If you’re thinking about setting up an online business and store, it’s vital that you have the best ecommerce platform behind you. When comparing traditional retail with e-commerce, the latter has no geographic limitations, meaning you can reach more audiences than you ever thought were possible. At Nuanced Media you can find all the information you need to set up your e-commerce store.
If you’re thinking about setting up an online business and store, it’s vital that you have the best e-commerce platform behind you. When comparing traditional retail with e-commerce, the latter has no geographic limitations, meaning you can reach more audiences than you ever thought were possible.
No matter what products or services you offer, finding an e-commerce platform to house your store and expand your customer base is key. So, to make things easier, here are some of the things to look out for before choosing an e-commerce platform.
Easy to Navigate
If you’ve ever visited a website before that you’ve struggled to navigate, it’s likely that you clicked off and went elsewhere. Whether you’re tech-savvy or not, it’s important that you choose an e-commerce platform that is user friendly. To grow your online store and keep users interested in your brand, they need to be able to seek out your products and services with ease, so finding an e-commerce platform that provides a seamless experience is essential.
Easy Shop Setup
In addition to easy navigation, the e-commerce platform you pick needs to have a straightforward sign up process. Launching your own store will take time and patience, but you don’t want to have to spend endless hours having difficulty getting your store up and running. If you would prefer not to hire outside help, there are plenty of e-commerce platforms that offer user-friendly templates that can give your store a professional look and help you stand out from competitors. Depending on the template you pick, you may need to pay for it.
SEO Friendly
When shoppers are searching for particular products or services, it’s vital that they find your brand within a matter of seconds. With so much choice on the internet to pick from, you need to know how to make your store stand out. No matter what you are selling, your online store should rank highly in search results, especially if you are new to the game. To boost your ranking, make sure to pick an e-commerce platform that is SEO friendly. Platforms that enable you to pick your own domain name, collect customer ratings and reviews, and add your own blog all help in driving shoppers to your online store organically.
Integrations
While having a plethora of options can be overwhelming at first, when it comes to integration for an e-commerce platform, having various paths to go down can be more beneficial than you may think. When choosing an e-commerce platform, you need to look at the plugins and integrations they have available. Platforms like Shopify have tons of tools and features to run your online store efficiently. To help you make the right decision, you can visit PieSync, where you’ll find a guide on which is the best e-commerce platform. Whether you pick Shopify or WooCommerce, you can use PieSync to sync your customer data with any other apps your company uses.
Mobile Friendly
Most consumers lead busy lives, meaning they don’t have the time to sit at their computer desk and scroll through the internet. Many of us are smartphone owners, so it’s vital that you choose an e-commerce platform that is mobile friendly. With close to 60% of searches being conducted from a mobile device, if your online store isn’t optimized for mobile, consumers are likely to go elsewhere for their custom, so finding a platform that allows users to easily access your store is key.
Tech Support
A key component for the success of any business is excellent customer service. When setting up an online store and picking an e-commerce provider, server downtimes and software outages are inevitable and often out of your control. In these moments, customers won’t be able to access your business, so it’s crucial that you find an e-commerce platform who provides 24/7 tech support. Time is money, so if there are any problems, you can be confident in the knowledge that there is a tech support team who are working round the clock to fix issues. There are several things to look for in their customer service, such as how you can reach them and the modes of contact they offer.
Analytics
Before your online store goes live, it’s understandable that your sole goal will be to make as much money as you can. To achieve your goals, it’s critical that you monitor your online store’s performance. When choosing an e-commerce platform, it’s advised to pick one that lets you keep tabs on all the important aspects of the operation, such as payment methods, number of sales, and order amounts. There is no room for inaccuracy, so to avoid playing the numbers guessing game, finding an e-commerce platform equipped with analytics tools is essential.
Price
There are some e-commerce platforms that offer standard monthly fees, while others may provide flat rates. Before committing to a platform, you need to do your research and weigh up the advantages and disadvantages first. If you’re a small business owner, you need to create and stick to a budget, so you have room for your online store to grow.
Customer Payment Options
When customers make a purchase from your online store, the experience needs to be seamless and straightforward. Before looking for an e-commerce platform, you need to decide what kinds of payment you are willing to take first. Whether you choose popular payment gateways like Stripe, PayPal, or Square, finding an e-commerce platform that works in sync with these providers is important.
Vendor Experience
Finally, conducting research into current vendor experiences can help you find the right e-commerce platform for your online store. Ratings and reviews from those who are already signed up will give you a clear indication of which are the best e-commerce platforms on the market.
The e-commerce industry is worth over $3 trillion, and with it predicted to grow even bigger in the coming years, setting up your online store and picking the right platform can be a great way to expand your business and audience. To find the best e-commerce provider, all the points above should help you make an educated decision.
