We all know how the Shopify platform has created a transformative buzz in the e-commerce marketplace. Shopify controls 32% of the eCommerce platform market with a whopping $4.6 billion annual revenue. Shopify is used by over 1 million businesses in 175 countries, with a higher domination in the US ecommerce platform industry with 1/3rd of the market.
As the demand for Shopify is over the top, the demand to hire Shopify experts is also significantly mounting up. To leverage the game-changing benefits of Shopify for your e-commerce business, ensuring you get the best talent is the key and that comes with its own challenges. You need to navigate the widening demand-supply gap with a keen eye for the potential hiring pitfalls to avoid delays, increased costs, and subpar performance all of which will affect the bottom line.
In this blog, we will thus delve into the 11 common mistakes that you must avoid when looking for Shopify experts. Understanding these will help you avoid them and set your path to success.
Pitfalls to Avoid When Hiring Your Next Shopify Developer
1. Not looking for relevant experience
If you choose a candidate by evaluating their experience with other ecommerce platforms it’s a big red flag. You are hiring them specially for Shopify development which is why you must evaluate their expertise in this particular domain. Shopify’s unique features and requirements makes it essential for you to evaluate the candidate’s portfolio reflecting their experience in Shopify projects. This can be an invaluable strategy to gauge their ability to handle specific needs and challenges.
2. Overlooking cultural compatibility
The cultural fit of your team can significantly impact the project success. This becomes indispensable when you are looking to build a remote Shopify development team. If the candidate’s culture doesn’t align with your company and team culture and your work ethics, it can fall flat on your face.
When Shopify developer’s working style and values align with your company, they are more likely to seamlessly integrate with your team. This facilitates better collaboration and a smooth development process.
3. Ignoring communication power
Effective communication is the magic formula for the success of any development project. It’s not something that you can do without, which is why when you are hiring Shopify developers it’s a key trait to evaluate. You must ensure that they can clearly articulate their ideas and understand your requirements. Poor communication can be a major loophole for misunderstandings, project delays, and unsatisfactory outputs. You can assess their communication skills during the interview or even via writing assessments.
4. Not assessing their problem-solving approach
Another mistake that the majority of the hiring managers make is not evaluating the problem-solving skills of the developers. Ensure that your candidates are capable enough to think on their feet and come up with out-of-the-box solutions to challenges. This can be evaluated by conducting technical interviews or practical tests that stimulate real-world problems that they will encounter in their typical workday.
5. No heed to reference check
Yes, reference checks are a traditional approach of the hiring funnel, but the insights are invaluable. Reference checks can provide you valuable details about a developer’s work ethic, reliability, and ability to deliver the expectations.
Contacting previous employers or clients can give you an idea of their work quality, professionalism, and suitability for the role. To avoid potential issues down the line, don’t skip this step.
6. Focusing solely on technical proficiency
While technical expertise is a prerequisite, evaluating soft skills is equally vital. Look for developers who are adaptable, have a positive mindset, an attitude to keep learning, and can work well under pressure. These qualities are just as important as coding proficiency in ensuring the success of your project.
7. Neglecting to discuss maintenance and support
When you hire remote developer like Shopify and so on don’t just focus on the present, rather have a long-term vision. After the initial development and release of your Shopify store in the e-commerce marketplace, it will require ongoing maintenance and support.
Clarify with the developer what will be their role and how they will contribute in the post-launch phase. Will they be available to troubleshoot bugs, introduce updates, and for new feature implementations? Having this kind of clear agreement in place is essential to avoid misunderstandings and ensure the smooth operation of your store aligned with the evolving trends and advancements.
8. Understating the importance of UI/UX design skills
Shopify developers must also have a keen eye for design, as aesthetics have a vital role to play in attracting and retaining user attention. A visually appealing store can attract more visitors and keep them as loyal customers in your pipeline with a seamless and enhanced user experience. Ensure the developer has a solid understanding of the design principles and can develop a store that is functional as well as attractive.
9. Not setting clear expectations and milestones
Setting clear expectations and milestones from the onset lays the foundation for your project success. It helps bring synergy between you and the developer’s efforts that are unified towards common goal attainment. This structure helps to keep the project on track and effectively manage budget, deadlines, resources, and project goals.
10. Failing to understand the pricing structure
Understanding how a developer charges for their services can help you ensure that you don’t overpay your hard earned pennies. Some developers might charge a flat fee for the entire project, while others might bill you on an hourly basis. Clarifying this upfront and getting a detailed estimate of the total project cost can help you budget effectively and avoid any last-minute financial surprises.
11. Not evaluating their ability to innovate
E-commerce is an ever evaluating industry and to keep updated with the latest trends is the key to remain competitive. You must choose Shopify developers who are not only proficient but also innovative with the ability to suggest new features, improvements, and strategies to pace ahead in the market. Ask about their thoughts and knowledge of the emerging trends and how they plan to incorporate those in your Shopify store.
Closing Remarks
Therefore, when you hire Shopify developers to propel your e-commerce business to new heights, a careful consideration of these hiring pitfalls and a strategic approach are essential. Build a partnership that fosters growth, innovativeness, and sustained success for your online storefront. Stay vigilant, ask the right questions, and seize the opportunity to secure the best talent in your Shopify development team.
