The Complete BigCommerce Cheat Sheet: Platform Mastery Guide

Introduction: What is BigCommerce and Why It Matters

BigCommerce is a leading SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) e-commerce platform that helps businesses create, manage, and scale online stores. With its robust feature set, flexible API, and enterprise-grade performance, BigCommerce powers thousands of online stores worldwide.

Why BigCommerce matters:

• Offers powerful out-of-the-box functionality with minimal development overhead
• Provides enterprise-level security and PCI compliance
• Enables omnichannel selling across multiple marketplaces and social platforms
• Delivers exceptional uptime (99.99%) and scalability for growing businesses
• Reduces total cost of ownership compared to self-hosted solutions

Core Concepts and Principles

Key Terminology

Store Architecture

• Control Panel: Where you manage products, orders, customers, and settings
• Storefront: The theme and design elements customers interact with
• Checkout: The system handling payment processing and order completion
• APIs: Allow custom functionality and third-party integrations
• Apps: Add-on functionality from the BigCommerce App Marketplace

Setting Up a BigCommerce Store: Step-by-Step Process

1. Store Setup and Configuration

1. Create your account

   • Sign up at BigCommerce.com
   • Select your plan (Standard, Plus, Pro, or Enterprise)
   • Complete the initial store setup wizard

2. Configure store settings

   • Store profile (name, address, contact information)
   • Shipping zones and methods
   • Tax settings and rules
   • Payment gateways
   • Email settings
   • Legal pages (privacy policy, terms & conditions)

2. Product Setup Process

1. Create product categories

   • Establish logical category hierarchy
   • Set category images and descriptions
   • Configure category-specific settings

2. Add products

   • Basic information (name, SKU, price, description)
   • Images and videos
   • Inventory tracking
   • Shipping dimensions and weight
   • SEO metadata
   • Product options and variants

3. Configure product options

   • Set up option sets (size, color, material, etc.)
   • Create product variants with specific pricing and inventory
   • Set up modifiers that affect pricing or product functionality

3. Design and Customization

1. Select a theme

   • Browse the theme marketplace
   • Purchase a premium theme or start with a free option
   • Install and set as active

2. Customize your storefront

   • Adjust colors, fonts, and layout using the Theme Editor
   • Customize homepage sections
   • Set up navigation menus
   • Add logo and favicon
   • Configure mobile responsiveness settings

4. Launch Preparation

1. Set up payment providers

   • Connect payment gateways (PayPal, Stripe, etc.)
   • Configure payment settings and security options

2. Configure shipping

   • Set up shipping zones
   • Define shipping methods and rates
   • Enable real-time carrier quotes if needed

3. Test essential functions

   • Complete test purchases
   • Verify email notifications
   • Check mobile responsiveness
   • Ensure all links work properly

4. Launch your store

   • Connect domain name
   • Remove password protection
   • Announce your store opening

Key Techniques and Tools by Category

Product Management

Order Management

Marketing and SEO Tools

Multi-Channel Selling

Developer Tools

Platform Comparison: BigCommerce vs Competitors

BigCommerce vs Shopify

BigCommerce vs WooCommerce

BigCommerce vs Magento

Common Challenges and Solutions

Challenge 1: Theme Customization Limitations

Problem: The visual editor has limited customization capabilities Solution:

• Use Stencil CLI for advanced theme development
• Edit theme files directly with HTML/CSS
• Consider headless approach for complete frontend flexibility
• Use Page Builder for drag-and-drop customization

Challenge 2: Product Variant Limitations

Problem: Complex products with many options can hit variant limits Solution:

• Use product modifiers instead of options where possible
• Create separate products for highly variable items
• Implement custom product selection tools via API
• Utilize product bundles for complementary items

Challenge 3: International Selling Complexity

Problem: Managing multiple currencies, languages, and tax rules Solution:

• Enable multi-currency features
• Use translation apps from the marketplace
• Configure tax settings by region
• Implement geolocation-based content/pricing
• Set up region-specific shipping methods

Challenge 4: Slow Page Load Times

Problem: Store performance affecting user experience and SEO Solution:

• Optimize image sizes (use WebP format where possible)
• Implement lazy loading for images
• Minimize custom scripts
• Use Akamai Image Manager
• Enable Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) where appropriate
• Reduce third-party apps that add JavaScript

Best Practices and Practical Tips

Product Setup Best Practices

• Use consistent naming conventions for products and SKUs
• Create detailed, benefit-focused product descriptions
• Include multiple high-quality images from different angles
• Optimize product titles and descriptions for search
• Set up proper inventory tracking from the beginning
• Implement logical category structure with breadcrumbs

SEO Optimization

• Create unique meta titles and descriptions for all pages
• Use search-friendly URLs (automatically generated)
• Implement schema markup for products
• Optimize image alt text and filenames
• Create a logical internal linking structure
• Submit your sitemap to search engines

Conversion Rate Optimization

• Enable abandoned cart recovery emails
• Implement product reviews and ratings
• Use exit-intent popups sparingly
• Display security badges and payment icons
• Optimize checkout flow (minimize steps)
• Create urgency with stock level indicators and time-limited offers
• Use high-quality product images and videos

Performance Optimization

• Minimize third-party scripts
• Optimize and compress images
• Utilize browser caching
• Minimize custom JavaScript
• Use BigCommerce’s CDN effectively
• Regularly audit and remove unused apps

Common Control Panel Shortcuts

Essential BigCommerce APIs

Resources for Further Learning

Official Documentation

• BigCommerce Developer Documentation
• BigCommerce Knowledge Base
• BigCommerce University
• BigCommerce Community

Third-Party Resources

• BigCommerce Partners Directory
• Theme Documentation
• BigCommerce YouTube Channel
• BigCommerce Blog

Books and Courses

• “BigCommerce For Dummies” by Various Authors
• LinkedIn Learning: BigCommerce Essential Training
• Udemy: BigCommerce courses for merchants and developers

Developer Tools

• Stencil CLI
• BigDesign Component Library
• Figma UI Kit
• Postman Collections

Communities and Forums

• Stack Overflow: BigCommerce Tag
• Reddit: r/bigcommerce
• BigCommerce Partners Slack