Many people use websites, blogs, social media, and online stores to achieve their goals. If you are seeking an internet platform from which to place your business, read on. This article will discuss some of the top options so that you can make an informed decision that will most suit your requirements.
Shopify
This is one of the most famous, largest, and most popular sites for online stores. It’s designed to help you get set up quickly, even if you lack technical knowledge about computer coding and internet sales. One thing that makes life easier is the ability to choose from one of their many website templates. You can manage your store using a downloadable phone app and communicate with potential customers using their live chat facility. There are lots of add-ons and extensions that you can get to maximize your store’s potential. Anyone who decides to click here will discover there are several differences between Shopify and Shopify Plus. The latter provides unlimited staff accounts and an overview dashboard. There is also the maximum potential to customize your store so it fully meets your business needs.
WooCommerce
This platform is owned and developed by WordPress. If you already use the latter for your website it won’t cost you a dime to install, and there won’t be any extra hosting fees either. You can use one of their templates or an IT specialist to create your online shop, and you’ll need to install several plugins that are provided by third parties. They will enable you to cover such aspects as stock control, inventory management, and payment processing. WooCommerce can be a good choice whether you have digital or physical products. It’s wise to check out Bluehost who can provide you with the web hosting platform that you’ll need.
Magento
If you’re an enterprise business you might like to consider this option. It’s basically a self-hosted e-commerce platform featuring great flexibility. It’s a powerful platform but it also comes at a high price as a result. This makes it more affordable for larger organizations. Whilst it can provide you with a greater measure of control over your business, it can’t be created unless you understand advanced coding and website development. If you don’t have the necessary expertise but still want the platform, you could employ the services of an IT specialist. They wouldn’t only be needed for the setup process, however. Each time there was a need for general maintenance or a software update, you would require their help.
Big Cartel
This site is great for small creators, artists, and businesses. Some examples would be sellers of jewelry, photos, clothes, and artwork. If you want something that’s basic and minimalist yet can do the job, look no further. You can perform a range of functions using the free option, and it wouldn’t break the bank if you paid for extra features. Big Cartel can provide you with customizable templates and basic marketing tools. Not only can you use them to run promotions, but you can monitor the sales as you go. If you sell complex products that require multiple photos, however, you may be frustrated by being limited to five per item.
Wix
If you’re looking for a free online store, this could be your answer, especially if you own a small business. Anyone without dedicated IT staff can choose from over 500 web page templates. Wix uses drag-and-drop tools just like Squarespace. Once the site is up and running it will also be easy to manage, and you can accept online payments, track orders, and more. It’s also possible to monitor online traffic using Google Analytics. There are three e-commerce plans from which to choose. Whilst it’s possible to use Wix for creating personal blogs, online stores, and portfolio websites, it is still a basic platform that does lack functionality in some areas.
Squarespace
If you have minimal requirements for your store and intend to use a different website builder, this can be useful. Small businesses that lack technical know-how would enjoy the product’s simplicity. If you have a larger company, however, you would benefit from something more powerful to manage your stock and sales. There are many more E-commerce platforms you could consider, but these are some of the tried and tested options. One could be harnessed to your business plan and provide valuable tools to help you with your company’s growth and success.
