by Alex Well
If you have an opportunity to take your business online, but you have not done it yet, then what are you waiting for? Doing this is easier than ever before, and it can prove to be a very lucrative move to make if you play your cards well.
The importance of online business became even more obvious in 2020 when plenty of physical locations had to be closed down for months at a time - in the meantime, online businesses registered record profits. For example, Amazon's profits for 2020 reached record levels.
Even people that are not so tech-savvy can set up an online business by using some of the reputable and easy-to-use eCommerce platforms. According to recent statistics, there are over a hundred eCommerce platforms to choose from, so how do you make the right choice for your business?
We would advise you to go with some of the big names in the field and, today, we will go over some of the best eCommerce platforms to use in 2021 - BigCommerce, Shopify, and WooCommerce.
Contents
BigCommerce's user base has been growing massively over the past few years. The company has been operating in the field since 2009, and it currently employs over 750 employees working in different offices around the world. The software-as-a-service solutions they offer are among the most affordable and easy-to-use on the market. But why should you go for BigCommerce's solutions and services? Bigcommerce Developer is the answer!
For starters, they offer the so-called 'hosted eCommerce' solutions. This means that the data and websites of their clients are hosted on BigCommerce's servers. You will not need to bother with buying or setting up external hosting services, neither will you need to install 3rd-party software and dependencies. BigCommerce's team makes sure that everything is ready to run as soon as you become their client.
The monthly subscription fees for BigCommerce start from $29.95, and they can be scaled up to enterprise levels where the price is negotiable. It is ideal for small & medium-sized businesses of all kinds.
The platform provides its users with a wide range of themes and add-ons, as well as a well-developed community hub that hosts all sorts of helpful articles and information. Some other perks that you get with BigCommerce's plans are a drag-and-drop builder, on-the-fly SEO< free templates, image optimization, and more.
Shopify is one of the most popular eCommerce solutions at the moment. Their most affordable plan starts at $29/month and can be scaled up to $299/month. It is the most preferred choice for beginners, but businesses typically switch to other providers once their online business expands.
Shopify's basic pages are easily modified and improved through the help of 3rd-party add-ons and themes, which are usable via the simplified administrator panel. One of Shopify's main selling points is that its users do not need any programming experience to get an online shop up and going. Of course, tech-savvy users can put their programming knowledge to good use and further improve their Shopify page's appearance and functionality.
What else do Shopify users get? The service generates detailed product reports, activity analytics, and even Search Engine Optimization (SEO) tips.
WooCommerce is a popular choice not just for businesses looking to go online but also for blog and website owners who want to sell digital or physical products through their page. WooCommerce adds an additional layer of functionality to the WordPress platform and turns it into a fully-fledged eCommerce site.
WooCommerce is among the most affordable options since it is completely free. Its appearance and functionality can be changed with the use of 3rd-party themes and add-ons. However, almost all features that WooCommerce users will access are community-made, so they might not always be reliable. Overall, WooCommerce is a good starting point for some online businesses, but it might not be the best choice if you are looking to develop a serious project.
Although WooCommerce is usable without programming knowledge, it is recommended to have minimal background in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP in order to be able to modify certain aspects according to your business needs. Last but not least, WooCommerce lacks severely in the support department - there is no live chat, and users may often need to wait 24-48 hours before their ticket is answered.
About Alex Well
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
