Judge.me has long been a favorite 3rd party app for collecting and syndicating customer reviews on BigCommerce. As a free app, it offered advanced features at a cost merchants couldn’t resist! Unfortunately, Judge.me has announced it will no longer support BigCommerce stores (or other platforms) to focus exclusively on Shopify merchants. This news has left many store owners wondering what Judge.me alternatives are available, and how they compare on features and pricing. I’ve already been…
Duck Soup Blog
Hiring a BigCommerce website designer for your store can feel risky, especially if you don’t know what to expect. Every designer has their own approach, and not every process will be the right fit for every merchant. That’s okay. The important thing is to find someone whose process aligns with your needs, goals, and communication style. Here’s how I approach BigCommerce design projects, based on working with hundreds of merchants over the years. If you’re…
If you’re building or redesigning your BigCommerce store, one of the first decisions you’ll face is whether to use a ready-made theme or go with a fully custom design. It’s a big decision, and not just about looks. Your choice will impact cost, launch timeline, flexibility, and even how your customers experience your site. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, so let’s break down what each option really means, the pros and cons, and how to decide…
Hiring the right BigCommerce web design company can make or break your online store. A good designer doesn’t just make things look nice—they understand the platform, know what helps customers convert, and can guide you through decisions that impact performance, user experience, and long-term flexibility. Whether you’re starting from scratch or thinking about a redesign, here are 10 questions to ask before choosing a designer and what to listen for in their answers. Essential Questions…
If you’ve ever thought, “I want to tweak my checkout page, but I’m scared I’ll mess something up,” you’re not alone. The BigCommerce checkout is intentionally locked down for good reason: it’s one of the highest-converting checkouts in the industry, and a single change can disrupt that delicate balance. But that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with the default look and feel. There are safe ways to customize your BigCommerce checkout — both simple and advanced…
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…
Category pages often get overlooked, but they play a huge role in how shoppers browse your store and decide what to buy. Done right, they can significantly improve click-through rates, time on site, and even conversion. Done wrong? They’ll frustrate customers and leave money on the table. Here’s what I recommend including on your BigCommerce category pages to create a more conversion-friendly experience based on what I’ve seen work across hundreds of stores. Layout Basics:…
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…
