What is one of the most basic requirements of every Shopify store?
It’s that the store functions smoothly and seamlessly without any disruptions.
But many Shopify merchants ignore the fact that for smooth functioning, the store requires a proactive approach for managing its tasks. That is, prevent issues and disruptions from occurring.
Instead, what do they do? They get trapped in a reactive cycle. They wait for issues to occur and then find a solution.
Taking a proactive approach is easy with Shopify retainers. Retainers provide ongoing, timely, and strategic support to ensure stores function smoothly and prevent problems from occurring.
With Shopify retainers, you can receive continuous access to a team of experts who consistently monitor the website to identify issues that need attention. This preventive maintenance and strategic improvement helps avoid emergency situations that can cause disturbance to your Shopify flow.
The result? Seamless functions, ongoing processes, satisfied customers, and consistent revenue. Additionally, you can ensure faster solutions at predictable costs.
But how do you identify when to hire a Shopify retainer?
Let’s find out!
When to hire a Shopify Retainer?
If you’re launching a new Shopify store or are struggling with some aspect of your existing store and wondering when to hire a Shopify retainer, this section will help you understand.
Performance-Related Triggers
A slight dip in performance metrics or decreasing conversion rates, maybe your Shopify website’s performance related data can provide cues for when it’s time to onboard a Shopify retainer.
1. Slow load times or frequent errors
One of the most common reasons why site visitors leave is slow loading speed. Slow loading time affects your Shopify store in many ways, such as decreased performance metrics, frequent error notifications to visitors, impacting user experience.
These problems are just a few of the issues that can occur in Shopify stores. These issues require continuous monitoring and optimization support. If you’re facing any of these issues, it’s time to hire a Shopify retainer that can provide proactive maintenance and issue resolution.
2. Low conversion rates
At times, you might notice your Shopify conversion rates decline without any obvious reason. To ensure a consistent high conversion rate, you require ongoing CRO support. For instance, your Shopify UX design, checkout flow, or site speed could be affecting the conversion rate.
This is when you must hire a Shopify retainer. A Shopify CRO retainer provides data analysis, testing, optimization for checkout flow, design, UX/UI, cart recovery, and A/B testing, among other services. This ensures your store performance continuously improves, increasing conversion rate.
3. SEO ranking
If you want your Shopify store to rank on search engines, you will require consistent SEO optimization support. For instance, when you notice your site SEO rankings fluctuate or slow down traffic.
Shopify SEO retainers help with keyword research, content optimization, SEO improvement, and strategic link building. These ongoing activities ensure your store stays visible and competitive.
Operational Triggers
If you’re noticing issues with your Shopify operations and want to bring the store back on track, explore Shopify retainers for consistent support.
1. Regular need for app update
Another time when you should hire a Shopify retainer is when you have multiple apps that require regular updates. For instance, your Shopify store might have third-party apps that require updating, configuration, and troubleshooting from time to time.
This is where a Shopify retainer service comes handy. Retainers ensure all your app-related needs are attended to, such as regular theme maintenance, technical services, security improvements, etc.
2. Increased customer support tickets
If you notice an increase in the number of customer support requests, maybe it’s time to onboard a Shopify retainer. For instance, are customers reaching out to your support time with checkout issues, slow loading, mobile site problems, or navigation issues?
Shopify technical support retainers can help you manage these issues on an ongoing basis with quick support, technical fixes, etc. that can help you fasten ticket resolution time. This proactive approach ensures customer satisfaction and smooth processes.
3. Managing multiple freelancers/agencies
Running a Shopify store requires many different services. If you hire different consultants or agencies, you might have to coordinate with multiple people. If coordination is taking a lot of your time, it’s time to do away with this complexity. This is when you hire a Shopify retainer.
Hiring one retainer for multiple services ensures less coordination, consistent quality, and support for various requirements. This makes it easy for you to manage and coordinate your site requirements.
Growth-Stage Triggers
Taking your business to the next stage may require additional and advanced expertise. This is when you may need the help of Shopify retainers.
1. Expanding into new markets or scaling
As your Shopify business grows, you will need to improve your website. For instance, add more tools for better inventory management, marketing, search functionality, etc. This is when you need to hire a Shopify retainer to help with growth and strategy.
Shopify growth and strategy retainers provide support for scaling, identifying growth opportunities, new markets, optimizing business models, and more. This ensures brands are able to scale and grow with the right technical infrastructure.
2. Regular campaigns
A huge part of growing businesses is running marketing campaigns. Marketing campaigns require a lot of effort, expertise, planning, implementation, and monitoring. This is where a Shopify retainer agency comes in.
Shopify marketing retainers can provide comprehensive services for campaigns including design, strategy, technical implementation, performance optimization, data analysis, email marketing, social media, etc.
3. Entering international markets
Businesses that want to expand into international markets require slightly different and advanced support. For instance, multi-currency and multi-language features, localized content, international shipping, regulations, etc.
Hence, if you’re planning to go international with your Shopify store, you must hire a Shopify retainer to help you with the many tasks. Shopify customization retainers can provide the support required to successfully and professionally take your business across borders.
Long-Term Strategic Needs
Businesses that fail to take a long-term approach, find it hard to sustain in the long run. That is why, if you want consistent long-term performance and profitability, you must hire Shopify retainer services.
1. Design and branding
Brand consistency is critical, especially for the long-term. So, if you’re struggling with maintaining a consistent brand image, and wondering when to hire a Shopify retainer? It’s the right time.
Branding and design retainers provide ongoing support for website design, page layout, UX/UI optimization, content creation and design, etc. With a monthly design and branding retainer, not only can you ensure consistency, but also keep improving your store experience.
2. Data-driven improvements
Data collection, analysis and optimization is extremely important for eCommerce stores to succeed and stay relevant in the market. However, data-based optimization requires expertise as it involves design, conceptualization, implementation, etc.
Shopify CRO retainers provide comprehensive support to increase conversion via data collection, analytics, and using data-driven insights for increasing conversions. If you want to take informed actions for your Shopify store, it’s time to hire Shopify retainers.
3. Roadmap planning
To ensure long-term success, you require strategic planning. This requires expertise and an understanding of your business goals. Without long-term planning, your Shopify store might struggle to sustain in the long run.
This is when you must hire a Shopify retainer. Your long-term retainer teams can create a comprehensive roadmap for your business, involving technical infrastructure, business development needs, marketing and strategy, among others.
Wrapping Up: When to Hire a Shopify Retainer?
Running and managing a Shopify store requires a lot of time, effort, resources, and expertise. And hence, if you’re smart to understand when to hire a Shopify retainer, you can ensure high performance and consistent profitability from your business.
