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Shopify Glossary 2023

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<p>Many variables need to be considered when choosing a Shopify development company. Should you choose a big agency or a local freelancer? Should you opt for the cheapest option or spend time finding one with amazing reviews? </p>
<p>Choosing a Shopify development company is not an easy task, and it should mostly depend on your project requirements and budget. However, don't forget about personal preferences too! After all, you will have to spend some time working with these people, so you may as well make it an enjoyable experience. Before that, you must focus on practical points, such as experience, expertise, portfolio, case studies, communication, support, and pricing structure.</p>
<h3>Experience and expertise</h3>
<p>To start with, check the company's experience and expertise in Shopify development. Look for a company that has a strong track record in building and maintaining Shopify stores.
Read their reviews on Google and third-party websites, see how many years have they been operating and whether they have won any awards.</p>
<p>However, focus on what’s important for your project. If the company is new but has completed several projects similar to yours, they are likely to do a great job on your project too.</p>
<p>Alternatively, smaller and newer companies tend to have fewer clients and a flatter company structure, which often means that most of your money will be spent directly on development and design, rather than supporting a bureaucratic hierarchy of multiple teams and members. On the other hand, larger agencies are likely to have more relevant experience in various fields due to the number of projects they handle simultaneously. </p>
<p>Consider your project requirements and choose a Shopify development company that has a team of experts in technical areas relevant to you, such as coding, web design, or SEO optimisation.</p>
<h3>Portfolio &amp; case studies</h3>
<p>Check the company's portfolio to see if they have experience with projects similar to yours. This will provide you with an understanding of their capabilities and the quality of their work. Also, see whether you like their work!</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/doa951tth/image/upload/v1686913027/legacy-blog-images/6419de0e0643e220491019.jpg" alt="Shopify Luxury Stores.jpg" /></p>
<p>If you want to <a href="https://byradiant.com/shopify-web-design-agency">design a new Shopify website</a> or re-design an existing one, look for the existing portfolio and the styles that the agency has produced. If you're unsure about the style you want, search for a range of styles. However, bear in mind that the portfolio displayed may not always depict all the styles that the agency is capable of producing. If you're searching for something unique, request additional examples of the work the designer has completed.</p>
<p>If your project requires specific technical features, such as particular integrations, product builders or stock control solutions, do not waste time looking at the portfolio. Instead, ask your questions directly. Portfolios usually present the prettiest work rather than those that had some advanced solutions incorporated. This is because showcasing an impressive design is much simpler than explaining how APIs work.</p>
<p>Last but not least, do not simply review the portfolio, take a look at the websites the company has built. This way, you'll be able to see firsthand whether the projects comply with industry standards, how quickly they load, and whether they're user-friendly. However, bear in mind that the website could have been significantly altered internally following the designer's release.</p>
<h3>Communication and support</h3>
<p>Choose a company that has a clear communication process and provides ongoing support. A good development company should be easy to get in touch with and should provide regular updates on the progress of your project. As a client, you should know exactly what’s going on and when to expect the next update.
For example, here at Radiant, we have a “discovery” stage, that’s where we prepare a full technical scope of the project, discuss it with you and agree on deliverables and deadlines for each stage.</p>
<h3>Prices and pricing structure</h3>
<p>Whilst we all want to pay as little as possible, it is crucial to choose a company that can provide quality work. </p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Consider the company's pricing structure and whether it aligns with your budget.  Some companies may charge hourly rates, while others may offer fixed-price packages. Make sure you understand what is included in each pricing option. </p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Be aware of any hidden costs that may arise during the project. Some companies may charge additional fees for revisions, ongoing support, or other services not included in the initial estimate.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Determine the timeframe for the project and ensure the company's pricing structure accommodates your timeline. Rush jobs may incur additional fees, so be sure to factor that into your budget.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Find out what kind of support the company offers after the project is completed. Will they be available for ongoing maintenance and updates? Is there a cost for support services?</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Understand the payment terms and schedule for the project. Some companies may require a deposit upfront, while others may require payment in full upon completion.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Compare the pricing of different Shopify development companies to ensure that you are getting a fair price for the services you require. Be wary of companies that offer prices that are too good to be true, as they may be cutting corners or providing low-quality services. </p>
</li>
<li>
<p>When choosing an agency, ask them about their pricing structure so that there won't be any surprises later on when it comes time to pay up!</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Reviews and testimonials</h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/doa951tth/image/upload/v1686913023/legacy-blog-images/6419dd829b79b037596361.jpg" alt="PXL_20230321_162429687 (1).jpg" /></p>
<p>To start with, read reviews on different platforms: Google, LinkedIn and places such as Trustpilot. Look for consistency in the reviews and testimonials. Are the majority of the reviews positive or negative? Are there any patterns or trends in the feedback? This can help you get a sense of the company's overall reputation.
Pay attention to the specifics of each review. Do the reviews mention specific aspects of the company's work or customer service? Do they mention any challenges or issues the customer encountered, and how the company resolved them? </p>
<p>Check for recent activity in the reviews and testimonials. Have there been any recent updates or changes to the company's services or products? Have there been any recent reviews or feedback that may indicate a change in the company's performance or reputation?</p>
<p>And more importantly, look at how the company responds to feedback, both positive and negative. Do they address any issues or concerns raised by customers? Do they take steps to improve their services or products based on feedback? A company that actively listens and responds to customer feedback can be a positive sign, even when the feedback was negative! </p>
<h3>Your personal preferences and requirements</h3>
<p>All projects are different and your priorities will vary depending on whether you are looking for a long-term partner, full-scale website re-development or a one-off change on your Shopify store.</p>
<p>It is easy to recommend going to the agency that wins many awards, has incredible feedback and testimonials and works with big global brands, however, it is likely to charge a lot and not necessarily would be the best one for <strong>YOUR</strong> needs. Think of what’s important for your project and then just find someone who ticks your boxes and whom you like personally!</p>

How to choose a Shopify development company?

<p>Shopify is an eCommerce platform that allows you to sell your products online. Whether you're new to the game, or an established e-commerce brand, Shopify can become a great solution for you.</p>
<p>However, there are costs involved in building a Shopify website that most people don't know about. In this article, we'll go over how much it costs to build a Shopify website from scratch, whether you are doing it yourself or planning a grand migration of an existing store from Magento.</p>
<h2>Estimated costs of building a Shopify website</h2>
<p>If you want to DIY, the costs are going to be pretty low. You can find premium (or even free!) Shopify themes that are ready-to-go for around $99-$300, and then just customise them with your own images and text. If you want more features, than what comes with a ready-made theme, a particular design or just don’t want to do it yourself then this will cost more money (and time).</p>
<ul>
<li>DIY – $0-$500</li>
<li>A simple build with a ready-made theme: $500 - $10k</li>
<li>Custom theme build: $10k - $30k</li>
<li>Custom theme build with integrations/ custom functionality - $30k+</li>
<li>
<p>If you're looking for something more bespoke or complex than what can be done with pre-built themes then expect higher prices.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h2>What does affect the cost of building a Shopify website?</h2>
<p>Let’s dive in into details and see what will be affecting the cost of your new website, whether you do it yourself or hire a Shopify agency. These are only some of the main factors that can affect the cost of building a Shopify website.</p>
<h3>Design &amp; development costs</h3>
<p>The design and development of the website is one of the most significant factors affecting the cost. The more complex and customized the design is, the more time and effort will be required to create it, which will increase the cost. Here are some ways in which the design stage can affect the cost:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Number of custom pages and templates: the more pages and templates you need to design, the higher the cost will be. A basic Shopify website design job consists of designing a homepage, product page, product category page and generic content page.
Content-heavy websites may require more pages and templates than a simple e-commerce website. For example, a “find a stockist” or “history timeline” page will require additional design work, coding, and testing, which will add to the overall cost.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Number of Iterations: the number of design iterations required to get the website design approved can also affect the cost. If additional design revisions are required, the design stage will take longer, and the cost will increase.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Design Direction: if the design team is working within existing brand guidelines, they will have more direction and clarity, making the design process more efficient and potentially reducing the cost. On the other hand, starting from scratch will require more design work and may take longer, resulting in a higher cost. </p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Unique design: The extent of customization required in the design stage can also affect the cost. A highly customized design that requires a lot of bespoke graphics, animations, photography or unique layouts will require more time and effort, increasing the cost.
Website and its functionality costs
Non-standard online shop functionality can significantly affect the build costs. Here are some examples:</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Advanced search or filtering Functionality: advanced search functionality that allows customers to search for products using complex filters, such as price range, color, or size, can add to the cost of the website build. Advanced search functionality often requires additional coding, and third-party apps or plugins may need to be installed.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Custom Product Builders or Bundles: If you need a custom product builder that allows customers to configure their products, such as selecting colors, sizes, or materials, it can add to the cost of the website build. Whilst there are apps that provide this functionality,they do not always suit the needs of the business.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Subscription-Based Products: If you sell subscription-based products, such as monthly boxes, you will need additional functionality to manage subscriptions and recurring payments. That usually requires a certain level of customisation.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Content Creation and Product / Categories Set-up Costs</h3>
<p>Creating high-quality content such as product descriptions, images, and videos will add to the costs. Usually, shop owners are asked to provide a spreadsheet with product names, descriptions, prices and so on. You can do it yourself or trust professionals with content creation. Depending on the size of the product catalogue, this process may require some time (or money).
The size of your catalogue, products and product categories will also affect the build cost because every page needs at least some level of work done before launch, such as naming them and uploading images.</p>
<h3>Integrations and API costs</h3>
<p>Integrating with other systems such as inventory management or accounting software is another point to consider. Some integrations can be done via ready-made apps, some integrations will require custom connectors to be built. There may also be some recurring fees involved for using integrations and APIs.  </p>
<p>It is almost impossible to provide an estimated cost figure for integrations, as each and every project will be different. Get in touch with our <a href="https://byradiant.com/shopify-development-agency">Shopify Development</a> team to get an idea of what your project may cost.</p>
<h3>Migration</h3>
<p>If you have an existing website with customer data, product information, and other content, you'll need to migrate this data to Shopify. Depending on the complexity and structure of your data and the size of your website, data migration can sometimes add to the costs too.</p>
<h2>Small(er) recurring costs involved in building a Shopify website</h2>
<p>Technically the costs listed below are costs related to running a Shopify store, rather than building it. However, it is important to take those into account as well, when estimating the project costs.</p>
<ul>
<li>Shopify subscription. The basic plan costs $29 per month and goes up to $299 a month. With Shopify Plus, a subscription may cost you several thousand a month,</li>
<li>Payment gateway integration costs and transaction fees are important to consider. On average they range from 0.5% to 3% per transaction. Read more about <a href="https://byradiant.com/blog/shopify-payment-providers-uk">Shopify Payment Providers</a>. </li>
<li>Domain name registration ranges from around $10 to $40 dollars a year.</li>
<li>Apps and subscriptions – they provide you with some additional functionality, however, as with everything, good things don’t come for free. App prices range on average from $10/month to $200/month, but a good app should pay for itself.
•   Maintenance and support – whilst generally speaking your shop should require any ongoing maintenance, you maybe willing to change things around once in a while and update/ refresh your shop fully once every 3-6 years.</li>
</ul>
<p>It's important to keep in mind that Shopify development costs can vary greatly depending on the complexity of your project. There are many factors that affect how much it will cost to build a Shopify website, including:</p>
<p>The size of your store and number of products; The type of theme you choose; How many pages need to be created; Customizations like adding apps or plugins; And more!</p>

How much does it cost to build a Shopify website?

<p>This article covers the best student discount Shopify apps that we could find. Student discount apps can be a great way to attract new students and offer discounts to current students. However, there are some things you need to keep in mind when choosing a student verification app for your business. In this blog post, we'll go over the pros and cons of some popular Shopify apps that help you verify student status, as well as give you tips on how to choose the right one for your business!</p>
<h2>Student Beans</h2>
<p>Student Beans is probably one of the most famous student discount services out there. Student Beans is a student verification platform that allows businesses to verify the student status of their customers.</p>
<p>Student Beans works with over 1000 global brands. Their technology integrates with businesses' existing marketing and e-commerce platforms to provide a seamless experience for both businesses and students.</p>
<p>One of the reasons for their popularity is that they provide students with a central location to discover and redeem exclusive discounts and promotions from their favorite brands. Students can create a free account and verify their student status through their school email or ID to access these offers in one place.</p>
<p>Student Beans launched their Shopify app in April 2022 and at the moment of writing this article (March 2023) they have received only three reviews with an average rating of 3.5.
Their starter plan costs $40/month with an additional 10% commission on verified student sales.</p>
<h2>Easy Student Discounts</h2>
<p><a href="https://byradiant.com/app-student-discount">Student Discounts</a> is a purpose-built Shopify-only app that helps students all over the world get discounts quickly and easily by just verifying their student status with one email. </p>
<p>Easy Student Discounts is our favourite Shopify app! Partly because we’ve developed it and partly because it is sooo good in comparison to others. The app is completely risk free (as you don't have to pay anything unless you make a sale, it is free to use, and it offers discounts in over 200 countries! It also features one-step email verification.</p>
<p>By using one-step email verification, Student Discounts makes it easy for students across the globe to confirm their student status and gain instant discounts. </p>
<p>There is no risk involved since payment is only required when a purchase is made. Companies can choose how long discount codes remain valid and how often they can be utilized.</p>
<p>This app was launched in April 2021 and has received three reviews with an average rating of 5.</p>
<p>The app is free to install with no monthly fee, but it charges a 5% commission on successful student purchases.</p>
<h2>SheerID</h2>
<p>Similar to Student Beans, SheerID is a student verification platform that works with Shopify and other e-commerce platforms. </p>
<p>Their app allows you to verify students' eligibility for discounts on your website in just seconds.</p>
<p>Once you've verified a student's eligibility, their discount will be automatically applied to any purchases they make on your site. You can set up custom discounts for different categories of products, giving you full control over how much money students save on what they buy.
SheerID Shopify App was launched in 2021 and has 3 reviews with an average rating of 5. </p>
<h2>What to Pay Attention to When Choosing a Student Verification App</h2>
<p>When you are looking for a student discount app, there are a few things that you need to pay attention to.</p>
<p>First of all, the app should do what it claims to do. For example, if the app says that it can verify your student status within seconds and then give you access to exclusive discounts on Shopify stores, then this should actually work!</p>
<p>Secondly, make sure that the service provider offers good support if something goes wrong or doesn't work out as planned (for example: if their verification process fails). You don't want an app where customer service doesn't exist or is difficult to reach when something goes wrong - especially when dealing with sensitive information like personal data!</p>
<p>Finally, make sure that the pricing structure works for you. Depending on whether you are just starting or switching the student verification solution, depending on your average order value – your needs may be different!</p>
<p>With so many options available, it can be difficult to choose which one will work best for your business. Most apps offer free trials, thus we recommend just installing them and seeing what features they offer before making any decisions about which one is right for you!</p>

Our thoughts on e-commerce, technology, Shopify and design. Actionable advice to grow your business.

Shopify Glossary 2023

What is Cross-Border E-commerce?

Headless Shopify Stores Leading the Way

The best user-generated content websites

How to Prepare for Black Friday?

Top 5 Minimalistic Shopify Themes

Best 27 Shopify apps

How to Build a Website on Shopify?

Our Rebrand from Full Fat Commerce to Radiant

How to choose a Shopify development company?

How much does it cost to build a Shopify website?

Best student discount Shopify apps

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Our thoughts on e-commerce, technology, Shopify and design. Actionable advice to grow your business.

Shopify Glossary 2023

What is Cross-Border E-commerce?

Headless Shopify Stores Leading the Way

The best user-generated content websites

How to Prepare for Black Friday?

Top 5 Minimalistic Shopify Themes

Best 27 Shopify apps

How to Build a Website on Shopify?

Our Rebrand from Full Fat Commerce to Radiant

How to choose a Shopify development company?

How much does it cost to build a Shopify website?

Best student discount Shopify apps