Top Ecommerce Platforms with Unbiased Reviews

Choosing the right ecommerce platform is crucial for the success of your online business. With so many options available, it's important to carefully consider the factors that will best suit your ecommerce business website. From ease of use to scalability and customization, the choice of an ecommerce platform can greatly impact your ability to build an ecommerce website that meets your needs. Let's take a look at some of the top ecommerce platforms on the market today.

Importance Of Choosing The Right Ecommerce Platform

Choosing the right e-commerce platform is a crucial step for any online business. It's the foundation upon which your online store is built, and the wrong choice can hinder your growth, limit your functionality, and even cost you customers.

Here are four key reasons why choosing the right e-commerce platform is so important:

1. Optimizes Your Conversion Rate

The e-commerce platforms you choose should make it easy for customers to navigate your store, find what they're looking for, and complete their purchases. A clunky or outdated platform can lead to abandoned carts and lost sales. Look for a platform with a user-friendly interface, drag-and-drop functionality, and mobile responsiveness to ensure a smooth shopping experience for your customers.

2. Scales with Your Business

As your business grows, you'll need ecommerce platforms that can scale with you. This means handling an increasing number of products, orders, and customers. Choose a platform that offers flexible pricing plans and the ability to add additional features and functionality as needed. You don't want to be stuck with a platform that can't keep up with your success.

3. Integrates with Your Existing Tools

Your e-commerce platform should integrate seamlessly with your existing tools, such as your email marketing system, CRM, and accounting software. This will streamline your operations and save you time and money. Look for a platform offering a wide range of integrations and APIs to connect with your tools.

4. Provides the Features You Need

Not all e-commerce platforms are created equal. Some ecommerce platforms are better suited for specific types of businesses or industries. Make sure the platform you choose has the features you need, such as product management tools, marketing automation, SEO capabilities, and analytics. Don't settle for a platform that doesn't have the functionality you need to run your business effectively.

By carefully considering these four factors, you can choose an e-commerce platform that will help you achieve your business goals. Take your time, do your research, and don't be afraid to ask for help from a qualified e-commerce consultant. The right platform can make all the difference in the success of your online store.

Factors To Consider When Choosing An Ecommerce Platform

1. Budget and Pricing

• Consider upfront costs like platform fees, domain registration, and website design.
• Evaluate ongoing costs like monthly subscriptions, transaction fees, and add-on features.
• Choose a platform that aligns with your current budget and future growth projections.

2. Features and Functionality

• Identify essential features like product management, payment processing, shipping, and marketing tools.
• Prioritize features specific to your industry or niche, like subscriptions, appointments, or digital downloads.
• Ensure the platform offers enough flexibility to meet your current and future needs.

3. Ease of Use and Scalability

• Look for a user-friendly platform with intuitive navigation and drag-and-drop functionality.
• Consider your technical expertise and the level of support offered by the platform.
• Choose a platform that can scale with your business as your product range and customer base grow.

4. Security and Reliability

• Prioritize platforms with robust security features, including PCI compliance and SSL encryption.
• Check for uptime guarantees and disaster recovery plans to ensure website stability and smooth operations.
• Choose a platform with a proven track record of reliability and data security.

5. Customer Support and Integrations

• Evaluate the quality and availability of customer support offered by the platform.
• Identify the platform's compatibility with your existing business tools and software.
• Choose a platform that offers extensive integrations to streamline your workflow and enhance functionality.

Bonus Tip: Research Platforms Specific to Your Niche

• Many platforms cater to specific industries or product types, offering tailored features and integrations.
• Exploring niche-specific platforms can provide a more optimized and efficient experience for your business.

Remember, the "right" platform depends on your unique needs and goals. Carefully consider these factors and research your options before making your decision.

Overview Of Top Ecommerce Platforms

Several top ecommerce websites are available today that cater to different business needs. From user-friendly platforms like Strikingly and Shopify to customizable options like WooCommerce and Magento, each offers unique features designed to help businesses succeed in the competitive world of online retail.

Strikingly

Strikingly: Best Ecommerce Platform

Strikingly is one of the best ecommerce platforms for small businesses looking to build an ecommerce website without any hassle. With its user-friendly interface and customization options, even those with no technical expertise can create a stunning ecommerce business website. It offers a wide range of integrations and apps, allowing you to add features like email marketing, social media integration, and more to enhance your online store. Additionally, Strikingly provides a seamless checkout process for customers, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free shopping experience.

User-Friendly Interface And Customization Options

Strikingly's drag-and-drop website builder makes it incredibly easy for users to design their ecommerce websites without any coding knowledge. The platform offers a variety of templates that are fully customizable, allowing businesses to create unique and visually appealing online stores that reflect their brand identity.

Wide Range Of Integrations And Apps

Strikingly integrates with popular payment gateways such as PayPal, Stripe, and Alipay, making it convenient for customers to make purchases on your ecommerce website. It also offers various apps for adding features like live chat support, product reviews, and social media sharing buttons to enhance the functionality of your online store.

Seamless Checkout Process For Customers

Strikingly's built-in checkout system lets customers complete their purchases quickly and securely. The platform supports multiple payment methods and provides SSL encryption to protect sensitive customer information during transactions.

WooCommerce

Image taken from WooCommerce 

WooCommerce is one of the best ecommerce platforms, especially for WordPress users looking to build an ecommerce website. Its seamless integration with WordPress allows for easy setup and management, making it an ideal choice for those already familiar with the platform. With its customizable and scalable nature, WooCommerce offers businesses the flexibility to grow and adapt their ecommerce business website as needed.

Ideal For WordPress Users

WooCommerce's compatibility with WordPress makes it a top choice for businesses already utilizing the popular content management system. This integration allows for a smooth transition into ecommerce, providing users with a familiar interface and streamlined processes.

Customizable And Scalable

One of the key advantages of WooCommerce is its ability to be tailored to specific business needs. Whether adding new features or expanding product offerings, this platform offers the flexibility to scale alongside growing businesses without sacrificing performance or user experience.

Extensive Selection Of Themes And Plugins

WooCommerce boasts an extensive library of themes and plugins, allowing businesses to customize their online store according to their branding and functionality requirements. This variety ensures that each ecommerce website built on WooCommerce can have a unique look and feel while maintaining essential features.

By choosing WooCommerce as your ecommerce platform, you can leverage its compatibility with WordPress, customizable nature, and wide range of themes and plugins to create a top ecommerce website that meets your business needs.

BigCommerce

Image taken from BigCommerce 

BigCommerce is one of the best ecommerce platforms for businesses looking to enhance their online presence. With its robust SEO features, including customizable URLs and automatic sitemap generation, your ecommerce business website can easily rank higher on search engine results pages. This platform also offers advanced marketing tools such as email marketing integrations and social media advertising, allowing you to reach a wider audience and drive more traffic to your site.

Robust SEO Features

BigCommerce provides an array of SEO features that are essential for any ecommerce business website looking to improve its online visibility. From customizable URLs to automatic sitemap generation, this platform ensures that your site is optimized for search engines, helping you attract more potential customers.

Advanced Marketing Tools

In addition to its SEO capabilities, BigCommerce also offers advanced marketing tools that can help you promote your products and increase sales. With integrations for email marketing and social media advertising, you can easily create targeted campaigns to reach a wider audience and drive more traffic to your ecommerce website.

Scalable For Growing Businesses

As your business grows, BigCommerce scales with you, providing the flexibility and resources needed to support your expanding operations. Whether you're adding new products or experiencing an increase in traffic, this platform can accommodate your growing needs without compromising performance or user experience.

Magento (now Adobe Commerce)

Image taken from Adobe Commerce 

Magento is known for being highly customizable, making it an excellent choice for large enterprises looking to build an ecommerce website that meets their specific needs. With its powerful and flexible platform, Magento offers extensive customization options, allowing businesses to create a unique online shopping experience for their customers. Additionally, Magento boasts an extensive community support system, providing users with access to a wealth of resources and expertise to help them make the most of the platform.

Highly Customizable For Large Enterprises

Magento's robust features and flexibility make it an ideal choice for large enterprises looking to establish a strong online presence. The platform offers a wide range of customization options, allowing businesses to tailor their ecommerce websites to suit their unique requirements and branding.

Powerful And Flexible Platform

Magento's powerful platform provides businesses with the tools they need to create and manage a successful ecommerce business website. From advanced product catalog management to seamless checkout processes, Magento offers a comprehensive suite of features designed to support online retailers in growing their businesses.

Extensive Community Support

With a thriving community of developers, partners, and users, Magento provides extensive community support that can be invaluable for businesses looking to build top ecommerce websites. Whether it's seeking advice on best practices or troubleshooting technical issues, Magento's community is there to offer guidance and assistance every step of the way.

Shopify

Image taken from Shopify 

Shopify is one of the best ecommerce platforms for small to medium-sized businesses looking to build an ecommerce website. With its intuitive drag-and-drop website builder, even those without technical expertise can create stunning online stores. The built-in SEO tools help optimize top ecommerce websites for search engines, ensuring maximum visibility and traffic.

Intuitive Drag-And-Drop Website Builder

Shopify's user-friendly interface allows users to easily customize their ecommerce business website without the need for coding knowledge. This makes it a top choice for entrepreneurs who want to create a professional online presence without the hassle.

Built-In SEO Tools

The platform's built-in SEO tools provide valuable insights and suggestions to help optimize top ecommerce websites for search engines. This ensures that your online store ranks higher in search results, driving more organic traffic and potential customers.

Suitable For Small To Medium-Sized Businesses

Shopify is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses looking to establish or expand their online presence. It offers scalability, allowing businesses to start with basic features and gradually add more advanced functionalities as they grow.

Best Ecommerce Platforms For Different Business Needs

When it comes to choosing the right ecommerce platform for your business, there are several factors to consider. From user-friendly interfaces to scalability and customization options, the decision can significantly impact the success of your ecommerce business website. It's important to carefully assess your specific needs and goals before making a decision.

Factors To Consider Before Choosing An Ecommerce Platform

Before diving into building your ecommerce website, it's crucial to consider factors such as ease of use, integrations with other tools, scalability, and pricing. You'll want to ensure that the platform you choose aligns with your business goals and provides the features necessary for a successful online store.

Different businesses have different requirements when it comes to ecommerce platforms. Shopify's intuitive website builder might be the best fit for small businesses, while larger enterprises may find Magento's extensive customization options more suitable. Understanding your unique needs will help you determine the best platform for your business.

Tips For Successful Ecommerce Website Development with Strikingly

Strikingly can be a great tool for building a successful ecommerce website, even without coding experience. Here are some tips to help you on your journey:

1. Know Your Audience And Niche

• Clearly define your target audience. Who are you selling to? What are their needs and preferences? Tailoring your website design and products to their specific wants will increase engagement and conversions.
• Choose a niche. Focusing on a specific market segment allows you to cater to your product offerings and messaging more effectively, standing out from broader competitors.

2. Prioritize User Experience (UX)

Mystery Box Template from Strikingly

• Keep it simple and intuitive. A clean and straightforward interface with clear navigation is key. Users should be able to find what they need quickly and easily.
• Mobile-first approach. Ensure your website is optimized for mobile devices, as most online shopping happens on smartphones. Strikingly's templates are inherently mobile-friendly.
• High-quality visuals. Use professional product photos and engaging videos to showcase your offerings. Strikingly offers built-in image editing tools.

3. Optimize For Conversions

Mystery Box Template from Strikingly

• Clear calls to action (CTAs). Tell users what you want them to do, whether it's adding items to their cart, subscribing to your newsletter, or contacting you.
• Streamlined checkout process. Make the buying process as smooth and hassle-free as possible. Strikingly offers integrated payment gateways for easy transactions.
• Product descriptions. Write compelling descriptions highlighting your products' benefits and features, addressing potential customer concerns. Strikingly's editor allows for rich text formatting and embedding media.

4. Leverage Strikingly's Features

Strikingly's Newsletter Feature

• Explore Strikingly's templates. They offer a range of ecommerce-focused templates with pre-designed layouts and features. Choose one that aligns with your brand and target audience.
• Utilize apps and integrations. Strikingly offers a library of apps and integrations for various functionalities, like email marketing, analytics, and social media. Choose ones that complement your business needs.
• SEO optimization. Strikingly provides basic SEO tools to help your website rank higher in search engine results. Optimize your product titles, descriptions, and website content with relevant keywords.

Additional Tips

• Test and iterate. Continuously test different elements of your website, like layouts, CTAs, and product descriptions, to see what resonates with your audience and drives conversions.
• Promote your website. Utilize social media, email marketing, and other channels to drive traffic to your website. Strikingly offers social media sharing buttons and email capture forms to facilitate this.
• Provide excellent customer service. Respond promptly to customer inquiries and address any concerns they might have. Strikingly offers contact forms and live chat options you can integrate.

Remember, building a successful ecommerce website is an ongoing process. By following these tips and continually learning and adapting, you can increase your chances of success with Strikingly.