About this video
A first look at our Turbo Start BigCommerce starter. It pairs Sanity with BigCommerce as a one-way sync engine and ships JavaScript-free navigation for SEO and AEO.
Full transcript
Edited transcript from the original Roboto page
So, Big Commerce. Why would I build with Big Commerce over Shopify? Generally Shopify is B2C and Big Commerce is B2B. Now, if you're not particularly well-versed on your TLAs, what's a TLA? Well, the three-letter acronym. A B2C is business to consumer. B2B is business to business.
Why is this important and why does the central infrastructure change depending on which one you're going for? Well, with Shopify, as a general rule of thumb, you have a store. The store has a bunch of products, probably hundreds if not thousands. The store maybe has something like a coupon, but it's all kind of nice and slim line. The idea is you can just fire these things out and start selling products.
B2B is slightly different. There's a lot more focus around accounts and different prices depending on who you are, and a lot more of that custom functionality that you'd expect as you build a relationship with another business. B2B is a totally different kettle of fish.
Starting with Turbo Start Big Commerce, I want to show you a few of the different things inside here and why this differs from the pure Big Commerce offering. One of the most important ones that most people don't get on their websites, and I will tell you, go try it on all the different websites: disabling JavaScript.
What happens when we disable JavaScript? There are some caveats because I've just said that you have custom pricing per user and that's probably not going to work here. But I will show you why this is important. If I disable JavaScript and refresh the page, you're going to notice that absolutely nothing has changed. That's actually a really good thing because you realistically want to be able to see the page and see all the different versions of it.
Right now this is set up more as B2C because of the products in here. Nobody's going to go from business to business to buy a denim coach jacket. But the point of this demo is that we've put a bunch of fake dummy content in here. We might swap this out in the future, but for now it was the easiest way of doing it.
However, as you can see, you can actually navigate the store. JavaScript is still off and I can still see all of these pages, which is really important because if you're going for Google, Google takes a hell of a lot more time to index your website if it's all client-side JavaScript. You can see all these different collections and all these different items inside of here. Even things like categories. If I go for the bottoms category here, you'll see there's a couple of different bottoms inside of it.
The main thing here is that something can navigate it without JavaScript, which means it's amazing for Google and amazing for AI crawlers. There's one more step with the AI crawlers that I don't know if anybody's actually done this yet. I think we might be the first folks to build a Sanity and Big Commerce starter that actually works with AEO out of the box.
If we go in here, you can see this page. I notice the add to cart is missing very intentionally because essentially we want this to be able to reflect the dynamic pricing. You still want the pages to be indexed, but you don't necessarily want to show that dynamic pricing. We could do some clever stuff with a fallback, but the idea of a starter is we don't want to make it too opinionated either.
You get everything that you see right here. It's a one-click install and you can run it directly from Sanity. I'm saying Sanity a lot, but I can't really see anything so far that's from Sanity. Well, the cool thing here is that you're basically building a sync engine that sits between Big Commerce and Sanity. You can populate your Sanity database with all this information that comes from Big Commerce.
It's really important when you want to actually have integrated pages where you build a curated experience and then include the products with up-to-date information. Generally you want to do it as a one-way sync, and I think that's how this particular template is built.
I do want to show you a couple more things and show you what's out there so far and why this is kind of important in my opinion. Obviously it's important from my opinion because we built the damn thing. This is the Sanity exchange Big Commerce. I'm going to show you one from Mitchell. If you haven't met Mitchell already, he's a really cool dude. He built Sanity Press, a really nice tool. Definitely check it out if you get two minutes.
One from Todd Padwick, who I think is from Form and Function, which is another big agency. You can also see the Advette Commerce, a progressive web app for the front end. Founder of Form and Function Digital. There's only two people basically that even talk about Big Commerce on Sanity right now. It's not like we're trying to fill an SEO gap or anything like that.
Have a read of Mitchell's really interesting blog if you get two minutes. If you want to build something with Big Commerce, definitely give us a shout. If you're more interested in seeing how this works and seeing the editorial experience, I'm happy to show that as well. I thought I'd just do a quick first version and come back later if you want more information. Drop a comment below and let me know how you get on.
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0:04Hey folks, how's it going? Hope you're
0:04Hey folks, how's it going? Hope you're having a great day. So, I want to talk
0:06having a great day. So, I want to talk
0:06having a great day. So, I want to talk to you about our brand new Turbo Start
0:09to you about our brand new Turbo Start
0:09to you about our brand new Turbo Start BigCommerce Starter. Um I want to tell
0:11BigCommerce Starter. Um I want to tell
0:11BigCommerce Starter. Um I want to tell you a little bit about why we're
0:12you a little bit about why we're
0:12you a little bit about why we're building with BigCommerce and when we
0:14building with BigCommerce and when we
0:14building with BigCommerce and when we generally build with BigCommerce. And I
0:16generally build with BigCommerce. And I
0:16generally build with BigCommerce. And I want to tell you some of the features of
0:18want to tell you some of the features of
0:18want to tell you some of the features of our Turbo Start BigCommerce Starter. I
0:20our Turbo Start BigCommerce Starter. I
0:20our Turbo Start BigCommerce Starter. I know it's a bit of a surprise for people
0:22know it's a bit of a surprise for people
0:22know it's a bit of a surprise for people for us to call it Turbo Start. Mm. But,
0:25for us to call it Turbo Start. Mm. But,
0:25for us to call it Turbo Start. Mm. But, I want to go through this very quickly.
0:27I want to go through this very quickly.
0:27I want to go through this very quickly. Um so, first of all, BigCommerce, why
0:29Um so, first of all, BigCommerce, why
0:29Um so, first of all, BigCommerce, why would I build with BigCommerce over
0:30would I build with BigCommerce over
0:30would I build with BigCommerce over something instead of like Shopify? Well,
0:33something instead of like Shopify? Well,
0:33something instead of like Shopify? Well, generally Shopify is B2C and BigCommerce
0:37generally Shopify is B2C and BigCommerce
0:37generally Shopify is B2C and BigCommerce is B2B. Now, if you are not particularly
0:40is B2B. Now, if you are not particularly
0:40is B2B. Now, if you are not particularly well versed on your TLAs, what's a TLA?
0:42well versed on your TLAs, what's a TLA?
0:43well versed on your TLAs, what's a TLA? Well, it's a three-letter acronym. Um a
0:45Well, it's a three-letter acronym. Um a
0:45Well, it's a three-letter acronym. Um a B2C is business to consumer.
0:48B2C is business to consumer.
0:48B2C is business to consumer. B2B is business to business. Um why is
0:51B2B is business to business. Um why is
0:51B2B is business to business. Um why is this kind of important and why do the
0:53this kind of important and why do the
0:53this kind of important and why do the the the central infrastructure change
0:56the the central infrastructure change
0:56the the central infrastructure change depending on which one you're going for?
0:58depending on which one you're going for?
0:58depending on which one you're going for? Well, with Shopify, as a general rule of
1:00Well, with Shopify, as a general rule of
1:00Well, with Shopify, as a general rule of thumb, you have a store. The store has a
1:03thumb, you have a store. The store has a
1:03thumb, you have a store. The store has a bunch of products, probably hundreds if
1:05bunch of products, probably hundreds if
1:05bunch of products, probably hundreds if not thousands. Um and that store maybe
1:08not thousands. Um and that store maybe
1:08not thousands. Um and that store maybe has something like a coupon, but it's
1:09has something like a coupon, but it's
1:10has something like a coupon, but it's all kind of nice, slimline. And the idea
1:13all kind of nice, slimline. And the idea
1:13all kind of nice, slimline. And the idea is you can just fire these things out
1:14is you can just fire these things out
1:14is you can just fire these things out and you can start selling products. Um
1:16and you can start selling products. Um
1:17and you can start selling products. Um however, where B2B is slightly
1:18however, where B2B is slightly
1:18however, where B2B is slightly different, there's a lot more of a focus
1:20different, there's a lot more of a focus
1:20different, there's a lot more of a focus around accounts and different prices
1:23around accounts and different prices
1:23around accounts and different prices depending on who you are. And a lot more
1:25depending on who you are. And a lot more
1:26depending on who you are. And a lot more of that custom functionality that you
1:27of that custom functionality that you
1:27of that custom functionality that you would expect as you build, you know, a
1:29would expect as you build, you know, a
1:29would expect as you build, you know, a relation with another business. So, B2B
1:32relation with another business. So, B2B
1:32relation with another business. So, B2B is a totally different kettle of fish.
1:35is a totally different kettle of fish.
1:35is a totally different kettle of fish. Um so, starting with Turbo Start
1:37Um so, starting with Turbo Start
1:37Um so, starting with Turbo Start BigCommerce, I want to show you a few of
1:39BigCommerce, I want to show you a few of
1:39BigCommerce, I want to show you a few of the different things that are inside of
1:40the different things that are inside of
1:40the different things that are inside of here and why this differs from the pure
1:44here and why this differs from the pure
1:44here and why this differs from the pure BigCommerce offering.
1:46BigCommerce offering.
1:46BigCommerce offering. Uh so, first of all, one of the most
1:48Uh so, first of all, one of the most
1:48Uh so, first of all, one of the most important ones that most people don't
1:49important ones that most people don't
1:49important ones that most people don't get on their websites, and I will tell
1:51get on their websites, and I will tell
1:51get on their websites, and I will tell you, go through, try it on all the
1:53you, go through, try it on all the
1:53you, go through, try it on all the different websites, um which is
1:56different websites, um which is
1:56different websites, um which is disabling JavaScript. What happens when
1:58disabling JavaScript. What happens when
1:58disabling JavaScript. What happens when we disable JavaScript? Um, there are
2:00we disable JavaScript? Um, there are
2:00we disable JavaScript? Um, there are some caveats to this because I just said
2:02some caveats to this because I just said
2:02some caveats to this because I just said about the fact that you have custom
2:03about the fact that you have custom
2:03about the fact that you have custom pricing per user, and that's probably
2:06pricing per user, and that's probably
2:06pricing per user, and that's probably not going to work here. Um, but I will
2:10not going to work here. Um, but I will
2:10not going to work here. Um, but I will show you why this is important. So, if I
2:12show you why this is important. So, if I
2:12show you why this is important. So, if I disable JavaScript, um, I'm going to
2:14disable JavaScript, um, I'm going to
2:14disable JavaScript, um, I'm going to refresh the page, and you're going to
2:16refresh the page, and you're going to
2:16refresh the page, and you're going to notice that absolutely nothing has
2:17notice that absolutely nothing has
2:17notice that absolutely nothing has changed. Um, that's actually a really
2:19changed. Um, that's actually a really
2:19changed. Um, that's actually a really good thing because you realistically
2:21good thing because you realistically
2:21good thing because you realistically want to be able to see the page, and you
2:22want to be able to see the page, and you
2:22want to be able to see the page, and you want to be able to see all the different
2:23want to be able to see all the different
2:24want to be able to see all the different versions of it. Now, this is set up
2:26versions of it. Now, this is set up
2:26versions of it. Now, this is set up right now as more of a B2C because of
2:28right now as more of a B2C because of
2:28right now as more of a B2C because of the products that are in here. Nobody's
2:29the products that are in here. Nobody's
2:29the products that are in here. Nobody's going to go from business to business to
2:31going to go from business to business to
2:31going to go from business to business to buy a denim coach jacket. Um, but the
2:34buy a denim coach jacket. Um, but the
2:34buy a denim coach jacket. Um, but the point of this demo is that we've put a
2:35point of this demo is that we've put a
2:35point of this demo is that we've put a bunch of fake dummy content in here. We
2:37bunch of fake dummy content in here. We
2:37bunch of fake dummy content in here. We might swap this out in the future, but
2:39might swap this out in the future, but
2:39might swap this out in the future, but for now it was the easiest way of doing
2:41for now it was the easiest way of doing
2:41for now it was the easiest way of doing it.
2:41it.
2:41it. However, um, as you can see, you can
2:44However, um, as you can see, you can
2:44However, um, as you can see, you can actually navigate the store right now.
2:46actually navigate the store right now.
2:46actually navigate the store right now. JavaScript is still off, and I can still
2:48JavaScript is still off, and I can still
2:48JavaScript is still off, and I can still see all of these pages, which is really
2:50see all of these pages, which is really
2:50see all of these pages, which is really important because if you're going for
2:52important because if you're going for
2:52important because if you're going for Google, Google actually takes a hell of
2:55Google, Google actually takes a hell of
2:55Google, Google actually takes a hell of a long more time to index your website
2:57a long more time to index your website
2:57a long more time to index your website if it's all client-side JavaScript. Um,
3:00if it's all client-side JavaScript. Um,
3:00if it's all client-side JavaScript. Um, so as you can see, you can see all these
3:02so as you can see, you can see all these
3:02so as you can see, you can see all these different collections, you can see all
3:03different collections, you can see all
3:03different collections, you can see all these different items inside of here.
3:05these different items inside of here.
3:05these different items inside of here. Um, and again, even things like
3:06Um, and again, even things like
3:06Um, and again, even things like categories. So, if I go for like the
3:08categories. So, if I go for like the
3:08categories. So, if I go for like the bottoms category here, you'll be able to
3:10bottoms category here, you'll be able to
3:10bottoms category here, you'll be able to see there's a couple of different
3:11see there's a couple of different
3:11see there's a couple of different bottoms inside of it. Um, the main thing
3:13bottoms inside of it. Um, the main thing
3:13bottoms inside of it. Um, the main thing here is that something can navigate it
3:15here is that something can navigate it
3:15here is that something can navigate it without JavaScript, which means it's
3:17without JavaScript, which means it's
3:17without JavaScript, which means it's amazing for Google, it's amazing for AI
3:19amazing for Google, it's amazing for AI
3:19amazing for Google, it's amazing for AI crawlers. Um, and there's one more step
3:21crawlers. Um, and there's one more step
3:21crawlers. Um, and there's one more step with the AI crawlers that I don't know
3:23with the AI crawlers that I don't know
3:23with the AI crawlers that I don't know if anybody's actually done this yet. I
3:24if anybody's actually done this yet. I
3:24if anybody's actually done this yet. I think we might be the first folks to
3:26think we might be the first folks to
3:27think we might be the first folks to build a Sanity and BigCommerce starter
3:31build a Sanity and BigCommerce starter
3:31build a Sanity and BigCommerce starter that actually works with AEO out of the
3:33that actually works with AEO out of the
3:33that actually works with AEO out of the box.
3:34box.
3:34box. So, anyway, if we go in here, you can
3:37So, anyway, if we go in here, you can
3:37So, anyway, if we go in here, you can see this page, um, and you will notice
3:39see this page, um, and you will notice
3:39see this page, um, and you will notice that I think the add to cart is missing
3:41that I think the add to cart is missing
3:42that I think the add to cart is missing very intentionally, um, because
3:44very intentionally, um, because
3:44very intentionally, um, because essentially, we want this to be able to
3:47essentially, we want this to be able to
3:47essentially, we want this to be able to do reflect the dynamic pricing. You
3:49do reflect the dynamic pricing. You
3:49do reflect the dynamic pricing. You still want the pages to be indexed, but
3:52still want the pages to be indexed, but
3:52still want the pages to be indexed, but you don't necessarily want to be able to
3:53you don't necessarily want to be able to
3:53you don't necessarily want to be able to show that dynamic pricing. Uh we could
3:56show that dynamic pricing. Uh we could
3:56show that dynamic pricing. Uh we could do some clever stuff with a fallback,
3:57do some clever stuff with a fallback,
3:57do some clever stuff with a fallback, but the idea of a starter is we don't
3:59but the idea of a starter is we don't
3:59but the idea of a starter is we don't want to make it too opinionated, either.
4:01want to make it too opinionated, either.
4:01want to make it too opinionated, either. Um but you got you get everything that
4:03Um but you got you get everything that
4:03Um but you got you get everything that you see right here. It's a one-click
4:05you see right here. It's a one-click
4:05you see right here. It's a one-click install, and you can run it directly
4:06install, and you can run it directly
4:06install, and you can run it directly from Sanity.
4:08from Sanity.
4:08from Sanity. Now, I'm saying Sanity a lot, but I
4:11Now, I'm saying Sanity a lot, but I
4:11Now, I'm saying Sanity a lot, but I can't really see anything so far that's
4:13can't really see anything so far that's
4:13can't really see anything so far that's from Sanity. Well, the cool thing here
4:15from Sanity. Well, the cool thing here
4:15from Sanity. Well, the cool thing here is that basically you are
4:17is that basically you are
4:17is that basically you are basically building a sync engine that
4:19basically building a sync engine that
4:19basically building a sync engine that sits between BigCommerce and Sanity. So,
4:22sits between BigCommerce and Sanity. So,
4:22sits between BigCommerce and Sanity. So, you can populate your Sanity database um
4:25you can populate your Sanity database um
4:25you can populate your Sanity database um with all this information that comes
4:27with all this information that comes
4:27with all this information that comes from BigCommerce. It's really important
4:29from BigCommerce. It's really important
4:29from BigCommerce. It's really important when you want to actually have
4:30when you want to actually have
4:30when you want to actually have integrated pages where you actually
4:32integrated pages where you actually
4:32integrated pages where you actually build a curated experience, and then you
4:35build a curated experience, and then you
4:35build a curated experience, and then you include the products with up-to-date
4:37include the products with up-to-date
4:37include the products with up-to-date information. Uh generally, you want to
4:39information. Uh generally, you want to
4:39information. Uh generally, you want to do it as a one-way sync, and this is I
4:42do it as a one-way sync, and this is I
4:42do it as a one-way sync, and this is I think how this particular template is
4:43think how this particular template is
4:43think how this particular template is built. Um but I do want to show you a
4:46built. Um but I do want to show you a
4:46built. Um but I do want to show you a couple more things and kind of show you
4:48couple more things and kind of show you
4:48couple more things and kind of show you what's out there so far and why this is
4:50what's out there so far and why this is
4:50what's out there so far and why this is kind of important, in my opinion.
4:51kind of important, in my opinion.
4:51kind of important, in my opinion. Obviously, it's important for my opinion
4:53Obviously, it's important for my opinion
4:53Obviously, it's important for my opinion because we built the damn thing. So, let
4:55because we built the damn thing. So, let
4:55because we built the damn thing. So, let me show you this. This is the uh Sanity
4:57me show you this. This is the uh Sanity
4:57me show you this. This is the uh Sanity Exchange BigCommerce um and I'm going to
5:00Exchange BigCommerce um and I'm going to
5:00Exchange BigCommerce um and I'm going to show you obviously one from Mitchell, so
5:02show you obviously one from Mitchell, so
5:02show you obviously one from Mitchell, so good job. If you haven't met Mitchell
5:03good job. If you haven't met Mitchell
5:03good job. If you haven't met Mitchell already, Mitchell's is a really cool
5:05already, Mitchell's is a really cool
5:05already, Mitchell's is a really cool dude. Um he built Sanity Press, really
5:07dude. Um he built Sanity Press, really
5:07dude. Um he built Sanity Press, really nice tool, definitely check it out if
5:08nice tool, definitely check it out if
5:09nice tool, definitely check it out if you get 2 minutes.
5:10you get 2 minutes.
5:10you get 2 minutes. Um and one from Todd Padwick, who I
5:13Um and one from Todd Padwick, who I
5:13Um and one from Todd Padwick, who I think is from Form and Function, which
5:15think is from Form and Function, which
5:15think is from Form and Function, which is another big agency. Um
5:18is another big agency. Um
5:18is another big agency. Um and you can also see the AdVantage
5:20and you can also see the AdVantage
5:20and you can also see the AdVantage Commerce. I think it's Form and
5:21Commerce. I think it's Form and
5:21Commerce. I think it's Form and Function. Let me just double-check.
5:23Function. Let me just double-check.
5:23Function. Let me just double-check. Uh
5:24Uh
5:24Uh Progressive Web App for the front end,
5:26Progressive Web App for the front end,
5:26Progressive Web App for the front end, and where are we? Found it. Off Form and
5:29and where are we? Found it. Off Form and
5:29and where are we? Found it. Off Form and Function Digital. Nice. Yeah, so there's
5:31Function Digital. Nice. Yeah, so there's
5:31Function Digital. Nice. Yeah, so there's only two people basically that have even
5:32only two people basically that have even
5:32only two people basically that have even talked about BigCommerce on Sanity right
5:34talked about BigCommerce on Sanity right
5:34talked about BigCommerce on Sanity right now.
5:35now.
5:35now. It's not like we're trying to fill an
5:36It's not like we're trying to fill an
5:36It's not like we're trying to fill an SEO gap or anything like that or a geo
5:38SEO gap or anything like that or a geo
5:38SEO gap or anything like that or a geo gap, depending on who you are.
5:40gap, depending on who you are.
5:40gap, depending on who you are. Um but yeah, if you get 2 minutes, have
5:42Um but yeah, if you get 2 minutes, have
5:42Um but yeah, if you get 2 minutes, have a read of this. Really interesting blog
5:44a read of this. Really interesting blog
5:44a read of this. Really interesting blog from Mitchell.
5:45from Mitchell.
5:45from Mitchell. Um but yeah,
5:46Um but yeah,
5:46Um but yeah, tell me how you get on with this. If you
5:48tell me how you get on with this. If you
5:48tell me how you get on with this. If you want to build something with
5:49want to build something with
5:49want to build something with BigCommerce, definitely give us a shout.
5:52BigCommerce, definitely give us a shout.
5:52BigCommerce, definitely give us a shout. Um, if you're more interested in seeing
5:53Um, if you're more interested in seeing
5:53Um, if you're more interested in seeing how this works and seeing like the
5:55how this works and seeing like the
5:55how this works and seeing like the editorial experience, I'm happy to show
5:57editorial experience, I'm happy to show
5:57editorial experience, I'm happy to show that as well. I thought I'd just do a
5:58that as well. I thought I'd just do a
5:59that as well. I thought I'd just do a quick first version of it and come back
6:01quick first version of it and come back
6:01quick first version of it and come back later if you want more information. Drop
6:03later if you want more information. Drop
6:03later if you want more information. Drop us a comment below, like the video.
6:06us a comment below, like the video.
6:06us a comment below, like the video. Thanks for watching. Have a great day
6:07Thanks for watching. Have a great day
6:07Thanks for watching. Have a great day everybody. Bye-bye.
Questions answered
Editorial answers from the original Roboto page.
What's the main difference between Shopify and Big Commerce?
Shopify is built for B2C, meaning business to consumer, where you have a store with products and coupons. Big Commerce is built for B2B, meaning business to business, where you need multiple accounts with different pricing for different customers and more complex functionality to manage ongoing business relationships.
Read the original ↗Why does infrastructure change between B2C and B2B?
B2C stores are simpler with hundreds or thousands of products and basic discount codes. B2B requires custom pricing per customer, account management, and relationship-specific features that make the infrastructure fundamentally different from a standard product catalog.
Read the original ↗What happens when you disable JavaScript on the Turbo Start template?
The pages still work and you can navigate the entire store without any JavaScript running. This is important because it means Google can index your site faster and AI crawlers can access your content, rather than waiting for client-side rendering to happen.
Read the original ↗Why is JavaScript-free navigation important for SEO?
Google takes significantly longer to index websites that rely heavily on client-side JavaScript. By making your store navigable without JavaScript, you ensure that search engines and AI crawlers can access all your pages, collections, and products much more quickly.
Read the original ↗What's the Sanity and Big Commerce starter template?
It's a one-click install that creates a sync engine between Big Commerce and Sanity, letting you populate your Sanity database with product information from Big Commerce. This lets you build curated editorial experiences with up-to-date product data while maintaining control over your content.
Read the original ↗Why remove the add to cart button on some pages?
When you have dynamic pricing based on customer accounts, you don't want to display specific prices on indexed pages since they'll vary by customer. You can still let pages be indexed for SEO without showing the cart button, though you could use fallback pricing if needed.
Read the original ↗Is the Big Commerce and Sanity integration a two-way sync?
No, it's set up as a one-way sync, pulling information from Big Commerce into Sanity so you have a single source of truth for product data while building your editorial experience.
Read the original ↗