If you are planning to launch a successful ecommerce business, one of the most critical aspects is an effective and efficient online store design. A good Ecommerce solution has the ability to deliver a dynamic online store that generates high volumes of traffic. The following factors must be taken into consideration while deciding on the right platform:
Platform Choice:
It is vital that you choose the correct platform for your business model. Hosting is one of the most popular options available to businesses looking for an effective solution. There are two types of hosted solutions available – self-hosted and shared hosting. Both are viable options for ecommerce website builders and your decision will depend on the level of functionality you require.
Dedicated Hosting:
A monthly e-commerce solution designed using an in-store shopping cart is an excellent option. This option is ideal for businesses with minimal inventory and little or no website development experience. The cost of hosting this platform is based on the size of the business and the estimated monthly traffic. Shared Hosting: A website built using the open source framework called Joomla will run much faster than one developed using a commercial hosting service. However, it can be difficult to find a good provider of this type of platform. Shared hosting requires the hosting company to provide you with a control panel and you have to rely on third-party applications to integrate with your website.
E-commerce Selection:
In terms of a hosted e-commerce shopping cart solution, it is vital that you select a platform that offers all the necessary functionality and reliability. Hosted solutions often come as either free or on a paid basis and the paid solution typically offers a higher degree of functionality and security. It is better to opt for a free solution as they have the least amount of risk associated with them. You have to make sure that your website is fully functional when you switch to a paid solution. If you do not provide regular updates, then you may have to spend more on maintenance fees.
WordPress:
WordPress is considered to be the most popular CMS available today. WordPress offers the best flexibility when it comes to customizing your website and adding various add-ons and plug-ins. WordPress is free to download and install and it supports most web browsers. You can easily add your own themes and customize your self-hosted e-commerce website builder. WordPress blogs are also supported by Google’s AdSense program and can help you increase traffic to your site.
Powered by phpBB:
Php bb is another well known CMS that is used with a variety of web hosting providers. Like WordPress, it is free to download and install. One of the best features of php bb is the ability to run in the background without the need for the user to log in and start using it. With this feature, you may find it easier to manage your online store with less stress on your part.
Big Commerce:
Big Commerce is probably the best known and most used platform for building e-commerce websites. If you are planning to build your store, you can use a Big Commerce template or you may find one that is made especially for your needs. With a fully featured shopping cart, it is easy to manage all aspects of your store from the design to the payment process. It also has an extensive range of tools that can help you grow your business.
Hosted E-commerce Solutions:
There are a number of different hosted e-commerce solutions available today. The two most popular are the open source commerce solution WordPress and the paid Big Commerce. Both platforms offer a wide variety of free themes to theme your site and many of them come with several different add-ons and plugins that you can use. However, there may be times when you would like to customize something on your site and you don’t have access to the source code. In these situations, you would need to find a third party solution that offers hosted solutions.
