If you own an e-store, you’ve probably spent months figuring out your product line, pricing strategy, and shipping logistics. But when it comes time to build your online store, you’re stuck scrolling through portfolios, wondering which e-commerce web designer can help you make sales.
E-commerce web designers come in all skill levels and specialties. Some are very early in their careers and focus mainly on making sites look good. Others are more experienced and know exactly which design elements can improve conversions and drive sales.
Let’s go over what separates a good e-commerce designer from a great one, and how to find someone who can help your store succeed.
Understand That E-commerce Design Is Strategy-Driven
Experienced web designers treat your online store as a sales tool. They understand how layout, navigation, and checkout flow affect buying decisions and design accordingly.
You’ll find them asking detailed questions about your business like: What products sell best? Where do customers abandon their carts? What’s your average order value? Do you want to capture emails or offer product bundles?
Your answers help them create the best structure and user experience for your site. A design that doesn’t align with your revenue goals may still look great, but it won’t help you grow. That’s the gap you want to avoid.
Prioritize Experience in E-commerce Platforms
Not every web designer is familiar with all e-commerce platforms. Ask if they’ve worked with your preferred platform before. This could be Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, or something custom.
Each platform has its own quirks and strengths. A designer familiar with your chosen platform can build faster and more efficiently. They’ll know how to handle product variations, optimize images for speed, and design checkout flows that reduce abandoned carts.
For example, a WooCommerce web designer will know how to maintain performance while still offering product filters, reviews, and integrated payment options. And if you’re building on Shopify, a designer specializing in that platform will understand how to balance design with the limitations of Shopify’s theme architecture.
Look for Mobile-First Thinking
With more than half of online shoppers using their phones, your designer should keep mobile users top of mind. That means rethinking your entire website for how people shop on small screens.
A mobile-focused designer will make navigation easy to use with one thumb and keep buttons large enough to tap without frustration. They’ll also make sure your checkout process works smoothly without forcing people to pinch and zoom.
After all, a mobile site that’s confusing or hard to navigate will drive customers away, no matter how good it looks.
Ask About Conversion Optimization Skills
Design affects whether people buy from you. Your designer should understand where to place buy buttons, how to use customer reviews to build trust, and how to guide visitors through your site naturally.
A skilled e-commerce designer will add these elements without making your site feel pushy or overwhelming. The design should guide people toward buying while still feeling clean and professional.
Evaluate Their SEO Awareness
Design and SEO work together. A poorly built site can hurt your search rankings. Your designer should understand the basics of SEO, like site speed, mobile performance, and proper page structure.
For example, they should design product pages that have room for helpful content without looking cluttered. They should also set up your site navigation so both visitors and search engines can find pages easily.
When design and SEO work together, your store shows up in search results and converts visitors once they arrive.
Watch for Red Flags
Even when a designer looks great on paper, there are warning signs that they may not be a good fit for e-commerce:
- They rely entirely on pre-built templates with no customization.
- They don’t ask about your business goals or customers.
- They suggest using features or layouts without explaining why.
- They focus only on aesthetics and ignore performance metrics.
Avoid anyone who can’t articulate how their design choices connect to your sales goals. Your e-commerce site is too important to leave in the hands of someone who treats it like a generic portfolio piece.
Consider Post-Launch Support
Once your store is live, you’ll still need tweaks, optimizations, and occasional support. Ask your prospective designer what kind of post-launch services they offer. Will they train your team on how to update content? Are they available for future improvements as your store scales?
A designer who disappears after the final invoice is paid isn’t much help when you want to roll out a new product line or fix a checkout issue. Choose someone who treats your project as a long-term partnership.
Your Designer Should Be a Growth Partner
At the end of the day, choosing a web designer comes down to finding someone who gets your business. You’ll get a lot of portfolios and proposals, but the right designer will ask about your sales goals before they talk about color schemes.
Go with someone who treats your business as their business. The more they dive deep into your customers and conversion strategy, the more you can be confident that you’ve got the right person on board.
Infographic
Choosing the right e-commerce web designer can significantly impact the success of your online store. This infographic highlights key factors to consider when selecting a web designer.
