How do you know what eCommerce platform is right for your business? You have to weigh your options. It’ a difficult decision to invest in any platform, but regardless of your choice, there are some “must haves” that you should not compromise on in your search for an e platform.
The below 10 things we suggest are a minimum to want from an eCommerce platform.
A back-end that is easy to use
Whether you are the owner of a business or a marketing agency looking for the right platform for your client, you want something that is easy to use. If the back-end is not user-friendly, then you’ll have difficulty uploading and segmenting products and difficulty making easy fixes to a website’s content. The better tailored to ease of use, the more successful you will be.
Shipping Options
Imagine you have this incredible online store built, and you are stuck with only one way to ship, not ideal. Your store may want to use the post office, FedEx, Purolator, and any number of shipping options, plus you may have various prices for shipping depending on location. Think about your shipping needs and confirm they are doable on your platform of choice.
App Integrations
The big secret to a successful online store is Apps. Apps help to make your store more functional. This is because many third-party sources, for example, MailChimp, want to make your life easier and want you to use their products. Take a look at available Apps while you are on your search to see what is out there to make your life easier.
Built-in SEO options
There’s no point in owning an online store if you can’t be found. Search engine optimization is a step in the website build process that shouldn’t be missed, and really it should be an ongoing task for your website as you upload products and promote your store. Many platforms have built-in SEO options so that you have a double-check set in place.
Good theme selection
When you set out to build a website, you can choose between customizing a theme to your brand or having your own theme built. Often customizing a theme, especially an eCommerce theme, is the more cost-effective choice. Check out the themes available through each eCommerce platform to see if something matches your needs.
Mobile friendly design
You need to choose a theme or have a mobile-friendly site designed, period. Mobile shopping is an explosive trend that isn’t going away anytime soon.
A great checkout
The checkout and processing part of your website needs to be as simple as possible; it should also build confidence in your brand.
Secure processing
Providing seamless processing is the best way to build confidence in your brand. This will depend on the payment options you provide to your customers; therefore, this goes back to Apps. Ensure that your payments company has an app compatible with your platform of choice.
Cross or up-selling options
This goes back to your theme, so again, check it carefully. One of the best functionalities you can include in your online store is more suggestions for your customers. Do you like this sweater? Try these ones, too! This is a great tool to continue moving a visitor through your store.
Good Support System
A good platform will have resources, online support, and expert developers that you can tap into to ensure that any and all problems are fixed. Problems happen; the best thing you can do is ensure your bases are covered.
The best thing you can do for your business is to do your research and lean on your eCommerce implementation company for advice. Tapping into expertise can help you gain direction and powerful insight. You can also move further into your search for eCommerce solutions by viewing the eCommerce solutions comparisons infographic below. It will help you navigate between four of the most popular eCommerce platforms available today.
