As an entrepreneur or small business owner, selling products online can be an excellent way to reach a wider audience and increase revenue. Thanks to eCommerce platforms, there are now multiple platforms designed specifically to help small businesses sell products online – this article explores the 7 best platforms for small business eCommerce and how they could benefit your company.
1. Shopify
Shopify is one of the leading eCommerce platforms for small businesses. It provides them with access to an array of features and tools designed to assist with building and managing online stores. Their user-friendly interface makes setting up your store simple without needing coding skills or expertise.
Shopify allows you to tailor your store with branding, design, and product categories tailored to you and provides payment options and integrations with shipping carriers. It even comes equipped with its that mobile app so that you can manage it from any mobile device! Shopify offers an expansive app store filled with third-party apps to assist with everything from marketing and inventory management, as well as various pricing plans starting at just $29 per month depending on the size of your business.
2. WooCommerce
WooCommerce, built on top of WordPress, is an open-source eCommerce platform offering flexibility and customization options to small businesses. Though WooCommerce itself is free to use, users will need to pay for web hosting and domain name services separately.
WooCommerce’s unique appeal lies in its integration with WordPress, an industry-standard CMS system. As a result, you can seamlessly incorporate an eCommerce store with your blog or website using this convenient CMS platform. Furthermore, WooCommerce features a mobile app which makes managing your store convenient whenever necessary.
3. Etsy
Etsy is an eCommerce platform for vintage and handmade products, providing sellers access to buyers who appreciate curated merchandise. As such, Etsy provides small businesses with the perfect venue to market handmade and creative offerings. Etsy provides a user-friendly platform, making it simple to set up and sell products through your store. Furthermore, Etsy provides various payment options and integrates seamlessly with shipping carriers – drawing in customers interested in handmade and unique goods.
One advantage of selling on Etsy is its built-in audience of buyers searching for handmade or unusual products, making it easier for Etsy sellers to attract customers and make sales. Listing fees of $0.20 per item sold and transaction fees of 5% apply per sale transaction fee are charged by Etsy.
4. Amazon
Amazon is one of the largest eCommerce platforms available, providing small businesses with an opportunity to reach a global audience by selling their products through trusted platforms. It provides various selling options including Amazon Marketplace, Handmade Selling Options, and Business Listings. It is the go-to solution for small businesses. Listing products here allows your products to reach millions of potential buyers, and takes care of payments and shipping – making order management simple for small businesses.
Amazon Handmade is a new platform specifically tailored for handmade products, making it an excellent way for small businesses to sell unique and creative offerings. Amazon Business provides B2B sales for this purpose allowing small businesses to sell directly to other businesses on the platform. As one of the many advantages of selling on Amazon is its large audience of buyers who trust the platform, selling there can make it easier to attract customers and close sales. Amazon charges a referral fee between 6-45% depending on the product category.
5. eBay
eBay is an established global marketplace that serves as an outlet for small businesses to sell both new and pre-owned items to global audiences. Launched in 1995, eBay has since become the go-to platform for millions of buyers and sellers globally. Start Selling on eBay For small business owners looking to begin selling on eBay. The first step should be creating an account and setting up their seller profile. They can then list products with detailed descriptions, high-resolution images, and competitive pricing. eBay provides tools and features designed to assist sellers manage listings more effectively while tracking sales and communicating with buyers.
On eBay, feedback should always be a top consideration for sellers. It utilizes a feedback system to rate both buyers and sellers based on past interactions; positive customer reviews from satisfied customers can greatly enhance a seller’s reputation while negative ones could significantly decrease sales. eBay provides various shipping and fulfillment solutions, including its fulfillment service called eBay Managed Delivery. This option enables sellers to store their products at eBay warehouses before having them directly sent out to customers, saving time and money when it comes to fulfillment and shipping for small businesses. Overall, eBay provides small businesses with an ideal opportunity to reach global audiences and sell a range of products. When using the platform companies must pay attention to customer feedback while taking advantage of all its tools and features to optimize listings and increase sales.
6. Big Cartel
Big Cartel is an effective e-commerce platform used by artists, makers, and small businesses selling creative goods. The platform’s easy interface enables users to set up their online stores quickly. Big Cartel stands out among marketplaces by emphasizing the creative community. With built-in tools that make selling art, clothing, jewelry, and handmade items simple and easy. It also provides sellers the ability to personalize their store with branding that includes domain name registration and logo upload. Big Cartel provides sellers with an outstanding platform to showcase and sell products like these.
Big Cartel provides four pricing plans that range from free to $29.99 per month. This depends on the number of products and features you need to sell. The free plan enables sellers to sell up to five products, while our most costly plan allows up to 300. Integrations with popular third-party tools, including Google Analytics, Mailchimp, and Shipstation make the platform even easier to use. It helps in tracking sales, managing marketing campaigns, and streamlining shipping processes. Overall, Big Cartel is an excellent option for artists and small businesses that seek an accessible e-commerce platform tailored specifically to meet their needs.
7. WooCommerce
WooCommerce, one of the world’s most widely-used content management systems, allows users to create their online store using both pre-built templates and customized design tools. It stands out as one of the key benefits of WordPress-powered eCommerce stores due to its flexible nature. Users have access to a vast array of themes, plugins, and customization options. This enables them to build unique stores that meet specific customer requirements.
WooCommerce comes equipped with several built-in features that make managing an online store simple. Such as inventory management, tax calculations, and shipping options. Furthermore, WooCommerce integrates with popular payment gateways like PayPal and Stripe making accepting payments from customers around the globe simple. WooCommerce is available as a free plugin for WordPress. However, users will require to purchase extensions and themes to take full advantage of its features. Prices of extensions and themes range depending on their features; typically one-time fees or annual subscription plans may be offered. Overall, WooCommerce is an excellent solution for small businesses that require an agile and customizable e-commerce platform that can adapt as their needs shift over time.
Conclusion
Overall, small businesses have many e-commerce platforms available to them for use. Each possesses different strengths and weaknesses. It’s essential to take into account factors like pricing, ease of use, customization, and integrations with other tools. Shopify, Square Online, and Wix are excellent choices for small businesses seeking an accessible e-commerce solution that’s simple to set up and manage. Magento, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, and Big Cartel may offer more advanced features and customizability options. WooCommerce is an excellent option for businesses that seek an adaptable and customizable e-commerce platform. This is built upon an effective content management system like WordPress.
No matter which platform you choose, it is vital to invest time and resources into developing an excellent online store. They represent both your brand identity and meet the needs of your customers. With proper tools and strategies in place, your small business can flourish in this highly-competitive field of e-commerce. Contact us today so we can fill in your strategic needs and learn more about social media and traditional marketing. Don’t forget to click “free video” to take away an exciting freebie
