Shopify 6 min read
27 Sep 2021

Why You Need A Shopify Theme For Your Store (And Why Themes Are Not Created Equal)

As they say, don't judge a book by its cover.

But this saying doesn't quite cut it in the e-commerce world.

Here's why:

Your business website is the face of your business. People see it first before they dig in to explore other options. So, having an attractive website isn't an option but a necessity these days.

Now, there are different ways you can go about it...

Many eCommerce platforms are available, including BigCommerce, WordPress, and Shopify.

And Shopify has specifically gained popularity in recent years. That's because it's:

Affordable
Scalable
Easy to use
Secure

What's more?

It comes with a range of amazing themes to help owners and budding entrepreneurs customize their sites.

Shopify Themes come loaded with tons of amazing paid and free themes. Both experts and new sellers can use them to provide a positive experience for their visitors.

What more could one ask for?

But there is a catch…

Not all Shopify themes are created alike.

Also, Shopify currently has 100+ free and premium themes. That means choosing the best Shopify theme for 2024 would be harder than you think.

But fret not. I have created this post to walk you through high-converting Shopify themes for 2024.

After reading today’s post, you’ll have a clear idea of:

What are Shopify themes?
Will changing themes impact your store’s conversions?
Why do you need a Shopify theme for your store?
Why are themes not created equal?
Which is the best Shopify theme for 2024?
How to choose a Shopify theme that converts?

Let's start with the definition first…

What Are Shopify Themes?

Shopify themes are templates that determine the look and feel of your store.

For example, if you're selling beauty products, you want your store to look bright, bold, and vibrant.

See how attractive the MAC official website looks...

But your choice of theme will be different if you sell medicines online.

Here’s the official Walgreens website as an example…

Can you see the difference?

MAC has used a bold background color with a popping white headline. Walgreen's has a white background on its website.

Also, note the difference between their navigation. Mac has many options on its menu. Whereas Walgreen has a streamlined and minimal main menu.

Imagine how it would look if Walgreen also uses a background color like MAC? Your design and color choices will vary according to your niche.

Sometimes sellers who already have websites also want to change their themes. I know a few store owners who fear that moving from one theme to the other will affect their sales.

You need to read this if, in case, you feel the same…

Why Do You Need A Shopify Theme For Your Store?

1. Helps Build Your Brand Personality

Ever wonder what your biggest asset is?

It's your brand.

Sure, your logo is one of the branding essentials. But it is not the only thing you should care about.

What’s more important is to build a brand personality that reflects:

Your brand values;
Sincerity;
And your brand tone and voice.

Your theme plays a vital role in helping you project these attributes.

The result?

Your store will attract more customers.

More Customers = More Conversions ?

Another reason you need a Shopify theme, it...

2. Helps Make Lasting First Impressions

Visitors will leave your site in a flash if it has nothing to make them stay. So, it’s important to have a great-looking site that loads within seconds.

Remember, you may lose 40% of your customers if your website cannot load within three 3-seconds.

And that's where a high-converting Shopify theme steps in.

Did you know that Shopify themes can also help you with your site navigation and UX?

Here's how:

3. Helps Streamline Navigation And Provides The Best User Experience

Many things contribute to your site’s functionality and user experience. Site navigation is one of them. If a user cannot navigate your website, he won’t spend another minute on the website. He’ll click the back button of his browser.

Another thing that affects the user experience on the website is its checkout procedure. If your website has a long and complex checkout system, it will frustrate the users.

They will abandon their carts and quit the website if they’re presented with a tiresome checkout process.

Hence, you need the best Shopify eCommerce theme that provides the best features from navigation to checkout to enhance the user experience at your store.

Now, it’s time to address a critical question:

“Which theme should I select for my Shopify store?”

The selection of the theme depends upon many factors. And no one can select the best theme for your store, except for you!

But, hey, don’t worry!

I’ve created a guide that’ll help you choose the best Shopify eCommerce theme for your business. But before that, let’s talk about the types of Shopify themes available.

Why Are Themes Not Created Equal?

There are three types of Shopify themes available.

1. Free Themes

Shopify is kind enough to offer themes that cost $0. You can install it for FREE. Now, don’t think that free themes aren’t good enough for your business. They provide you with the basic website features to run your store smoothly.

The free theme offers basic website features such as:

Product searching, filtering, and sorting features
Multi-level Menus
Promo banner
Easy navigation
Image zoom for products
Image animations
Mobile responsiveness

But, since free themes don’t cost a dime, they do not provide advanced website features.

For example, you won’t find live chat features, currency converters, newsletter pop-ups, mega menus, etc.

Thus, if you want advanced features on your website, premium themes are your answer.

2. Paid Themes

These themes come with a premium price sticker. Again, the number of features you get with them depends on the price you're paying.

Premium themes cost around $140-$180. You get more features and customization options than free themes.

The premium themes offer:

More design options
Enhanced Mobile Experience
Advanced features such as live view, geolocation automation, social media integration, etc.
Large catalog size
Smoother checkout process
Support from developers

Since you pay a reasonable amount for a premium theme, you will get a lot of features that will enhance your website’s functionality and user experience.

3. Third-party Themes

Then there are third-party themes like Debutify. These themes offer different packages. They offer good value for money along with a wide range of features.

These themes come with different layouts and designs. You can also choose them based on your catalog size.

As you can see in the image below, the search feature on Shopify is pretty strong.

That means you can narrow down your theme choices using different available filters.

From the homepage to navigation options and marketing and social media, you can filter pretty much everything on Shopify.

Wondering which is the best Shopify theme for 2022? Here we go…

Debutify - The Best Shopify Theme In 2024

Debutify is a high-converting Shopify theme designed for people who believe in "doing!".

But the good news is anyone who wants an upscale customer experience can use it without the hassle.

Debutify is best for:

New brand owners looking to launch their ecommerce brand;
Brand owners who wish to switch from their boring and non-converting themes to something that delivers great value;
Brand owners who want to generate traffic and conversions;
Brand owners who wish to kill the competition and make maximum revenue;
People searching for a theme that is affordable yet produces amazing results.

Here’s what Debutify has in store for the users:

Debutify's Features

50+ add-ons
User-friendly
Highly customizable
Exceptional customer service
Seamless social media integration
Fast page-load speed
Mobile-responsive
Built-in features to help you create a feature-rich Shopify store

And a lot more…

Debutify comes with 14-Day Trial. But you can upgrade to one of its paid plans anytime to skyrocket your conversions.

Looking to check out other options too?

Here's a checklist to help you pick the right Shopify theme for your eCommerce store.

How To Choose A Shopify Theme That Converts?

1. Decide On Your Budget

Price is the number 1 factor you need to decide on before choosing a theme for your store.

If you're starting out, a free theme can be a good option. These themes allow you to set up a basic Shopify store.

Obviously, the design and optimization features will be too less than a paid theme.

Paid themes are pricey. But they include everything to help you create a feature-rich and user-friendly store.

The choice is yours...

By the way, you can also select any third-party theme that allows you to download it for free. (You can switch to their paid plans anytime you want.)

Once you've decided on your budget, the next thing you need to do is...

2. Prioritize Options And List The Main Features

Remember...

Shopify has over 100 paid and free options. You can also choose a third-party theme to match your needs.

That's a buffet of options you have there.

So, what do you need to do?

I'd suggest taking your paper and pen out. And start listing down each theme's key features and functions. This way, you'd have a clear idea of what each option offers.

Now that you've listed down your options, make sure you...

3. Keep Your Niche In Mind

You can’t pick a theme designed for electronics and gadgets for your apparel store.

Similarly, it makes no sense to choose a theme designed for cosmetics if you sell edibles online.

Most themes are designed for specific industries. So, do your research and find a theme that fits your needs.

Don't forget to...

4. Favor Lightweight And Mobile-Responsive Themes

You’ve got 2-5 seconds to make your website load. Any second longer than that will make people quit your website.

Make sure you select a theme that is lightning-fast and will load quickly. Because people will not wait forever for your site to load.

Also, don’t forget about your mobile users. More than 50% of internet traffic comes from mobile devices. Hence, Shopify responsive themes are a MUST!

Because if your theme is not mobile-responsive, you will lose a lot of traffic and quality leads at your store.

Okay, now you know how to choose the best Shopify eCommerce themes.

So, what are you waiting for?

Sell, Scale & Succeed With Debutify...Today!

Choosing the best Shopify theme is tough. Especially since you have so many options to choose from. But things become simple when you know what you want.

If you want to scale your brand through the roof, Debutify can be your safest bid.

Wondering what sets Debutify apart compared from other themes?

Unlike other themes, Debutify optimizes beyond the "look and feel" of your store — it also optimizes your revenue. With over 50+ Add-Ons, Debutify helps shoot up your conversions, drives your AOV, and skyrockets your profits ?

It helps you save over $2.5k per month on other apps you’ll need to launch a money-making business.

Not only this, but you can focus on your brand when you have Debutify as your working ally. Debutify will handle the rest.

It doesn’t stop here...

Our developers release new updates every month to help you stay in line with what’s trending.