Why the Right Shopify Agency Matters for Your Growth
With a horde of digital agencies fighting for your attention, it can be hard to decide which Shopify expert agency aligns with your business needs. The success of your Shopify store hinges on choosing the right agency, so, the pressure is on. This is especially true when your eCommerce is based in a competitive market like Europe.
Nowadays, hiring a Shopify agency is considered an essential move among merchants who are trying to stand out amongst the competition. However, identifying a great agency is easier said than done, and it isn’t made easier by the fact that most agencies claim to be the best. How can you ensure that you’ll find one that isn’t just great—but ideal for your needs?
In this guide, we’ll help you consider key factors, evaluate services, and follow other tips to identify the best agency for you.
Aligning Business Goals with the Right Shopify Partner
Understanding Your Business Needs
The first step before choosing an agency is to take some time and define your own business needs. Only when you understand your own eCommerce objectives can you start looking for an agency which will align with your vision and needs. Therefore, start by analysing the main service you want professional assistance with. For example, are you interested in…
- Building a new store,
- Migrating your store, or
- Scaling your sales?
Whether building, migrating, or scaling, your choice of agency should match your project scope and future goals. As an example, if scaling is your primary objective, you’ll likely want help from a specialised Shopify Plus agency in Europe. Medito has been listed as the #1 in the Top Interactive Agencies website.
When you have your basic needs down, you can add details regarding sales targets, expansion plans, or your marketing strategy needs. The clearer your objectives are, the easier it will be for you to communicate your needs to potential agencies.
Choosing the Right Fit for Your Project Type
When you’ve defined your business needs, you can start narrowing down agencies. Why? Different agencies excel in specific areas. As mentioned, a specialised Shopify Plus partner is ideal for merchants who are looking to scale their businesses. This kind of agency can help them unleash the full potential of the platform’s more advanced features.
Businesses looking to migrate their stores from another platform to Shopify can be helped by an agency with migration expertise. A migration expert has extensive experience with seamless and secure data transfers.
If your needs are more design-focused, you should hire Shopify agency designers with a good reputation and who can meet your creative needs. This is relevant if you’re building a new store or giving your old store a well-deserved makeover. Professional developers and designers can create a unique custom theme which resonates with your brand identity and leaves an impression on visitors.
Evaluating Expertise and Regional Market Knowledge
The Value of Regional Expertise
You might have noticed that this guide focuses on choosing the best agency in Europe. If your eCommerce is operating in Europe, what are the benefits of hiring a European digital Shopify agency? Put simply, a Europe-based agency will ensure localised knowledge, legal compliance, and strategies that resonate with European customers.
When you start working with an agency, they’ll first get familiar with your brand, target audience, and competition. When your agency is based in the same part of the world as your business, it will already have a certain regional expertise to facilitate this process. They will have a deeper understanding of your customers and regional trends.
Aside from this, there are certain legal and compliance standards that online stores must adhere to, such as GDPR compliance. Having a Shopify agency that understands the ins and outs of such standards helps you rest assured that your store will remain compliant.
Assessing Portfolio and Client Testimonials
Most agencies will claim to be one of the best agencies, but unfortunately, you can’t just take their word for it. The best way to assess their expertise and reputation in Shopify services is to check out their portfolio and client testimonials.
If an agency can’t provide client case studies or proven results, it’s a warning sign. The agency’s portfolio allows you to gain insight into their capabilities and style.
You can consider questions such as:
- Is the store user-friendly and mobile-optimised?
- Is the website design visually appealing?
- Does the branding seem cohesive and unique?
Try to look for agencies that have worked with businesses within your niche and region. Assessing the results they provided for a store in a similar industry gives you a clearer idea of their approach. After all, if you’re going to hire the service of Shopify experts, you want the agency’s style to align with your vision.
Essential Services to Expect from a Shopify Agency
Development, Optimisation, and Support
The range of services that agencies offer can vary greatly. Website development is, of course, an essential service, and you should make sure the company’s proficiency in website development meets your expectations. However, a top Shopify web agency offers end-to-end solutions.
Apart from design, development, and customisation, you’ll also need SEO optimisation, site speed optimisation, and UX improvements. Choose an agency that provides a comprehensive package that covers all your online store needs. This one-stop solution ensures that your operations are streamlined and cohesive.
You also want to pick an agency that offers ongoing maintenance and support. Post-launch testing and optimisation is the key to maintaining customer satisfaction.
When you’re considering a web agency, don’t forget to inquire about their post-launch services. Having a dedicated support team for security monitoring, updates, and troubleshooting allows you to focus your time and energy on running your business.
Handling Abandoned Carts and Key Integrations
Digital marketing is another important service you should want included in a comprehensive package. When considering an agency, try to assess their expertise in important areas such as email marketing. Choose an agency that implements solutions like Shopify abandoned cart recovery and back-in-stock notifications.
In the age of social media, email marketing might sound antiquated, but the truth is, it remains one of the most effective digital marketing strategies. Abandoned cart email flows have the power to recover lost sales, as they re-engage shoppers who have already shown interest in your product. Back-in-stock notifications actually drive sales in a proactive way, by notifying customers that their desired products are available again.
Of course, these email flows need to be planned, tested, and optimised to give an optimal ROI. An expert agency helps you with such strategies and regularly analyses their performance.
Making the Final Decision
Transparency, Communication, and Professionalism
Before you hire expert Shopify agency services, it’s essential that you feel confident that you and the agency can communicate well. Effective collaboration and communication are key to a successful partnership. Don’t forget that you should be collaborating closely with the team during the project.
Consider factors such as the agency’s…
- communication channels,
- communication style,
- response times, and
- update frequency.
If you love communicating during in-person meetings, but the agency handles communication through emails, that might lead to frustration on your part. If the agency mentions that they provide updates much less frequently than you expect, that can also lead to miscommunication.
Look for an agency with a transparent roadmap and a professional view on collaboration. They should be concerned with ensuring that your vision is reflected in the results they provide. Therefore, don’t be afraid to inquire about how they deal with client feedback.
Why Reputation Matters in Choosing the Best Partner
As mentioned, you can’t simply pick any agency that claims to be the best. Instead of relying on the agency’s own words, focus on assessing its reputation. Spend some time researching and reading reviews and testimonials regarding the company.
Make sure to keep your eyes open for both the positive and negative comments out there. Don’t get blinded by that first raving review. Be objective to get a balanced impression of the company’s work. If an agency has caught your eye, but you’re not completely sure yet, you can also ask them to send you references. This allows you to get invaluable information from previous clients.
When client satisfaction is high, you’ve found the true mark of the best Shopify agency Europe has to offer. Opting for a reputable agency in this way ensures a proven track record of excellence and market success.
Conclusion: Finding the Right Partner for Sustainable Success
Finding the right Shopify agency to partner with is not a trivial decision. In Europe's competitive eCommerce market, your choice can make or break your online store. What’s more, you don’t just want an agency to help you achieve success—you want a sustainable partnership that can help you keep growing and reach new goals.
Choose a reputable agency that specialises in the main service you require assistance with. Make sure, however, that the company offers a comprehensive package with end-to-end solutions. This will save you time and energy, allowing you to focus on what you do best—running your business, fostering customer loyalty, and developing products.
Aligning your business goals with the right agency ensures sustainable growth and success.
The ideal agency will have regional expertise and market knowledge, and provide long-term support. Partnering with such a Shopify web agency gives your business the competitive edge it needs in Europe.
FAQ: Common Questions About Shopify Agencies
1. What’s the difference between a Shopify Plus agency and a general Shopify agency?
A Shopify Plus agency specialises in enterprise-level solutions for scaling businesses, while a general agency provides broader services. Shopify Plus is Shopify’s premium plan, with advanced features. Shopify Plus agencies help businesses unleash the potential of these features.
2. How do I determine if an agency is the right fit?
Evaluate the agency’s portfolio, assess their expertise, and grasp their communication style to see if they align with your needs and goals. Read reviews and testimonials to choose a reputable Shopify web agency.
3. Should I choose a local European agency over a global one?
A local European digital Shopify agency can likely provide better market insights and compliance with regional regulations, such as GDPR. The regional expertise allows European agencies to better understand your customers and what strategies will resonate with them.
