The term e-commerce refers to anything bought or sold online; it is your online store.
The e-commerce industry is growing quickly every year. In 2016, only 58.3% of internet users worldwide shopped online. In 2019, the number grew to 63%, and in 2021 it is expected to increase even more to 65%. Therefore, it is essential that your business products and services are available online and that your platform is user-friendly for both you and the customer.
Which one do I choose???
There are many options to choose from, and you can easily become overwhelmed. Here are some characteristics to consider when choosing which e-commerce platform will help you to grow your business.
User Friendly
First, prioritize your comfort by looking into which platform is easy for YOU, the business owner, to set up and not require much extra effort in designing. Look into the templates offered by each platform so that you can decide which one would fit your unique brand perfectly.
Customer Friendly
Not only should it be easy for you to utilize, but the platform should be beginner-friendly and easy for a customer to navigate through. Online shopping should be simple, easy, and convenient. Pages should load quickly. You want the customer to be satisfied with the whole process so that they come back again and again.
Safe and Secure
Make sure to choose an online platform that is reputable and secure. A customer needs to feel safe entering his credit card information without the fear of it getting stolen. For security purposes, you should choose a platform that supports HTPPS/SSL.
Integrative Features
The e-commerce platform should be able to function with your existing marketing systems and software and offer the appropriate level of tools, plugins, and extensions for your specific product and business needs. For example, if you rely heavily on ads from social media, your platform software should successfully integrate with Facebook and Instagram.
SEO-Friendly
Your e-commerce should be SEO-friendly, especially if your business is new. You want to make sure that when a potential customer is doing a Google search that your business pops up first and that they are drawn to your site.
Mobile Friendly
It is no surprise that with the advances in mobile technology such as the iPhone, a good e-commerce website should be mobile-friendly. A good platform should provide easy access to your business while also being fully functional for shopping on the go.
Analytics
Different platforms provide different types of analytics and data tracking. Make sure to look into which type of data would be the most resourceful statistics to keep you on top of consumer trends.
Payment Options
The availability of easy payment options is one of the most important things to consider when choosing your business e-commerce site. Square, PayPal, Stripe, and Apple Pay are the most common transaction gateways.
#1 E-Commerce platform is…..
Shopify is rated highly and is one of the most popular e-commerce platforms available. aIt addresses all of the necessary features mentioned above. It consists of step by step guide, so it is very easy to set up. The dashboard makes it easy for the business owner to access and manage all of the analytics. It is customizable for a wide range of services and offers more than 70 templates.
It is PCI compliant and has a 256-bit SSL certificate which makes it very safe and secure. It integrates with more than 2500 apps, has proper SEO built-in, and the URLs can easily be edited. The platform is mobile-friendly as it uses HTML 5.
You can also choose between Shopify Plan and Shopify Plus. The latter allows for more advanced and upgraded features and technical support via phone, email, or live chat. Thus, SHOPIFY will cover all of your new online store’s business needs.
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