With global eCommerce sales expected to hit a record high of $4.2 billion in 2020, now is a better time than ever to open up your online storefront. At its foundation will be your chosen eCommerce platform, which is why it’s important to make the right decision as to which provider you’re going to use.
With so many great options, nobody can be blamed for finding this difficult.
The eCommerce platform market is highly competitive. Let’s make things easier by running through some key considerations.
Compare
Your easiest option would be to read up on a direct comparison between the most popular platforms.
This will give you a clear view of the advantages offered by each.
You can take a look at this guide that compares Shopify and WooCommerce to get started. Included are all the details you need to make an informed choice.
The PieSync blog also lists the integrations you can make using their software to connect both eCommerce platforms to other apps and improve their functionality.
That said, it’s worth knowing what to look out for.
Pricing and Payment
For instance, there’s a major difference in pricing between certain platforms and plans.
Aside from a monthly fee, there could be additional costs such as processing fees.
Just remember that cheaper isn’t always better.
On the topic of payments, don’t forget to consider the payment methods supported by the platform.
Some don’t offer integration with the likes of PayPal, which can be a major drawback.
Ensure that your eCommerce platform of choice will work with all of the payment methods used by your customers.
SEO Friendliness
SEO is no less important for eCommerce than any other website.
A good platform has numerous SEO features.
This includes the ability to use a custom domain name, add a blog, and post customer reviews.
You should also be able to update meta tags and descriptions, add pagination in product search results and integrate with Google Analytics.
Mobile Compatibility
As you may already know, a large portion of your customers will be reaching your website on their smartphones or tablets.
It’s therefore imperative that your eCommerce platform accommodates them with a responsive design.
One that offers native iOS and Android apps are even better.
Security
Nobody is willing to give away their details to a website that doesn’t look secure.
Look out for the presence of HTTPs or SSL support.
The payment system should be PCI-DSS compliant, which is the standard offered by Stripe, Square, WorldPay and SecurePay.
Having Google Captcha protection is also important, as this protects your site from attacks.
Customer Service
From software bugs to server downtimes, odds are that your store will experience some kind of problem in the foreseeable future.
Partnering with an eCommerce platform that is there to promptly get your website back into working order is, therefore, a must.
Be sure to look into their customer support offering.
Conclusion
Keeping these factors in mind will help you make the right choice.
Don’t forget to read some reviews on the platform to see what other business owners think.
Also Read: How To Increase Sales In Your Retail Store
