Last Updated on January 21, 2024 by Umer Malik
The phenomenon of selling goods and services online has certainly boomed in recent years. Especially during 2020 where businesses were forced to shut their physical stores and move, if possible, towards selling online. In 2021, eCommerce sales had reached an astonishing $4.9 trillion worldwide – with forecasts predicting a further 50% growth by the end of 2025. So the practice of selling goods and services online is certainly not slowing down, and more and more businesses are turning to this means of carrying out business. Are you a business owner just breaking into the online scene? Or is your eCommerce store looking to scale? Let’s have a look at some of the best eCommerce platforms for small businesses in 2022.
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Why eCommerce?
Carrying out buying and selling online has shown to be a very popular solution for businesses looking to grow. Afterall, costs are dramatically reduced as it removes overheads that come with a physical store. There is no limitation to how far you can reach potential customers – only the area in which you’re able to ship to. Advertising is much easier, with eCommerce marketing efforts directing traffic directly towards your online store. The benefits are apparent for all to see, so what eCommerce platform is right for you?
eCommerce platforms for small businesses
1. Shopify
One of the most popular platforms for ecommerce platforms of all shapes and sizes, Shopify’s simple-to-use, intuitive interface is what makes it incredibly appealing. For those just starting out, with no IT or coding experience, or without a dedicated web team, it provides a platform to create a store, which looks awesome and is easily customizable. Shopify is particularly useful for eCommerce businesses that are looking to scale.
There are hundreds of design themes you can choose from, so you are bound to find one that is the right fit and aesthetic for your eCommerce business. Each of these designs are fully responsive so, whether it’s desktop, mobile or tablet, your site will be accessible to all.
When it comes to search engine optimization (SEO), there are tons of plugins you can choose from to ensure that your website is fully-optimized. There are also loads of apps to help boost conversions, improve marketing, gather reviews and get the most in-depth analytics to help make and justify business decisions.
2. Woo Commerce
WordPress is perhaps the most used content management system (CMS) for those looking to build websites, blogs or apps. Woo Commerce is a plugin which adds eCommerce functionality into the mix. It’s held in very high regard due to its accessibility and customizability. It comes with a number of excellent extensions too – helping with SEO, lead generation, chat functions, security, and more. It’s worth noting that, before installing Woo Commerce, you should ensure that you subscribe to an appropriate web host. However, this makes it slightly more flexible in terms of cost.
3. Squarespace
Squarespace offers a wide plethora of themes for you to choose from – championed as a relatively simplistic website builder. Squarespace’s drag-and-drop website building capabilities make it very intuitive, and easy-to-use. It’s an all–in-one CMS that enables creation, content hosting, and eCommerce – with a range of analytics data available. Utilizing the Squarespace platform gives you access to a library of over 40 million images to support your page copy and make your landing pages more visually appealing.
Read More: Why Magento Is Consider To Be #1 Ecommerce Platform
4. Wix
Wix.com has provided a web building platform since 2006 – with over 200 million users now registered worldwide. It provides an intuitive builder, with the latest tools and features at your fingertips – some specifically for eCommerce. Wix is one of the best eCommerce platforms for small businesses as it’s free at the point of use. This includes hosting, hundreds of different themes, and the ability to create an unlimited number of pages. However, for those looking to grow their business online, different pricing plans are available. With a wide range of templates to choose from, you’re bound to find something that’ll fit in with your brand.
5. Big Commerce businesses
Compared to a platform like Wix, Big Commerce looks incredibly pricey – especially where pricing can go beyond £200 per month. However, for those looking to scale, it is a fantastic eCommerce platform. Big Commerce provides users with a drag-and-drop builder, providing a very flexible and simplistic design. It has a number of built-in features from day dot including; ratings and reviews, shipping quotes, and staff discounts – features that other platforms only offer through separate apps.
6. Magento
Magento has been around for many years and has a huge community of web developers who love it. These are individuals who continue to add value to the platform through additional services, additional functionality, and providing technical support and tutorials for those less experienced in web design. Magento provides cloud hosting and deployment to help boost sales. It’s one of the best eCommerce platforms for small businesses looking to scale.
No single ‘best’ eCommerce platform businesses
It’s worth noting that when it comes to eCommerce platforms, there is not one solution that trumps the rest. It all depends on where you’re at as a business, and if you’re looking to scale. You may be more technically proficient, so perhaps a platform like Magento will suit your business to the ground. If you’re looking for a more intuitive, simple solution then perhaps look at Wix, Shopify or Squarespace. It’s also important to consider how easy it is to demonstrate best practice SEO on the platform, to ensure that your website ranks above your competition.
These are just six of the best eCommerce platforms for small businesses, there are loads out there so do your research and take your time. It is a huge decision and, done right, will be the platform for your business for many years to come.
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