"i only speak liquid" #87: The Case for Continuous Shopify Development

Hey everyone,

This is Rishi’s 3rd edit of “i_only_speak_liquid”! 🙏🙌💯

Let him cook 👨‍🍳

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About Rishi: Rishi is a UK based frontend developer with over 10 years of specialised experience in Shopify development. His expertise includes custom theme development, marketing and conversion rate optimisation (CRO), design-led development, and e-commerce strategy.

Ofc: He’s an expert on Storetasker 😉 apply here.

Let’s dive in 🤿

What I’ve been thinking about:

As developers we are often assigned one-off tasks: developing a theme, adding a specific section, or fixing a bug. However, a common challenge I encounter is securing retained and ongoing work. Some developers I know have adopted subscription models or membership plans for development and Shopify support which can be effective. Given that Shopify releases major updates four times a year and that technology in the web development space evolves rapidly it’s crucial to emphasise the importance of ongoing support to clients.

Convincing clients to sign up for a retainer can sometimes feel like a struggle and I don’t blame them. Often it feels like they’re being sold something they don’t think they need. I’ve recently summarised some points on why ongoing Shopify development should be a product we actively promote. I often explain to clients that their online store is like a living, breathing organism, constantly interacted with multiple times a day. Just like any organism, it needs to evolve and adapt over time to thrive in an environment that is only getting more competitive. Managing a Shopify store is not a one-and-done job. It requires continuous updates and adjustments to remain effective. Here are several key reasons why regular updates and management are essential (and things you should tell your clients):

• Performance: Regular updates enhance the loading speed and reliability of the store, leading to improved user experience. A faster site reduces bounce rates and increases conversion rates, directly impacting sales performance. Sure you can get that speed score up to green, but it needs to be regularly tested. 

• Customer Behaviour: Implementing regular updates allows for effective A/B testing, enabling businesses to gather insights into customer preferences and behaviours. A data driven approach helps optimise the shopping experience and tailor offerings to meet customer expectations. In a retail store, the shelves are always being re merchandised based on offers and shoppers' behaviour. 

• Technical Debt and Upgrades: Keeping the store updated helps avoid the accumulation of technical debt which can hinder the implementation of new features and fixes. There are so many stores that STILL aren’t using sections everywhere or try to install an app that just isn’t compatible with the old code.

• Brand Growth and Evolution: As a brand evolves so should its online presence. Regular updates allow for design and content refreshes that align with current branding strategies, ensuring the store remains competitive and relevant in their industry and online landscape.

In summary, make sure your clients are aware of the importance of ongoing maintenance. Even if they say “No” to a retainer, check in every quarter to tell them about new updates or see how their store is going. Hopefully there will be at least one or two things they’ve noticed that need changing.

3 links you can’t miss:

• Can I Use - Test browser compatibility when developing

• GitBook - Great for creating documentation, thanks to Luke Spoor for the reco.

• Dayflow - A very cool open source project that tracks your day and shows you how you spend your day.

1 app I like:

Wishlist Power

Why I Love It: It seems like Wishlists are on every store’s must have list these days. I’m a big fan of Wishlist Power. Developed by the Maestroo team, this app integrates seamlessly with all themes and has a super easy to use API to create custom integrations for devs.

One learning as a freelancer:

As a freelancer juggling clients across different time zones, I've learned the crucial importance of setting boundaries, especially during hectic seasons like Christmas and Black Friday. With some clients being 12 hours ahead of me, it's key they understand that I won't be replying to emails at 2 am

I make it a point to clearly define my working hours and communicate them upfront. I let clients know when I'm available and how quickly they can expect responses. If I’m traveling, I often set up an auto-reply to inform them that my response times may be slower. While I believe we shouldn’t be at our clients' beck and call, it’s important to recognize that even if a task isn’t a priority for us, it often is for them.

In my experience, most clients are understanding about timelines as long as there’s clear communication. In my early days, I would work long hours and weekends to meet deadlines and never say ‘that will take longer’. Now, I make it a priority to let clients know what I can realistically fit into my schedule and always ask upfront about their expected delivery dates. This approach has helped me maintain a healthier schedule while still delivering work that clients are happy with.

Set your boundaries and make clients stick to them, not the other way around.

-Rishi