When launching a BigCommerce store, one of the first decisions you’ll face is whether to stick with a free theme or invest in a premium one. On the surface, free themes seem like an easy way to save money, but depending on your store’s needs, that savings might cost you in lost conversions or extra development work down the road. Here’s my take after working with hundreds of BigCommerce merchants. Free Themes: Budget-Friendly but Limited…
E-Commerce Strategy & Planning
Planning an e-commerce website or trying to figure out your next move? This is where most businesses get stuck.
This section covers the decisions that actually impact your timeline, budget, and long-term growth — from how long a BigCommerce launch takes to what’s involved in a migration, redesign, or platform switch.
You’ll find breakdowns of real-world timelines, common delays, and what to expect at each stage, along with guidance on how to prepare, avoid costly mistakes, and move faster.
If you’re evaluating your options, comparing approaches, or trying to understand what’s involved before you start, these articles will help you make informed decisions and plan your next steps with confidence.
I get this question a lot, especially from clients who see there’s an update available for their theme and wonder if they should apply it. But theme updates aren’t always as straightforward as they seem. Let’s break down what these updates actually mean, how they work in BigCommerce, and when it makes sense to invest the time and effort in updating your store’s design. What Happens When a Theme Is Updated? When you first install…
If you’re in the middle of evaluating e-commerce platforms, it can be hard to cut through the noise. Everyone claims to be “the best,” every platform has its loyal fans, and at a glance, they all kind of look the same. But they’re not. And picking the wrong one can lead to serious frustration (and sometimes a full rebuild) down the road. I’ve worked with hundreds of merchants across all kinds of platforms, and in…
Choosing an e-commerce platform isn’t just a tech decision — it’s a business decision. And yet, so many merchants pick a platform based on whatever’s cheapest, fastest to launch, or getting the most buzz at the moment. Then a few months later, they’re stuck with limitations, high app costs, or a site that can’t keep up with their growth. I’ve worked with hundreds of store owners across a lot of different platforms, and I can…
If you’re trying to decide between BigCommerce and Shopify for your online store, you’re not alone. I’ve worked with hundreds of merchants over the years, and this is one of the most common crossroads they face. Both platforms are popular, powerful, and capable of supporting a growing e-commerce business. But they’re not the same — and choosing the wrong one can cost you time, money, and a whole lot of headaches down the road. This…
When it comes to establishing a successful online store, selecting the right platform is crucial. BigCommerce has emerged as a flexible e-commerce platform that gives businesses of all types a solid foundation for growth. However, implementing BigCommerce effectively can seem overwhelming to someone who is new to the platform. This raises an important question: should you work with a BigCommerce agency to launch your store? In this blog post, we’ll explore the significant considerations surrounding…
It’s January, so that means planning for the year ahead! This blog post will walk you through how to create a marketing calendar using Excel. A well-organized marketing calendar helps you plan your promotions and content posting for the year, ensuring your website stays fresh and your customers engaged. While it may feel like extra work initially, having a marketing calendar can save you time and stress throughout the year. Why Use a Marketing Calendar?…
There are many reasons why you might be considering whether to migrate your e-commerce store to a new platform. Maybe your existing platform is old and outdated, not keeping up with the latest e-commerce features and functionality. Site speed and performance issues could be keeping your website from ranking in search engines. Or a cumbersome back-end control panel makes updating your website too time-consuming. Though migrating your online store to a new platform won’t come…
