Online shopping has seen a significant improvement ever since it was first introduced. Nowadays, almost everyone shops for their products online. Not only is online shopping convenient, but consumers are offered a ton of products. Every business should, therefore, take advantage of online shopping and create their stores online.
Fortunately, there are many website builders that one can set up their store on. The good news is that most of these builders aren’t expensive and can be operated by anyone. These platforms have a simple user interface which means even people who are not pro designers or developers can use them too. We interviewed several small business owners and they found that although there were many options, it was difficult deciding on which platform to adopt. Mike Thomas, marketing director of HF4You, an online furniture manufacturer and retailer, analysed the whole range and finally decided on Magento, but your requirements may lead you to a different conclusion.
How do you know which platform is the right one for your business startup or growing company? Lucky for you, we’ve conducted our research and can help you decide which website builder will suit you best. Here is our list of the top five eCommerce website builders in 2019.
1. Wix
If one is running a small store, this is the right platform for them. Creating your shop using Wix is incredibly easy even for newbies. And with a variety of templates, you can design your website how you like it. It is an excellent platform for small as well as independent entrepreneurs. Wix allows individuals to create a well-rounded store using the available editing tools.
Pros
Beginner-friendly – it features a drag and drop editor that makes editing simple for users. Plus, this editor shows individuals how their editing affects the designs of their stores.
Best for building your brand – Wix is best for small and new stores as it enables them to create and develop an attractive brand.
Attractive designs – sellers can even add videos to give their clients as much information on the product as they can.
Variety of tools – apart from the drag and drop option, Wix has advanced eCommerce tools that are excellent for small businesses, such as abandoned cart recovery where sellers can use it for catching clients who have left items in their checkouts.
Multilingual sites – Wix supports different languages, which means sellers can sell to consumers in different countries.
Cons
It’s difficult to scale on this platform as it doesn’t offer you stock management alert.
2. Squarespace
Squarespace was first developed by Anthony Casalena for use as a personal blog. But, as years went by, it advanced to become one of the best and most used website builders. It’s a very competent eCommerce platform for many reasons. One is that it comes with an advanced product management feature. Plus, it allows individuals to stock up a variety of products, including standard physical products, digital downloads as well as services. Squarespace has two pricing plans: Basic, which is $30 per month and Advanced, which is $46 per month.
Pros
Full control over variants of products – just as with many online shopping sites, Squarespace allows users to choose product variants such as size, colour, etc.
No product limitations – no matter how many products you have, whether 5 or 200, you can sell them all on this platform.
Inventory management – with its “content manager” individuals can manage their inventory by price, stock level, etc.
Configure sales taxes – depending on where your business is, one can create tax rules for charging sales taxes to buyers in the same country or state.
Cons
It doesn’t support third-party integrations like Zocdoc.
Tricky language settings can limit one’s ability to internationalize.
3. Shopify
For those who want to give their businesses a serious boost, Shopify is the platform for you. It has all the tools you need to market your products and brands. It’s an effective eCommerce platform that helps individuals set up and build their stores. Plus, it has more advanced tools than any other website builder.
Pros
Advanced features and customer support – there are tons of templates, inventory management, as well as sales tracking features. Plus, one can reach out for technical support even during non-business hours.
Shopify has a collection of apps that help businesses to boost their sales! Apps like TADA help merchants in creating gamified email popups to collect more subscribers while keeping the store visitors engaged and happy. If you haven’t heard about e-commerce gamification, then you should definitely check it out!
Cost-effective – subscription plans are cheaper, considering the features one will get.
Individuals can sell across different channels, including Facebook, Amazon, Instagram, etc.
Cons
Transaction fees are somehow expensive, ranging from 0.5%-2.0%.
Users might need to purchase additional expensive add-ons.
4. BigCommerce
This platform has the most inbuilt features, which means it doesn’t rely on apps like most website builders. This feature also makes it cost-effective. One sells across various channels such as eBay, Instagram, Pinterest, etc. You can, therefore, set up a thriving online store and expand your market at low costs.
Pros
Sellers can sell on different channels.
It has excellent SEO tools.
It’s the most scalable website builder.
Many inbuilt features.
Cons
Complex interface – this platform isn’t beginner-friendly.
No mobile app – one can’t run their store on the go.
5. 3dcart
Another popular ecommerce platform is 3dcart. It’s an all-in-one platform with a built-in CMS system, blogging platform and marketing suite. With a unique dropshipping plan that starts at just $9.99/month, it’s one of the best values in the market.
Pros
Low start-up cost, just $9.99/month.
Built-in marketing features include a newsletter system, blog, loyalty program, etc.
No transaction fees.
Over 60 free mobile-friendly themes.
Cons
Plans are based on revenue tiers.
Steep learning curve due to the large number of features.
Final Thoughts
That marks our list of the best eCommerce platforms. If you’re serious about scaling up your business, consider having a store in one of them. However, when it comes to choosing the right website builder for you, consider your budget, products, size of your business, and needs.
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