Guides
Things worth knowing before you pay anyone
Written from work we actually did, including the parts that were our own mistakes. Each one answers a question people genuinely type, and you can act on all of them without hiring us.
Why your site is fast when cached and slow when it is not
“Why is my website fast sometimes and very slow other times?”
Because the fast requests are being served from cache and the slow ones are not. The cache is hiding the real problem rather than fixing it. The number that matters is how long an uncached page takes, and on a healthy site that should be under about a second.
Read the guideWhy Merchant Center says everything is fine when it is not
“My Google Merchant Center shows no issues. Does that mean my feed is fine?”
No. Merchant Center reports whether your feed passes its own validation, not whether the data in it is true. Across five accounts we audited, four reported zero issues and we found 56 real problems between them, including one account reading 100% eligible while sending menswear to women.
Read the guideWhat to check before you migrate an online store
“How do I move my online store to another platform without losing my Google rankings?”
Write the redirect map before you build anything. Export every URL that currently earns search clicks, map each one to its destination on the new platform, and treat that document as the migration plan. Almost every migration that loses rankings loses them here.
Read the guideWhy Google Ads stops counting your Shopify orders after a third-party checkout
“Why is Google Ads not tracking purchases on my Shopify store with a third-party checkout?”
Because the checkout finishes the order somewhere your tags do not run. One-click checkouts take the shopper off your theme, so the thank-you page where the Google Ads tag fires never loads. The order is real; Google just never hears about it. The fix is to send purchases to Google Ads from the server, using the order data and the click id saved with it.
Read the guideWhy Google Ads shows more conversions than you have orders
“Why does Google Ads show more conversions than actual orders?”
Because something other than a purchase is being counted as one. The usual culprits are auto-created codeless conversion actions counting page views or button clicks, a duplicate purchase action, or enhanced conversions crediting Google for orders that came from other channels. Each leaves a different fingerprint, and each can be found in an afternoon.
Read the guideMeta shows checkouts but no sales. Is the checkout broken?
“Why does Meta Ads show initiated checkouts but no purchases?”
Usually because Meta's checkout count is not what it sounds like. It credits any checkout started by someone who clicked the ad within the attribution window, on any product, and counts checkout page loads where no details were entered. Check Shopify's abandoned checkouts and orders for the advertised product before you touch the checkout.
Read the guideWhy GA4 and Google Ads never show the same numbers
“Why don't GA4 and Google Ads conversions match?”
Because they count differently by design. Google Ads credits a conversion to the ad click and to the day of that click, and can include cross-device conversions. GA4 credits by its own attribution model on the day the conversion happened, and loses visitors who refuse consent or block scripts. A steady gap is normal. A growing or sudden gap is a tracking problem.
Read the guideStape or Google Cloud for server-side Tag Manager
“Should I host server-side Google Tag Manager on Stape or Google Cloud?”
For most Indian stores, Stape. Both run the same server Tag Manager container. Google Cloud bills for always-on instances and leaves setup, scaling and monitoring to you. Stape charges a flat monthly plan and adds a first-party loader, Cookie Keeper, ready-made integrations and readable request logs, which is what you need when proving that purchases reach the ad platforms.
Read the guideAuto-applied recommendations are changing your Google Ads
“Why did my Google Ads target ROAS change on its own?”
Most likely an auto-applied recommendation. Google Ads can be set to apply its own recommendations automatically, including raising or lowering target ROAS and CPA. The change history shows them as Recommendations Auto-Apply rather than a person. They are opt-in, often switched on years ago, and can be turned off in the Recommendations page.
Read the guideHow to create a Wikipedia page that is not deleted
“How do I create a Wikipedia page?”
Create an account, check the subject has significant coverage in independent reliable sources, write a neutral draft with a citation for every claim, and submit it for review. Most pages fail on the second step, not the writing. Without independent coverage, a well written page is still deleted.
Read the guideCan you create your own Wikipedia page?
“Can I create a Wikipedia page for myself or my company?”
Technically yes, but Wikipedia strongly discourages it. Editing about yourself or your company is a conflict of interest, and self written pages are deleted often. The accepted route is to disclose the connection, propose the draft for independent review, and supply facts and sources rather than judging your own notability.
Read the guideWikipedia vs EverybodyWiki: which page do you need?
“What is the difference between Wikipedia and EverybodyWiki?”
They are separate, unrelated sites. Wikipedia only accepts subjects with significant independent coverage and is run by volunteers under strict rules. EverybodyWiki has a lower bar for inclusion and its own rules. A page on one does not appear on the other and does not count as Wikipedia notability.
Read the guideHow to find out who owns a domain name
“How do I find out who owns a domain?”
Run a whois lookup to see the registrar and, sometimes, the registrant. Most owner names, emails and phone numbers are now hidden by privacy law or a privacy service, so the record often shows only the registrar. When it does, contact the owner through the website itself, the registrar's contact relay or the abuse address.
Read the guideHow to find out who hosts a website
“How do I find out who hosts a website?”
Look up the website's IP address and see which company owns it. That company is the host, or a CDN in front of the host. The registrar and the DNS provider are different companies and do not show where the site actually lives. A whois lookup that also resolves the IP shows all three.
Read the guideHow to check how old a domain is
“How do I check a domain's age?”
Look up the domain and read its registration date. The time since then is its age. A whois lookup shows that date and works out the age for you. A domain that expired and was registered again by someone else starts again from the new date, so age is not always the age of the site.
Read the guideWhat is whois, and how to read a whois record
“What is a whois lookup?”
Whois is the public record of who registered a domain and through which company. A lookup shows the registrar, the registration, update and expiry dates, the status codes and the name servers, and sometimes the owner. Registries now publish this through a newer standard called RDAP, which is what modern lookup tools read.
Read the guideWhat does clientTransferProhibited mean?
“What does clientTransferProhibited mean in a whois record?”
It means the registrar has locked the domain so it cannot be transferred to another registrar until the lock is removed. It is a normal, good setting that protects against domain theft. Seeing it is not a problem. Not seeing it on a domain you care about is the thing to check.
Read the guideWhat is DNS propagation, and how long does it take?
“How long does DNS propagation take?”
Usually minutes to a few hours, occasionally a day or two. Nothing is actually being pushed around the internet. Resolvers hold on to the old answer until its time to live (TTL) runs out, and name server changes can take longer because the old delegation is cached too. Lower the TTL before a planned change to make it faster.
Read the guideWhat are UTM parameters, and how do you use them?
“What are UTM parameters?”
UTM parameters are labels added to the end of a link, such as utm_source and utm_campaign. When someone clicks it, Google Analytics reads the labels and records which campaign sent them. Always set source, medium and campaign, keep values lowercase, and never put them on links inside your own site.
Read the guide301 vs 302 redirect: which one should you use?
“What is the difference between a 301 and a 302 redirect?”
A 301 is permanent: it tells browsers and search engines the old address has moved for good. A 302 is temporary: it says the old address is still the real one. Use 301 for site moves, https and www changes. Use 302 only when the original will come back.
Read the guideHow to fix ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS
“What does ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS mean and how do I fix it?”
It means the site is stuck in a redirect loop: address A sends the browser to B and B sends it back to A. Clear the site's cookies first, then check for conflicting https and www rules, a mismatched site URL, a security plugin or a CDN set to the wrong SSL mode. A redirect checker shows the loop.
Read the guideHow to check SPF, DKIM and DMARC records
“How do I check a domain's SPF, DKIM and DMARC records?”
Look up the domain's TXT records. SPF is a TXT record starting v=spf1. DMARC is a TXT record on the name _dmarc followed by your domain. DKIM is a TXT record on a selector name followed by _domainkey and your domain, and you need the selector from your email provider. A DNS checker shows all three.
Read the guideHow to find out what theme a Shopify store is using
“How do I find out what theme a Shopify store is using?”
Every Shopify storefront publishes its theme details in the page source. Open the store, view the page source and search for Shopify.theme. The schema_name is the theme's real name, schema_version is its version, and a theme_store_id means it came from the Shopify Theme Store. A free detector reads all of it for you.
Read the guideHow to find out which apps a Shopify store uses
“How can I see which apps a Shopify store is using?”
Look at the scripts the storefront loads. Apps that add something to the store, such as reviews, chat, pop-ups or a checkout layer, load scripts from their own addresses, and an app detector reads them and names the apps. Apps that only work in the admin or after the checkout leave no trace, so any list is a minimum.
Read the guideHow to calculate profit margin on Shopify
“How do I calculate my profit margin on a Shopify order?”
Take the price without GST, subtract every cost that order carries (product, shipping, packaging, payment fees, returns, ad spend and a share of your plan and apps), and what is left is profit. Divide it by the price without GST for margin. Most owners overstate profit because they leave out fees, returns and ads.
Read the guideEvery fee on a Shopify order in India
“What fees does a Shopify store pay on each order in India?”
The store plan, your payment gateway's fee and the GST on it, Shopify's own per-order fee for using an outside gateway, apps, shipping, packaging, returns and failed deliveries, and advertising. Shopify Payments is not available in India, so the gateway fee and Shopify's fee both apply to every order. Rates differ by plan and provider, so check your own statements.
Read the guideCOD vs prepaid: what each order really costs
“What is RTO in ecommerce and how does it affect profit?”
RTO means return to origin: an order is shipped but not delivered, and comes back to you. You pay shipping both ways, packaging and often damaged stock, and the ad spend that won the order is wasted. It is far more common on cash on delivery than on prepaid orders, so COD can cost more than it looks even though it carries no gateway fee.
Read the guideHow to bulk redirect URLs in Shopify with a CSV file
“How do I bulk import 301 redirects into Shopify?”
Make a CSV with two columns, Redirect from and Redirect to, then upload it in Shopify admin under Content, Menus, View URL Redirects, Import. The old address goes in as a path, such as /product/blue-shirt. The free redirect CSV generator on this site builds the file and cleans up chains and repeats.
Read the guideHow to write a robots.txt file
“How do I write a robots.txt file?”
A robots.txt file is a plain text file at yourstore.in/robots.txt. It starts with `User-agent: *`, then lists `Disallow:` lines for paths crawlers should skip, then a `Sitemap:` line. Use the free robots.txt generator on this site to build one for your platform and to choose which AI crawlers to block.
Read the guideWhat is a GTIN, and how do you check a barcode number?
“How do I check if a barcode number is valid?”
A barcode number is valid when its last digit, the check digit, matches the one calculated from the other digits. EAN-13 has 13 digits and UPC-A has 12. Enter the number into the free GTIN checker on this site and it tells you whether it is valid and what the last digit should be.
Read the guideHow to make a UPI QR code for your shop
“How do I make a UPI QR code for my shop?”
A UPI QR code is a QR holding a payment link made from your UPI ID and name. Enter both into the free UPI QR code generator on this site, download the image, and print it. Pay ₹1 to it from another phone before you print a batch.
Read the guideHow to check if your XML sitemap is working
“How do I check if my sitemap is working?”
Open yourstore.in/sitemap.xml. It should load as a list of addresses, and every address should open a normal page. Enter your site into the free sitemap checker on this site and it finds the sitemap, counts the addresses and opens a sample to catch the ones that do not load.
Read the guideHow to add schema markup to your website
“How do I add schema markup to my website?”
Build the JSON-LD for the page type, paste it inside a script tag in the page, then test it in Google's Rich Results Test. The free schema markup generator on this site builds the code for products, FAQs, local businesses and articles. Check first whether your theme or plugin already adds some.
Read the guideWhat is break-even ROAS, and how do you calculate it?
“How do I calculate break-even ROAS?”
Break-even ROAS is the order value divided by what the order earns before ad spend. If a ₹1,499 order earns ₹693 after GST, product, shipping, fees and returns, break-even ROAS is about 2.16. Below that, each ad order loses money. The free ROAS calculator on this site does the sums for your own numbers.
Read the guideHow to convert images to WebP for your store
“How do I convert images to WebP?”
Drop your JPG or PNG files into the free image to WebP converter on this site. It runs in your browser, so nothing is uploaded, and it gives back smaller WebP files you can resize and rename. Use quality 80 to 85 and a longest side of about twice the size the image shows at.
Read the guideHow to add an email signature in Gmail and Outlook
“How do I add an email signature in Gmail and Outlook?”
In Gmail, open Settings, See all settings, General, Signature, create a new one, paste it and save. In Outlook, go to Settings, Accounts, Signatures, then paste and save. The free email signature generator on this site builds one you can copy and paste, with a logo if you want.
Read the guideWhat is a vCard QR code, and how do you make one?
“What is a vCard QR code?”
A vCard QR code is a QR code that holds a contact card, with your name, phone, email and website. When someone scans it with their phone camera, they are offered the chance to save you as a contact. The free vCard QR code generator on this site makes one in a minute, nothing uploaded.
Read the guideCPM, CTR, CPC and CPA explained
“What do CPM, CTR, CPC and CPA mean in advertising?”
CPM is what 1,000 views cost, CTR is the share of views that click, CPC is what a click costs, and CPA is what an order costs. Enter your numbers into the free ad metrics calculator on this site and it works out all of them, plus conversion rate and ROAS.
Read the guideWhat is the LTV to CAC ratio?
“What is the LTV to CAC ratio?”
The LTV to CAC ratio compares the profit a customer brings you over time with what it cost to win them. A ratio of 3 to 1 or better is a common rule of thumb. The free LTV and CAC calculator on this site works it out from your order value, margin, repeat rate and acquisition cost.
Read the guideHow to calculate ROI and the break-even point
“How do I calculate ROI and the break-even point?”
ROI is what you got back minus what you spent, divided by what you spent, times 100. The break-even point is your fixed costs divided by what each unit earns after its own cost. The free ROI and break-even calculator on this site does both from your own numbers.
Read the guideCharacter limits for every platform
“What are the character limits for ads, SEO and social media?”
Google Ads headlines are 30 characters and descriptions 90. SEO titles are about 60 and descriptions about 160. Instagram bios are 150, X posts 280, LinkedIn headlines 220 and Google Business posts 1,500. The free character counter on this site checks your text against all of them at once.
Read the guideHow long should a meta title and description be?
“How long should a meta title and meta description be?”
About 60 characters for the title and about 160 for the description is a good target. Google actually cuts by width in pixels, so a title with wide letters is cut sooner. The free SERP preview tool on this site measures the width in your browser and shows how it may look.
Read the guideHow to write a product title for Google Shopping
“How do I write a good product title for Google Shopping?”
Start with the brand, then say what the product is, then add the details a shopper would filter by, such as model, colour, size and material. Keep promotions out. Titles can be up to 150 characters, but many places show only the first part. The free product title builder on this site does it for you.
Read the guideHow to calculate volumetric weight for courier shipping
“How do I calculate volumetric weight?”
Multiply the box's length, breadth and height in centimetres, then divide by 5000, which most Indian couriers use. A 30 × 20 × 15 cm box is 1.8 kg. The courier bills the larger of that and the real weight. The free volumetric weight calculator on this site does it for you.
Read the guideWhat is a URL slug, and how do you write a good Shopify handle?
“What is a URL slug?”
A URL slug is the part of a page address that names the page, such as blue-cotton-shirt in yourstore.in/products/blue-cotton-shirt. On Shopify it is called the handle. Keep it short, lowercase and hyphenated. The free slug generator on this site makes one from any name, and a whole list at once.
Read the guideHow to get more Google reviews without buying them
“How can I get more Google reviews fast?”
Ask every real customer, soon after the experience, with a link that opens the review box directly. Start with your past customers, then ask new ones right after each sale or service, and reply to every review. Buying reviews looks faster, but Google removes them and can restrict the profile, so you end up with fewer reviews than before.
Read the guideI bought fake Google reviews. What happens now?
“What happens if I bought fake Google reviews?”
Google can remove them, often in waves, and repeated violations can restrict or suspend your profile. Stop buying, do not accept a “replacement” from the seller, check what is still live, and rebuild with genuine reviews from real customers. Nobody can guarantee that bought reviews stay, and another purchase repeats the same pattern.
Read the guideHow to make a QR code with your logo, and keep it scannable
“How do I make a QR code with my logo?”
Make the code, add your logo in the middle at about a fifth of its width, use the highest error correction and keep a dark code on a light background. The free QR code generator on this site does all of that in your browser, with nothing uploaded. Then scan a printed copy before you order a batch.
Read the guideWhat must a GST invoice contain?
“What details must a GST invoice have?”
A GST tax invoice normally shows the seller's name, address and GSTIN, a unique invoice number and date, the customer's details, a description of each item with its HSN or SAC code, quantity, taxable value, the tax rate and the CGST and SGST or IGST amount, the total, the place of supply and a signature. The free GST invoice generator on this site lays this out and works the tax out, in your browser. Rules change, so confirm anything you are unsure of with your accountant.
Read the guideWhen is an e-way bill needed, and how do you create one?
“When is an e-way bill required, and how do I generate it?”
Generally an e-way bill is needed when goods worth more than ₹50,000 move in a vehicle, whether for a sale, a return or a transfer. Services do not need one. Only the government e-way bill portal, or an approved service provider, can create it, not your invoice software. Some goods and short trips are exempt, and states set their own limit for movement inside the state, so confirm yours. The free GST invoice generator on this site gets every field ready.
Read the guideShopify product CSV import errors, and how to fix each one
“Why is my Shopify product CSV import failing or importing wrong?”
Most failed or damaged Shopify imports come from a short list: prices with currency signs or commas, rows that lost their handle, two variants with identical options, option values with no option name, barcodes or SKUs a spreadsheet turned into scientific notation, image links Shopify cannot fetch, and columns shifted by a stray comma. The free Shopify product CSV checker on this site finds all of them in your browser before you upload.
Read the guideHow to make a passport size photo at home
“How do I make a passport size photo at home?”
Take a clear, front-facing photo against a plain light wall, crop it to the size your form needs (35 x 45 mm is common in India), then print a sheet of copies at 100% size. The free passport size photo maker on this site crops, limits the file size and builds the print sheet in your browser, so your photo is never uploaded. Always check the exact rules of the office or form first.
Read the guideHow to reduce image size in KB
“How do I reduce an image to 50 KB or 20 KB?”
Lower the image quality, and if that is not enough, reduce its pixel size, until the file fits under the limit. The free reduce image size in KB tool does this in your browser: add the image, tap the limit and download. Nothing is uploaded.
Read the guideHow to convert JPG to PDF, and combine photos into one file
“How do I convert JPG to PDF or combine photos into one PDF?”
Add your images to a JPG to PDF tool, put them in order, choose the page size and make the PDF. Each image becomes one page. The free JPG to PDF converter on this site does it in your browser, so your documents are never uploaded, and it can make the file small enough to email.
Read the guideHow to bulk update prices on Shopify
“How do I update all my Shopify prices at once?”
Export your products as a CSV from Shopify, change the Variant Price column (and Compare At Price if you use it) and import the file with Overwrite existing products ticked. The free Shopify bulk price editor on this site changes prices by percent or amount, rounds them and shows a preview, all in your browser. Always keep a backup and import a small batch first.
Read the guideHow to add product variants in bulk on Shopify
“How do I add many variants to a Shopify product at once?”
Build a product import CSV where each variant is its own row under the product's handle, with the option names on the first row and an option value on every row, then import it in Shopify. The free Shopify variant generator on this site makes every combination, unique SKUs and prices for you and checks the file before you download it.
Read the guideHow to bulk edit SEO titles and descriptions in Shopify
“How do I bulk edit SEO titles and meta descriptions in Shopify?”
Export your products to a CSV, fill the SEO Title, SEO Description and Image Alt Text columns from templates, and import the file with Overwrite existing products ticked. The free Shopify SEO bulk editor on this site does the filling in your browser with a Google-style preview. Use templates as a baseline and write the best sellers by hand.
Read the guideHow much does website maintenance cost in India?
“How much does website maintenance cost in India?”
Website maintenance in India commonly costs ₹3,000 to ₹15,000 a month for a small business site, and more for online stores or custom builds. Price follows the platform, the number of plugins or apps, and how fast you need fixes. Our WordPress plans start at ₹3,999 a month and Shopify plans at ₹5,999.
Read the guideMy WordPress site is hacked. What do I do?
“What do I do if my WordPress site is hacked?”
Take a full backup of the site as it is, change every password from a clean device, put the site in maintenance mode, and scan for injected code and unknown admin users. Then clean the files and database, update everything, and close the way in. If Google shows a warning, request a review once the site is clean.
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