What is Shopify Theme Development and Why Do You Need It?

When you're just starting out with a new website, it can be hard to know what you need and what your options are. That's why we've put together this guide for anyone who's interested in Shopify theme development.

It's important to remember that the purpose of a theme is not just to look good—it's also meant to help your business grow by making it easy for people to find what they're looking for, make purchases without hassle, and share your products with others. And that means that you have a lot of decisions to make about what your store will look like and how customers will interact with it.

We'll walk you through all the different aspects of theme development, from choosing a design style to integrating payment options so people can buy from you without leaving the page they're on. By the end of this guide, you'll have all the knowledge you need to help create your own custom Shopify theme!

What is Shopify Theme Development?

Shopify theme development is the process of creating a customized template for your Shopify store. Themes are a key part of any online business's presence, as they help you to define your brand and make sure that your site shows off the best of what you have to offer.

Shopify theme developers are professionals who specialize in creating custom website templates for Shopify stores. These developers understand how to build an attractive and effective website, but also know how to make sure that it fits into the framework of the platform itself—meaning that they can optimize your design so that it works seamlessly with other aspects of your e-commerce site.

Shopify theme developers can also help you to choose a theme that is right for your business. They can show you what different options look like, and provide recommendations based on your needs. 

You can even hire these professionals to create custom templates from scratch if you want them to build the perfect site for your specific brand.

How to Choose a Shopify Theme Developer

If you are interested in hiring a Shopify theme developer, the first thing you should do is check out their portfolio. You can find some examples of their work on their website or by searching for them on Google. It’s important that they have experience working with Shopify stores and developing e-commerce sites in general.

Here are a few more things you need to consider:

Determine if You Want to Hire a Developer or an Agency

If you are a small business or brand and don’t have a lot of extra cash lying around, it might be best to hire an agency. Agencies tend to be more affordable than individual developers and will often provide you with a higher level of service.

Hiring a developer can also come with its own set of problems. The most important thing to consider is how much experience they have with Shopify stores. If you are looking to make a big investment in your e-commerce store, it’s best to work with someone who already has experience working on Shopify sites.

This is where a Shopify agency can come in handy. A Shopify agency has experience working with the platform and knows what it takes to build a store that will be successful. They also have access to software and resources that can help you build your store more quickly than if you were doing it on your own.

A Shopify agency can also help you with things like marketing and SEO, which is important if you want to make sure your store gets found by potential customers. They can also help you manage your inventory so that you always have the right products in stock.

Decide on Your Budget

Depending on how much you can afford to spend, you may want to look into hiring a Shopify agency. It’s important to remember that this isn’t the only option for building your store. You can also do it on your own or hire an independent developer.

Shopify theme development agencies can cost anywhere from $5000 and up. Shopify agencies that specialize in ecommerce can help you build a store quickly and efficiently. 

They have experts on staff who know the platform inside and out, so they can make sure your store is optimized for search engines and mobile devices.

Not to mention, their expertise can help you avoid common mistakes that could cost you in the long run. You can also save money by going with a less expensive theme and customizing it yourself. This requires some technical knowledge, but it’s definitely possible for anyone who’s comfortable working with code.

However, if you want to ensure that you get things right and that you're able to implement every change you want, you'll be better off hiring an agency to help you create your store. This way, you won't have to worry about any technical issues and can focus on marketing and growing your business.

Create a Project Brief and Include Your Goals

A project brief is a document that outlines what you want to achieve and the goals of your store. It should include things like your budget, target audience, competitors' websites and more. 

You can use this brief later on when evaluating agency submissions to make sure each one meets your needs. You can also use it to create a brief for your store. This will help you make sure that the agency understands what you want and how they can help you achieve your goals. 

It also gives them an outline of what needs to be done and ensures that everyone is on the same page. The brief should be as detailed as possible. You want to make sure that the agency has everything they need in order to create a successful store.

This includes things like your budget, target audience, competitors' websites and more. You can also use this brief later on when evaluating agency submissions to make sure each one meets your needs.

Ask for References

Ask for references from the agency you plan to hire. This will help you get a better idea of how they work and how satisfied their other clients are with them. You can also contact these references to get more information about how well the agency performed on previous projects and whether or not they would recommend them.

You should also check out the references yourself. You can do this by visiting the agency's website and reading through client testimonials. If you're looking for an agency that specializes in a specific area of ecommerce, such as SEO or PPC, then look at their case studies to see what they've done in the past.

If you're looking for a full-service agency, then see if the company has a portfolio of all of their client's websites. You can also look at their pricing page to get an idea of how much they charge for different services.

If you're looking for an agency that has a specific focus, such as social media or content marketing, then see if they have a section on their website about these topics. You can also look at the types of clients that they work with and what industries they specialize in. 

If you're looking for an agency that specializes in one industry (such as ecommerce), then see if they've worked with companies from this industry before.

Ask for a Proposal

Once you've picked an agency that looks like a good fit for your business, it's time to reach out and ask for a proposal. You can do this by filling out their form on their website or by calling them directly. 

Make sure to include any specific questions that you have about their services so they understand exactly what you're looking for and what challenges you face as an entrepreneur.

Once they send over the proposal, read through it carefully and ask any questions that come up. If you're not sure about something in particular or want to know more about their pricing, this is a good time to ask about it as well.

If you don't feel like the proposal is a good fit, simply thank them for their time and move on. You can always reach out to another accountant or financial advisor in the future if you need help.

The Benefits of Custom Shopify Theme Development

As a business owner, you want to be able to provide your customers with the best possible experience. Custom Shopify theme development can help you do just that. With a custom theme, you can create an online store that's designed specifically for your brand and its products. 

A customized Shopify theme will look great on all devices, including smartphones and tablets (which is especially important if many of your customers browse online), and it'll also give them an easy way to find what they're looking for quickly.

Tailor a Unique Customer Experience

When you create a customized Shopify theme, you can tailor it to your customers' needs. You can create a navigation system that's easy for them to use, and then customize it based on the products and services you offer.

You can also customize the design of your online store so that it looks exactly how you want it to. The best part is, when you create a customized Shopify theme, you don't have to do all this work yourself: You can hire a developer to help out if necessary.

Keep in mind that when you create a customized Shopify theme, you don't have to limit yourself to just one version of it. You can make multiple versions for different products or services that you offer, and then use these different themes on your website.

You Can Implement Custom Features

You can also add custom features to your Shopify theme. These features may include things like a blog, product reviews, social media integration and more. 

A great example of a feature is the ability to display the latest products in your store on the homepage or category page. This way, customers will always have something new to check out when they visit your site.

You can also add custom features to your Shopify theme. These features may include things like a blog, product reviews, social media integration and more. 

A great example of a feature is the ability to display the latest products in your store on the homepage or category page. This way, customers will always have something new to check out when they visit your site.

Themes Are Efficiently Built 

You can also save time by using Shopify themes. They are efficiently built so that they don't require a lot of time to set up and customize. This means you don't have to spend hours or days trying to figure out what works and what doesn't with your store.

Instead, you can get right to the fun stuff like building your business and creating an amazing website for your customers. The templates are also easy to use and configure. They come with a lot of features that you can customize and use to create a unique website for your brand.

You'll also save time by using Shopify themes. They are efficiently built so that they don't require a lot of time to set up and customize. 

This means you don't have to spend hours or days trying to figure out what works and what doesn't with your store. Instead, you can get right to the fun stuff like building your business and creating an amazing website for your customers.

Easy to Use 

Shopify themes are also very easy to use. This means that even if you're not tech savvy or a web developer, you'll be able to create a beautiful website without much effort.

Themes are designed with a focus on usability, which means they're very intuitive. You won't have to spend hours and hours trying to figure out how they work or what you can do with them. Instead, you'll be able to get right down to business and start building your store.

Themes are also mobile-friendly. This means that your store will look great on smartphones, tablets, and other devices. You don't have to worry about making sure that your website displays properly on all these different types of screens—it already does!

Beyond that, Shopify themes can help ensure that any changes you make to your website such as adding content and products don't change the feel or look of your website. 

This is a good thing because it means that you don't have to worry about re-doing everything if your business grows or changes. You can also use the Shopify theme editor to make changes and updates to your store, which makes things even easier.

Features You Can Integrate Into Your Shopify Theme

The great thing about Shopify themes is that they come with plenty of built-in features that you can use to make your store more appealing and effective. Some of these features include:

Improving the Visual Layout

The layout of a store is important, as it can make or break sales. A well-designed site will have an intuitive layout that makes it easy for customers to browse through your products and find what they want. 

A good Shopify theme developer will be able to provide you with professional advice on how to improve the visual layout of your e-commerce store.

They’ll be able to help you pick out a suitable theme that conveys your brand effectively and draws customers in. They can also provide advice on how to improve the overall appearance of your website, such as making it mobile-friendly or improving SEO. 

Improving Navigation 

Navigation is an important aspect of any website, but especially so when it comes to e-commerce stores. Customers want to be able to easily browse through your products and find what they want without having trouble finding their way around.

Your navigation should be clear and obvious, but also not too obtrusive. Having too many menus or drop-down options can be confusing for customers, so it’s important to keep things simple. 

If you have a lot of products, categories or brands then consider including filters so people can narrow down what they see on the site.

This will make it much easier for customers to find exactly what they’re looking for.

A Custom Checkout Process

The checkout process is one of the most important parts of your e-commerce store. It’s where customers enter their payment details and confirm their order, so you want it to be as smooth and painless as possible.

The key to a good checkout is making it simple and easy for customers to do what they need. This means removing any unnecessary steps and letting them know exactly how much they’re paying at each stage of the process.

You can also make it easier for customers by allowing them to use the same payment methods across your entire store. This makes it much simpler for them, as they don’t have to keep track of all their different accounts and passwords when buying from you.

A good checkout process should make it easy for customers to buy from you. It shouldn’t take more than a few clicks and it should be obvious what they need to do next. 

It’s also worth making sure that your payment methods are easy to access and understand so that customers don’t have any confusion about how their money is being taken from them.

Parallax Effects

Parallax effects are another great way to improve the user experience of your store. They give the illusion that elements on a website are moving when they’re not, which can be used to create some beautiful and immersive designs.

For example, you could use parallax effects to create a background that moves as the user scrolls down the page. This is a great way to make your store look more professional and appealing to customers.

Parallax effects are also a great way to add some extra visual interest to your store. If you can find a way to incorporate these types of effects into your design, it will definitely make your store stand out from the rest.

There are all kinds of ways to incorporate parallax effects into your store. You could use them for a background image, or maybe even animate text in an interesting way. The possibilities are endless, so you should experiment with as many ideas as possible until you find something that works perfectly for your brand.

Custom Product Pages

Custom product pages are an important part of any ecommerce store. They allow you to highlight the unique features of each product and provide customers with a better shopping experience. If you want your store to stand out in this competitive market, then you need to make sure that your product pages are top-notch!

You can use your custom product pages to highlight the features of each item, show off photos of the product in use, and more. You can even create a video that shows how to use the product effectively. This is an excellent way to get customers excited about using your products and encourage them to make a purchase.

If you want to add a video to your product page, then you need to consider three things: content, placement and length. The content of your video should be focused on one aspect of the product that will help customers understand how to use it effectively. 

For example, if you’re selling an electric blanket then it might be helpful for customers if they see a video showing how easy it is to set up the blanket and operate its controls.

The placement of your video is important because it will determine whether or not customers see it. If you add the video to your product page then it will play automatically when someone goes there, but if not then customers need to click on an icon in order for the video to start playing. 

You can also consider adding a link in your description that takes people directly to your product page where they can watch the instructional video.

Custom-Built Pages

If you want to go all out when it comes to creating product pages then you can consider getting a custom-built page created for each and every one of your products. This is an option that only larger companies tend to take advantage of but it offers some significant benefits.

Custom pages aren't limited to product pages only either. You can get custom About Us, product discovery, or gamified pages that will help you retain the interest of your visitors. 

For example, you can have custom pages that help people discover the value of your product. This could be done by showing how it works, or you could use gamification techniques to encourage visitors to try out certain features. 

This can help increase engagement with your visitors and give them a reason to come back again later on down the line.

Gamified Features

Gamification is a major trend, and it's one that you should take advantage of. There are many different ways to do this, but one of the easiest is by adding features that users can interact with. This could be as simple as adding a button or link on your page that lets people play around with some of the features you offer.

This can give visitors a chance to see what you have to offer, and it gives them a reason to come back later on down the line. You can also use gamification techniques like badges or points that users can earn by interacting with certain areas of your site.

One of our favorite ways to incorporate this is with quizzes and surveys that allow users to earn points or badges. This can be a great way to find out more about what your visitors are interested in and what they think of your brand.

3D and AR Product Views

The most common way to show off your products is with a 2D photograph. While this is fine, it can be limiting in terms of showing the depth and detail of your product. You can use AR or VR to give users an immersive experience that lets them see how your product looks and functions in their own environment. 

3D models are popular because they allow visitors to rotate the object and see all sides of it at once. This is a great way to show off your products and get people excited about them. You can also use AR or VR to create an interactive experience that lets users see how your product might look in their own home.

This is a great way to help people visualize how your product will fit into their lives, and it gives them a chance to make sure everything works out before they buy it.

Using AR or VR can also be a useful way of showing off the versatility of your brand’s products. For example, if you sell shoes but also have clothing lines, then you can use these technologies to show that both lines are compatible with each other. This can give customers more options when buying from you and convince them that they should stick with your company instead of going elsewhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below, we'll discuss the most common questions surrounding Shopify theme development.

How long does Shopify theme development take?

The time it takes to develop a Shopify theme will vary depending on the complexity of your project. We usually give our clients an estimate based on the scope of their project and how many pages they want us to build. If you're looking for a ballpark figure, then expect anywhere between 2-6 weeks depending on how busy we are at the time you submit your request.

What is theme development in Shopify?

Theme development is the process of creating an entirely new Shopify theme from scratch. This can include any number of things, such as customizing your theme's color scheme or adding a product carousel on your homepage.

Can you create your own Shopify theme?

Yes! We have a team of experienced Shopify developers who are also designers. We can help you create your own custom Shopify theme that fits your brand's identity and marketing strategy.

How much does it cost to build a Shopify theme from scratch? 

The cost of developing a new Shopify theme varies, depending on the complexity and features of your design. We can help you figure out exactly how much it will cost to build your custom Shopify theme by completing an estimate form on our website.

What code do Shopify themes use?

Shopify themes are built using a combination of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. The code is stored in a theme file, which is written using Liquid syntax. 

Shopify themes are built with the same technology used to create websites. This means you can use your own custom Shopify theme as a starting point for your next website project.

What is the best free Shopify theme?

The best free Shopify theme is a subjective question, but there are certainly some great ones out there. You can search the Shopify app directory to find free themes that meet your needs or check with our experts to find the 10 best free Shopify themes.

How do I make my own Shopify theme?

The process of building a Shopify theme is not difficult. You can use either Liquid or HTML/CSS to make your own theme, and any custom design features you add will be available to all stores using that theme. If you are just starting out with web development, try using one of the free Shopify themes as a base for your first project.

Better yet, hire one of our Shopify theme developers to help get you on the right track.

The Bottom Line

There you have it—a brief introduction to Shopify theme development. We hope that this article has helped you understand what it is, why you should be interested in it, and how to get started on your own project.

If you want to learn more about Shopify theme development, we recommend reaching out to our experts here at Webinopoly. We also provide comprehensive courses for our clients who want to learn more about the process (and get some great discounts on our services while they're at it).

If you have any questions or comments about anything we've discussed here today, please don't hesitate to contact us today!