Anyone who has lived with a seamster/ess, quilter, crafter, or other artisan knows that the pandemic was a dangerous combination: isolation, Amazon Prime, and fidgeting. People who had never thought to do anything creative or artistic learned new skills or crafts to pass the time, follow a passion, or both. To make matters worse, the craft shows and flea markets where such products are sold closed for the 2020 season, leading more people to learn how to sell online.
Imagine a knitter in a cozy chair, slowly being swallowed by a sea of
People generally assume that learning how to sell online will be difficult and
Ecommerce Website Builders Should Have These Features:
When you hear Ecommerce website builders, your mind probably jumps to templates or easy
1. Code provided, no coding necessary, or coding as needed
Templates are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to setting up your online store. If you don’t have any training in websites or ecommerce at all, you’re going to need an option that removes all the guesswork. On the other hand, if you’ve been trained to code and just want to take some shortcuts, you want to have the freedom of manipulating the code at will.
Either way, you’re going to need to be able to sell products online across platforms, using social media and other successful online marketplaces. You should be able to manage your inventory and products across all of your online storefronts.
2. Is the website builder easy to use?
You may know that most website builders come with convenient
Ideally, an
In most cases, you should choose one with a
You should choose a convenient platform that is
3. Ease of managing inventory
Especially in the case of a
4. Price scaling as needed with no transaction fees
If you are just starting out, gradually ramping up operations, or looking at only seasonal sales, you should look for options scaled to your needs. Don’t pay the same price to sell 10 products to sell online per month as you would to sell 100 items per month. Instead, find flexible online selling options that allow you to start small and scale services to grow your business.
You should also look for options that are
5. Flexibility to change plans as your needs fluctuate
Don’t let Ecommerce platforms push you into paying for more than you need. At the same time, don’t get yourself stuck in a package that doesn’t make sense long term. If you typically have seasonal spikes in offerings, having a platform that allows you to scale back during the
Common options for payment processing
Always remember that if it is not simple for your online shoppers to pay for your product or service, you will not be successful in the long run. You may know that PayPal, Apple Pay, Square, and Stripe are some of the popular payment gateways for a majority of
So, make sure that you consider what types of payment you are willing to accept when searching for the right ecommerce website builder.
When it comes to website builders, there are many options out there. This is why it is vital to find the features that you would like to have and then go from there. Use this guide to evaluate the
Choose payment processors that make sense both for you and your customers.
6. Is the website builder secure?
In this digital age, security is one of the pivotal issues, and you should consider it with extreme care. As online business is a virtual interface, note that trust is an important consideration for your customers. Did you know that purchasers prefer secure and safe payment options as they have to share sensitive information, such as bank details?
This is why you should ensure that your
7. Does the ecommerce website builder integrate with marketing tools?
In this competitive environment, website marketing is important for the growth
The
So, ensure that
8. Widgets and add-ons
You should also check if the
9. Product reviews and ratings
If you are an online customer, you will know that many customers trust products based on experience shared by other customers. So, product ratings and reviews, which were initially considered an
This is why the facility of product ratings and reviews is one of the key features that your online store builder must have.
10. Third-party integrations
This is another critical consideration. It is best to look for an
11. Easy checkout process
Did you know that more than 55 percent of users leave a website at the cart? And this is simply because the checkout process is often complicated and lengthy. So, when choosing an
Keep in mind that the best checkout pages often include an order summary. This is where you just ask for the essential information from users to make payment. You should see if the website builder offers several payment methods for quicker checkout.
How to Choose the Best Ecommerce Platform
Learning how to sell online quickly is half the battle, but your Ecommerce platform should offer more than just some fancy
You can also use the following tips to research different Ecommerce platforms.
Find a list of features to compare plans and platforms
The best Ecommerce services are very straightforward about what their offerings provide. You should be able to find a list of features for each specific plan or service option. You should use a chart to compare plans within and across platforms, but the best sites also have comparison charts to summarize their own offerings.
Search online for real reviews by real people
It’s hard to know if a review is unbiased. Most of the websites that offer comprehensive reviews of products online are paid to mention specific Ecommerce platforms. Unfortunately, they are also the most easily found.
You can still get
Check out their demo
If you’ve been thinking about how to sell online for a while, you probably already have an idea of how you want to set up your online store. Not every platform will meet the needs of your Ecommerce business or your ideal for online selling. Before jumping onto a platform based solely on reviews, check out a demo of their basic services. Be sure it is a good fit before you spend a lot of time and effort trying to make it work.
Look for the best experience for your customers
Look for reviews from customers using these Ecommerce platforms to checkout. Make sure that the option you choose makes it easy for your customers to browse, order, and pay for their goods. The three main areas to consider are:
- Ease of checkout
- Secure checkout
- Flexible payment options
As long as your site hits these three points and provides honest and accurate descriptions, your customers will be happy buying your products online.
Ecommerce Website Building Platforms on the cloud
For the simplest
1. They’re (almost) free and (always) easy
Website builders aim for a consistent and beautiful user experience. The builder takes care of the code and hosting of your site; you just add content and plugins to create your
2. Pick from dozens of designs — or DIY
The beauty of web builders is their flexibility and simplicity. There are no surprises
If HTML/CSS and graphic design is your jam, let the themes be your guide. Weebly and SquareSpace allow access
SquareSpace is a builder with famously clean yet customizable designs, all crafted with the mobile experience in mind. If you’re an Adobe design devotee, Muse may be right for you. There is no coding required to use their beautiful responsive designs, but you retain all the creative control.
Platforms requiring you to download and host
If you’re looking for an ecommerce website with more functionality and don’t mind a little extra work, consider using a content management system
1. They really are free… but not always so easy
Many content management systems are open source, meaning anyone can access and use the platform to make a powerful
2. Help is always there
Platforms like Drupal and Joomla are used by people all over the world to build millions of websites, so the power of community is on your side. If you need tech support, you have access to endless video tutorials, forums
What if you decide you want the functionality without the responsibility? No problem. Developers all around the world are experienced with these platforms; it’s easy to find someone to build and maintain your website for you. You’re never without help.
3. The possibilities are endless
Thanks
Nuts and bolts
When choosing
All of these site builders and content management systems work perfectly with Ecwid. Many platforms offer their own
With Ecwid, you can achieve the best of both worlds
Key Takeaways
When you’re ready to start selling products online, the right Ecommerce website builder and platform can make all the difference. To recap, here are the most important things to look for when you’re getting started:
- Flexible
subscription-based plans scaled to need. We want everyone to feel confident and know how to sell online easily, so we offer options for every level. Just a few products online per month with no plans to grow your business? You can post up to 10 products to sell online per month with ourno-cost way to start selling online. Seasonal spikes in sales? Adjust your membership subscription monthly as needed.
User-friendly experience for both you and your customers. Don’t sacrifice your ease of use, particularly inventory management, in favor of easy checkout for your customers. Both are equally important.
- Versatility to meet current and ongoing needs. Especially if selling online isn’t your primary business or source of income, it pays to use an Ecommerce platform that can easily change and evolve to meet your changing needs.
If you still have questions about how to sell online with the right platform for your individual needs, you should feel free to reach out to the sales team for answers.