Improve Online Sales – Comparing eCommerce Platforms

Selling online is the newest way to produce income today. With an everchanging marketplace, sometimes you need to consider ways to reinvent your destiny. There’s no denying that money can be made by launching and successfully growing an eCommerce business. Behind every excellent eCommerce website is an eCommerce platform that made it all possible. Today, there are many things to consider and compare when choosing an online platform to peddle wares. With this in mind, this post explores seven popular eCommerce platforms to help you discover how they can help you and your business to succeed.

Amazon

However you feel about it, Amazon is the world’s premier online sales platform. It has come in like a lamb, yet disrupted the retail world as we know it. Shopping malls are closing by the hundreds, because of what Amazon has made possible through at-home shopping and retail.

Shopify

Shopify is, by far, one of the biggest eCommerce platforms and is regarded by many to be the ultimate solution. Powering over 800,000 online stores around the world in all market niches, and having produced over $1.5 billion in sales just over the 2019 Black Friday period, it’s no wonder why eCommerce enterprise owners flock to this platform.

Shopify has everything you could want in terms of functionality and available features, and it doesn’t matter what kind of technological experience level you have, you can create a website and online store from scratch using the creation wizard. With the ability to integrate into pretty much any and all CMS platforms, Shopify is well worth your consideration.

eBay

eBay is an online platform that allows sellers to create auctions for their new or used items. In the early years of online sales, eBay was a profitable and easy way to move items. Since it is an online auction platform, it’s the perfect way to sell collectibles and other obscure items that have no other way to be distributed.  eBay is still the go-to marketplace offering the sheer diversity of obscure items that don’t tend to sell anywhere else.

Magento eCommerce

Considered by many to be Shopify’s biggest competitor, Magento eCommerce has made waves across the internet for years and has shown no signs of slowing down anytime soon. While the design department of this platform may be lacking compared with other services, when it comes to SEO, sitemaps, structured URL, and managing your products and inventory in the easiest and most effective way, no one does it better than Magento.

What’s more, Magento is incredibly flexible, and while you can use the platform as a simple front-end solution, you also have the ability to get creative and turn the platform into whatever you want, which is especially important if you plan on scaling the business. To get started, take a look at these Magento hosting providers to see if there’s an option to suit you.

WooCommerce

If you want to use the ever-popular WordPress platform to build and grow your website and online eCommerce store, then you’ll have heard of the integrated WooCommerce. While restricted to the WordPress platform, this is one of the best website CMS platforms. So having such a perfectly integrated eCommerce plugin can bring so many benefits into your life.

Also to note, WooCommerce provides SEO performance and customizable features. This makes it able to manage literally every single aspect of your store. WooCommerce has got you covered, and there’s no denying this platform can tick the boxes for everything you’re looking for. Fast and lightweight, it’s everything an online eCommerce platform should be.

Etsy

Etsy is the site for the home-made creative divas. If you make physical (or digital) products to sell by hand, Etsy is your marketplace and way to fame. Etsy allows you to set up your own store and create an online presence. For a small fee, etsy provides a showplace and a shopping cart, allowing you to process credit cards and make sales online. If you’re trying to get out there, be sure to search their site for keywords of like products. Knowing your keywords will make your products more searchable and sellable on line.

Facebook Marketplace

If your idea is to clean out your home and don’t have the time to watch online sales, or if you want to sell locally, Facebook Marketplace is awesome. It’s simple to post items, and if you’re on Facebook, most neighborhoods have a Facebook marketplace group. All you need to do is take some decent pictures, a description of the item and make it live. One post could sell any item within hours. There’s something about exchanging items with locals that feels safer to some. Also, many people treat this platform as a real garage or tag sale. In other words, expect folks to haggle. Just know that buyers may wish to negotiate and ask you to take less.

Summary

As you can see, there are plenty of eCommerce platforms out there to choose from. But before you create your online business or post anything, you’ll want to check the rules to make sure what you’re selling is allowed. For instance, some groups ban promotional posts. Also, it’s important to research the market value of items to be sure you can move them. It’s well worth conducting your own research to see which platform works best for you and your items.

Selling online can be a business. Many sellers will share that it’s a legitimate way to generate revenue and have a respectable business. Research each platform to be sure it supports your product. What’s good for one business, may not be ideal for your product and business. Take your time. Invest time in learning about each platform, so you can set your eCommerce business up for the best possible start. If you need support in starting your own business, contact me for a complimentary Discovery Call to see how I can help.