E-COMMERCE
Having the right resources in place can make the difference between success and failure.
TRENDING TOPICS: Small Business | WordPress | Branding | Start-Up | Relationships
The Top-Rated E-Commerce Platforms for Launching a Small Business
Creating an online store and developing a new retail brand has never been easier. With drag-and-drop simplicity, pre-built templates, and apps designed to increase sales and productivity, getting started in e-commerce is just a few clicks away.
Shopify is one of the largest Ecommerce platforms popular among small to enterprise sized businesses. Shopify makes it simple for anyone to start a business and sell online with its professional online storefront, payment solution that accepts credit cards and the Shopify POS application to power retail sales.
Shopify offers a 14-day trial for those new to Ecommerce to trial their platform risk free. It’s also helpful for businesses who want to switch from another platform with their free migration services. If you are completely new to Ecommerce, Shopify has the option for you to hire a Shopify expert freelancer or agency that can help you get started and have your business up and running in no time.
Shopify also integrates with your social media and other online marketplaces to ensure you have the best opportunity to increase your sales online. For example, shoppable links on Facebook and Instagram allow your customers to complete a sale with only a few clicks.
Packages range from their Basic plan to their Advanced Plan suitable for large businesses. If you simply want to add shoppable products on your existing website, they also offer a Shopify Lite option that accepts credit card payments, a great way to make your start in online selling.
Etsy is an online global marketplace which focuses on handmade or vintage items and craft supplies. The difference between Etsy and a platform like Shopify is if you have an Etsy store, customers can search for your products on the platform and find you through the search engine. Whereas with Shopify, you have your own website which requires SEO to rank and marketing to generate brand awareness. Etsy is great for small sellers who want to build their online store without having to do too much of their own additional marketing.
Etsy’s pricing is per listed item. For example, you can list your first product for a small fee and you only pay transaction, payment processing and offsite advertising fees when you make a sale. Therefore, it is a cost-effective online store if you are a small business looking to determine whether there is a viable market for your product. However, if you do plan to sell a large volume of products, keep in mind that each will incur the listing fee, transaction fee, payment processing fee and offsite advertising fee meaning if you are planning on growing, it might be worthwhile having your own website where the costs don’t increase with the categories and products that you sell.
Etsy is perfect for those who have a hobby business or side business as it has a low barrier to entry in terms of price, however if you are looking to grow a medium or large business, I’d recommend a platform like Shopify, so you have more control over the personalization and functions of your online store.
Subscribe to our weekly blog updates and receive tips to grow or improve your small business.
Featured Posts
6 Ways To Stand Out From Your Competition
In virtually every business category, competition is fierce, and it can be hard to separate your brand from all the noise—and even harder to break into the industry launching a new business. When business owners and entrepreneurs think about ways to improve their...
6 Tip To Quickly Improve Your Website
Starting any business can be a difficult and time-consuming effort, and creating your company website can feel like one more item on your ‘checklist’ of things to get done. But many business owners fail to recognize the importance of continually improving their online...
What Entrepreneurs Do That Others Don’t
Over time many people who become frustrated with their daily jobs and careers will often say their biggest dream is to be their own boss and to run their own business. For some this has been a long time dream or something they’ve had in the back of their mind for...
5 Tips To Improve Your Email Marketing
You might be thinking that email marketing is an outdated tactic no one uses anymore, but the truth is it remains one of the most effective marketing tools you can be using to reach your customers. With the variety of tools and platforms available to businesses today,...
If you're struggling with your e-commerce efforts or need help getting started, let's talk:
ABOUT ME | BUSINESS BLOG | RESOURCES | CONTACT ME
ThinkBigStaySmart is an online resource for small business owners and entrepreneurs and seeks to provide relevant industry information, insights, and dialogue to help foster success. All product reviews and opinions are based on real-world experience and are not influenced by advertising. This site maintains several affiliate relationships with third-party software and those affiliate links may be included throughout this site. To read our full disclosure on affiliate links, please click here.
All content © LifestyleTech, LLC. All rights reserved. All third-party brands and logos are copyright their respective owners. We DO NOT sell or share your personal information. Please click here for our detailed Terms and Privacy Policy.
