For many people, owning and operating a
successful eCommerce business equates to living the dream. Running an eCommerce
company means that you can easily sell products and services online without face-to-face
sales pitches, there’s no need to worry about factoring in the cost of renting
an expensive storefront, and you can make money as you go about your daily
life. For many eCommerce store owners, the option of dropshipping has even made
it possible to make a living without having to spend a lot of money on
inventory. Today, it’s relatively easy to get an eCommerce store up and
running, but turning it into a successful business is a whole other story. If
you’re considering starting an eCommerce business, here are some essential
things to keep in mind when choosing a platform.
SEO Benefits:
If you want to succeed with an online
business, you are going to need at least a surface level understanding of
search engine optimization (SEO). This involves everything that goes into
making sure that your site is visible to search engines, and with over 90% of
online experiences beginning with search engines like Google, it’s safe to say
that it’s fairly important. Use comparisons such as this one of WooCommerce vs Shopify to determine which has
the best SEO tools for your needs. Check out PieSync’s blog to find more
comparisons of eCommerce platforms and their features.
Payment Options:
Payment is the most critical part of the
online shopping experience, and when you run an eCommerce business, you need to
be prepared to accommodate a range of payment options. If you’ve ever had to
look somewhere else because the store or restaurant you were trying to buy from
only accepted cash and you didn’t have any on you, you’ll know how frustrating
it can be. The more payment options you can offer on your eCommerce website,
the better. If you only take a few types of credit cards, you’re going to end
up turning potential customers away. Look for an eCommerce platform that allows
you to offer a wide range of payment options to your
customers.
User Experience:
You will want to choose an eCommerce
platform that takes the user experience very seriously. How users
perceive your website and the type of experience they have when using it can
really make or break your business. If there’s poor navigation, a complicated
checkout process and it’s difficult to find information on a product, your
visitors are going to have no problem pressing the back button and trying
somewhere else.
Support:
Finally, no matter how user-friendly a
platform appears to be, bear in mind that there’s always the potential for
things to go wrong, and the last thing that you want is to be left waiting
around for answers while you lose business. If your site goes down, you want to
get answers and a solution as quickly as possible. Opt for an eCommerce
platform that provides large online support communities and tutorial libraries
along with round-the-clock support from staff if needed.
Starting a successful eCommerce business is
easier than ever when you choose the right platform for your online shop.
6:00 AM
Paul B
