I'm a computer science student with intermediate knowledge of JavaScript, but I haven't built any websites yet. Recently, I've been negotiating with someone to offer them a website upgrade since their e-commerce site is quite basic. However, I don't really know what specific improvements it needs. I'm looking for some guidance on how to identify areas for improvement on their site. If anyone can help me pinpoint the flaws, I'd appreciate it. My main goal is to close this deal, and I plan to use AI to assist me, but I want to ensure I'm on the right track.
2 Answers
You can perform a Lighthouse performance test using Chrome DevTools. It gives you a report on various issues, which you can then address. Just remember, diving into a project when you're not fully prepared can lead to more stress than it's worth. Make sure what you're taking on is manageable.
If you're inexperienced in web development, it might be tricky to spot the upgrades needed or to effectively manage AI to help you. It’s important to understand the basics first. If the website is laggy and not user-friendly, make sure to check mobile responsiveness and page speed. You can use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to identify slow loading issues and large image files, which are common in older e-commerce sites. Just be cautious about promising a full-site overhaul since that can get overwhelming, especially with critical elements like payment security.

For checking image sizes, look at the properties of the images on the site. You can optimize them using online compression tools. Also, being aware of how the checkout process feels to users is key, even if it seems straightforward to you now.