Briefly about the project
«Level UP!» is a new online store specializing in the sale of Sony PlayStation game consoles and related products for gamers. The project was created to provide a wide audience of gamers with convenient access to a wide range of gaming products: from modern stationary PlayStation 5 Pro consoles to portable devices such as PSP and PS Vita. Special attention is paid to the quality of customer service and the authenticity of the products offered.
The main task in developing the website was to create a convenient and intuitive platform for buying game consoles, accessories and games. The Level UP! store is positioned as a place where every gamer can find everything they need for an exciting gaming experience: from branded gamepads and game wheels to licensed games for different generations of PlayStation. It was also important to ensure high speed of the store and a convenient product filtering system so that visitors could quickly find the right products by various parameters.
Result of work
This video presents the completed online store «Level UP!», which specializes in selling gaming consoles, video games, and accessories. By watching it, you will get a detailed overview of the website's design, structure, and functionality, created in accordance with modern standards, user convenience, and advanced technologies.
Full list of works
Now let's take a look at what exactly was done on the site, but in more detail.
1. Design and structure
The design of the «Level UP!» online store was developed with an emphasis on modern web design trends, while maintaining functionality and user friendliness. The main task was to create a visually appealing interface that would reflect the dynamics and excitement of the gaming world, but at the same time remain minimalistic and not overloaded with unnecessary elements. For this purpose, we developed a unique design system that contains a set of repeating components such as buttons, product cards, forms, and fonts. This system made it possible to ensure the uniformity of all pages of the store and simplify the layout process, making it more structured and predictable.
The structure of the site was also thought out to the smallest detail to ensure the most comfortable user experience with the platform. The home page provides a concise overview of the main product categories: consoles, portable devices, accessories, and games. Each category has its own separate page with a convenient filtering and sorting system that allows you to quickly find the right products. The site navigation is intuitive: the main menu is located at the top of the screen, and «breadcrumbs» help to easily navigate the depth of the catalog.
Special attention was paid to the balance between aesthetics and usability. The color palette, based on a combination of dark and bright accents, emphasizes the brand's dynamism but does not distract from the main thing — content and products. All design elements are adapted for different devices, which guarantees comfortable interaction on both large monitors and mobile devices. Thanks to a clear hierarchy of information and a well-thought-out structure, users can easily navigate between sections, find the products they need, and make purchases without any extra effort.
2. Layout
The layout of the «Level UP!» online store was made using modern technologies and approaches, which ensures high quality content display on all devices. Special attention was paid not only to the appearance, but also to functionality, usability and accessibility for a wide audience. Each element of the site was carefully thought out to meet the requirements of modern web design and development standards.
HTML5, CSS3, UIKit
For the website layout, I used advanced HTML5, CSS3 technologies and the UIKit framework, which provides flexibility and scalability of the interface. To simplify the styling process and make the code more organized, I used the LESS preprocessor. It allowed me to create modular styles, reuse components, and easily manage color schemes and typography. Thanks to LESS, I was able to significantly reduce the amount of code and improve its readability, which simplifies further maintenance and changes.
Responsiveness
Adaptability — is one of the key aspects of developing the «Level UP!»! I took into account that users can access the site from different devices: from large monitors to smartphones and tablets. Therefore, the layout was made in such a way that all interface elements were displayed correctly and functioned on any screen. The use of media queries and the flexible UIKit grid allowed me to achieve a smooth layout change depending on the screen size. This ensures that visitors can comfortably browse the product catalog, add products to the cart, and checkout regardless of their device.
Semantics
Semantic layout became the basis for creating a high-quality and understandable website structure. I used HTML5 semantic tags such as <header>, <main>, <section>, <article>, <footer> etc. to help browsers and search engines better understand the content of the pages. This not only improves the indexing of the site for search robots, but also makes it more accessible for people using special screen readers. The semantic approach also helps to better organize content, which makes it easier for users to navigate.
Accessibility
One of the priorities in the development of «Level UP!» was accessibility for people with disabilities. I researched WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) recommendations to make the site as user-friendly as possible for all categories of users. For this purpose, a special accessibility module was implemented, which allows visitors to customize the interface to their needs. With the help of this module, users can change the font size, choose contrasting color schemes, zoom in on content, and even customize the screen reader mode. Such an approach not only expands the store's audience but also demonstrates concern for the comfort of each visitor.
3. Online store component
To implement the functionality of the «Level UP!» online store, I used the DJ-Catalog2 component for CMS Joomla. This powerful tool allowed me to create a flexible and scalable platform that fully meets the needs of a modern online store. DJ-Catalog2 provides ample opportunities for managing products, categories, orders, and users, which makes it an ideal choice for projects of this scale. Thanks to this component, I was able to implement all the necessary functions, such as product catalog management, advanced product cards, product comparisons, wishlists, and much more.
Categories and products
The product catalog on the site is organized by category, which allows users to easily find the products they need. The main categories include PlayStation consoles, portable devices (PSP, PS Vita), accessories (gamepads, steering wheels, headsets, etc.), and games. Each category has its own page with a convenient filtering and sorting system that helps users quickly find products by various parameters, such as processor, memory capacity, color, etc. This catalog structure makes the shopping process as convenient and intuitive as possible.
Extended product card
Each product on the site is presented in the form of an extended card that contains all the necessary information to make a purchase decision. The product card contains several photos with the possibility of enlargement, price, article, rating, and the ability to ask questions using a special form.
There is also a detailed product description, technical specifications, video reviews, and customer feedback. This approach allows users to get a complete picture of the product without leaving the page. This is especially important for expensive products, such as game consoles or premium accessories.
Compare products
One of the key features of the site is the ability to compare products. Users can select several products and compare them by various parameters, such as price and different technical characteristics. This is especially useful when choosing between different models of gaming consoles or accessories. The product comparison feature helps customers make more informed decisions, which increases trust in the store and increases the likelihood of making a purchase.
Whishlist
The site has implemented the «Wishlist» function, which allows users to add products to their favorites for further viewing or purchase. This is especially convenient for those who plan to purchase a product later or want to compare several options before making a final choice. You can also use the Wish List to create gift lists or track discounts on selected products.
Change currencies
Taking into account the international audience of the store, the «Level UP!» Users can choose between two main currencies: US dollars and Euros. This allows customers from different countries to make purchases comfortably, looking at prices in their usual currency. Automatic price conversion ensures that information is up-to-date and simplifies the checkout process.
User registration
Registration on the «Level UP!» website gives users access to additional benefits. Registered customers can receive personal discounts, participate in promotions and accumulate bonuses for each purchase. Depending on the amount spent in the store, users can be enrolled in special groups, such as «Regular customer» or «VIP customer». Members of these groups receive exclusive offers, gifts and increased discounts. This approach helps to increase customer loyalty and increase repeat purchases.
Cart and checkout
The shopping cart is designed with user convenience in mind. It displays all added products, their quantity, total cost, and available delivery options. Users can easily change the number of items or remove them from the cart. Once the selection of products is complete, the checkout process takes place in a few simple steps: entering contact information, choosing a delivery method, and making a payment. All stages are clearly outlined, making the shopping experience as comfortable as possible.
Online payment
«Level UP!» supports several popular online payment methods, which makes the purchase process even more convenient. Users can pay for orders using bank cards, e-wallets, or other payment systems. All transactions are protected by modern encryption protocols, which guarantees the security of customer data. After successful payment, the user receives an order confirmation by email and the ability to track the delivery status in their personal account.
4. Search engine optimization
The search engine optimization (SEO) of the «Level UP!» online store was performed taking into account the modern requirements of search engines such as Google. I have implemented many technical solutions that not only improve the visibility of the site in search results, but also ensure high page loading speed, which is an important factor for ranking. I paid special attention to micro-markup, content optimization, sitemap creation, and integration with analytical services.
Micro-markup Schema.org
To improve the understanding of content by search engines, the Schema.org micro-markup has been implemented on the «Level UP!». This markup helps search engines better interpret information about products and other elements of the site. For example, product cards contain markup for prices, ratings, availability, and other parameters, which allows you to display extended snippets in search results. This increases the site's click-through rate and improves its position in the search results.
Micro-markup Open Graph
To ensure that links to the site are displayed correctly on social media, I have implemented the Open Graph micro-markup. Thanks to this, when you post a link to a product or store page on Facebook, X (Twitter), or other platforms, an attractive image, title, and description are displayed. This helps to increase traffic from social networks and improve the perception of the brand by the audience.
Content optimization
Content optimization was one of the key tasks during the development of the «Level UP!». I used the WebP image format, which provides high quality images with a minimum file size. Photos are automatically adapted to the resolution of the user's device, which speeds up page loading on both computers and mobile devices. In addition, all video files have been optimized for fast loading, which is especially important for demonstrating product reviews.
With the help of the YOOtheme Pro builder, I implemented dynamic content, which significantly reduced the number of database calls. This improved the site's performance and reduced the load on the server. Site fonts are loaded locally, without using external CDNs, which further speeds up page loading. A file caching mechanism was set up on the server side, which minimizes response time and makes the site as fast as possible for users.
Sitemap
To improve the indexing of the site by search engines, we created an XML sitemap. It includes all the main pages: product categories, product cards, static pages, and other sections. The sitemap is regularly updated automatically, which guarantees that the data is up-to-date for search engines. This allows new products and pages to get into the search engine index faster, which is important for a dynamically developing online store.
Integration with analytics systems
The «Level UP!» website is integrated with several powerful analytical tools that allow us to track its effectiveness and user behavior. I have connected Google Tag Manager, which simplifies the management of tags and events on the site. To monitor organic traffic, I use Google Search Console, which provides data on search queries, positions in the SERPs, and indexing problems.
To analyze user behavior and conversions, I use Google Analytics 4 (GA4), which provides detailed information about how visitors interact with the site. In addition, the site is integrated with the IndexNow service, which allows new products to be included in the search engine index almost instantly. This is especially important for an online store where new products are regularly added, and their quick indexing directly affects sales.
5. Security
The security of the «Level UP!» online store is one of the key priorities in its development and maintenance.
Note For obvious reasons, I cannot disclose all the technical details related to website security, but I can share the basic principles and approaches I use to ensure the reliable operation of the platform.
First, the Joomla CMS on which the site is built is regularly updated to the latest versions. This applies not only to the content management system itself, but also to all applied extensions. Regular updates allow you to eliminate possible vulnerabilities and keep your website up to date, protecting it from potential attacks.
In addition, the site is protected by an SSL certificate, which guarantees a secure connection between the server and users. This is especially important for an online store where confidential data, such as personal information of customers and payment details, is transmitted. SSL encryption protects data from being intercepted by intruders.
The server hosting the website undergoes regular maintenance. This includes performance monitoring, checking for suspicious activity, and timely resolution of any technical issues. This approach helps to prevent possible failures and minimize the risks associated with external attacks.
One of the most important aspects of security is creating backups of your website. I use both automatic and manual methods to create backups, which allows me to keep multiple backup options in case of unforeseen situations. If for some reason the site goes down or crashes, it can be quickly restored from the backup, which minimizes downtime and ensures the continuity of the store.
So, a comprehensive approach to security, including regular updates, server maintenance, and backups, allows me to guarantee the stable and secure operation of the online store.