These are practical guides to common Shopify, WooCommerce and 3D build problems. Each one explains why the problem happens, what to decide first and the steps to fix it, with code where it helps.
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I build Shopify and WooCommerce stores and 3D product configurators for UK businesses. The same small set of problems comes up again and again. A product range hits a platform limit. Filters create thousands of thin pages. A migration loses rankings because redirects were missed. A 3D model is too heavy for a phone.
Each guide below solves one of those problems. They are written for two readers: the person who owns the store and has to make the decision, and the developer who will do the work. Technical details were checked against the official documentation before publishing, and each guide links to it.
Shopify products and options
These guides cover what to do when a product range outgrows the standard Shopify product page. They suit stores with many sizes, finishes or custom options.
- How to Get Past Shopify's Product Variant LimitShopify caps how many variants and options one product can have, so a highly configurable item can run out of room. The fix is to pick the right structure for your catalogue: separate products, line-item properties, metafields, or an option app.
- Product Option Apps vs a Custom Build on ShopifyShopify apps can add product options quickly, but a custom build gives you full control over data and cost. This guide compares the two routes on five points, then gives you a checklist to make the decision.
- Add a 3D Viewer with a Shopify Theme App ExtensionA 3D viewer should load on product pages only, and only where the merchant places it. A theme app extension lets you ship the viewer as an app block, so the code lives in your app rather than in the theme files.
Shopify SEO and speed
These guides fix the technical problems I see most often when I audit a Shopify store. Each one can be checked in an afternoon.
- Canonical Tags on Shopify Collection Product URLsShopify products can be reached through a collection URL, which creates a second address for the same content. A canonical tag tells Google which address to index, and you can check it in a few minutes.
- Faceted Navigation SEO on Shopify: A Practical GuideShopify filters can create many near-duplicate URLs, and search engines waste time crawling them. The fix is to decide which filtered pages deserve a search listing, then block the rest with robots.txt.liquid and correct canonical tags.
- Shopify Markets and Hreflang: A Practical GuideShopify Markets can give each country or language its own URL. Shopify adds hreflang tags for those versions automatically, so search engines show the right one. This guide explains what Shopify adds, how to check it and where stores go wrong.
- Shopify Redirects at Scale for Bulk MigrationsShopify lets you redirect old URLs to new ones, one at a time or by CSV import. This guide shows how to map old URLs, import them in bulk, test the results with a crawler and remove redirect chains.
- Shopify Image Optimisation with image_url and image_tagLarge product photos slow Shopify stores, especially on phones. The fix is to let Shopify's image filters generate sized, responsive markup, then load the main image eagerly and the rest lazily.
- Shopify App Bloat Audit: Find and Remove LeftoversUninstalled apps can leave scripts, snippets and embeds behind, and these slow your store. This guide shows how to list your apps, switch off unused embeds, measure leftover code and remove it safely on a duplicate theme.
WooCommerce builds
These guides cover the jobs that keep a WooCommerce store fast, accurate and easy for search engines to read as it grows.
- How to Migrate WooCommerce to HPOS SafelyOlder WooCommerce stores save orders in the WordPress posts tables, and that slows down large stores. High-Performance Order Storage (HPOS) moves orders into their own database tables, which are faster to query. This guide shows how to switch safely, check your plugins and declare compatibility in custom code.
- Variable Products at Scale in WooCommerce StoresA variable product with hundreds of combinations can make product pages slow and hard to manage. This guide shows how to raise or lower the dropdown threshold, edit variations in bulk and import them from a spreadsheet. It also explains when attributes, add-ons or separate products fit better.
- WooCommerce Faceted Search: Speed and SEO GuideFaceted search lets shoppers narrow products by size, colour, price and more. Each filter can create many new URLs and slow the store down. This guide shows how to build filters that stay fast, and how to stop filtered URLs from wasting search engine crawling.
- WooCommerce Speed: Caching and Scripts GuideWooCommerce cart, checkout and account pages cannot be cached like a blog post. The fix is to keep those pages out of the cache, check the header cart count, and stop loading shop scripts on pages that do not need them.
- WooCommerce Structured Data: Product Markup GuideWooCommerce adds basic Product data to product pages by default, but Google merchant listings need more. The fix is to check the live output, fill missing fields such as brand and GTIN, and keep one set of markup per product.
- Shopify to WooCommerce Migration: Step-by-Step GuideMoving from Shopify to WooCommerce means moving products, customers, orders and every old web address. The fix is to export your data, map old URLs to new ones before launch, and replace the Shopify apps you relied on.
3D models on the web
These guides are for teams adding 3D product views or a configurator. They start from a GLB file and end with a fast, working viewer.
- Optimise glTF for the Web: A Step-by-Step GuideA heavy 3D model slows every product page it appears on. I fix this by removing waste from the file, shrinking its textures and compressing its geometry, then checking the result before it goes live.
- Compress Textures with KTX2 for 3D ModelsLarge texture images make 3D models slow and heavy in graphics memory. KTX2 stores textures in a format the graphics card reads directly. This guide shows how to convert them, choose ETC1S or UASTC and load them in three.js.
- Embed a 3D Viewer in WordPress: Step by StepWordPress refuses GLB files by default, and a 3D script adds weight to every page. This guide shows how to allow GLB uploads, then add a viewer that loads its script only where you place it.
How to use these guides
Start with the guide that matches the problem you can see today. Read the first two sections before you change anything, because they explain what to decide first. The steps assume you can work on a copy of your theme or a staging site.
- Make one change at a time, then measure the result.
- Keep a note of what you changed and when, so you can undo it.
- Test on a phone as well as a desktop, because most shoppers browse on mobile.
- Check the official documentation linked in each guide, because platforms change.
If a fix touches checkout, payments or customer data, test it on a staging site first. A mistake there costs sales straight away.
When to get help
Some of these jobs are quick. Others, such as a platform migration or a configurator build, touch every part of the store. If the work affects revenue, search rankings or customer data, a second pair of eyes is worth having. See my Shopify development, WooCommerce development and product configurator services, or read the 3D commerce glossary for the terms these guides use.
Common questions
Are these guides for Shopify Plus or standard Shopify?
Most steps work on any Shopify plan. Where a feature is limited to Shopify Plus or to development stores, the guide says so. Always check your own plan in the Shopify admin before you rely on a feature.
Do I need a developer to follow them?
Some guides only need the admin and a browser. Others edit theme code or run command-line tools. Read the steps through first, so you can decide before you begin whether to do it yourself.
How often are the guides updated?
Each guide shows the date it was published. Shopify and WooCommerce change often, so the guides link to the official documentation for every setting they mention. Check those links if a menu or option looks different.