Starting a Shopify store? Awesome move. Shopify is one of the best platforms out there for launching and growing an online business. But let’s be real—there’s a lot that can go wrong if you’re not careful.
As a Shopify expert who’s worked with tons of store owners, I’ve seen people make the same mistakes over and over again—and trust me, these can cost you big time in the long run.
So if you’re serious about building a store that looks great, runs smooth, and actually sells, here are 5 mistakes to avoid when setting up your Shopify store.
1. Not Customizing Your Theme (At All)
Sure, Shopify has some great themes. But using one straight outta the box without any Shopify theme customization? That’s a missed opportunity.
Why it matters:
- Your store looks like everyone else’s.
- It’s not optimized for your products or audience.
- Performance can suffer with unused features and code.
Quick fix:
Work with someone who knows their way around custom Shopify store design and can tweak the layout, colors, features, and navigation to match your brand—and help boost conversions.
2. Forgetting About Mobile Shoppers
Most of your visitors will come from their phones. If your site looks weird or loads slowly on mobile, you’re leaving money on the table.
Why it matters:
- Over 70% of eComm traffic is mobile.
- Mobile users bounce FAST if a site’s clunky.
Quick fix:
Prioritize Shopify speed optimization and test everything on mobile before launch. If it’s not user-friendly, it’s not ready.
3. Skipping SEO at the Start
A lot of folks ignore Shopify SEO until months after launch—by then, it’s a cleanup job instead of a smart setup.
Why it matters:
- You’re missing out on free, organic traffic.
- Bad SEO habits early on are harder to fix later.
Quick fix:
Use the right keywords in your product titles, meta descriptions, and image alt tags. Whether you’re selling 3D crystal photos, custom mugs, or skincare products, SEO needs to be baked into your content from day one.
4. Letting Your Store Run Slow
This one’s huge. A slow store doesn’t just annoy people—it hurts your sales and your Google ranking.
Why it matters:
- People won’t wait more than 3 seconds.
- It’s bad for SEO, too.
Quick fix:
Compress your images, limit unnecessary apps, and get a performance audit. A Shopify expert can help you get things running smoothly.
5. Ignoring Bugs and Broken Features
You’d be surprised how many stores launch with broken links, non-working carts, or wonky navigation. It makes your store look sketchy—and buyers will bounce real quick.
Why it matters:
- Bugs kill trust.
- And trust = sales.
Quick fix:
Before launch, do a full test of your store (or better yet, get someone else to do it). A little Shopify bug-fixing goes a long way.
Final Thoughts
Starting your Shopify store the right way can save you a lot of stress. Skip the guesswork and avoid these common mistakes by working with someone who knows what they’re doing.
Do you need help setting up your store? I offer full Shopify store development, theme customization, SEO, product listings, speed optimization, and bug-fixing services.
Let’s get your store up and running the right way.
Check out sumayahislam.com — or just shoot me a message!