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Hire Guide for Shopify Developers 2022

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Do you need a professional Shopify developer to execute the layout and features that are ideal for you? Here’s a guide to hiring qualified Shopify developers.

You want to begin your business on Shopify when you’re ready to enter the e-commerce industry. Hiring a Shopify developer will save you time and money if you can locate the right one for your project, regardless of whether you’re a non-technical business owner that wants someone to construct their storefront or you have an established team of developers.

When it comes to onboarding and understanding the complexities of Shopify, a specialist has insights and advancements that a generalist may not have, saving you precious man hours.

As a result, there are fewer issues and mistakes when Shopify is launched since he or she is already familiar with how it operates, including payment gateways, inventory management systems, navigation, and checkout logic.

A benefit of employing a Shopify-specific developer is that they have the expertise and a superior grasp of e-commerce software systems and how consumers interact with shops, even if full-stack developers can learn about payment gateways and stores. Hiring a Shopify developer from the beginning can simplify and reduce the cost of your development process if you have technical knowledge.

Now that you’re considering hiring a Shopify developer, the following sections will explain how to locate and recruit the top Shopify developers for your project:

  • Tools and Languages for Shopify
  • The Best Shopify Developers to Hire
  • Searching for Shopify Developers for Your Project or Staff
  • Pay for Shopify developers is competitive
  • How to Hire Shopify Developers: Next Steps

Shopify Developers Languages and Tools

HTML5, CSS3, JQuery, JavaScript and React, Liquid, Shopify Ajax API

The liquid is exclusive to Shopify, whereas HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, and React are standards for developing apps. Tobias Lütke, co-founder and CEO of Shopify, created Liquid, a template language written in Ruby that is accessible as an open-source project on GitHub. All Shopify themes are built on Liquid, which loads dynamic information onto Shopify’s online shop pages.

You should absolutely look for these languages on a candidate’s CV or resume if you’re a non-technical person looking to employ a Shopify developer for a one-time assignment.

Shopify Development Services - Shopify developers

To determine whether your potential employee has prior expertise creating the same elements you want to see on your storefront, however, request to examine a portfolio of past work if at all feasible. (To get an idea of what to look for, check out this example of a fantastic web developer portfolio.)

In addition to the candidate’s GitHub, hiring managers for teams wanting to add Shopify expertise may find it helpful to check the candidate’s portfolio to determine whether they possess the desired abilities. Depending on the features your team wants to build, a member of your present engineering team who wants to participate in the interview process may ask your applicant more difficult technical questions.

Of course, interview questions will need to focus on these talents, particularly a strong understanding of API connectivity, if you’re creating a third-party app to sell on the Shopify app store. Your potential developer’s front-end expertise will be essential if you are more concerned with theme building. A talent for UX and UI in particular will set them out from the competition.

The Best Shopify Developers to Hire

Specifying Your Shopify Developer’s Needs

You are aware that you must hire a Shopify developer, but how can you find capable candidates? Make sure to specify the level of technical knowledge you require during the job description writing, interviewing, and hiring processes. You should also determine whether the candidate possesses the soft skills you’re looking for, and provide specific examples of the tasks your ideal candidate must have experience performing.

Talk about the developer’s portfolio during the application and interview process to make sure they possess the required technical abilities.

When compared to other types of development, the breadth and depth of a Shopify developer’s portfolio are particularly significant, especially for complex designs and features, whether you’re recruiting for a one-time project or expanding an existing staff.

If you have a certain vision in mind, you want your new recruit to be able to carry it out. If they have done something similar in the past, chances are that you will both be pleased with the outcomes in the future. Your chances of finding a developer who can meet your demands will increase the more you are aware of what you need them to perform for you and the better you are able to communicate it throughout the interview process.

Technical expertise

Being clear about the level of technical expertise your Shopify developer has to have is a vital step in the recruiting process. You are more likely to discover someone with the necessary technical skills the more specific your requests are. You should consider the amount of knowledge you require while creating your job description.

For instance, downplaying the scale of the project won’t help you discover someone with the level of technical expertise you want if you want a shop with all the bells and whistles. There is a higher likelihood of mistakes and additional time needed to complete the project if a junior-level developer is hired to build out complex features.

One area where your current team may be able to assist you is in determining the project’s scope and the level of skill necessary (if you have one). To be able to implement the features you want, they might advise you on whether you need a senior developer or a junior developer.

If you’re an entrepreneur who isn’t particularly technical, it’s probably better to choose the option of having more seasoned technical knowledge than less. Even while a senior developer may charge more per hour, their experience may result in shorter workdays than a young developer who must spend more time learning the features you need, which might result in more billable hours for you.

Good Skills

Soft skills are essential when recruiting for any project, but they can be extremely vital for Shopify projects given the volume of moving components required to build, launch, and maintain a storefront. You could be in frequent pre-launch communication with your Shopify developer if you have a Shopify storefront.

You should seek a candidate that can clearly express what they require from you, replies to emails in a timely manner, and can take constructive criticism. In order to succeed in e-commerce, you should avoid hiring anyone who looks to falter when confronted with time-sensitive duties. In these cases, a rapid reaction time may be essential.

An excessively delicate team member or contractor might generate conflict and delays as well as create a product that doesn’t match your goals or expectations. As such, your application should be open to constructive criticism.

Check online communities, developer forums, and other sources whenever you can to see if you can locate reviews for the developer from other Shopify business owners. It’s advantageous to find out if the Shopify developer you’re considering hiring has strong communication skills because Shopify businesses contain a lot of moving components and demand a lot of client communication.

When time is the key, communication is essential, whether it be for a one-time assignment or a more permanent position on your team. A staff member with poor communication skills might cost you by being inaccessible at key moments in e-commerce when time is money.

Experience

Hiring a Shopify developer with greater launch expertise might make or break your launch experience whether this is your first Shopify shop or even if you already have a team in place. Hiring an e-commerce expert would help you with e-commerce UX/UI elements that a full-stack developer might not be as comfortable with. A skilled developer can create simple-to-maintain code for you if you’re a non-technical business owner searching for a one-time project builder.

In fact, if you’re a beginner store owner, hiring a Shopify developer with a considerable deal of knowledge may help you avoid problems and provide advice on how to enhance your business. If you already have a team, adding Shopify knowledge might improve the abilities of team members who might not be as knowledgeable about payment gateways and authorizations as you are.

Searching for Shopify Developers for Your Project or Staff

How can you identify developers that fit your criteria after you know what you’re looking for in a Shopify developer candidate? Shopify hosts a lot of events for partners and developers, both in-person and online, in addition to online job boards and forums, which are good places for

Locating Shopify developers through networking

We’ve highlighted a few, but not all, of the online groups and events where you could run across and hire Shopify developers.

Web-based Communities

Forums at Shopify

Shopify forums give developers and shop owners a platform to talk about a range of subjects, including store evaluations, technical questions, and e-commerce-related concerns.

Shopify Channel on eCommTalk

Entrepreneurs and developers may connect in the Slack channel eCommTalk to discuss issues pertaining to e-commerce.

r/Shopify

Store owners, developers, and Redditors may post questions and comments on a range of Shopify-related issues in the r/Shopify subreddit.

A community for Shopify on LinkedIn

The Shopify Community on LinkedIn provides a discussion platform for Shopify, covering what Shopify sites look amazing, what makes them excellent, tips for Shopify customers, Shopify experiences, and the pros and disadvantages of Shopify.

Face-to-Face events

Shopify meetings

Shopify Meetups are virtual or live gatherings for talking about things linked to Shopify. They may be held in locations ranging from the US to Indonesia on Zoom or in coffee shops, and participants can talk about everything from email marketing to design.

Shopify Together

Shopify partners, developers, and merchants get together at the annual Shopify Unite conference in Toronto to talk about the future of business.

Pursuing Shopify

For Shopify Partners and Developers, Shopify Pursuit is a multi-day, international conference trip. “A location to step back, engage with other partners and developers, and share your expertise and experiences about developing your business with Shopify,” said Shopify of this area.

How to Hire Shopify Developers: Next Steps

Now that you are aware of the qualities to seek in a Shopify developer and the going rate, you need to have a general understanding of:

  • What features and functionalities do you require, along with how you want your store to appear?
  • Any problems you want to be resolved?
  • Examples of several online stores whose components you would like to include on your website.

Knowing what you want will make it easier for you to create a job description that is better and more thorough and represents the amount of complexity and adaptations you believe your shop would require. Regarding the level of technical expertise, you demand, to be comprehensive and honest. You may use this to identify a candidate who meets your requirements.

When you are certain of the functionality you need, search for suitable Shopify developers in forums and groups, read developer evaluations, and peruse portfolios. If a portfolio catches your eye and it seems potential, try to contact the developer.

While carefully evaluating individuals may take more time than just posting a job opening and waiting to see if anybody responds, you may more precisely define the style you want for your shop while eliminating applicants with unfavourable reviews.

When you attend a Shopify event, keep an eye out for developers who appear to have the soft skills you need and who you would like to work with. Even while you may always do a formal interview later, conversing informally with prospective developers in a casual situation might help you evaluate their soft skills.

Technical expertise is critical for development, but interpersonal skills are just as crucial for reducing stress and increasing productivity, whether they are used on a temporary project or on a more long-term basis.

Finally, before you dive headfirst into the interviewing process, double-check your budget to make sure you have enough money to employ a Shopify developer with the level of technical expertise you require. You should be able to estimate a budget (with or without assistance from an existing development team) if you have a clear understanding of the project’s scope. This will help you prevent unpleasant surprises later on.

Kreationsites is pleased to assist you with any inquiries you may have regarding recruiting Shopify developers, whether for a one-time job or for a more permanent position on your engineering team. Do you need a skilled remote Shopify developer right away? Contact us!

 

We Follow Website Design Standards- That You Should, Too

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Can you imagine how many websites people visit each year? Potential customers have probably seen hundreds of other websites by the time they arrive at yours. As a result, these people already have a blurry understanding of design standards — specifically, what to expect from a brand’s page in terms of appearance, website design elements, web accessibility, and functionality.

Their instincts tell them where to find logos, navigation tools, and scroll bars based on previous viewing experiences. These patterns necessitate brands complying to specific norms in order to improve the user experience (UX) and user expectations.

We created a list of design standards for our clients with the assistance of our experienced web designers and design team. Continue reading to find out which ones you can use to push your company to new heights.

Website Design

What Exactly Are Web Design Standards?

Web design standards are guidelines that cover the appearance and performance of websites. Following such guidelines allows you to provide clear and consistent messaging across all pages. The majority of the recommendations are related to aesthetic value, but not all of them are.

Such standards, in the eyes of users, ensure predictable experiences that make navigation intuitive. Other advantages of following these recommendations include:

  • Making an excellent first impression
  • Enhancing Google rankings
  • Bounce rate reduction
  • These advantages eventually lead to an increase in leads, conversions, and revenue.

Remember that not all standards conform to best design practices; the two are not comparable. However, we will only address factors that will not negatively impact your UX or Google rankings.

Ready to take your website to the next level? Let’s get started.

  1. Appealing and Consistent Visually

According to the most recent web design statistics, visitors decide whether to stay or leave your site in 0.05 seconds.

As much as people love to say, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” they quickly determine a brand’s credibility. So, what influences these snap judgments the most? Design, you guessed it! Customers should be able to find what they need with a single glance at your website.

As you can see, appearance is important. No matter how good your products or services are, no one will believe you unless your website communicates them to your end users.

Here are some expert tips for establishing your online authority:

Stay mobile-friendly: We all know how popular mobile phones are, but did you know that mobile phone search users in the United States have surpassed 200 million? If you don’t design for mobile devices, you’re passing up countless opportunities to reach this demographic through search engines.

Maintain consistency: When creating or redesigning your website, take a comprehensive approach. Consider it as a whole instead of in sections.

  1. Natural Navigation

A 2019 consumer survey shows surprising findings — Organizations must provide easy-to-use websites to 94 per cent of site visitors. The modern consumer simply does not have the patience to tolerate non-standard placements, generic labels, and an excessive number of subcategories.

Aside from looking good, websites should have an intuitive flow that guides users every step of the way. There’s something wrong with your website if customers have to navigate it. The web design standards and best practices that most brands conform to are listed below.

Include the following main navigation options in the header:

Because most websites do this, customers will instinctively look at the top portion of your homepage to check the contents of your site. One excellent example is to place your company’s logo in the top left corner, as this will improve user experience.

Think about using a dropdown menu:

This improves functionality because the visual hierarchy saves valuable webpage space and makes the navigation process less challenging. However, make sure to use labels that are clear and concise. Using terms like products and solutions separately, for example, may confuse site visitors.

If dropdown menus aren’t your thing, consider hamburger menus:

These tools, also known as hamburger buttons, are the three horizontal lines that web pages use to provide more navigation options. They are used by companies such as Facebook, CNN, and MyFitnessPal.

  1. Visual Guidance

Visual direction distinguishes between good and great designers. It involves controlling a visitor’s eye movement in order to encourage desired actions. You can accomplish this by leaving visual elements without compromising the aesthetics of your web page. Consider the following visual direction best practices:

Control movement with images:

Through proper image placement, you can direct consumers to the content you want them to see. You can, for example, use photographs of real people pointing at a product. Use photos for a purpose rather than just to fill space.

  1. Social Proof

The process of using other people’s behaviours and beliefs to influence one’s own behaviour is known as social proof. Do you ever wonder why word-of-mouth marketing influences 92 per cent of consumer purchasing decisions? It’s because recommendations from family and friends are the highest form of social proof.

When developing or improving your site’s social proof, keep in mind that B2B and B2C web pages function differently. Here are some key points to remember:

Using testimonials on B2B websites would be ideal. Client logos, industry awards, and reviews from sites like G2 or Yelp can also be used. Check out these innovative B2B websites for ideas.

Product reviews, customer testimonials, and media features, on the other hand, work best for B2C websites.

Pay attention to ROI for B2B sites and pain points for B2C sites.

  1. ADA Complies

There are currently 61 million disabled adults in the United States. The majority of them have mobility, cognitive, hearing, and vision impairments that make learning difficult. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires websites to conform to various design standards in order to meet the needs of these individuals.

An ADA-compliant website ensures that all users can comfortably access and navigate your site without being discriminated against for using it for its intended purpose.

The ADA divided its website requirements into four categories. Web pages must be visible, operable, understandable, and robust.

Perceivable:

Brands should provide distinguishable and understandable information to all users. Creators should create content that consumers, regardless of disability, can easily see or hear. For example, you should look into CAPTCHA alternatives.

Operable:

Organizations should make their websites accessible to people who use wheelchairs. They should not be subjected to limited functionality or unreasonable time constraints. When disabled people shop online, they should have enough time to enter their credit card information and one-time validation PIN code.

Understandable: Websites should make every effort to avoid consumer error by clearly explaining processes and confirming financial information before submitting an order.

Content should be robust enough to allow all users to interpret it. For example, visitors to your site should be able to determine the name of a user interface form.

  1. Short Contact Forms

You may already be familiar with the aesthetics, navigation, social proof, and ADA compliance. Don’t let lengthy contact forms turn off potential customers. Limit your questions to six or fewer as much as possible.

More visitors are converted when contact forms on various landing pages are short. As a result, we strongly advise removing anything unnecessary from these lead generation tools.

  1. A Specific Call to Action

A strong call to action (CTA) can aid in the growth of social followings, customer databases, and sales. Everything is dependent on what you ask your clients to do. Focus on a single CTA rather than providing options for desired actions for the best results.

Say it if you want potential customers to try your product for free. It can be difficult to make them choose between learning about your offer, joining your mailing list, or purchasing your product or service. Multiple actions can drive prospects away.

Create an Enjoyable Website Right Now

Kreationsites assists brands in developing web pages that set them apart from the audience. We do so while complying with web design standards that increase their visibility, improve their UX, and establish their online authority. We will create a powerful story and channel it into an enjoyable experience for site visitors, regardless of size or industry.

We understand how difficult it can be to create or redesign a website. In such a small digital space, you have so much to say. A website that converts random visitors into regular clients requires a team of superstar web designers and marketing experts. Join us in discovering the power of an enjoyable website. Book a consultation today to get started on your path to digital success and to hire professional website designer.