What’s the difference between an online store that sells out every month and one that struggles to make a sale?
It’s not the products. It’s not the pricing. It’s not even the marketing.
Successful ecommerce businesses have one big thing in common. A custom online store design.
Working with your design instead of against it is every online store owner’s competitive advantage. But most never realize it.
Here’s the problem:
Store owners use premade templates then complain about lack of sales.
They add their logo. Call it finished. Then they ask why people don’t buy.
If you’re not running a custom-designed store, you’re leaving sales on the table.
Don’t worry, though. Figuring out where to start with customization is half the battle. And luckily, that’s exactly what this article is going to walk through below.
Let’s get into it!
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- Why customization matters now more than ever
- How customization actually increases sales
- How customization creates a long-term competitive advantage (5 ways)
- How to start building your own custom online store design
Why Online Store Design Matters More Than Ever
You might be thinking:
“There are millions of ecommerce stores out there. What difference can design really make?”
Fair question. Let’s start with the big picture.
Online shopping isn’t going anywhere. In fact, global ecommerce sales are expected to reach $6.86 trillion by 2025.
That’s gonna sound like a lot of competition to every store owner reading this.
But here’s the crazy part
With over 28 million ecommerce stores worldwide… competition has never been steeper. Templated storefronts don’t stand a chance against custom-designed shops.
Look at it from a shoppers’ perspective:
They land on your store. It looks like every other store they’ve been to. Why would they buy from you?
When your store is built around your brand’s unique identity, that’s what gets customers in the door and buying. That’s why savvy store owners are skipping the DIY solution and working with professional shops to create tailored Shopify sites that are made for their business.
Statistics show just how important great design is to online shoppers. Recent data reveals that 94% of customers say a website’s design is what determines their first impression. If your store doesn’t catch their attention and build trust fast… they’re going to leave.
You have roughly half a second to make a great first impression with potential customers. You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression.
Ecommerce designs play a huge role in building that first impression.
The Real Impact of Customization on Sales
Time for the good stuff.
Website design truly is the difference between making sales and scraping by. One study from Forrester found ecommerce sites that placed UX at the core of their web design converted 400% better than those that didn’t.
That’s right. Read that again.
CUSTOM STORES = MORE SALES.
When your customers land on a custom store that has been carefully crafted around their needs… they buy. When your store is cluttered and confusing with ZERO thought to how people shop online… they leave.
This article could wrap right now and you’d have all you need to know.
Improved conversions = more revenue. Business 101.
5x Ways Customization Gives Stores a Competitive Edge
Alright, let’s get into the how. Below are five key areas where a custom store design will send your business flying past the competition.
Apply these principles to your own store and watch your sales skyrocket.
Build Trust & Credibility
You know when you visit a website and immediately know it’s legit?
When they’ve taken the time to build a nice custom website with their own branding, logo and quality images?
That right there is website design building trust.
Sites that use templates look cheap. No matter how great your product or prices are, if you don’t look professional… customers aren’t giving you their money.
When you build your store from the ground up around your brand, you’re instantly more trustworthy.
Trust = Sales.
Create a Better User Experience
The best stores have nailed the user experience.
Navigating the site is intuitive. Product categories make sense. The checkout process is smooth and hassle-free.
When a store is designed around its specific audience, it just works.
Crafting a store experience that leaves shoppers wondering “why does every other store make me jump through hoops?” is customization at its finest.
Stand Out From the Competition
Want to know the number one reason people visit your store over your competitor’s?
It’s because you look different.
This might sound obvious after talking about how important brand trust is… But it’s worth repeating.
If your store looks the same as 100 other stores in your niche… What makes you special?
Custom online stores give your brand visual distinction that templates will never match.
In today’s crowded ecommerce world that can mean the difference between thriving and just getting by.
Improve SEO Performance
This one might surprise you.
Custom online store design = better SEO.
You’re probably thinking “Web design has nothing to do with SEO!”
Well, kind of….
SEO isn’t just about keywords and link building. How fast your site loads, is your code clean and how well it performs on mobile… these are all factors in your Google rankings.
When you build your store from scratch, you can implement web design practices that allow search engines to crawl and index your site with ease. Boosting your visibility and giving you an edge over every store that isn’t thinking about SEO.
Scale & Adapt Over Time
Every online store goes through growth spurts. Whether you’re planning for more products, adding new features or expanding into new markets.
Store templates do not cater for this kind of growth.
It’s like trying to fit a fully grown elephant through your front door.
Store customization is the key to future-proofing your ecommerce business. A custom store gives you the flexibility to adapt and scale your design with no limits.
How To Get Started With a Custom Store Design
Starting your customisation journey can feel like a daunting task. But if you focus on the fundamentals and prioritize you can set yourself up for success right away.
Here are some tips to getting the ball rolling.
Audit your current store. Open Google Analytics. Open up your web browser and really examine your store front. Where are you losing visitors? High bounce rates and low time on site are a great indicator of dead spots on your store.
Once you know where your store is lacking, it’s time to focus on what matters.
Home, Products, Checkout. These are the big three. Improving the flow and design of these 3 sections of your store will have the biggest impact on your conversion rates.
Lastly, don’t just think about your store today. Where do you want to be in 6 months? A year? Whatever your goals are, make sure your design can adapt and scale with you.
There’s no need to overhaul your entire store at once. Take it one step at a time. Prioritize improvements that will have the biggest impact, make those changes, and measure the results. Rinse and repeat.
Wrapping Up
Online store design is the foundation of any successful ecommerce business. From first impressions to improved conversions… custom web design improves every facet of your store.
Businesses that invest in custom designs win. Those who don’t get left behind.
Let’s review once again:
- Custom stores build trust and credibility
- Custom designs create frictionless shopping experiences that lead to repeat customers
- Unique designs stand out from the competition
- SEO improvement = more visibility and traffic
- Custom stores scale with you as your business grows
The ecommerce playing field is only going to become more competitive with time. Custom ecommerce store design isn’t just some luxury you should consider. It’s your new storefront’s secret weapon.
