How to Find the Right Shopify Experts to Grow Your Business

In the bustling world of e-commerce, the challenge for many Shopify merchants isn't just about setting up a store, but ensuring it thrives amidst fierce competition. Whether you're just launching your online venture or scaling a thriving enterprise, there's a widespread question: How do you find the right Shopify experts to help grow your business?

Enter Tim Masek, the VP of Growth at Storetasker, a freelance talent marketplace that's been the go-to solution for top-tier brands like Chubbies, Alo Yoga, and Dermalogica. With thousands of brands placing their trust in Storetasker's network of elite freelance developers, designers, and marketers, Tim has his finger firmly on the pulse of the Shopify ecosystem.

In today's expert interview, we chat with Tim to delve deep into the nuances of selecting the right experts to elevate your Shopify store. If you've ever wondered about the magic behind successful Shopify brands or felt overwhelmed by the plethora of “Shopify experts” online, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. 

So, grab a cup of your favorite brew, and read on. 

9 Questions and answers on how to find the right Shopify experts to grow your business

1. Understanding expertise 

MONEI: In the vast world of e-commerce, what makes someone a true 'Shopify Expert'? What qualifications or experiences should they possess?

Tim Masek: Shopify experts are folks who build, design, grow, or streamline Shopify stores. In simpler terms: Shopify experts typically fall into 4 categories: Developers, Designers, Marketers, or Operators. 

An ‘expert’ will have worked on notable Shopify stores and have had multiple years of experience doing freelance work: This signals that they’ve solved many unique challenges and have experience in handling a client professionally.

2. Scope of specialization

M: How can a merchant determine which type of expert they need for their specific business challenges?

TM: Usually, the first type of specialization a merchant will need is a developer. You need to have an operational store to generate sales. 

A close second is a designer. Most Shopify stores tend to compete with others in a similar category, and design queues help customers make choices. 

Soon after that, you’ll need a marketer. A marketer will help you drive visits to your store. 

And finally, once you have orders coming in, you’ll need to process and deliver them which is when you’d hire an operations specialist. 

3. Matching to business scale

M: How should the size and growth stage of a Shopify store influence the type of expert a merchant should look for?

TM: Shopify stores of every size will need technical knowledge to operate. For example, the smallest merchants will still need a functional store which requires development. 

However, as merchants scale up in size, they usually level up their ambitions and further invest in themselves. So budgets for freelancers do tend to increase with revenue volume. 

For example, a successful Shopify store 10x-ing its sales volume will require more operational support to fulfill orders and streamline processes. 

4. Checking credentials

M: What are the key indicators or credentials a merchant should consider when vetting potential Shopify experts?

TM: For starters, you want to make sure you’re vetting experts by asking the right questions. If you don’t know enough about the role you’re filling, find somebody to help you in your vetting process. With so much jargon available, it’s easy to get duped. 

Once you have the questions down, look out for key indicators such as which stores they’ve worked on (are they similar to yours?) and dig deep into what exactly they have done on those stores. 

Storetasker takes that burden off of you with its highly vetted pool of Shopify freelancers across development, design, and marketing. 

5. Real-world application 

M: Can you share a case study or example where hiring the right Shopify expert made a significant difference in a store's growth or problem-solving?

TM: At Storetasker we’ve helped thousands of stores meet their ideal freelancer (from small merchants to billion-dollar businesses like Dermalogica) — it’s what we do every single day, and the impact is always there. 

But if I had to give one case study, I’d highlight how we helped the team at JUDY find a freelance developer with special knowledge in Builder.io (headless landing page solution). 

The JUDY team had a real talent gap and couldn’t create landing pages (critical to their growth) without a specialized developer. Logan (one of our experts) was able to support and build out systems that enabled the JUDY team to create dozens of iterations of their landing pages and ultimately find great success in their paid acquisition efforts. 

6. Communication and collaboration

M: How important is communication compatibility between the merchant and the expert? What red flags should merchants be wary of during initial conversations?

Some simple red flags to pick up on in terms of bad communication might be: Is your expert showing up on time to meetings? Are they adhering to deadlines? Are they receptive to feedback? 

Last point: Make sure you align vision-wise. An expert may have good technical and communication skills but may not share your creative or business vision. This can make or break a relationship. 

7. Budget considerations

M: How can a merchant determine a reasonable budget for hiring a Shopify expert? Are there industry benchmarks or guidelines they can refer to?

TM: You can start by nailing down your ideal hourly rate. For reference,  at Storetasker, most of our experts charge between $80-120. That fee gets you talented folks (without any agency surcharges). 

8. Long-term relationships

M: How can merchants ensure that their relationship with a Shopify expert evolves as their business grows? What makes for a successful long-term collaboration?

TM: The best merchant-expert relationships usually form when the expert is included in the business decisions of the merchant. The more open you are to feedback vs. offering directions, the more likely a long-standing relationship will form.

9. Staying updated

M: The world of e-commerce and Shopify is constantly evolving. How can merchants ensure that their chosen expert stays updated with the latest trends, tools, and strategies?

TM: Stay on top of the latest tools via 1-800-D2C. Get monthly e-commerce insights via our Storetasker newsletter. And also subscribe to insights from the likes of Nik, Eli & Nate. For the developers: Subscribe to {{ i_only_speak_liquid }}. 

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Alexis Damen

Alexis Damen is a former Shopify merchant turned content marketer. Here, she breaks down complex topics about payments, e-commerce, and retail to help you succeed (with MONEI as your payments partner, of course).