Start with the constraint
If the store has few relevant organic landing visits, inspect demand coverage, search eligibility and product/collection pages. If suitable shoppers arrive but cannot choose or buy, inspect the offer, product information, shipping/payment concerns and the buying flow.
Both can be weak at once. A store-wide conversion percentage without visitor mix, device, product and measurement checks does not settle the diagnosis.
An SEO scope needs an implementation owner
Ask who changes collection architecture, product information, internal links and the template when research identifies a gap. If the provider only advises, identify the developer capacity and cost before signing.
Ask for an example where buyer research changed a page decision, and an exact description of the platform work. A development portfolio demonstrates implementation; an organic growth claim needs search and sales evidence.
A development scope needs the buying and release requirements
Specify the behaviour to improve: product comparison, variant selection, filtering, navigation, cart feedback or editor maintenance. Define the acceptance checks on representative mobile and desktop templates.
Search preservation, URL mapping where necessary, app/analytics checks and rollback responsibilities belong in the scope. Partner or Plus badges are useful only when verified and relevant to the job.
Compare prices by included work
Ask what the fee includes: research, writing, Liquid implementation, app costs, QA, release and ongoing maintenance. Ask what stays with your team and how extra work is approved.
A fixed template project and an ongoing search programme have different costs. Strata quotes after reviewing the catalogue, dependencies and responsibilities; we do not publish an invented universal minimum or borrow another agency’s price band.
Ask for a pilot you can review
Choose a bounded problem with deliverables and review criteria. Keep the store and repository access in your control. Agree who is accountable when specialists or subcontractors contribute.
Strata offers Shopify SEO and theme implementation, with Dean leading strategy and final review. Inspect the named Shopify work before deciding whether it fits your store.
Which constraint should the paid scope own?
Scroll sideways to read every column.
| Constraint | Evidence to request | Scope owner to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Collections/products lack relevant discovery | Buyer queries, page ownership and index/access findings | SEO strategy with an implementation path |
| Theme or apps prevent correct content/behaviour | Reproducible rendering, navigation or variant problem | Developer with search acceptance checks |
| Relevant visitors hesitate to buy | Product information, stock, delivery and buying-flow evidence | Conversion diagnosis and storefront implementation |
| Several constraints overlap | Prioritized findings and owners | Combined scope with accountable review |
Ask who releases and validates changes, which app costs are excluded, and what your team supplies. Compare delivery models and inspect the development portfolio without turning it into a claim of organic sales uplift.