There’s no doubt that in today’s saturated business world, small companies and organizations find it difficult to survive. They don’t have enough financial resources and manpower to compete with their big rivals. The business landscape that’s going more and more digital demands robust online visibility. Small businesses are as alive as they are active on the internet. This is where they require eCommerce solutions to remain relevant and competitive. The problem is, sometimes, such solutions can be too expensive to access and manage for them.
If you own a small establishment, you need to find an accessible and cost-efficient way to enter the online world. From Shopify to Wix eCommerce, there are many such options that you can leverage to go digital. Some also prefer WooCommerce and BigCommerce, as these platforms are also financially affordable. To become visible on the internet, you need to begin with the required steps. And this is initiated by purchasing a domain name for your business and selecting one of the abovementioned platforms according to your business needs and scalability plans.
This FAQ guide will answer all of your frequently asked questions about eCommerce solutions for small businesses.
Top 5 FAQs About eCommerce Solutions for Small Businesses
When you’re trying to enter the online world as a small business, the first thing that might pop into your mind is the total cost of this venture. This is common for companies with limited financial resources because they need to save as much as they can. Then, knowing that most of your customers are mobile users, you’d want to learn to make your eCommerce site mobile-friendly. People also wonder about different payment methods that they’d be offering on their eCommerce platform.
Below are the answers to the top five FAQs about eCommerce solutions for small businesses:
1. What Are the Best eCommerce Platforms for Small Businesses?
When you think about going online, you’d come across numerous platforms to start with. It’s not like all are the same, and you can select any. You have to find a platform that matches your goals. A platform that’s suitable in terms of budget and scalability. You can select from the following platforms that are considered feasible for small businesses:
· Shopify
· Wix eCommerce
· WooCommerce
· BigCommerce
· Squarespace
You can also launch your own website or online store as a better and more efficient way to ensure online visibility. This eCommerce solution offers you more control and flexibility over all the operations.
2. What’s the First Step in Creating an eCommerce Website?
Once you’ve made up your mind about going online with your small business, the first step would be selecting the platform that suits your goals. You should take this step seriously. After all, it’s what's going to affect your business in the long run. That’s why you don’t rush this stage and take all the time you need to identify a platform that comes with all the required features.
After the selection of the desired platform, your next move will be designing your website. The platforms that we’ve mentioned above offer a number of templates and themes that you can pick from. But it would be a wise decision to go for a custom-made website. Because this is the best way you can make your online platform user-friendly and mobile-responsive.
3. What is the Cost of Creating an eCommerce Website?
That’s probably the most commonly asked question when you talk about eCommerce solutions for small businesses. The reason is that managing a budget can be critical for these organizations. The thing is, the cost of creating an eCommerce website for SMEs isn’t universal. It varies greatly and depends on what platform you choose and what features you need.
Say, if you go for Shopify, it would cost you somewhere between $29 and $299 in terms of monthly fees. WooCommerce, on the other hand, is a free platform. It doesn’t really mean that you’ll be spending zero pennies to run the store successfully. The total expenses of creating an eCommerce website might vary from $500 to $5,000 or more.
4. How to Make an eCommerce Site Mobile-friendly?
You might already know that mobile devices are responsible for over 60% of e-commerce sales. This fact alone is enough to tell why your eCommerce site must be responsive to mobile users. Here are multiple ways you can make an eCommerce site mobile-friendly:
· Implement responsive design
· Use a mobile-first approach
· Optimize your site's speed
· Simplify navigation
· Design for the thumb zone
Only an expert can help you develop an eCommerce site with all of the above features. You can opt for reliable companies offering eCommerce solutions in Dubai to achieve the milestone.
5. What Payment Methods Should You Offer on Your eCommerce Website?
You’ll get visitors and customers with varying preferences in terms of payment methods. The availability of a respective payment method in a specific area is also important. Here are some of the most common payment methods you can offer on your eCommerce website:
· Credit and debit cards
· Bank transfers
· Cash on delivery
· PayPal
· Apple Pay
If you’re going to sell internationally, including international methods is crucial. Likewise, you must also include those payment methods that are available in your targeted regions.
Get the Best eCommerce Solution for Your Small Business
It’s almost impossible to compete with your competitors without eCommerce solutions. You’ll require a suitable platform to begin with. Your eCommerce website must also be mobile-responsive and customized. Contact a credible service provider now to get the best eCommerce solution for your small business.