Over the recent years, the e-commerce industry has been rising in popularity. With the help of several e-commerce technologies available in the market, doing business in the online world is much easier and faster than before.
However, running a virtual business requires strategic planning and making informed decisions to help make your brand stand out. One of these things is choosing the right online platform for your business. Unfortunately, getting the best platform out of the hundreds of options can be a bit challenging. It needs extensive research on your part to ensure you’re making the appropriate choice.
If you’re looking for an online platform that would perfectly suit your business, below are the things you ought to consider for you to end up with the right one:
Intuitive User Experience Features
One of the essential considerations when selecting an online platform is whether or not it can provide intuitive user experience to your customers. While many e-commerce channels come with a plethora of functions, it’s essential to know if these can offer a better user experience. Whether it’s about easy navigation, fewer pop-ups, or a fast checkout process, providing a better user experience should always be at the top of your priorities.
Find time to compare each of your options to determine which one will work best for your needs. For example, if you’re choosing among Magento Enterprise and other popular online platforms, check some reliable resources online that can help you make the right choice.
Payment And Pricing Features
When selling goods online, one of the things you should keep in mind is the payment method you’ll be using. However, some online platforms don’t provide options that allow customers to pay through third-party vendors, such as PayPal. That’s why it’s best to determine which payment methods you can accept before shopping around for a platform. In doing so, you prevent the risk of shopping cart abandonment due to the frustration and inconvenience of using your channel.
Aside from the payment methods, you should also take a look at the price you’ll be paying. Regardless of your business size, it’s essential to know the cost of the platform you’ll be using, so you can figure out whether or not it’s best for your budget and your business.
Typically, most online platforms come with a monthly fee. Moreover, you might also have to pay the processing fees and other related charges before you can access these portals. Due to this, make sure to first assess the fees you’ll be paying. Get familiar with the pros and cons of each option and see if it’s worth the price.
Remember, you should never compromise the things that a platform can do for your business in exchange for a lower price. Always look for an enterprise platform with ethical pricing, like Shopify Plus, which would allow you to grow and scale your business.
Security
When you’re doing business online, you also want to ensure that the platform you choose has top-notch security. This is especially true if you’re selling goods in the virtual world, which would require you to protect your customers and their personal information at all cost.
Thus, find an online platform that guarantees the safety and security of your business transactions. You can install a security certificate like Comodo PositiveSSL Wildcard get only from the trusted certificate authority. This certificate can provide surety to secure your website from hackers. Check whether it has Comodo PositiveSSL Wildcard fraud prevention features, and data backups. And, lastly, know if the platform has protection against data theft and hacks. That way, you can rest, knowing that your business is safe with the online channel you choose.
Mobile-Friendliness
These days, most people search for and purchase products online using their mobile devices. This means that you should consider mobile-friendliness as an essential consideration when picking a virtual platform.
If you want to make the most out of your business sales, having a mobile-friendly channel can be an excellent idea because it allows your customers to quickly access your online store and buy through their mobile devices.
To make sure that the platform is mobile-friendly, check if it makes use of heavy JavaScript, for instance.
Customer Service
Unlike running a physical store, doing business online gives you lesser control over how smooth the operations should be. From server downtime’s to software malfunctions, these circumstances are beyond your control and will impact your revenue over time.
For this reason, it’s crucial to consider customer service when selecting an online platform. This means that the provider should have someone whom you can call at any time to help you rerun the software.
So, review each option’s customer service by knowing whether or not they’re available round-the-clock. Also, don’t hesitate to ask how you can reach them in case of an emergency, whether through online chats, phone calls, text messaging, or email, among others.
Final Takeaway
Indeed, operating an e- commerce business can be challenging, especially if there are so many things to consider right from the very beginning. Therefore, if you don’t want to end up losing thousands of dollars by choosing the wrong platform, keep these factors in mind as you get started with your search. In doing this, you can narrow down your options and make the perfect decision for your business.