eCommerce platforms allow you to set up an online shop quickly and easily from scratch, sell all your products or services, and handle marketing tasks such as sending email updates about special offers. There are many eCommerce platforms available for use today. The problem most budding eCommerce entrepreneurs have is picking out the right platform for their business. There’s plenty to choose from, and many claims to offer the same features. So which one should you go for? Here we will present the best eCommerce site builders to assist you quickly and easily run a profitable online store.
Why Are eCommerce Platforms Important for Branding?
If you’re considering launching an online store, business branding is a key factor to think about. Branding is the marketing you use to promote your business and website. It helps you stand out from the competition in internet marketing since no two websites are identical. It makes it easier for customers to recognize who you are, what you offer, and why they should buy from you.
An eCommerce website acts as a virtual storefront where you can sell your products or services. It reduces operational costs, as you won’t need to pay for a physical store, and helps build brand recognition and trust with customers.
eCommerce platforms are responsible for building the value of your online business. Your top objective should be to get your visitors to become repeat customers (or buyers if you’re a reseller) and to help build the credibility of your name, products, services, and brand. Without branding, you will struggle to succeed on the Internet, and it could kill your business before it even starts.
Best eCommerce platforms
1. Magento Commerce
Magento Commerce is one of the most famous eCommerce platforms used today. It is easy to use, flexible and provides extensive customer and admin support. The major problem that most online retailers face is how to integrate this platform into their business. Most people are surprised by the high level of customization that is available in Magento. Magento allows online retailers to develop engaging and merchandising experiences for customers. However, many online merchants question the use, functionality, cost, and overall expense of running such a small business on Magento Commerce.
It provides a robust platform to run an online store. It is easy to customize it for maximum user experience. However, some limitations include lack of interactivity with native code, inability to store and manage payment gateways, and integration with multiple language and database platforms. By following best practices and adopting best practices documented in the “best practices” section below, you can build an eCommerce site that meets all of your requirements and provides you with excellent customer service.
2. Shopify
As someone intending to build an eCommerce store or move your existing store into a different platform in the future, you may be pondering your alternatives. Shopify is a highly regarded and extensively used eCommerce platform, store creation and management system today. Shopify the most well-known eCommerce platform and has made a strong move into offering in recent days. It is a web-based application that allows you to create a creative online store with various eCommerce website design templates. You can customize templates to your best fit to online needs.
3. BigCommerce
In the world of eCommerce platforms, BigCommerce is among a young bunch, but it is also very popular. BigCommerce was founded by Jason Steele and David Freund at eCommerce development company Gravity Forms, where they have spent many years honing and building the software. Over the past several years, it has been an essential part of every eCommerce platform. In 2021, BigCommerce was sold to a web hosting company by Jason Steele. The primary goal was to provide a robust and versatile eCommerce platform for both small and large businesses.
The features found on the BigCommerce platform are many, but perhaps the most impressive is the multi-currency and multi-shipping capabilities. Online merchants and shop owners can easily manage their online business from all over the globe, no matter if they are in Europe, Japan, or even Australia. The company offers advanced transaction options, including credit card merchant services, PayPal integration, shopping cart functionality, and web optimization. Online sellers worldwide have widely praised and recommended BigCommerce’s eCommerce features.
4. WooCommerce
Both Shopify and WooCommerce offer similar features, so their effectiveness for online stores largely depends on which platform suits your needs best. Each has its unique advantages and disadvantages for online marketers. While both platforms are powerful, they appeal to different users based on specific needs. In terms of authority, Shopify and WooCommerce are largely comparable. However, when it comes to SEO, WooCommerce stands out, powering nearly half of the top-ranking pages on Google and Yahoo—a remarkable achievement.
The Endnote
It lets you easily create a fully functional online store, manage customers and products, and handle marketing tasks like sending newsletters and email campaigns. At the same time, it does cost less money to set up. The performance and quality of the themes and plug-ins make up for the initial purchase within just a few days. Most eCommerce sites built using the great platform are highly customized. It offers complete customization, allowing you to fully personalize your store and make it unique compared to any other eCommerce site online.
Check out: Learn How to Set Up a Shopify Store in USA: 15 Minutes Tutorial