Starting an online store is not an easy task and it needs a lot of commitment and considerations to make. One of the key issues to consider is the e-commerce platform to use for your business. Whether you choose to hire a developer to create a brand new e-commerce website for you or if you want to use a pre-built e-commerce platform the choice majorly lies on the features you want in your website and what is already provided by the available platforms.
There are several reasons why many business owners would prefer a pre-built e-commerce platform as it looks more appealing and may not need as much work as creating a brand new website. The decision lies on the ease of use and the website ability to closely work with the community in their niche market.
There are so many options of platforms available to choose from and it is recommended that you should carry enough research on the website builders available. At first, it will be quite a hard task to come up with the right e-commerce platform and it is recommended that you should look out for reviews of some of these platforms from the experienced business owners.
To be able to select the best platform for your business, there are several things that you ought to consider. Some of these factors are:
- The size of the stock.
The size of your stock is a very big determinant f the platform that you will choose. There is no need to pay for a platform meant for a large size stock yet you may not use all the features included. As a first time business owner you should ensure that you only pay for the services that you may need. There are many e-commerce platforms that are willing to provide you with a variety of payment methods even if you have a small stock. Look at the available Wix, Shopify and Weebly reviews, and get to know what other users experienced using these platforms.
- The type of goods you are selling.
This is a big consideration to make. You need to know if you are specializing in digital goods/services or physical goods. This is very important when starting as you will be able to know all the costs that may come up with the kind of goods you are offering. Some of these costs include shipping fees. Once you specialize in one type of goods, you can then choose the best e-commerce platform that will cater for the needs of your business.
- The method and plan of payment available.
In each type of platform, there are allowed and available methods of payments available. For instance, there are websites that may have several payment methods. For instance, PayPal is the most widely used method but if you have issues, it is very important that you should consider arrangements with your preferred e-commerce platform as not all platforms support a third party payment processor. Also, the payment plan is very vital in choosing a platform. You should choose a platform that suits your budget while at the same time the plan should be in line with your preferred schedule. E-commerce platforms offer different payment plan. For instance, there are those platforms that enable you to make monthly payments while others offer to deduct some amount of money from your sales. As a starter of an e-commerce with a big potential, it is very recommended that you should consider the plan that you are supposed to pay a fixed monthly payment.
Above are the three major things to consider in choosing an e-commerce platform. The bottom line should be; choose a platform that maximizes your profitability.
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