Here are simple, practical PrestaShop tips for beginners to help you manage your store smoothly, improve speed, SEO, and avoid common mistakes:
✅ PrestaShop Tips for Beginners
1. Choose the Right Hosting
- Pick hosting optimized for PrestaShop (LiteSpeed, NGINX).
- Minimum PHP 8.1 recommended.
- Use SSD storage & 2GB+ RAM for better performance.
2. Use a Lightweight Theme
- Avoid heavy themes with too many modules.
- Prefer default classic theme + custom CSS or a clean marketplace theme.
- Fewer modules = faster site.
3. Disable Unused Modules
Go to Modules → Module Manager and turn off anything you don’t use:
- Stats modules
- Social sharing modules
- Payment methods not required
- Example banners, etc.
This reduces load time and backend clutter.
4. Enable Cache
Go to Advanced Parameters → Performance:
- Smarty cache: Enabled
- CCC (Combine, Compress & Cache): Enable all
- Use Memcached if hosting supports it.
This improves speed significantly.
5. Optimize Images
- Upload compressed images (100–200 KB ideal).
- Use WebP if possible.
- Keep product image dimensions consistent (Square: 800×800 or 1000×1000).
6. Create Good Product Titles & Descriptions
- Title = Product Name + Main Feature
Example: Men’s Black Cotton Shirt – Slim Fit - Write original descriptions; avoid copy-paste.
- Add bullet points for features.
7. Add Proper SEO Meta Tags
Go to Catalog → Products → SEO:
- Add a short & keyword-rich meta title.
- Add a clear meta description (150–160 characters).
- Add friendly URLs.
8. Fix Google Search Console Errors
Check:
- Breadcrumbs schema
- Product schema
- Image issues
- Mobile usability
Use Google Rich Results Test to test your URLs.
9. Keep Your PrestaShop Updated
- Update PrestaShop, PHP, & modules regularly.
- Always backup before updating.
10. Use Important Built-in Features
- Catalog Price Rules for offers
- Cart Rules for coupons
- Email Templates for branding
- Multistore if you run multiple shops
11. Secure Your Shop
- Change admin URL (example: /admin123 instead of /admin)
- Enable SSL
- Strong passwords
- Regular backups
12. Use the Database Cleanup Module
- Delete old carts
- Delete logs
- Clean old orders (if test mode)
- Optimize tables
This improves speed.
13. Remove Demo Data (Beginners forget this!)
If using a purchased theme:
- Delete sample products, categories, banners, sliders.
14. Install the Must-Have Modules
- Google Tag Manager
- SEO Expert (optional but useful)
- Image compression module (TinyPNG or similar)
15. Understand Friendly URLs
Enable friendly URLs in:
Shop Parameters → SEO & URLs
This helps with ranking and cleaner links.