Running an ecommerce store is not easy. There are many challenges that you face. Unlike real stores, you don’t only think about which products to sell but also how you present these goods. If it’s your first time selling online, then among the biggest challenges you’ll meet is how to choose an ecommerce platform. Fortunately, there are many platforms sellers can choose from.
But how do you determine which platform will best suit your needs? We’ve written this guide to help you out. Here are some tips on how to choose a good template for an ecommerce platform for your store. We asked Niels Larsson, who runs an internet Persian Rug Store, about selling his products online and he offers the following tips.
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Impressive UI
Presentability matters when running an online business. Consumers don’t like stores that are obsolete or cramped. You, therefore, need a platform that allows you to present your products attractively. Choose one that offers several modern templates as this will enable you to create beautiful themes for your stores. With many templates, one can design their store to stand out among others. And also create an interface that goes hand in hand with their brand identity.
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Shopper Friendly
There are many mobile shoppers nowadays. Businesses, therefore, should consider these shoppers when creating their stores online. While some people do mobile mobilization on their own, there’s another simpler way of taking care of these shoppers. That is, having a mobile-ready theme. Such themes ensure that shopping on mobile devices is fast and seamless. It thus allows stores to not only boost sales but also build loyal customers.
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UX Boost
There are many online stores available today. With that strong competition, consumers only shop where they feel convenient and comfortable. Your ecommerce platform should have templates that have pre-built extensions. It should also help you create inventory, filter, and categorize products. Remember that product presentation is what matters most when someone is deciding whether or not they should buy from a particular store.
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SEO Optimized
SEO is crucial if you want to boost sales. You, therefore, need an SEO optimized ecommerce theme that helps drive traffic to your store. Once your website gets noticed by online shoppers, you’ll have more people visiting your store, which can lead to conversions, and this boosts your sales.
The Best Ecommerce Platforms
Now that you know how to choose a suitable template, let’s take a look at some of the best ecommerce platforms to try.
OpenCart
This site combines free and paid plugins. It has several templates that sellers can use to design their stores. OpenCart has a simple, easy to use interface, which makes it an excellent choice for those starting their online businesses. However, as it isn’t fully SEO friendly, individuals usually optimize their codes.
Shopify
Shopify is a famous website builder because it offers numerous features. There are unlimited customization options, which means one can design their stores in whatever way they like. Individuals process orders from customers as soon as they appear. It also allows sellers to prepare inventory lists. But this website builder isn’t free. Also, transaction fees are a bit expensive.
MotoCMS
It features a drag-and-drop feature and a powerful Content Management system. One can create even the most sophisticated sites on it, and it’s suitable for any business. Additionally, it is user-friendly and comes with filtering and search options. The only drawback is that it doesn’t include free designs.
WooCommerce
For those new stores, this is the right platform for them. It’s not only free but contains several plugins which one can use to customize their stores. There are also lots of tools available for web analysis. But you’ll need to keep updating your store regularly.
Well, that marks our list of the best website builders available. However, when choosing an ecommerce platform for your business, one should consider his/her business size, financial implication, and what features they need.
The Importance of Social Media for ecommerce Website
There have been many improvements in the way we shop online. We don’t only rely on store browsing or online shopping. Nowadays, we can easily buy a product via the brand’s social media pages. Now, social media has contributed significantly in shaping the internet. Billions of people today are using channels such as Instagram, Twitter, and Linkedin.
If you haven’t registered your business on Social Media, you’re missing out on huge profits. Numbers are the one thing that separates social media from other marketing channels. And if you genuinely want your business to grow, you should keep your business’s social media accounts as active as possible.
But how do ecommerce and social media relate? To answer this, one must first understand the primary role of ecommerce websites. That is: to make sales. So, ask yourself, who brings these sales? You’ll realize that it’s those individuals visiting your site that buy from your business. Social media, therefore, helps ecommerce website owners showcase their products to consumers worldwide, hence help to make a sale. Let’s discuss this in further detail.