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Q4 is make or break - contact us to prep for Black Friday |
Hi Reader,
When Aeolidia first started working in ecommerce 20 years ago, we used three different platforms to build sites. Over the years, we would work on sites no matter what software they were using. Then, Shopify came along, and removed a lot of the hassles and hard work that we and the brands we worked with were enduring.
For a while, we would strongly recommend Shopify, but continue to build sites on WordPress or BigCommerce. However, as complaints rolled in about other platforms, and Shopify kept adding necessary features, reliability, and their incredible checkout process, we became a Shopify-only agency. We will still work on your WordPress blog as part of your Shopify site, but no other ecommerce platform compares.
One love/hate thing we have about Shopify is how often they update their software! We actually do love that, but it's a lot to keep up with. It takes deep focus with Shopify and constant learning to stay on top of what they offer and how everything works as they grow.
As longtime Shopify Partners, we get the privilege of joining them in person for events, and we sent our developer, Jon Manning, to Toronto in June to get the inside scoop on their latest Editions release (the massive list of updates to the software). I sent a little preview on the 25th, live from the event. Now that the dust has settled, here's what Jon suggests keeping an eye out for:
Scale more
Sell more
- Split shipping: Show customers when an order will be split into multiple shipments. They can choose the lowest price, the fastest delivery, or custom shipping options. Video here, more info here.
- Ship to and from stores - if you have multiple locations and you need to get your products from here to there. Video here.
- Easy receipts includes easier staff attribution, digital receipts that can opt customers into your email list, and clearer in-store return rules on Shopify POS. More details on capturing retail data here.
- All new analytics should be faster, more flexible, and more intuitive. Video here, blog post here.
- Customer events: if you're using tracking pixels for your marketing and ads, you now can get richer data, including URL, domain, and checkout objects such as localization and payments. You can also create custom pixels and use the Shopify Pixel Helper to test.
Build more
The in-person event was mainly focused on helping Shopify Partners, such as us, build more for you with these new tools. Most of the notes we took and info we gathered here are super nerdy and detailed, and we're looking forward to implementing them for the shop owners we work with. So, less links for this section, but get in touch with me or fill out our contact form to grab our rate sheet and ask about these things.
- Shop Minis will allow us to add customizations to your Shop app store. For instance, we can build custom experiences like live shopping for your Shop app store. If you've been frustrated by how limited your Shop store is, a lot of opportunity just opened up.
- There are new style settings for themes, enabling us to give you even more layout flexibility and make you special theme sections with static blocks and block targeting.
- Shopify Functions allow developers to customize the backend logic of Shopify.
- We're keeping an eye on Built For Shopify apps. If an app has this badge, it gives confidence that the app is well built and is using the most up to date best practices. This can help weed out a number of apps in competitive categories.
- Flex sections and theme blocks will be a major update to the way that themes are built. We've started exploring these new features in a test store. Resources can be passed into blocks to easier access metafields and data connections, allowing you more flexibility in how you customize sections and make edits to your layout.
- Checkout Blocks acquired: We're always working to make the Shopify checkout work even better, and were excited to see that Checkout Blocks has been acquired by Shopify and will now be free of charge.
If you have been holding off on updating your site, now is a great time to get in touch with us about shaping your shop up before the holiday season or for the new year. The way we build sites now, we can get you up and running quickly with a modern site using all of our best practices. Then, we can work together with you at any time to add in more features and extensibility based on what we see working and not working for your customers. Email me back and let's make a plan!
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Recent Aeolidia Launch
A Shopify website for Detroit Malletworks' wholesale relationships.
Detroit Malletworks creates heirloom quality woodcraft mallets that are practical and beautiful. The wholesale shop we created for them captures their ever-evolving brand and product spirit and translates it into a beautiful site.
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From the blog
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Top 3 SEO Must Haves on Every Website
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Pattern Observer Interview
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When to Revise Your Online Presence
When you continue to refine your website, you don't need to get it perfect at first.
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Wishing [COMPANY GOES HERE] all the best,
Arianne Foulks | Captain & Founder
https://aeolidia.com/
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Refer a Friend
If you have a colleague who could use help with ecommerce, email marketing, and/or branding, I invite you to connect them with me. Refer a friend »
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