4/17/2025

The Journey From Migration to Optimization: Switching from BigCommerce to Shopify

Are you pondering a move from BigCommerce to Shopify? You're not alone! Many eCommerce store owners have found themselves navigating this path, full of decisions, challenges, & ultimately, a rewarding experience. Transitioning from one platform to another can feel daunting, but with the right strategy, you can transform this migration into a journey of optimization that will boost your store's performance & drive sales. Let’s break down the steps involved in migrating your store from BigCommerce to Shopify, followed by optimization strategies to enhance your online presence.

Why Migrate from BigCommerce to Shopify?

Before diving into the nitty-gritty of migration, it helps to understand why your fellow entrepreneurs are making the switch. Here are some REASONS often cited for switching from BigCommerce to Shopify:

User-Friendly Interface: Many find Shopify's interface to be more intuitive than BigCommerce's. This means less time learning & more time selling!
Customization Options: Shopify offers a plethora of themes & apps that enable customizability without needing extensive coding experience. According to one comparison, Shopify has a broader range of themes to fit various business needs.
Better App Ecosystem: Shopify boasts a larger app marketplace. With over 8,000 apps available, it’s easier to find tools that cater specifically to your needs. Whether you need marketing assistance or shipping solutions, Shopify has you covered.
Cost-Effectiveness: Depending on your business model, Shopify could be a more budget-friendly option compared to BigCommerce. Going down to the nitty-gritty, Shopify plans can start as low as $29/month, making it a viable option for small startups as well.
SEO & Marketing Tools: Shopify’s built-in SEO features are robust. They help boost your visibility & drive traffic through better SEO optimization than many competing platforms offer.

Now that we’ve set the stage, how do we plan this migration?

Planning Your Migration

Planning is crucial when migrating from BigCommerce to Shopify. The last thing you want is to face hiccups during the process or lose valuable data. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how to PREPARE your store for migration:

Step 1: Inventory Your Existing Store

Before diving into the migration, take stock of everything:

Products: Make sure you know the number of products you currently offer on your BigCommerce store & take note of important details like SKUs, pricing, & variations.
Customer Data: Gather important customer information, including email addresses, purchase history, & any relevant notes about customer preferences or feedback.
Content: Don’t forget to save your blog posts, FAQs, contact information, & any other content that exists on your current website.

Step 2: Choose the Right Migration Tool

Migrating manually could lead to data loss, inconsistent product info, or a mess of product descriptions. To ensure a smooth transition, consider using a migration tool. Cart2Cart is one such migration service that allows for seamless data transfer, handling vital factors like products, orders, customers, & more.

Alternatively, you could turn to Matrixify to facilitate your data movement. Both tools have their strengths, so choose what fits your business needs best. However, do note that some features like gift certificates may not transfer seamlessly unless you’re on Shopify Plus.

Step 3: Prepare Your Shopify Store

Once you've selected a migration tool:

Create Your Shopify Account: Kick off by signing up for a new Shopify account. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the dashboard; it’s user-friendly and full of features.
Choose Your Plan: Shopify offers different plans, so select one that aligns with your business needs, especially as you transition.
Set Up Necessary Page Structures: You’ll want to create standard pages such as Home, Contact, About Us, & your storefront layout. It’s crucial to have a plan for how these pages will look before migration.

Step 4: Migrate Your Data

Follow the instructions provided by your chosen migration tool to transfer your data from BigCommerce to Shopify. Ideally, this should include:

Orders
Customer data
Products
Collections/categories
Blog posts Collectively, this data will form the backbone of your new Shopify store, so ensure that everything is thoroughly checked post-migration.

Step 5: Set Up Redirects

To retain your existing SEO rankings, establish 301 redirects from your old BigCommerce URLs to your new Shopify URLs. This process ensures that visitors searching for your old products can still find them on your new site without a hitch.Not only will it enhance user experience but it’s also crucial for preserving your SEO rankings long-term.

Post-Migration Optimization

Congratulations! You've successfully migrated your store from BigCommerce to Shopify. However, the journey doesn't end here; it’s time to optimize your new environment for peak performance.

Optimize Your Shopify Store

Once your products & data are in place, it's essential to take your new Shopify store to the NEXT LEVEL. Here are some tips and tricks for optimizing your Shopify store:

1. Improve Website Performance

Focus on speed, responsiveness, & overall user experience by optimizing site performance. Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights will provide important metrics related to your various components, from load time to interactivity.

Optimize Images: Ensure that all your images are the correct file size & format to prevent slow page loading times.
Minimize Third-Party Scripts: Excessive applications can hinder your site’s speed; trim any unnecessary scripts.

2. Use SEO Best Practices

Implementing SEO strategies into your Shopify store will improve your site’s visibility:

Focus on Keyword Research: Use tools like Ahrefs to determine which keywords will bring in the most traffic.
Create Unique Product Descriptions: Avoiding duplicate content boosts SEO & improves user experience.
Build Backlinks: Aim to build backlinks from relevant websites to boost your store’s credibility.

3. Leverage Arsturn for Chatbot Integration

An excellent way to enhance your customer interactions during this transition is by using chatbots. With Arsturn, you can effortlessly create customized chatbots for your website that help engage customers at any time of day.

Instant Responses: Arsturn allows you to ensure your visitors receive instant answers to their queries, enhancing customer satisfaction.
Full Customization: Easily customize your chatbot to fit your brand’s voice, providing a cohesive customer experience across your digital channels.

4. Keep Track of Analytics

Once your store is live, you’ll want to measure its performance:

Use Shopify Analytics: This built-in tool will allow you to monitor sales and customer behavior.
Run Surveys: Engage customers with surveys or feedback forms to understand how to improve your offerings further.

5. Automate Your Operations

Streamline your processes using various Shopify apps available in the Shopify App Store. Automating will save you loads of time, allowing you to focus on growth strategies:

Look for shipping & inventory management tools that offer REAL-TIME updates.
Use CRM tools to manage customer relationships effectively.

Conclusion

The story doesn't end with migration; it continues with ongoing optimization. Transitioning your store from BigCommerce to Shopify can open up a world of opportunities. With the right tools & strategies, you can build a successful online store that not only meets your customers' needs but exceeds them! Remember, the journey from migration to optimization is as critical as the initial transition itself. Embrace each step, and you'll be well on your way to making your Shopify store a resounding success.

Ready to Embark on Your Migration Journey?

Ready to take the leap and see how a chatbot can work wonders for your customer engagement? Make your transition easier & faster with Arsturn! Test the platform for FREE, and see how it can help you create a custom chatbot, increase CONVERSIONS, and keep your customers ENGAGED like never before! Don’t miss your chance to leverage the power of Conversational AI.

Happy selling!