Introduction

Are you thinking of migrating your ecommerce store to Shopify? If so, you're probably aware of the many benefits that come with using this user-friendly platform. It offers a wide range of tools and features to help you manage and grow your online business.

However, moving to a new platform is never easy, and there are a few key considerations you'll need to note before making the switch. In this article, we'll walk you through the fundamental steps involved in migrating to Shopify and highlight some of the main challenges you may face along the way.

Existing Data Considerations

The most important thing you'll need to think about when migrating to Shopify is your existing data. Whether you're moving from a custom platform or a legacy CMS like WooCommerce or Magento, you'll need to figure out how to transfer all of your existing data to your new Shopify store. This can include everything from your product catalog and customer data to your order history and shipping information.

It's important to note that the way each platform handles the data within its database is unique and there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution to migrate it from an old store into Shopify. 

One option for moving data is to use a third-party data importer, which can quickly transfer your data from one platform to another. However, it's important to note that these data importers do not clean up or optimize the data during the migration process. This means that you may be left with duplicated, missing, outdated, or just broken information that can lead to issues with your website functionality, customer experience, and even sales. We do not recommend this option.

On the other hand, working with a migration expert can ensure that your data is cleaned up and optimized during the migration process. The migration expert will not only move your data but also fix any issues with the data, such as missing fields, broken links, and duplicated information. This ensures that your new Shopify store is running smoothly, with accurate and up-to-date information, and that the migration process is optimized for both the business and the customer.

To ensure that your data migration goes smoothly, it's crucial to work with a team of experienced professionals who have experience migrating from your current platform to Shopify.

Design and Functionality Considerations

One common misconception when migrating to a new ecommerce platform like Shopify is that you can simply use the same design or code as your old website. While you have the option of using the same design, the code will not be compatible. If you have made the choice to migrate to Shopify, it is the perfect opportunity to re-evaluate and optimize your website design and code, rather than just replicating the same elements from your old website. 

An ecommerce expert specializing in migrations can help you understand the differences between the old and the new platform and how to adapt the design and code accordingly. This will ensure that your new Shopify store is running smoothly, with accurate and up-to-date information, and that the migration process is optimized for both the business and the customer. Additionally, working with a professional in ecommerce can provide data-driven insights around UX design best practices to ensure that you’re set up for growth and success.

When it comes to the design and functionality of your new Shopify store, there are different approaches to consider. First, you'll need to decide whether you want to use a pre-made Shopify theme or create a custom design for your store. Both options have their advantages and disadvantages, so it's important to carefully weigh your options before making a decision.

If you choose to use a pre-made theme, you'll have a wide range of themes to choose from. Once you’ve decided on one you like, you'll be able to quickly and easily get your store up and running. However, using a pre-made theme means that your store may not be as unique as a custom design, and you may be limited in terms of customization options.

On the other hand, if you choose to create a custom design for your Shopify store, you'll have complete control over the look and feel of your store. This can be a great option if you want your store to accurately reflect your brand and stand out from the competition. However, creating a custom design can be a more time-consuming and expensive process than using a pre-made theme.

This brings us to the functionality of the new site and feature parity with the old experience. Any custom development on the old platform will have to be recreated on Shopify. Luckily, Shopify has a very robust app ecosystem and Shopify experts like Electric Eye know which ones to use. And don’t worry, Shopify is extremely flexible, and there are no limitations to your imagination when it comes to customization.

Cost Considerations

Shopify is a managed platform, meaning it provides users with a pre-built e-commerce solution and handles the technical aspects of running an online store, such as hosting and security. This is extremely beneficial to brands that are not technically savvy or do not have the resources to manage their own hosting. 

This convenience comes at a cost, as once migration to Shopify is done, you will still have ongoing costs such as the Shopify subscription fee and any additional apps or plugins that you may need for your store. However, this investment is nominal when compared to an old-school-hosted solution, such as Magento or Woocommerce, when you factor in the additional cost of maintenance.

When working with a professional to migrate your online store to Shopify, it is important to expect costs associated with the process. The cost of migrating to Shopify will depend on the complexity of your current website, the amount of design and development customization required, and the length of time it takes to complete the project. And to be blunt, you get what you pay for - we’ve seen a lot of the projects go bad for merchants. This is not a project to cut corners on.

SEO Considerations

When a migration goes wrong, it can cause a significant impact on the SEO of a store. One of the main issues that can occur is the permanent loss of existing page rankings and visibility in search engine results. This can lead to a significant drop in website traffic and a decrease in sales.

With any migration project, you should expect to see some changes on Google and other search engines while they get used to your new site structure and redirects. If the migration process is not properly planned or executed, resulting in broken links, missing redirects, and other technical issues, it will permanently and negatively impact the crawlability of your website.

Customer Experience Considerations

It's also important to consider the potential impact on customer experience during the migration process. The migration can cause disruption to your customers, especially if it takes longer than expected or if there are issues with the new website. It's important to communicate with your customers and inform them of the migration process and any potential disruptions. Additionally, it's important to test the new website thoroughly to ensure that it's fully functional and user-friendly before launching it to customers.

Conclusion

Overall, migrating from your existing platform to Shopify is a big decision, but it can also be a hugely rewarding one. By considering the potential costs, the impact on SEO, and the impact on customer experience, and working with a team of experienced professionals, you can ensure that your migration goes smoothly and that you're able to take full advantage of all that Shopify has to offer. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you migrate to Shopify and grow your online business.