How to Put Your Shopify Website Under Construction: A Comprehensive Guide

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Understanding the Need for an Under Construction Page
3. Methods to Put Your Shopify Website Under Construction
4. Best Practices During Construction Periods
5. The Benefits of Putting Your Shopify Store Under Construction
6. Conclusion

Introduction

Did you know that nearly 70% of consumers will abandon a website that takes too long to load? In the fast-paced world of e-commerce, having a visually appealing and efficiently functioning online store is crucial. However, there are times when every merchant needs to hit the pause button to make significant updates, rebrand, or completely redesign their Shopify store. In such cases, knowing how to effectively put your Shopify website under construction is essential.

At Tevello, we understand the importance of maintaining a captivating online presence while ensuring that our merchants can make necessary changes behind the scenes. This blog post will explore various strategies to effectively manage your Shopify store during these transitional periods. We will discuss the different methods for putting your store under construction, the benefits of doing so, and how to communicate this change to your audience.

By the end of this guide, you’ll be equipped with practical knowledge on how to put your Shopify website under construction, engage with your customers, and maintain your brand's integrity. So, let’s dive into the strategies that will help you navigate this essential aspect of your e-commerce journey.

Understanding the Need for an Under Construction Page

As Shopify merchants, we are constantly evolving our businesses to meet customer needs and market demands. But what happens when we need to implement significant changes?

Reasons for Putting Your Store Under Construction

1. Website Redesign: A fresh, modern design can enhance user experience and reflect your brand identity more accurately.
2. Adding New Features: Integrating new functionalities, such as advanced payment options or enhanced product displays, may require some downtime.
3. Product Updates: If you are introducing new products or services, it might be beneficial to temporarily hide your store until everything is ready for launch.
4. Performance Issues: Sometimes, performance issues arise that need immediate attention, requiring the store to be offline temporarily.
5. Rebranding: Significant changes to your brand identity, including logos and color schemes, often necessitate a period of adjustment.

Understanding these reasons can help us appreciate the importance of an under-construction page. It allows us to maintain a professional appearance while ensuring our customers know we are actively working to improve their shopping experience.

Methods to Put Your Shopify Website Under Construction

There are several effective methods to put your Shopify website under construction, each with its own advantages. Let's explore them in detail.

Method 1: Using Password Protection

One of the simplest ways to put your Shopify store under construction is by enabling password protection. This method allows only selected visitors to access your site while keeping the general public informed that updates are underway.

Steps to Enable Password Protection

1. Log in to your Shopify Admin: Access your Shopify account using your credentials.
2. Navigate to Preferences: Go to the ‘Online Store’ section, then select ‘Preferences’.
3. Enable Password Protection: Locate the ‘Password Protection’ section and check the box that says “Enable password”.
4. Set Your Password: Enter a password that visitors will need to use to access your store.
5. Custom Message: Optionally, you can add a message to inform visitors about the updates you are making.
6. Save Changes: Don’t forget to save your settings!

With password protection, you can control who sees your site while keeping customers in the loop about upcoming changes.

Method 2: Create a Coming Soon Page

If you want to maintain a connection with your audience while your site undergoes changes, creating a "Coming Soon" page is an effective option. This allows you to keep your brand visible and generate anticipation among your customers.

Steps to Create a Coming Soon Page

1. Use a Shopify App: Consider installing an app from the Shopify App Store that specializes in creating coming soon pages.
2. Customize Your Page: Craft a catchy headline, a brief message about the upcoming changes, and a single clear call to action (CTA) encouraging visitors to subscribe for updates.
3. Add Social Sharing Options: Enable visitors to share your upcoming launch on social media to build excitement.
4. Countdown Timer: Incorporating a countdown timer can create urgency and anticipation among your audience.

By designing a visually appealing coming soon page, we maintain engagement with our audience while our store is under construction.

Method 3: Utilize Custom Under Construction Themes

Many Shopify themes are designed specifically for under-construction purposes, providing a visually appealing interface while we work on updates.

Steps to Use Custom Themes

1. Access Themes: In your Shopify admin, go to ‘Online Store’ and then ‘Themes’.
2. Choose a Custom Theme: Search for themes specifically labeled as “under construction” or “coming soon”.
3. Install and Customize: Once you have selected a theme, install it and customize it according to your brand's style and message.
4. Set as Active: Ensure that this theme is set as the active theme while your main store is under construction.

Using a custom theme allows us to maintain a strong brand presence, even when our main site is not accessible.

Best Practices During Construction Periods

While your store is under construction, it's vital to communicate effectively with your customers. Here are some best practices to follow:

Communicate Openly with Customers

1. Inform Your Audience: Use social media, email newsletters, and your website to inform customers about the construction period and what they can expect.
2. Set Expectations: Clearly communicate how long the construction will last and what improvements customers can look forward to.
3. Engagement: Encourage customers to follow your social media channels for updates or subscribe to notifications.

Create Anticipation

1. Teasers: Share sneak peeks or teaser content about what’s coming.
2. Pre-Launch Offers: Consider offering exclusive deals or early access to loyal customers.

Creating anticipation can help maintain customer interest and excitement for your reopening.

Collect Customer Feedback

During the construction phase, we can leverage this opportunity to gather feedback from our loyal customers.

1. Surveys: Implement surveys on your coming soon page to gather insights on what your audience is looking for.
2. Email Collection: Use email collection forms to build a list of interested customers who want to be notified when the store reopens.

This feedback can be invaluable for shaping our store's future offerings.

The Benefits of Putting Your Shopify Store Under Construction

Making the decision to put your Shopify store under construction may seem daunting, but it comes with several benefits.

1. Enhanced User Experience

By taking time to improve your website, we can enhance the overall user experience. This includes improving navigation, load times, and overall aesthetics.

2. Opportunity for Rebranding

A construction phase allows us the chance to re-evaluate our brand identity. This can include updating logos, color schemes, and messaging to better align with our target audience.

3. Increased Customer Loyalty

By communicating openly and engaging customers during the construction process, we can increase loyalty. Customers appreciate transparency and are more likely to return if they feel involved in the process.

4. Competitive Edge

A well-executed update can set us apart from competitors. By offering improved functionalities or a fresh new look, we can attract more customers and retain existing ones.

Conclusion

Putting your Shopify website under construction is a strategic move that can yield significant benefits for your business. Whether we choose to enable password protection, create a coming soon page, or utilize custom themes, it's essential to communicate effectively with our audience and create anticipation for what’s to come.

As we embark on this journey of improvement, Tevello is here to support Shopify merchants in unlocking new revenue streams and building meaningful connections with their audiences. If you are ready to enhance your online presence and create a course or community platform seamlessly integrated into your Shopify store, we invite you to start your 14-day free trial of Tevello today.

Remember, an under-construction page is not just about being offline; it's about laying the groundwork for a more robust and engaging business future.

FAQ

1. Can I still capture emails while my store is under construction?
Yes! If you use a coming soon app or a custom page, you can include an email capture form to collect leads and notify customers once your store is live.

2. Will Google index my store during this phase?
If you set your store to password protection, it won't be indexed. However, a coming soon page with proper SEO settings can be indexed, helping you build early traffic.

3. How can I build excitement for the launch?
Utilize teaser content, countdown timers, and pre-launch offers to keep your audience engaged and excited about the upcoming changes.

4. Can I preview my store without disabling the under-construction page?
Yes, if you have set a password protection, you can use the password to access your store and preview the changes while it remains hidden from the public.

5. Will disabling my under-construction page erase my settings?
No, your settings and configurations will remain intact even when you take your store out of under-construction mode.

By implementing these strategies, we can ensure a smooth transition while enhancing our e-commerce presence. Let's embrace the potential of change together!