Almost all businesses should have a website today. As most people work from home, they are inclined to buy their wants and needs online. But isn’t it hard to make one?
That’s where Shopify comes in. Why create a website from scratch when there’s a platform that’s designed for online selling? Shopify allows business owners to integrate a working e-commerce platform from the start to create those sales.
But not all can create a Shopify website. That’s why Shopify developers are one of the in-demand online jobs today.
What Do Shopify Developers Do?
Shopify is an all-in-one solution for an ecommerce business. In comparison with creating your own, you don’t have server costs, and it has great integration with SaaS services. Also, the development process is relatively faster because you don’t start from absolute scratch.
But still, most owners are clueless on what works and what doesn’t, depending on their needs. If you have a background in website development, how do you set yourself apart from the rest?
Here’s 7 essential skills to become a sought-after Shopify developer.
Technical Skills
Web development is not easy. It’s highly technical with programming languages, integration with mobile and PC, and more. To become a sought-after Shopify developer, you should be adept in the following:
- Shopify Platform
- Shopify Ajax API
- Shopify Storefront API
- Shopify Liquid
On top of that, some programming languages like the following might be useful as well.
- jQuery
- Javascript
- JavaScript Buy SDK
- C# .NET Core
Not to mention, you should also understand payment gateways that you can use, such as Stripe NMI, BrainTree, and Authorize.net. And there are also plugins that you can utilize to make the website more functional.
Basic Graphic Design
With a population with low attention spans, you should grab one’s interest in as little as 3 seconds. Eye-catching graphics are essential to this endeavor.
It may not be your job to create the full design, but then you should know basic graphic design to implement what your client wants. You can also assess if what they envision is doable in Shopify. I mean, some customizations in style might not be possible with its inherent limitations.
But with your basic graphic design skills, you can direct them to a balance with what they want and what can be done.
Basic SEO
Who doesn’t want free advertising? Similar to physical stores, foot traffic is crucial for the sales of a business. And web traffic can be harnessed with search engine optimization (SEO) of a website.
Basically, SEO practices help websites rank in the search engine results for certain keywords. And if your website shows up on the first page, you can have hundreds (even thousands) of web traffic organically. And it can translate to sales.
You don’t have to know the advanced concepts. You just have to create a Shopify website that can accommodate these practices well.
UI/UX Design
Regardless of how beautiful or how optimized a website is, if it’s hard to use, it won’t be effective. That’s why you should also take into account User Interface/User Experience Design (UI/UX Design).
You have to make your website easy to navigate for your clients. It’s asking some of these questions.
- Is the website responsive?
- How many steps before a client can check out an item?
- Are the call-to-action buttons clearly shown?
It’s having your customers in mind and creating the best experience for them when they use your site.
Quality Assurance
Not every website is built error-free. As a sought-after Shopify developer, you should know how to ensure quality assurance.
Are there any errors in your website? If there is, what’s your plan to fix it? Is there a mechanism for future errors that may come?
Having this in mind, plus some tools, you can minimize all the errors before and after your website is launched.
Teamwork
You would not work alone on this project. There will be graphic designers, project managers, editors, copywriters, and other people in your team.
Do you know how to collaborate with them in this endeavor online? Can you take into account all their suggestions and specifications? And implement what suits best for the company?
Teamwork is essential for this task to create the best possible outcome for your client.
Up-to-date
Technology evolves every day. Industry practices today might be obsolete in the future. And this happened countless times. You should be up-to-date with your skills to stay competitive.
Read and follow industry-leading blogs and experts. You can also join Facebook groups in your profession, or better yet, attend a seminar or course that can elevate your skills further.
With this, you are sure that you stay relevant as a Shopify developer.
Conclusion
Are you excited to become a sought-after Shopify developer? By honing your skills, you can give so much value to your clients moving forward.
You can check this link for available opportunities in this field. Cheers!
