Launching Your Business Online? 5 Key Tips to Choose the Right eCommerce Platform

But it's not just about having a website; it's about making a real impact. Your goal is to create a website that keeps customers coming back. That's where choosing the right eCommerce platform becomes super important.

Think of it like opening a virtual store that's always open for business, accessible to anyone, anywhere, anytime. Here are five tips to make sure you pick the perfect platform for your online debut.

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How to Choose the Right eCommerce Platform?

Choosing the right ecommerce website builder is more of a strategic decision than a technical one. It's about aligning the platform's capabilities with your business needs, goals, and target audience. We are making this easy for you with 5 key tips. 

Tip #1: Don’t Fall for Cheap Ones

When choosing an ecommerce platform, it's important to look beyond the price tag. While cost matters, don't make it the only thing you consider. Opting for a cheap platform that can't handle your business's needs is like being in a leaky boat – it won't take you to the destination. 

Here’s a real example, our client had their website hosted on HostGator. This ecommerce platform costs comparatively less than other platforms but when it comes to handling huge traffic, it failed. Customers kept bouncing back and sales dropped. Read here to know how we saved their business and website.

Tip #2: Watch Out for Hidden Fees

You can save money by using a free eCommerce website builder, but it will cost more in the long run. So, purchasing a paid platform is the best decision. However, those platforms charge additional fees beside monthly subscription for the important features that help in the business growth. It includes:

• Payment gateway fees
• Transaction fees
• Hosting fees
• Marketing costs
• Marketing and support fees
• Fee for additional plugins and extensions 
• Data storage and bandwidth fees
• Fraud prevention fees
• SSL certificate fees

Tip #3: Check For Inventory Management System 

We can’t emphasize more on the importance of inventory management. —it can really make or break your business. To avoid headaches of costly switch, starts right with an eCommerce platform having a robust inventory management system.

It lets you track the number of products in your inventory and alerts when it's time to reorder. It also keeps track of orders, restocks, and future sales needs.

Some eCommerce platforms, like Shopify, BigCommerce, and Magento, even offer predictive analytics tools. These tools analyze customer behavior and purchase patterns to forecast future demand for your products. This valuable information helps you make informed decisions about stock levels, ensuring you always have enough to meet customer needs.

Tip #4: Choose an Ecommerce Platform that Grow with You 

Choosing an eCommerce platform that can grow alongside your business is essential for long-term success. As your business expands, you'll likely need more advanced features like more bandwidth, connecting with CRM, marketing automation software, and other applications to extend your e-store’s capabilities.  

Selecting a scalable eCommerce platform that aligns with your long-term growth goals can help avoid the need for a cumbersome switch in the future. Look for flexibility, a robust infrastructure, and a history of successful growth stories with the chosen platform. Do some research or ask experts if you're not sure. 

Read More: Power Up Your Online Business with Custom Ecommerce Development  

Tip #5: Make Sure It’s Secure

In 2020, a high-end department store, Neiman Marcus, experienced a cyberattack, resulting in significant financial losses and compromising the data of 4 million customers.

And that's just one example.

According to a 2023 report from Cybersecurity Ventures, approximately 180,000 online stores face cyberattacks every day. So, before you jump into creating an online store, be sure the ecommerce website builder is equipped with these safety features:

• Strong data encryption

• Two factor and multi-factor authentication
• Payment gateways compliant with PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard)
• Secure socket layer (SSL) certificates
• Web application firewall (WAF)
• Strong password management policies
• User access controls 
• Third-party risk management 

These security features in ecommerce platforms protect both your business and customers from data breaches. It's essential to conduct regular vulnerability scans to identify and address any security loopholes before hackers can take advantage of them.

Most popular and secure ecommerce platforms in the market  

• Wix
• Shopify
• WooCommerce
• BigCommerce
• Adobe Commerce (Magento) 
• Salesforce Ecommerce Cloud (Demandware)

Ready to Launch your Business Online?

Break free from the physical boundaries and explore the endless opportunities in the digital space. The right strategy and carefully considering an ecommerce platform will future proof your business’s success.