Best Ecommerce Platforms for Small Businesses

Not so long ago, those looking to sell their crafted products or services had to open a brick-and-mortar store or transform a truck into a mobile shop to attract their customers. The digital age changed how things work for the better because now customers can access all that with just a few swipes or clicks from the comfort of their own homes or offices. Just consider how easy it now is to install software: you don’t have to go to a store or buy a CD containing the app, instead just head over to the developer’s site or online storefront and download the product.

This digital transformation fostered new opportunities to sell goods and services online. For example, longstanding sites such as eBay, Amazon, or more recently the Facebook marketplace all prove that buying the things we want can be much simpler. Alongside these, a long list of ecommerce platforms awaits customers to get them set up with their online store and start selling.

The best ecommerce platforms for small businesses

There are a few features that each business owner should consider when selecting an ecommerce platform – but more on that later. First let’s take a look at the best ecommerce platforms that we at Best Reviews believe to be services every business owner should consider.

What to look for in small business ecommerce software

Selecting an ecommerce platform can become a painful process if you don’t know what to look for, so here is a checklist of all the key features to consider and see how they contribute to the overall experience of the online storefront that you have dreamed about.

Price

The main expenses that every entrepreneur should be aware of when launching a hosted online store are the monthly fee and the transaction fee. Some platforms don’t charge a monthly fee, but you still need to calculate in credit card transaction fees, which is a small percentage of every online purchase.

Product type

What are you selling? Is it a physical or digital product, or a service? If it’s a physical product, how big is it? Do you want to sell abroad? These are very important questions that need an input from the business owner when selecting the platform, because they will impact the shipping costs.

Design

How many free themes does a platform offer? Can the selected theme be customized? How much data can be shared about the product that is going to be sold? Customers won’t have the opportunity to check an exposed physical product, so they need as much info as you can share. Some platforms include stunning templates, others don’t, but they all allow you to edit the code so, in the end, you’ll be able to create a visually appealing online store.

As mobile traffic increases so, too, does the number of purchases made on smartphones and other mobile devices. According to Statista, ecommerce growth is primarily being driven by consumers using their phones and tablets to purchase goods and services. If you haven’t considered optimizing the site for mobile, then you’ll want to seriously think about it even before choosing a theme since this is what will help you match that customer demand for online compatibility.

Starting your small ecommerce business

Having all the necessary information on what to look for in an ecommerce platform won’t solve the hardest part of the task: how to actually start a successful online business? This begins with a series of questions:

• Do you know what you are going to sell?
• Do you have an idea of who you are going to sell to?
• What does the competition look like?

If you can answer all these questions and the business looks viable, then you are all set. From there it’s a case of selecting the ecommerce platform that matches your needs by testing the ones you think would be a good match. The good news is that all ecommerce platforms provide a trial period in which you can get the hang of the service and decide whether it fits your needs or not.

Of course, customization of a template comes at a cost. If you know how to code or have design experience, then the initial costs will be much lower, but if your experience in this area is limited, then hiring a helping hand would be a great step. An ecommerce consultant would make a great start towards picking the right solution, while a web designer is good for creating a stunning online storefront. At the end of the preparation phase, all you need to do is craft great products and content, and share the news with your potential customers.

Integrations for your online store

Sales can be increased by integrating the software with other sales channels. Think about all the marketplaces that you will be able to reach with a click of a button if the selected ecommerce platform supports such functionality: Amazon, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and the like can all be part of your reach. If you’re building an online presence on top of an offline one, then managing a store will become easier with such integrations, and you’ll have an easier time tracking inventory. And that’s just the start.

By subscribing to an ecommerce platform, you’ll get access to all the utilities needed to run an online business. For example, there are a number of payment gateways integrated into the web software, all you need to do is enable them. Or, if you are looking to launch a marketing campaign, these platforms can offer up a set of pre-written emails to reach out to customers with style. And did we mention the social media integration?

Simply put, ecommerce software pack in tons of features that you as the store owner will need to launch a successful online business. If a platform doesn’t offer it by default, then there are typically third-party apps in the marketplace that can enable the required feature. So, are you ready to start building your online store?