Shopify themes are the foundation of any Shopify store. They play a critical role in delivering the best experience for shoppers because they dictate how it functions, how it looks, how customers can browse/check out, and more.
A Shopify theme is a design template that ecommerce brands and business owners use as a blueprint to determine the look, design, and function of their ecommerce store. Some are free, while others require a fee, and are typically built by Shopify themselves or Shopify partners such as developers and agencies.
Shopify themes offer benefits, but they also come with risks. Hidden threats exist when you follow bad practices such as using too many apps, having too many hands in your theme, not backing your theme up, or utilizing pirated themes.
Avoid pirated and third-party Shopify themes
A big mistake many folks often make when getting started on Shopify is using pirated and third-party Shopify themes. In order to build an effective store, you’ll want to opt for themes from the official Shopify theme store, so you can guarantee that you possess the correct theme licenses, ensure compliance with legal requirements, and ultimately provide the best experience for your customers.
Pirated themes often lack proper updates, support, and security measures, leaving merchants vulnerable to various issues such as security breaches and compatibility issues with future updates of the Shopify platform. Additionally, you risk facing DMCA takedown notices from Shopify and theme partners, potentially leading to your store being shut down. Using unauthorized themes also exposes you to the threat of unwanted scripts and malware, as third-party themes may be altered with malicious intent.
Avoid too many hands in your theme
One downside to Shopify themes is that they are susceptible to human error, especially when too many people are involved. Essentially, there are too many cooks in the kitchen! Because Shopify themes can be edited in so many ways, it puts your business at bigger risk; more people getting involved means there are more things that can get messed up.
Back up your Shopify theme
To mitigate the risk of breaking your theme due to human error, several proactive steps can be taken. Save regular backups of your theme to preserve its current state. Additionally, always work within a duplicate theme when making changes or updates, allowing you to experiment without affecting the live version. For added peace of mind, consider utilizing a backup platform to save all elements of your store, ensuring comprehensive protection against potential mishaps. By implementing these measures, you can minimize the impact of human error and maintain the stability and integrity of your theme.
Why should I back up my Shopify theme?
Backing up your Shopify theme is essential when running an ecommerce business. Firstly, it serves as a safety net in case of accidental changes or errors made during theme customization. Working to improve or update something in your Shopify theme can cause errors and cause a bump in your store’s operation.
If you modify or delete critical code, having a backup ensures that you can restore the theme to its previous state easily without losing any customization work. Additionally, backups protect against data loss due to technical issues or server failures, safeguarding your store’s content, design, and functionality.
Additionally, in the event of a security breach or malware attack, having a recent backup enables you to quickly restore your theme to a clean state, minimizing downtime and potential damage to your business and reputation. Overall, backing up your Shopify theme is a proactive measure that ensures continuity, security, and peace of mind for your online store.
Avoid using too many apps
One common mistake new ecommerce store owners make when launching on Shopify is using too many apps. With thousands of apps in the Shopify app store, it can be overwhelming to choose which to implement. However, using too many apps can slow down your site, cause compatibility issues, increase complexity in management, add unnecessary costs, pose security risks, and ruin the user experience. Be selective in choosing apps, prioritize those addressing specific needs, regularly audit and remove redundant or underperforming apps, and focus on maintaining a lean and optimized app ecosystem.
Consider periodically reviewing your installed apps and uninstalling those that are no longer essential or aren’t actively used. Not only does this streamline your store’s functionality, but it also minimizes the risk of apps interacting in unforeseen ways, potentially causing conflicts or glitches within your theme. By removing unused apps, you not only optimize your store’s performance but also save money by eliminating unnecessary subscription costs. Prioritizing a curated selection of apps ensures a more efficient and stable experience for both you and your customers.
The right approach for developers and agencies
When working on a theme, developers, and agencies should follow a structured approach to ensure smooth development and deployment processes. Utilizing a version control system like GitHub facilitates efficient collaboration and allows for the tracking of changes, ensuring accountability and transparency throughout the development cycle.
It’s essential to work within a duplicate store or a development account to isolate changes from the live environment. This prevents disruptions to the customer experience on your live site. Publishing changes to a duplicate theme rather than directly to the live theme provides an opportunity for thorough testing and validation before implementation.
Additionally, limiting team permissions and access to only those individuals directly involved in the development process helps maintain both security and confidentiality, while safeguarding sensitive data and minimizing the likelihood of unauthorized modifications. By adopting these practices, developers, and agencies can streamline their workflow, enhance productivity, and deliver high-quality themes with confidence.
Don’t put your Shopify store at risk
Shopify themes serve as the cornerstone of a successful Shopify store and are the foundation of a positive customer experience. By learning about the dark side of Shopify themes and the common mistakes you should avoid, you will be on your way to building the best store in your industry.
With a keen understanding of the importance of Shopify themes and how to implement proper development and maintenance strategies, business owners can optimize their online presence and deliver exceptional shopping experiences for their customers.
