Platform-Specific Optimization

Google Analytics 4 with enhanced e-commerce tracking. Platform-native analytics for order data. Heatmaps and session recordings (Hotjar, Microsoft Clarity). Set up conversion goals and funnel visualization. Review weekly, not daily.

Essential categories: reviews (Judge.me, Loox), email marketing (Klaviyo), upsells (ReConvert), and speed optimization. Limit total apps to minimize performance impact. Each app should have clear ROI—audit and remove underperformers quarterly.

Dawn (free) offers excellent performance and conversion features. Paid themes like Impulse and Prestige add functionality but require optimization. Theme matters less than how you configure it—focus on fast loading, clear navigation, and mobile experience.

Consider: technical resources (Shopify for simple, WooCommerce for technical teams), budget (Shopify has fees, WooCommerce has hosting costs), scale needs, and integration requirements. Start simple—migration is possible as you grow.

Core Web Vitals measure loading (LCP), interactivity (INP), and visual stability (CLS). Good scores correlate with higher conversion rates and better search rankings. Focus on LCP under 2.5 seconds and CLS under 0.1 for e-commerce sites.

Most needs are met by themes and apps/plugins. Custom development suits: unique product configurators, complex pricing rules, specialized checkout flows, or integrations with proprietary systems. Evaluate app solutions before building custom features.

Headless suits large stores needing custom frontends and omnichannel experiences. For most businesses, modern platforms like Shopify 2.0 or WooCommerce provide sufficient flexibility with less complexity. Headless increases development costs significantly.

Enable Shop Pay for faster checkout. Use high-converting theme sections. Implement app-based upsells strategically. Optimize images for speed. Remove unnecessary apps slowing your store. Focus on mobile experience where most Shopify traffic comes from.

Map all URLs and create 301 redirects. Maintain URL structure where possible. Preserve meta titles and descriptions. Migrate all product content and images. Submit new sitemap to Google. Monitor traffic closely for 90 days post-migration.

Show prices in local currency based on customer location. Use platform features or apps for automatic conversion. Display currency selector prominently. Ensure checkout processes in the displayed currency to prevent abandonment from price surprises.

Use WebP format with JPEG fallback. Compress to smallest size maintaining quality. Implement lazy loading below the fold. Use responsive images serving appropriate sizes. Target under 100KB for thumbnails, under 300KB for full product images.

Use quality hosting with PHP 8+. Install caching plugin (WP Rocket). Optimize images with compression. Minimize plugins. Use a lightweight theme built for WooCommerce. Enable object caching with Redis. Target under 3-second load time.

Each second of load time reduces conversions by 7%. Pages loading under 2 seconds see 9% higher conversion than 5-second pages. Mobile speed is even more critical—53% of mobile visitors leave pages taking over 3 seconds to load.

Shopify for simplicity, reliability, and faster launch. WooCommerce for flexibility, ownership, and lower long-term costs at scale. Shopify suits most businesses; WooCommerce suits technical teams wanting full control. Both can achieve excellent conversion rates.

Compress images before uploading. Remove unused apps and theme features. Minimize custom code and third-party scripts. Use system fonts where possible. Enable lazy loading. Shopify's infrastructure is fast—slow stores usually have app/theme bloat.

SSL (HTTPS) is essential, not optional. It encrypts data, enables modern browser features, improves search rankings, and displays the padlock that customers expect. All major platforms include SSL. Not having it kills trust and conversions.

CartFlows for checkout optimization, AutomateWoo for abandonment recovery, WooCommerce Payments for simplified checkout. Keep plugins minimal—each adds overhead. Test impact on speed after each installation.