As the world of e-commerce evolves, it is important for businesses to stay ahead and embrace new technologies and trends. One of these big changes is the move from BigCommerce Blueprint to a Stencil template.
In this extensive blog post, we will walk you through the entire process of switching from BigCommerce Blueprint to Stencil. We highlight the potential benefits and challenges and provide guidance to ensure a smooth transition.
To make this guide easier to understand, we have divided it into sections with headings and subheadings.
contents
- Why upgrade to a template?
- Preparing to upgrade
- Step-by-step update guide
- Overcome common challenges
- Ongoing maintenance and optimization
- additional resources
- Best practices for managing template stores
- Prepare your template shop for the future
- Application
Section 1: Why Upgrade to Stencil?
Stencil is the next generation theme engine for BigCommerce and offers many advantages over the old Blueprint framework. Upgrading to Stencil comes with several benefits that can help you take your eCommerce store to a new level.
- Improved site speed
- mobile responsiveness
- customization options
1.1 Improved site speed
One of the main benefits of Stencil is the increased site speed.
A faster website means a better user experience, which can result in lower bounce rates and higher conversions.
Stencil uses advanced technologies such as Google AMP and Akamai Image Manager to optimize your site, giving users a faster and more reliable experience.
1.2 Mobile Responsiveness
As more and more users shop on mobile devices, a mobile-optimized website is essential.
Stencil takes a mobile-friendly approach so your website looks and works great on all devices, from smartphones and tablets to desktops.
1.3 Customization options
Stencil offers a wide range of customization options, making it easier than ever to create a unique and compelling shopping experience for your customers.
The Stencil Theme Editor allows you to easily customize the appearance of your theme without having to have extensive coding knowledge.
This flexibility allows you to adapt the store to changing trends, thanks to which the site looks fresh and modern.
Section 2: Preparing to upgrade
Before you jump into the upgrade process, it's very important to do a few preliminary steps to ensure a smooth transition.
- Back up your store
- Choose a template theme
- Schedule your settings
2.1 Back up your store
Always back up before making major changes to your store.
This allows you to go back to the previous version if you run into problems during the upgrade process.
2.2 Choose a template theme
Browse through the template themes available in the BigCommerce theme marketplace below and choose the one that best suits your needs.
Consider factors such as design, functionality, and ease of customization.
2.3 Schedule settings
List any customizations you want to make, such as fonts, colors, or layout changes. Identify the custom code from the Blueprint theme that you want to migrate to the Stencil theme.
You may need to consult with the developer to ensure customizations are compatible with your new theme.
Section 3: Step-by-Step Update Guide
Follow the steps below to upgrade your BigCommerce store from Blueprint to Stencil.
- Install the template theme
- Preview and customize
- Migrate your data and content
- test your shop
- go live
3.1 Install the template theme
Go to the BigCommerce Theme Marketplace and purchase the template theme of your choice.
Then install it in your store by following the on-screen instructions.
3.2 Preview and Customization
Preview the new Stencil theme in your store and customize it with the built-in theme editor.
Apply the customizations planned in section 2.3, making sure to test each change for functionality and appearance.
You may need to consult the developer for help with more complex customizations.
3.3 Migrate your data and content
Move all relevant data and content from Blueprint to the new Stencil theme.
This includes product images, product descriptions, blog posts, and other relevant content.
Make sure all links and navigation elements work properly.
3.4 Test your shop
Before launching a new Stencil theme, it is necessary to thoroughly test the store.
Check for broken links, missing images, or other issues that may affect your user experience.
Test your store across devices and browsers to ensure compatibility and responsiveness.
3.5 Live Streaming
Once you are happy with your new Stencil store, you can activate it by applying the theme to your store.
Carefully monitor your store's performance for the first few days after the update to resolve any issues.
Part 4: Overcoming common challenges
You may encounter some challenges during the update process. Here are some and some suggestions to overcome them:
- incompatible mods
- Broken links or missing images
- Changes to third-party apps or integrations
- SEO considerations
4.1 Incompatible Mods
Some Blueprint theme customizations may not be directly compatible with the template.
Work with the developer to identify any compatibility issues and find solutions to implement the requested customizations within Stencil.
4.2 Broken links or missing images
You may encounter broken links or missing images when migrating your content to the new Stencil theme.
To resolve these issues, check your content migration and make sure all links and image URLs are correct.
4.3 Changes to Third Party Apps or Integrations
Some third-party apps or integrations may work differently with the Stencil theme.
Contact the app developers for help updating the integration to work with the new theme.
4.4 SEO Considerations
Updating to a new theme may affect search engine rankings.
To minimize this risk, make sure your new Stencil theme follows SEO best practices, such as using proper header tags, optimizing metadata, and implementing structured data.
Section 5: Ongoing maintenance and optimization
After successfully upgrading to Stencil, it is necessary to maintain and optimize the store continuously to ensure the best possible performance and user experience.
Here are some tips for ongoing maintenance and optimization:
- Keep your theme up-to-date
- Monitor site performance
- Optimize images
- Browse and update content
- Collect and implement user feedback
- Stay up to date with industry trends
5.1 Update your theme
Stay up to date with updates and improvements to the template.
Update your theme regularly for new features, bug fixes and performance improvements.
5.2 Monitor website performance
Regularly check the performance of your store with tools such as Google PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix and Pingdom.
These tools can help you identify areas for improvement and keep your store running quickly and efficiently.
5.3 Image Optimization
Make sure all product images and other visuals are optimized for the web.
Use image compression tools to reduce file size without sacrificing quality, and consider implementing lazy loading to reduce page load times.
5.4 Viewing and Updating Content
Regularly review your store content, including product descriptions, blog posts, and landing pages, to make sure it's current and up-to-date.
Updating your content can also help with SEO and user engagement.
5.5 Collect and implement user feedback
Gather feedback from your customers and users to identify areas for improvement in the design, functionality and overall experience of your store.
Implement changes based on this feedback to continuously improve your store.
5.6 Stay up to date with industry trends
Stay up to date with the latest eCommerce trends and technologies to keep your store competitive.
Implement new features and optimizations that match the needs and preferences of your target audience.
Section 6: Additional Resources
To further help you manage and optimize your updated Stencil store, here are some additional resources:
- BigCommerce community
- BigCommerce Help Center
- Documentation for template creators
- Ecommerce blogs and newsletters
6.1 BigCommerce Community
Join the BigCommerce community to connect with other store owners, developers and experts.
Share your experiences, ask questions and learn from others who have already switched to Stencil.
6.2 BigCommerce Help Center
The BigCommerce Help Center is a great source of detailed guides, articles, and troubleshooting tips for Stencil and other aspects of running a BigCommerce store.
6.3 Template Creator Documentation
For more advanced customization and development tasks, refer to the Stencil Developer documentation.
This resource provides details on working with Stencil, including theme development, APIs, and more.
6.4 E-commerce blogs and newsletters
Subscribe to eCommerce blogs and newsletters to stay up to date on industry trends, best practices, and new features. Some popular options are BigCommerce Blog, Shopify Blog, Practical eCommerce, and eCommerce Fuel.
By following this comprehensive guide and taking advantage of the additional resources available, you'll be well equipped to manage, maintain and optimize your current BigCommerce Stencil store.
By constantly improving your store's performance and user experience, you can stay competitive in the ever-evolving world of e-commerce and contribute to the continued success of your business.
Section 7: Template Storage Management Best Practices
To ensure the long-term success of your updated Stencil store, it is essential to adopt best practices in running an e-commerce business.
Here are some recommendations for effectively managing your stencil workshop:
- Update inventory and prices regularly.
- Take advantage of marketing and integration features
- Streamline your checkout process
- Implement a strong return policy
- Provide excellent customer service
- Monitor analytics and statistics
7.1 Periodic update of inventory and prices
Update your inventory and prices to provide accurate information to your customers.
Please review listings regularly and adjust stock levels and prices as necessary to reflect any changes in product offerings or market conditions.
7.2 Use marketing and integration features
Enjoy the various marketing features and integrations available with Stencil, such as email marketing, social media integrations, and promotional tools.
These features can help you reach more audiences and increase traffic to your store.
7.3 Streamline the payment process
A smooth and easy-to-use payment process is critical to minimizing cart abandonment and maximizing conversions.
Streamline the checkout process by reducing steps, offering multiple payment options, and including trust signals such as security badges and customer reviews.
7.4 Implement a robust return policy
A clear and fair return policy is essential to building trust and encouraging customers to buy.
Make sure your return policy is easily accessible on your website and clearly outlines the steps and conditions for returning products.
7.5 Provide excellent customer service
Excellent customer service is an important differentiator in the world of e-commerce.
Provide multiple customer support channels such as live chat, email, and phone support.
Provide your support team with fast, friendly and helpful assistance.
7.6 Monitoring analytics and statistics
Regularly review your store analytics and statistics to understand user behavior, traffic sources, and conversion rates.
Use this data to inform your marketing strategies, store optimizations and product offerings.
Section 8: Prepare your template shop for the future
As the e-commerce landscape continues to evolve, it is essential to prepare your Stencil store for the future to stay competitive and relevant. Consider the following strategies to prepare your online store for the future:
- Master new technologies
- Focus on mobile optimization
- Invest in security
- Adapt to changing customer preferences
8.1 Use new technologies
Stay on top of emerging technologies and trends in e-commerce and be open to incorporating them into your store.
These can be chatbots, virtual assistants, augmented reality or other innovations that improve the shopping experience.
8.2 Focus on mobile optimization
As mobile commerce is constantly evolving, it is very important that your store is optimized for mobile devices.
Regularly review and update the performance and responsiveness of your store on mobile devices to ensure the best experience for mobile users.
8.3 Invest in security
Prioritize the security of your store by implementing measures such as SSL certificates, regular security audits, and secure payment gateways.
Keeping your store safe not only protects your customers, it also helps maintain your store's reputation.
8.4 Adapt to changing customer preferences
Pay close attention to changes in customer preferences and shopping habits and adapt your store accordingly. This may include updating product offerings, adjusting marketing strategies, or implementing new features to improve your shopping experience.
By applying the best practices in store management, focusing on the future and staying up to date with the latest trends and technologies, you can ensure the continued success of your modern BigCommerce Stencil store.
Thanks to this, you will be well prepared to navigate in the dynamic world of e-commerce and further develop your business.
Section 9: Conclusions
Upgrading from BigCommerce Blueprint to Stencil can be an important step in improving the performance, user experience and customization options of your eCommerce store. By following this comprehensive guide, you can successfully transition to the Stencil platform and reap its benefits.
Don't forget to carefully prepare for the upgrade, choose a template theme that suits your needs, and follow the step-by-step instructions to ensure a smooth transition. Don't forget to thoroughly test your store before going live and be prepared for any challenges in the process.
With the right approach and careful planning, upgrading to Stencil can be a good investment in the future success of your store.