Taking your business online is very rewarding. A lot of shoppers today enjoy the convenience of buying goods and services online and having them delivered to their doorsteps. If you haven’t yet ventured into ecommerce, then you could be missing out big time.
If you have made up your mind to turn to Ecommerce, then there are two ways on how you can go about it. You could either hire a web developer to set up your site. Alternatively, you could pick an already developed Ecommerce platform. The latter isn’t only more affordable, but it saves you a lot of time. We spoke to David Johns of online mattress manufacturer Mattress Time and he offers these pointers.
Choosing an Ecommerce platform can be challenging, especially if it is your first time. You are probably wondering how you will know which is right for you. Below is a guide on factors to consider when choosing an Ecommerce platform.
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The Price
Pricing is always the biggest challenge for most online entrepreneurs. Though you might be tempted by lower prices, you should know when it comes to Ecommerce platforms. You get what you pay for. The less you pay could give you a platform with limited features, and this can affect your sales.
Although there are free platforms, a good number of them charge a monthly fee. Other than features, you should also consider the processing fees for both you and your clients. At the end of the day, you don’t want to overcharge clients because this might scare them away. Picking a platform that accepts third-party vendors is a plus.
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Integrations and Plugins
When choosing an ecommerce platform, plugins and integrations play a vital role. There are some platforms that will offer various integrations and tools which gives you the ability to tweak your website to the liking of your customers. Before you opt for an ecommerce platform, ensure it features accounting plugins, email marketing tools and integrations that assist with shipping as well as rewarding your clients.
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SEO Friendly
As you venture into ecommerce, you need to be knowledgeable in matters regarding SEO. A good platform should be SEO friendly. You should be able to tweak it and take it to the top of search engine result pages. This will ensure that clients find you with ease.
An ideal platform should allow you to add a blog onto it. It should feature a review section for clients, and most importantly, you should be able to use your domain name.
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Optimized for Mobile Devices
Roughly 60% of online shoppers use mobile devices. If your ecommerce platform isn’t optimized for mobile devices, then users can find it hard accessing your site, which leads to an increase in bounce rates. An ecommerce platform should be optimized for mobile devices. This includes clear images as well as fast loading speed.
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Excellent Customer Service
Running an ecommerce site may seem like a breeze, but it does have its share of ups and downs. An ecommerce platform provider should offer excellent customer assistance. Because the internet is prone to software outages and downtime, which all translates to the loss of sales. Before you opt for any ecommerce platform, you need to ask your service provider the nature of support services they offer. You should also do some research and find out if their customer service is excellent or terrible from people who have used their services.
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Security
Since you will be interacting with money, you need to ensure that robust security measures are put in place. No customer will agree to transact with an ecommerce entrepreneur with a sketchy website or insecure payment system. A good platform should accept SSL and HTTPS as well as secure checkouts for clients.
When choosing an ecommerce platform, it is essential for you to know the features your business will require. With the above guide, you can be assured of landing on an ideal ecommerce platform service provider.