How to migrate from Magento to Shopify without losing data or traffic
Are you ready to make the transition from Magento to Shopify?
It’s an exciting move – but it can be daunting too. With the complexity of cross-platform migrations, the last thing you want is for your online data and traffic to get lost in limbo.
In this blog post, we’ll show you how to migrate from Magento to Shopify without losing any of your existing data or important web traffic.
Read on for our definitive guide on how to successfully switch platforms — so that moving forward, digital success is always in reaches!
Replatforming is a huge and complex decision. But as your business evolves and tech needs change it becomes important to migrate to a platform that best fits your business needs and objectives.
Replatforming is more than just switching platforms. It should act as a springboard and lay the foundation for future success.
“You are only as good as your eCommerce platform”
It is Moore’s law
There are businesses that suffer from antiquity and cumbersome integrations trying to fit in an eCommerce platform that isn’t cut out for their needs or budget. It is wiser to migrate. Upward mobility requires change.
But let’s face it. Replatforming is a tough choice and there is usually a driving issue behind it. It could be…
High maintenance costs
Takes too long to develop new features
Lack of personalization options
Why Shopify?
Shopify is the cool kid around the block. It is affordable and doesn’t require a steep learning curve. Though Magento is a huge eCommerce player and has some of the best features, it can be cost-prohibitive and difficult to manage.
Shopify also has the added advantage of offering a hosting solution and has multiple pricing packages to choose from.
This is a long-drawn and time consuming process. It involves copy pasting store data into your new platform.
It requires strong tech skills and can be error prone.
We don’t blame you if you flashback to the first time you read HTML or the dreadful feeling of encountering a 404 message.
Opting for Magento to Shopify migration service provider
This is the best bet. You can let certified developers do the heavy lifting for you. Ensure you work with an experienced development team to avoid hassles.
Here’s what to look for:
Exposure to the Shopify set up and API
The payment plans offered
A history of successful migration projects
New platform. New beginnings.
We all do a check before leaving on a trip. Moving to another eCommerce platform is a long and sometimes befuddling trip. Just to make sure you’re all set, here are a few tips.
Pre migration checklist:
Ready to grab your bags and move to Shopify?
There are just two things that can happen when you migrate to a new platform.
Option 1: It can be the best decision you’ve taken all year
Option 2: It can bring down your business and turn it into a dumpster fire
Ensure you fix your budget, timelines and have a clear endgame in mind before taking the big leap.
Your website is your visiting card. It is in essence who you are and what your brand stands for. It is important to collect and analyze qualitative and quantitative data.
Quantitative data is easier to collect. You can go through Google Analytics to collect and segment your site data. Make a list of all the pages that draw in most traffic, the pages with the highest bounce rates, the user navigation paths of high-performing pages, visitor demographics etc.
Qualitative data is how your customers interact with your site.
Key Takeaways
Set fixed timelines and goals to ensure your migration process is on track.
Collect important quantitative and qualitative site data to retain high performing pages, work on underperforming ones and make course corrections as you move ahead.
Ensure you share your findings and goals with your replatforming service provider.
Design- Ensure your new home delights your customers
Who doesn’t love a quaint welcoming home? Your design plays a key role in conversions. And that is why it is important you play close attention to it.
“I love my design”
Are you house proud? If your existing design is great at converting visitors and you’ve put in a lot of homework on CRO then it is the best decision to take.
You can replicate your site right down to the last pixel if you partner with the right Shopify development provider.
Because you need a complete custom rebuild to recreate your Magento store on Shopify.
It results in quicker launch time and clearer cost estimates.
“I can use a visual refresh of my existing design”
It is taking the middle path and can help you launch quickly yet retain your brand’s existing flavor.
The biggest upside of taking the middle path is that your customers are familiar with your store’s layout and don’t feel lost.
You can refresh your site, work on CRO and give it a slight facelift.
“A new design. A complete rebrand”
Is your site looking a bit dated? Do you want to rebrand yourself? A complete redesign of your site might be just what the doctor ordered.
It usually results in better usability, higher conversions and smoother customer journeys.
If you aren’t happy with your design, redesigning it while migrating is the best choice you can make.
Key Takeaways
Analyze your design needs and check whether your site’s design resonates with the brand message you want to convey.
Design is about functionality. Check whether navigation and next steps are streamlined.
Set aside a design budget.
Integrations
This is the final layer of your Shopify migration process. For added functionality and enhanced overall performance you need to integrate with apps and platforms.
Collect a quick list of your third party integrations and identify ways you can improvise your tech stack to boost your site’s performance.
Key Takeaways
Figure out the integrations and tech stack you need to function optimally.
Identify unnecessary cost drivers and eliminate them.
Making the switch to a shopify development company is a huge and highly complex decision, but one that should not be taken lightly.
As businesses grow, their technology needs evolve and the platform they are using may no longer be the best fit for their goals. Replatforming can provide an opportunity to move codebase forward and lay a foundation for future success.
It’s important that all parties involved have an accurate understanding of the shopify development company they are migrating to in order to make sure it meets the unique business needs and objectives.
Conclusion:
Not all migrations have fairytale endings. To ensure your Magento to Shopify move is successful, be well prepared. Do you need a little help along your journey? Let us know.
