Ever thought about being an in-demand Shopify developer?
Shopify developer jobs are booming. With over 4.8 million live Shopify stores and counting, there has never been more opportunity for talented web developers to partner with merchants and build world-class ecommerce sites.
There is one thing that separates the successful from everyone else…
Mastery of specific skills that businesses are looking for. Companies expect developers to set up basic Shopify themes these days. But to really shine, master Shopify developers have a portfolio full of projects and an expertise in the details.
In this guide you are about to discover:
- The 8 Crucial Skills Shopify Developers Must Have
- Why Liquid Templating Is Vital For Every Shopify Developer
- A Closer Look At The Shopify Ecosystem
- The 5 Advanced Skills Shopify Developers Must Focus On
- How To Get Started With Shopify Development
The 8 Crucial Skills Shopify Developers Must Have
Before you get too far, let’s be clear about one thing.
Developers who work with ecommerce brands must have a solid foundation in technology. The most successful expert Shopify developers are the ones who work with both frontend and backend technology.
Here is a rundown of the basic skills you must have:
- HTML, CSS, and JavaScript mastery
- Responsive design best practices
- Experience with Git version control
- API integration knowledge
- Problem-solving skills
Ok, there is more to it than just the basic skills.
Shopify developers must know how to use each of these tools and services together within the Shopify platform. Ecommerce merchants now expect mobile-first, responsive designs with every new store. The site must also load lightning-fast on mobile devices.
Shopify website development is now largely a mobile-first experience. The majority of traffic for Shopify stores is now mobile. This means Shopify developers who understand how to build responsive designs will have a leg up.
Why Liquid Templating Is Vital For Every Shopify Developer
Liquid is Shopify’s template language that controls how data is rendered on the storefront. With Liquid, developers can customize themes in any way they desire. This includes building custom layouts for pages such as the home page, product page, collection page, and more.
Liquid is a must-know for any Shopify developer who wants to build custom stores and extensions. Aspiring Shopify developers need to first understand objects, tags and filters, the template hierarchy, and the JSON templates used to create section-based themes.
A Closer Look At The Shopify Ecosystem
Shopify partners play a huge role in the ecosystem.
The Shopify ecosystem is made up of merchants, app developers, and storefront builders, but many developers choose to work in one area or another as a specialist. Shopify Plus developers work with enterprise clients to build custom stores, while App developers build Shopify apps, and storefront developers focus on frontend work.
A Shopify expert understands the Shopify Partner program, the Shopify App store, the Shopify Theme store, and the Shopify Plus plan. Ecommerce store owners are not necessarily developers, but they will use the partner resources to extend their site’s functionality or even hire Shopify developers.
The average ecommerce store owner uses 6 Shopify Apps to run their store.
Shopify has over 100,000 partners in its ecosystem and a 72% increase in partner agencies and developers in recent years. The Shopify Developer program has nearly doubled in size during this same period.
The 5 Advanced Skills Shopify Developers Must Focus On
The Shopify platform evolves each year, so Shopify developers must keep learning to stay relevant. The top developers need to also expand beyond the basics and develop deep expertise in certain areas.
Headless commerce is the new standard. Headless commerce has officially arrived on the Shopify platform, and those that can implement it are in high demand. Shopify headless commerce development allows storefronts to use any frontend framework, such as React or Next.js, while still powering ecommerce operations through Shopify’s backend.
App development is a big opportunity. Shopify apps allow store owners to extend their store’s functionality. Building Shopify apps requires skills in Node.js, React, and GraphQL, but app development can be a huge business.
Performance optimization is key to conversion. Site speed is a major factor in user experience and conversion rates for Shopify stores. The faster your website can load, the better the user experience and the more sales.
AI and Automation are the future. Automated workflows and AI-driven features like chatbots and personalised recommendations are now the norm. Shopify developers who can implement these advanced features will become very valuable.
Shopify’s official data shows ecommerce will account for 20.5% of global retail sales by 2025. This growth means more opportunities for developers.
Shopify Plus and Enterprise Development
Enterprise brands require custom Shopify solutions.
Shopify Plus is Shopify’s platform for large, high-growth brands. Developers working on Plus solutions are building for much larger teams with bigger budgets and higher expectations. Plus merchants use features such as the Script Editor to add custom discounting logic and Flow to automate business operations.
Checkout extensibility and customisation is one of the key Shopify Plus skills. Enterprise clients also tend to have specific needs for multi-currency and multi-language setups as they expand internationally.
How To Get Started With Shopify Development
Become an expert Shopify developer, not just a Shopify theme designer. Shopify Expert Developers build out every aspect of custom Shopify solutions. The skills required for building advanced headless stores and Shopify apps are well worth the investment of time.
Keep pushing your skills as a Shopify developer.
The ecommerce industry is exploding, and Shopify is at the center of it. Shopify developers who commit to continuous learning and expanding their skills will be well-positioned to capture this opportunity.
Wrapping It Up
Master Shopify development by committing to learning the essential skills and continuously expanding your knowledge.
Shopify is a goldmine for web developers, with millions of merchants across the globe in need of building and improving their online stores. Aspiring Shopify experts who take the time to learn the core skills while also developing advanced capabilities in areas like headless commerce and app development will find a world of opportunity.
The path to becoming an expert Shopify developer is simple, but it requires effort and a desire to keep learning. Begin with the basics, build some real projects and continue expanding your skills set over time.
The merchants are waiting, the opportunity is real.
