Are you ready for an overview of eCommerce platforms in 2024?
After years of developing custom e-commerce sites and building stores on shopping platforms like Shopify, we have some ideas about what works and what doesn’t work.
We want to help you avoid costly mistakes in getting your store online and selling.
Things are always evolving but some things are basic to e-commerce and they need to be given some thought.
Let’s start with a few things that you should consider before getting started:
- what platform is best suited for the product(s) you’re selling?
- how do you want to handle payments?
- how will you handle shipping & returns?
- do you want to manage your store?
- do you want to do the SEO so that you can be found?
- how will your customers find you?
- do you need a custom site because of the type of product you’re selling?
- do you want to get your site up in weeks or do you want to spend months trying to figure things out?
- ???
Whew! That’s a lot, right???
We know because we’ve worked with a lot of customers over the years and no two are the same.
How about we review the top three in our
Let’s do that.
What is an eCommerce Platform?
eCommerce platforms provide basic online shopping functionality to merchants selling online.
They always sell themselves as the easiest way to get online but nothing is easy. We’ll get to that.
First, let’s give you a list of the big ones:
- Shopify
- BigCommerce
- WooCommerce
Shopify and BigCommerce provide the hosting for your store while WooCommerce works with WordPress and requires that you pay for hosting separately.
Now, let’s dig a little deeper into each one of these.
Shopify
Shopify is one of the most popular eCommerce platforms available today but it takes time and patience to set up.
The simplest and quickest way to get online and start selling your product is to use all the defaults provided.
The store layout choices will be limited but you can always purchase a more appealing theme. You can also add apps to help you market your products and so much more. It can be overwhelming.
If you have time and Shopify seems like a good fit, then this is a viable option.
BigCommerce
Like Shopify, BigCommerce has similar features.
Again, you can get set up quickly with a basic store but you’ll need more time for bigger stores or stores needing customization.
We recommend answering the question above before deciding if BigCommerce is the right choice.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a free plugin that works with WordPress which is also free to use.
With this platform, you will need a hosting company to host your website.
Like the other two platforms, you can get started relatively quickly with a basic setup.
However, the more customization you require, the longer it will take to get online and sell your product(s).
There are free themes available for you to get started quickly but there is a lot to WordPress that you need to know before selecting a theme or doing anything at all.
Are you overwhelmed yet?
We are too!
We understand because it is overwhelming. There is so much to consider and if you’ve never done it before the task is daunting. It’s best to have a clear vision and goal for your store. Answer the questions above and then figure out which platform will best meet your goals.
If have a platform in mind that is not on this list, scratch it off your list – there is a reason it’s not in this post. There are big names that are not worth the time and will leave wish you had never made that decision.
Let “An Overview of eCommerce Platforms” be your starting point in building your online business dream.
Netvolution To The Rescue | An Overview of eCommerce Platforms
We’ve provided you a very brief overview of eCommerce platforms to help you get started. However, if after reading this short overview, you feel like you need guidance, we are here to help.
We don’t want to see you wasting time and money by making a bad choice – we want you to make the BEST choice for your project.
Contact Netvolution and set up a meeting to go over your project goals. We’ll gladly help you out.
Last Updated: May 14, 2024
