What to Compare When Choosing an eCommerce Platform

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.