This is a complete beginner’s guide to understanding Magento and who it’s for. It's designed for people who have just heard of Magento and know very little about it.
We’ll cover everything you need to know before deciding whether to migrate your current website to Magento, or if you just want to learn Magento development as a developer.
Some of the insights here come from Andy, a Magento expert and founder of Aware Digital.
Book a free consultation with our Magento team for expert advice.
What is Magento?
Magento is a leading Magento ecommerce platform built on PHP, XML, and JavaScript. There are three versions: Adobe Commerce, Adobe Commerce Cloud, and Magento Open Source. They share the same core code, with Adobe Commerce offering extra features like visual merchandising, advanced reporting, and customer segmentation.
Because it’s robust and highly customisable, Magento is suitable for businesses of all sizes. It’s most often used for larger product catalogues, making it easier to manage and sell products online.
Want to see Magento in action? Request a demo of a live Magento website tailored to your business.
Who is Magento for?
Magento is for eCommerce businesses. Its superior SKU handling compared to other popular eCommerce platforms like Shopify and WordPress makes it ideal for managing complex inventories.
SKU stands for Stock Keeping Unit, allowing you to track and identify inventory while customizing attributes such as brand, colour, or gender. While other platforms can handle SKUs, Magento allows for more extensive customisation with attributes and SKU management.
Not sure if your business is a good fit? Ask us for a free Magento suitability assessment.
Is Magento hard to learn?
Yes, Magento is considered one of the hardest platforms for developers to learn. To be effective, you need to understand coding in PHP, XML, and JavaScript.
If you’re a complete beginner, expect 6–12 months to become proficient as a Magento developer, studying 5 hours per day.
Do I need to know how to code to make changes inside of Magento?
No. You don’t need coding knowledge to manage a Magento ecommerce website. You can update stock, change pages, and manage products as long as the functionality is built into your site.
We also offer training for non-developers so your team can confidently manage your Magento store.
Is Magento expensive?
Magento is one of the more expensive eCommerce platforms. Building a Magento website can cost five figures.
Get a free Magento cost estimate tailored to your business.
Magento 1 vs Magento 2
Magento 2 is built differently from Magento 1. It’s faster, more user-friendly, improves SEO, and fixes many Magento 1 bugs. Security is updated, and it’s the recommended platform for new builds.
Thinking of upgrading? Ask us about a seamless Magento 1 to 2 migration.
What are Magento extensions?
Magento extensions add functionality to your website. They can enhance user experience, increase conversions, improve SEO, and more.
Think of extensions as apps for your site. Just like installing apps on your phone, extensions give extra, useful features.
Need help selecting the right Magento extensions? Contact us for guidance.
Are there opportunities for Magento developers?
As more businesses go online, demand for Magento developers grows. The platform supports high-volume eCommerce websites, and companies need skilled developers to manage growth.
Many eCommerce businesses outsource development to experts like Aware Digital, a leading Magento web development company. If you have the skills, there’s demand for Magento specialists.
Is Magento good for SEO?
Yes, Magento is SEO-friendly. Developers can adjust HTML elements, meta data, canonical tags, and other SEO-critical components. This makes it ideal for businesses aiming for search visibility.
Need SEO help for your Magento store? Contact us today.
Does Magento have a customer support team?
Magento’s built-in customer support is minimal. Developers often need to resolve issues themselves or work with a Magento web developer to manage the store effectively.
Work with Aware Digital for expert Magento support, from setup to ongoing management.
Whether you’re a business looking to scale or a developer wanting to master the platform, Magento is the ultimate eCommerce solution - and our Magento experts are here to help you make the most of it.
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Looking for more Magento support? Our certified team are happy to talk and answer any questions you might have about eCommerce, Development or Marketing.