The E-Commerce sector has been on the upswing in the recent years and there are no indications for this to change. Having said that, if you are someone who is looking to make a foray into the crowded online business space, then there are some things that you must need sorting out before choosing an appropriate E-Commerce platform. This will ensure that you get a strong head-start and grow without any hiccups while saving costs.
In this blogpost, we will discuss some key factors that you need to consider, following which you will be able to make an informed decision in choosing from tons of options.
Host
The first and foremost thing you need to do is to be clear on the product and the market – i.e what product you are selling and whom you are selling to. For example, if you are selling just digital products, there is no worry of shipping, rather you can concentrate on e-mail marketing.
On this basis, you have to decide whether you want a self-hosted platform or hosted platform. Going the self-host way gives you more control but also you need to be sure if it has a high uptime rate. On the other hand, going the hosted platform way will take care of your every need.
Support System
This is something that you must not take lightly. Given that you are conducting business online, there are some things that might go out of your hand like – for instance – software and server crash. In these moments, it would greatly help if you have a strong customer care service from your side. So, look for platforms that provide customer service, how they provide, what they provide and so on. OpenCart provides free community or dedicated commercial support!
Pricing
The next factor you need to consider is the pricing. Every platform out there has a monthly fee. It goes without saying that the pricing will vary with the kind of host you opt for. In fact, it will be useful to make a list of features and categorise it as Must have (critical), Should Have (Important but not necessary), Could Have (Desirable but not necessary), Won’t Have (Least critical). Especially, if you’re starting out, don’t hesitate and end up compromising on essential features just for a platform at a cheaper price.
For example, the checkout area in any e-commerce website is a crucial area and most customers will look for payment options like PayPal. It would augur well for you to give preference to those platforms that offer this support. If your site doesn’t have the usual payment options, then the customer will likely move on to a different site. Lost sale, period!
Plugins
Make the most from your chosen E-Commerce platform that provides a variety of useful plugins that your business actually needs. For example, there are plugins in platforms like Shopify for specific aspects like Shipping, Accounting, tool to reward your customers to increase their loyalty and so on.
Mobile Friendly and SEO Ready
Most people are now purchasing on their smartphones. So, having a mobile friendly version of your e-commerce site will be an added advantage. In addition to that, consider search engine optimisation (SEO) for your business. This means enabling your customers to write reviews and adding blogs etc;
Having a platform that offers these services will prove to be highly beneficial, in the sense, it will not only increase your page rank but will also likely create engagement and guarantees your customer’s returning to your shop to purchase. Loyalty!
Other Things to Look Out For
Security is one major concern among customers. Ensure that the platform you choose has support for HTTPS for a safe and secure payment experience. Also check whether the said platform is Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliant.
We know that you hope to make it big with your E-Commerce venture. That is why it doesn’t hurt to look for a platform that will scale along with you without charging exorbitant fees.
Depending on your preferences, you can now hire a Magento developer or hire an OpenCart developer at HireIndianProgrammers. They will work round the clock to ensure that you get the best e-commerce platform that you want as determined by you.
For more queries, feel free to contact us here.
