When setting up an online store, remember that your website isn’t just a place for transactions—it’s an extension of your brand because your customers’ first impression of your business often comes from your website design.
BigCommerce themes can make your website stunning enough to stand out—if you know how to utilize them properly. As for choosing the right theme and customizing it effectively, well, the right theme can turn your online store into a user-friendly experience that reflects the uniqueness of your products or services.
But how do you go about picking and tailoring a theme that truly captures your brand? Have a look at some of the tips we’ve put together to help you craft a unique and memorable online store using BigCommerce themes.
Start with Your Brand’s Identity
Before you even browse through BigCommerce themes, take a moment to think about your brand’s identity. Are you known for classic elegance, or do your designs lean more toward modern, trendy arrangements?
Maybe you’re all about vibrant, bold images that stand out. Whatever your style, your website should mirror that.
When selecting a theme, look for one that naturally matches your brand’s aesthetics. If you’re a florist known for minimalist, chic bouquets, a theme with a clean, simple design and plenty of white space might be perfect.
On the other hand, if your brand is all about colorful, whimsical accessories, opt for a theme that allows for bold color palettes and playful typography.
Take the Time to Focus on User Experience (UX)
A stunning online store is more than good looks—it’s about functionality, too. Your customers should find it easy to navigate your site, find what they’re looking for, and make a purchase.
BigCommerce themes are designed to be responsive, meaning they look great and function well on all devices, from desktops to smartphones. But it’s still essential to think about how your customers will interact with your site.
Consider your homepage layout. Is it easy for visitors to immediately see your featured products or seasonal specials? Is the navigation menu straightforward?
For florists, categories like “Wedding Arrangements,” “Sympathy Flowers,” and “Love/Romance” should be easy to find.
Think of your website like your physical shop: you want everything to be accessible, inviting, and intuitively arranged.
Add a Personal Touch
While many BigCommerce themes are already quite beautiful, customizing your theme will make your store truly unique. Even small tweaks can have a big impact.
Consider adjusting the color scheme to match your brand colors or changing fonts to something that better represents your style. Adding high-quality images of your floral arrangements instead of stock photos will make your website feel more personal and authentic.
Another way to personalize your theme is by customizing the checkout process. BigCommerce allows you to add custom fields, like a note for delivery instructions, which can be particularly useful for florists.
A seamless, customized checkout experience improves user satisfaction and reinforces your brand’s commitment to detail and customer care.
Optimize for Speed and Performance
No matter how stunning your online store looks, you’ll lose customers if it’s slow to load. Speed is crucial—not only for user experience but also for SEO (Search Engine Optimization). BigCommerce themes are generally optimized for performance, but there are additional steps you can take to ensure your site runs smoothly.
Start by optimizing your images. While using large, high-resolution photos to showcase your floral designs is tempting, these can slow down your site. Instead, use compressed images for web use. BigCommerce also offers various tools and apps that can help you monitor and improve your site’s speed.
In addition, keep your site clutter-free. Don’t overwhelm your visitors with too many pop-ups or banners! A clean, fast-loading site will keep them more engaged and likelier to make a purchase than a cluttered one.
Use the Built-In SEO Features of BigCommerce Themes
BigCommerce themes have built-in SEO features designed to help rank your store higher in search engine results. However, you need to use these features strategically to fully benefit from them. For example, optimize your product pages with relevant keywords, meta descriptions, and image alt tags.
For businesses, local SEO is especially important. Your website should clearly state your location and the areas you serve. This can be done in the footer, on a dedicated “Contact” page, and throughout your site’s content. This will help your store show up in local searches, drive more foot traffic to your physical store, and improve your online sales.
Keep It Fresh with Regular Updates
Your website should evolve just as your offerings do. BigCommerce makes it easy to update your content, whether adding new products, announcing sales, or starting a blog. Regular updates keep your site fresh and give customers a reason to return.
For instance, you could feature a “Product of the Month” on your homepage or write a blog post about your products and how to care for them. These small updates show that your business is active and engaged, which builds trust with your customers.
Let’s Make BigCommerce Themes Work for You
A stunning online store using a BigCommerce theme should balance beauty with functionality. Epic’s BigCommerce themes are exactly that. They’re stunning, they allow for intuitive navigation, and they are outstanding at conversion.
When you want your site to sell, choose Epic. Drop us a message to see how which of our themes works best for your brand.
