Buying the right e-commerce software is pivotal in the decision-making process of any e-commerce site. This is the backbone of your business and you need to make the right choice. So, here are some great tips to do so.
- Pricing
The first thing that should be considered when shopping for e-commerce platforms is the price. Whether you run a small startup business or have a brick and mortar business that you want to move online, you need to understand exactly what you are getting for the price.
A monthly fee is charged on almost all platforms. The costs will vary based on the type of platform that you purchase – hosted versus self-hosted. Another thing to consider is the processing fees that will be charged for the platform. You do not want to sacrifice on the things that you need to get a cheaper price. Weigh the pros and cons of each platform to determine which is better for your company.
You will also want to consider the way that your customers will be paying. Some platforms do not offer the ability to pay using third-party vendors like PayPal. This could cause your customers frustration and inconvenience which could prevent them from completing the sale. You should always determine the payment forms that you will accept before deciding on a platform. Check out the different software options and buy accordingly.
- Integration
Another thing that you should consider when shopping for an e-commerce platform is the plugins and integrations that are offered. Platforms like Shopify provide plenty of tools to help you run your business. You will need to look at your business needs and determine which plugins are needed for your business. When you are shopping for platforms, consider the tools you currently use and the tools you may wish to use in the future for your business. Here some of the most popular plugins to look for:
– Accounting Plugins – Aid in taxes, sales, profits, and revenues
– Email Marketing Tools – Help you stay in contact with customers
– Rewards Platform – Allows you to reward your customers when they purchase and use your products
– Apps – Assist in the shipping of your products
- Mobile Friendliness
Many businesses do not realize that 60 percent of searches are done using a mobile device. Customers that use their mobile devices often purchase using their mobile device rather than a computer. This is why it is essential that you find a platform that allows customers to access your site and make purchases from their mobile device. If you want a product that does all of the above try 3D cart and if you don’t believe us then read this 3DCart review.
- SEO Friendliness
E-commerce businesses must ensure that their site uses the latest SEO practices. Using SEO helps ensure your site ranks high in a search engine’s results. You want customers to be able to find your website when they are searching for products.
Some things to look for when shopping for an SEO-friendly platform include:
– Ability to use your domain name
– Ability to link your blog to your website
– Ability for customers to post reviews of your goods or services
- Customer Service
One of the most important aspects of a business is customer service. Brick and mortar businesses have more control over how their business is run compared to a website.
E-commerce is different. Server downtimes and software outages are typically beyond your control. These can prevent your customers from accessing your website. Sooner or later, your servers will crash which can negatively impact your brand image and your revenue.
Having the ability to contact someone when this occurs is of monumental importance to ensure you can quickly get your site back up and running. Look at each platform’s customer service department. Is it available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? How can you contact customer service? What are the different levels of support and how much does each level cost? Always ask these and other questions before you decide on a platform.
- Security
Your customers do not want to enter personal information and credit card/debit card numbers on a sketchy site. One of the biggest concerns that customers have is the security of a website. Most software offers robust security; however, you want to ensure that the platform supports HTTPS/SSL for secure and safe checkout procedures for your customers.
You should also ensure the platform is Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliant.
- Scalability
As a business owner, you want your business to grow, but you may be unsure how large your company will grow. This is why it is important to choose a platform that has the ability to scale as your business grows.
You should not be paying for extra storage or features that you currently do not need. However, you want to have the ability to keep up with the demands as your business begins to grow. Choose a platform that allows you to scale the platform according to the size of your business and will not charge excess fees for scaling a platform.
