Common Mistakes to Avoid as a Shopify Developer

Shopify is one of the most popular eCommerce platforms in the world. It allows developers to build fast, secure, and easy-to-manage online stores. However, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced Shopify developer, it’s easy to fall into some common traps that can affect a store’s performance, user experience, and SEO.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the most common mistakes Shopify developers make and how to avoid them. By following these best practices, you can deliver high-quality, scalable Shopify stores that truly help businesses grow.

1. Ignoring Mobile Optimization

One of the biggest mistakes developers make is not checking how the store looks and functions on mobile devices. With over 70% of online shopping now happening on mobile, ignoring mobile optimization can lead to a poor shopping experience and a high bounce rate.

Solution:
Always test your designs on different screen sizes. Use responsive layouts, optimize image sizes, and make sure buttons are easy to tap.

2. Relying Too Much on Third-Party Apps

Shopify’s App Store offers thousands of apps to add features to your store. While these apps can be helpful, installing too many can slow down the site and cause compatibility issues.

Solution:
Only install apps that are absolutely necessary. For custom needs, write your own code instead of depending on multiple apps.

3. Not Following Liquid Best Practices

Liquid is the templating language used in Shopify. A common mistake is writing disorganized or repetitive code, which makes it harder to maintain or update later.

Solution:
Follow Shopify’s coding standards. Use includes, loops, and logic wisely. Clean and well-structured Liquid code improves performance and makes future edits easier.

4. Skipping Version Control (Git)

Making live changes directly on the theme without using version control is risky. If something goes wrong, you may lose hours of work or even break the live site.

Solution:
Use Git and connect your theme with GitHub. This way, you can track changes, work with other developers smoothly, and roll back if needed.

5. Neglecting SEO Essentials

SEO is a key factor for a successful online store. Many developers forget to include meta titles, descriptions, alt texts for images, and proper heading tags. This leads to poor search engine visibility.

Solution:
Always set up basic SEO elements. Use Shopify’s built-in SEO settings, and consider adding schema markup for better Google indexing.

6. Hardcoding Text and Images

Hardcoding content makes it difficult for store owners to manage their own site. It also limits flexibility when the business wants to update products, images, or sections.

Solution:
Use Shopify’s dynamic sections, blocks, and metafields. This allows non-developers to make changes without touching the code.

7. Ignoring Website Speed and Performance

Speed plays a major role in user experience and SEO. A slow website can lead to lost sales and lower rankings on Google.

Solution:
Compress images, avoid unused code, and reduce JavaScript and CSS file sizes. Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or Shopify’s built-in speed report can help you measure performance.

8. Overlooking Accessibility

Accessibility ensures that all users, including those with disabilities, can use the website. Unfortunately, this is often ignored during development.

Solution:
Use proper semantic HTML, add alt text to images, ensure keyboard navigation, and follow WCAG guidelines to make your store more accessible.

9. Writing Inline CSS and JavaScript

Placing styles or scripts directly in the HTML (inline) makes your code harder to maintain and can slow down the website.

Solution:
Keep your CSS and JavaScript in external files. This not only helps with organization but also improves load time and caching.

10. Poor Communication with Clients

One of the biggest non-technical mistakes is not clearly understanding the client’s needs. This can lead to missed expectations, rework, and unhappy clients.

Solution:
Ask questions, document requirements, and give regular updates. Use tools like Trello, Slack, or Notion to manage tasks and feedback.

Conclusion

Becoming a great Shopify developer is not just about writing code. It’s about building clean, fast, and user-friendly online stores that meet both business and customer needs. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can improve your skills, build better client relationships, and create websites that actually convert.

If you’re just starting your journey or looking to improve your Shopify development process, keep these points in mind and always keep learning.