When you’re a creative person, running a website can feel like the least fun part of the job. You want to be making prints, playing with colour or sewing up something new and not figuring out why your site takes 10 years to load. But the truth is, your website is like your shop window and if your shop window is dirty and full of garbage, or in this case slow and glitchy then people click away before they even see your incredible work.
I know this struggle first hand. My background is in design and creativity but I’ve also been working as an E-commerce Co-ordinator for Hand & Lock (the world’s oldest embroidery house) for years now. Balancing creative energy with the technical side of e-commerce is basically my everyday life. And honestly? Once you crack the basics, the “boring” side of websites doesn't seem so daunting any more and allows you to create a platform to show off your amazing creative skills.
Keep it speedy
A slow site is like a shop door that sticks, people don’t want to wrestle with it, they just leave. Speed isn’t just about user experience either, our old pal Google uses your site speed to decide where you rank in search results, so if you’re slow then back of the line for you.
Here are some quick tips I’ve learnt that might be of some help:
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Shrink your images - High-res is great for printing but is not necessary for web. Compress images so they’re under 300KB where possible.
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Ditch unnecessary apps/plugins - Every extra feature slows you down. Keep only what you actually use.
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Check your hosting - Sometimes the problem isn’t you diva, it’s your host. A good host equals a faster site!
SEO who?
SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) basically tells Google what your site is about so the right people can find you. Here are some easy things you can be doing to make sure your store is SEO friendly,
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Keywords are your friend - Think about what your audience would search for. Instead of just “print,” try “bold colourful art print” or “eco-friendly wall art.” Sprinkle these naturally into your product titles, descriptions and blogs.
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Meta descriptions matter - These are the little blurbs that show under your link on Google. Keep them snappy and full of those keywords.
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Alt text your pics - Always describe your images with keywords. For example, “sustainable floral wall art in pink and orange.” It helps with accessibility as it is intended to be read out to those who are unable to see the image themselves and it also plays a little part in your SEO.
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Internal links - Where is is natural you can link to your other products or blogs, like this. It keeps people exploring your site longer (and Google cowing loves it)
Keeping it creative
The technical side feels like the opposite of creativity and is often the last thing you want to be dealing with. I see so many incredible creatives with the most amazing products that are not able to link to a store or even a a page to tell people more about their work! By working on your SEO, site speed and all those other jiggly little things you have a place all for yourself to properly show off your creativity!!
I hope these tips and tricks help you with creating a site that perfectly highlights your incredible art :)
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