E-Commerce Themes: Which Is Right for You?
Choosing the right theme for your e-commerce site can be difficult sometimes. It’s easy to get caught in the search for 'the perfect' theme, one which ticks all the boxes, has everything you need, works smoothly, and has all the features you could wish for and more, but with thousands upon thousands of themes out there to choose from, how do you begin to make a decision?
However, fret not – I'm here to help you make that big decision.
Choose a theme that matches your brand
Your theme is the face of your store. It's the first glimpse your customers will get, and it sets the tone for everything that follows. Choosing a suitable theme means you can build a consistent experience across all of your channels.
How do you choose a theme that matches your brand?
Find a theme that matches your purpose: What are you trying to accomplish with your store? Are you selling products, or do you want to use your store to share information and engage with your customers?
Do you have a physical location, or are all of your interactions happening online? You'll want to choose a theme based on what you need out of your store.
Consider how much customization you need: Don't choose a theme with too many details if you don't want to be bothered changing them—it's more work than it seems! Consider how much time you're willing to spend customizing your store and choose accordingly.
Look at how other brands use the theme: Most themes will have examples that showcase how they've been used in the past. Review these to get an idea of how yours might look when it's finished!
Select a theme that is optimized for mobile so your customers can shop from their phones
One of the best things you can do when setting up your store is select a theme optimized for mobile.
More than half of shopping takes place on mobile these days, and customers love it.
When browsing from your phone, you can make an impulse purchase in the middle of a meeting or while standing in line at the post office. It's easy to check out from your phone—you don't have to wait until you get home, turn on the computer, figure out where you left your wallet, and dig up a credit card.
And if you choose a theme that is well-optimized for mobile? It makes shopping on the go even more accessible. Customers can see product photos and read descriptions without having to zoom.
The checkout process is intuitive and straightforward. And every step of their purchasing journey is enjoyable, painless, and fast—just as it should be!
Ensure the theme offers an enhanced customer experience
Your store's theme has an enormous impact on how your customers interact with your store, and if they have a positive experience, they're more likely to stick around and make purchases.
The right theme can help you create a site that's easy to navigate and where the most essential information is easy to find. Your theme can impress visitors with its design and give them trust in your brand with its layout. So let's get into it!
First things first:
Does the home page greet visitors with helpful information?
Is there an easy way for customers to reach out to you? For instance, does the theme include a dedicated "Contact Us" page?
Does it offer an option for customers to leave reviews or comments on your products?
These elements add up to make your site easier (and more enjoyable) to use, which means better conversions for you!
Pick a theme that is easy to customize and update
There are a lot of different e-commerce themes out there, and some are better than others. One of the most important things to consider is whether the theme is easy to customize and update.
You'll want to ensure that the theme you choose has the features you need for your site:
Do you want a minimalist design?
Do you want a large hero image at the top?
Do you want to allow customers to filter products by size, color, or price?
Knowing which features you need will help you narrow down your options.
Once you've decided on which theme works best for your business, make sure it's responsive! That's key—you'll want to be able to edit it easily and update it as needed. Look for themes that use a user-friendly back-end UI so that customizing it will be a breeze.
Make sure the theme you choose integrates with other applications
First and foremost, you want to make sure the theme you choose integrates with other applications you might need or already use. You don't want to have to design an entire website from scratch just because your current theme doesn't integrate with your preferred inventory management software.
For example, if you want to sell physical products that require shipping labels, it's helpful if your theme will integrate with an application like Shipstation .
To summarize
Without question, there are lots of great e-commerce themes. Depending on your needs, you should be able to find one that's just right for your business.
But don't stop there – take the time to explore both free and premium options before making your final choice.
Further, do thorough research, read reviews, and visit demo sites to get a feel for the theme you want. In addition, be aware of your specific needs and consider them when choosing a theme; maximizing conversion is critical for any e-commerce website.