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BigCommerce Knowledge Base: Getting Started with Your Stores

Last updated: December 05 2024

Written and researched by experts at Avada Learn more about our methodology

In this article, we’ll dive into the comprehensive guide of the BigCommerce Base and learn all the essential fields of the BigCommerce platform. 
What is BigCommerce Knowledge Base?

The Knowledge Base section in the BigCommerce Help Center is packed with guides, how-to documents, blogs, and videos, all designed to assist you in setting up and managing your BigCommerce online store efficiently.

What is included in the BigCommerce Knowledge Base?

BigCommerce Knowledge Base is more than just a collection of articles; it’s a comprehensive guidebook with everything you need. Let’s explore the rich resources available. 

User Docs  

User Docs 

Starting with the User Docs, imagine having a friendly guide by your side, walking you through each step of managing your online store. That’s exactly what you get here. Need to add a new product? Check. Updating your store logo? Got it. Setting up that all-important payment gateway? No problem. 

The User Docs are packed with step-by-step instructions for these everyday tasks, simplifying the use of the BigCommerce control panel and making it straightforward to navigate. Plus, there’s handy reference material to explain store settings and the many ways to offer free shipping. It’s the go-to resource for both BigCommerce newbies and seasoned pros. Here’s a snapshot to give you a flavor:

  • Instructions of various aspects of Product such as: Inventory, Loyalty program, Multi-Location and Product Attributes. 
Instructions of various aspects of Product such as: Inventory, Multi-Location and Product Attributes
  • Find documentation on improving your design and content, including theme browsing, designing basics, and content pages.  
Find documentation on improving your design and content, including theme browsing, designing basics, and content pages
Find documentation on improving your design and content, including theme browsing, designing basics, and content pages-1

Guides

Guides section

Next up, the Guides section takes a deep dive into specific topics like order fulfillment, analysis & performance. Rather than focusing solely on the technical side, these guides broaden the scope to cover ecommerce best practices, packed with advice, tips, and the latest industry trends.  

Moreover, these guides are rich with case studies and real-world stories to fuel your strategy planning. And this section includes recommendations for third-party services to boost your business. Here’s a peek at what you can expect:

Guide section are rich with case studies and real-world stories

For example, the “Guide to Site Speed” by BigCommerce is a vital resource for e-commerce store owners, emphasizing the crucial role of fast page loads in enhancing user experience and SEO rankings. It offers practical insights into measuring and improving site speed, highlighting key factors such as server performance, image optimization through CDNs, and the impact of embedded Javascript and high traffic. 

Guide to Site Speed

Another example is the 3-chapter guide about Cryptocurrency.

Another example is the 3-chapter guide about Cryptocurrency

Additionally, the guide explores the implications for e-commerce, specifically for BigCommerce users, by detailing how to combine cryptocurrency payments into the online store and discussing the benefits and considerations of adopting this innovative payment system.

Videos

Videos

If you want to learn visually or just prefer getting information quickly, the video tutorials in the Knowledge Base are perfect. These professionally-produced videos offer a concise introduction to various features within BigCommerce. Whether understanding products and variants or getting a handle on customer management, these videos make learning fast and efficient.

Videos under 5 minutes

Most videos are under 5 minutes, making them easy to digest. Plus, with built-in timecode links, you can jump straight to the part that interests you. And there’s more—each video page includes links to all the resources mentioned, so you can dive deeper whenever you’re ready.

Themes & design

Developer Docs 

Developer Docs 

For the tech enthusiasts and developers who love to fix behind the scenes, the BigCommerce Dev Center is your playground. Here, you’ll find comprehensive documentation on APIs, the Stencil framework, and everything else you need to build apps and themes for BigCommerce stores. 

BigCommerce Dev Center

The Developer Blog offers guidance and inspiration and showcases what others have achieved with BigCommerce. It’s a space where developers can learn from each other and see the amazing possibilities of e-commerce development.

Developer Blog offers guidance and inspiration

Limitation of Overusing BigCommerce Knowledge Base

The BigCommerce Knowledge Base is super helpful, but just like any library, there are a few things to keep in mind so you don’t get lost in the stacks.

Platform Limits

BigCommerce sets limits on certain features to ensure your store operates efficiently. For example, there are restrictions on the number of brands your store can include or the amount of products displayed on your homepage. If you still exceed these permitted amount, the store will have errors or issues. 

Outdated information 

BigCommerce tries to keep everything in the Knowledge Base fresh and up-to-date. But sometimes, things change so fast that an article might not have the latest info. 

Generic advice 

The Knowledge Base offers guides and tips similar to general cookbooks, providing useful advice for many situations. However, just as cooking sometimes requires a special recipe, your online store might need customized adjustments. What benefits one store may not suit another, so it’s important to adapt these suggestions to meet your store’s requirements. 

Lack of personal support 

All information on the Knowledge Base is general without personal overview or support, so you don’t receive a response when you have a tricky question. 

Technical Complexity 

Some parts of the Knowledge Base, especially the developer sections, can get pretty technical. If you’re not super tech-savvy, these sections might feel like reading a book in another language. 

Wrapping Up

As we know all the information about the BigCommerce Knowledge Base, it is clear that this resource is a goldmine for users and developers to optimize their e-commerce journey. However, remember that the Knowledge Base is a starting point; don’t hesitate to seek further customization and personal support, and stay updated with the latest platform changes.

BigCommerce Knowledge Base: FAQs 

Absolutely! The Knowledge Base includes comprehensive step-by-step guides for setting up your store, from adding products and categories to configuring payment and shipping options. It is best for new users to get started and seasoned merchants to refine their setups.

Yes, the Knowledge Base has a dedicated section for developers, including API documentation, developer tools, and guides on customizing themes using the Stencil framework. Whether you're building custom apps or tweaking store designs, plenty of technical documentation supports your projects.

If you cannot find the information you need, BigCommerce offers several other support channels, including community forums, customer support, and contact with account managers for more personalized assistance.

To stay up-to-date with the latest BigCommerce updates and features, subscribe to the BigCommerce blog, follow BigCommerce on social media, and join the BigCommerce Community forum. Additionally, regularly checking the Announcements section of the Knowledge Base is a great way to catch up on recent changes and new capabilities.

Sam
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Sam Nguyen is the CEO and founder of Avada Commerce, an e-commerce solution provider headquartered in Singapore. He is an expert on the Shopify e-commerce platform for online stores and retail point-of-sale systems. Sam loves talking about e-commerce and he aims to help over a million online businesses grow and thrive.