Since opening in 2011, the company has built a team of highly skilled engineers. They represent one of the “most technically sophisticated teams.” DIFF designs combine an attractive storefront with a user-friendly backend. Enjoy management features that help make your life easier.
Marketing Gurus
Only Growth
This Waterloo, Canada-based firm has one goal in mind: growth. They begin by helping you establish a clear brand. From there, it is all about growing your business and achieving measurable results. While they offer a wide range of services, they specialize in increasing conversion rates.
The company will help you turn casual browsers into loyal customers. Their price point may be prohibitive to smaller businesses, but if you are fast and measurable growth can be worth the investment. Consider the fact that they boast an impressive 327% ROI across 127 different brands.
Design Champs
Pointer Creative
For some businesses, visuals are especially important. If you need to highlight products and create a specific experience for your visitors, the team at Pointer Creative can help. They are a group of young and hip designers and developers with a reputation for creating visually stunning Shopify sites.
In fact, Pointer Creative is the #1 Shopify development team in Canada. Their designs reinforce branding and quickly begin to drive traffic to your site. Rely on them for simple eCommerce site or more complex store. They can offer great support and can generate impressive sites from scratch.
Little Rocket
Need help clarifying your creative direction? Struggling to developing a business strategy? Ready to launch your site? Little Rocket in Ontario, Canada, can provide custom solutions and a support system.
First and foremost, their focus is on using their design skills and experience to capture your brand vision. Next, they create an attractive site to share your products and services with the world. Then they will work to design a backend that speaks to your business and your needs. The result is a beautiful custom site.
All-Around Awesome
Port80 Web Design
As you are thinking about creating and building your eCommerce store, the user experience cannot be underestimated. Your website needs to be intuitive and easy to navigate. Even the smallest barrier to browsing and purchasing can result in a lost sale and hinder the growth of your business.
The experts at Port80 in Vancouver have found the perfect balance between form and function. Your customers will have a truly enjoyable experience that keeps them coming back for more. Their scalable solutions range from simple fixes to full-scale launches for international businesses.
SOVI Creative
At SOVI design of Toronto, Canada, they get to know you before producing solutions that are specifically designed to address your unique needs. They have high standards when it comes to design.
You can rest assured that your website will look great on any device. Shoppers will enjoy the front-end of your site and you will be thankful for the thought and experience that goes into designing your backend.
The developers at SOVI will make daily tasks a breeze so that you can efficiently run your business. Enjoy more time to focus on your top priorities.
Up Later than You
The name says a lot. This team of designers and developers in Toronto, Canada, makes it their job to hustle harder. They stay up late so that you can turn your attention to other areas of running your business. In just a few weeks you can take your eCommerce website from concept to reality.
As Shopify experts, they are uniquely qualified to help you harness the power of Shopify software. Their beautiful storefronts will generate sales. No matter what size business you are looking to start or revamp, they will give your project their full attention and creative power.
Setup and Tweaks
Carson
Do you have a small task that needs to be completed fast? Need help to integrate a new tool or feature? Why not hand these tasks off to the experts and make sure that it gets done right? Carson, based out of Montreal, Canada, is the perfect go-to for handling website setup and upgrade tasks.
You won’t get caught up trying to navigate Shopify when you should be focusing on other aspects of your business. They have super flexible and affordable pricing. You can enjoy occasional access to Shopify experts without having to pay for expensive monthly subscriptions. Carson offers a fast and affordable way to manage your site.
Shopify is often billed as the most versatile and user-friendly eCommerce software platform on the market. However, this accolade can also come with a downside. Having so many options when it comes to themes, features and integrations can feel overwhelming. It can be all too easy to get bogged down in all the choices and lose valuable time.
In the end, you may be pleasantly surprised to find out just how easy and affordable it is to hand your project over to a Shopify web development expert. You can have your vision turned into a beautiful and functional site without breaking your budget.
It is always nice to be able to cut corners and reduce costs, but you also need to remember that your time is valuable. As the business owner, your time is spent on other areas of building your business. Turning to the experts can help you start selling and earning faster.
Mark is a serial entrepreneur and editor of www.aawebmasters.com. He loves web design, online marketing, social media, and e-commerce. He enjoys working with a variety of web professionals on many projects.