Ready to start selling online? Or looking for a boost for your e-commerce store?
With platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, Amazon Marketplace, Google Shopping, and Etsy, businesses have a variety of options to choose from based on their needs and goals. Each platform offers unique features, pricing structures, and levels of customization, so we will guide you to make an informed decision on the platforms or platforms that best suit your business.
- New business – We’ll work with you to establish the best platform for you, the features and content that will serve your business best. (No branding yet either? No problem. We’ve got you covered!)
- Existing website that needs e-commerce functionality developed – If you have an existing site you love, we can expand its capabilities to incorporate your e-commerce needs.
- Existing website you need to move – If you have a website on a platform that doesn’t offer the e-commerce functionality you need, we can replicate your site on a platform that does. We have moved many websites to and from WordPress, Wix, Shopify, and smaller independent platforms.
Benefits of selling through an e-commerce store
- Expanded Market Reach E-commerce stores are not limited by geographical boundaries, allowing businesses to reach a global audience. This expansion can lead to a significant increase in potential customers and sales opportunities.
- Convenience for Customers E-commerce enables customers to shop at any time, from anywhere. This convenience can improve customer satisfaction and loyalty, as well as increase the frequency of purchases. And you'll also have the option to set up subscriptions!
- Personalized Shopping Experiences Online stores can leverage data analytics to offer personalized recommendations and deals to customers based on their shopping history and preferences, enhancing the shopping experience and potentially increasing sales.
- Streamlined Inventory Management E-commerce platforms can integrate with inventory management systems, allowing for real-time tracking of sales and stock levels. This can lead to more efficient inventory management and reduced overhead costs.
- Scalability E-commerce stores can scale more easily than physical stores. As the business grows, it's simpler to expand product lines and reach without the need for additional physical space.
Platforms we work with for e-commerce
We have experience with many other platforms, but in our experience, these are the best options for e-commerce functions.
E-commerce Platforms Overview
Shopify
Shopify is a user-friendly, hosted platform that offers a comprehensive solution for setting up an online store. It provides a drag-and-drop interface, customizable templates, and integrates with various sales channels like Google Shopping and social media platforms. Shopify’s plans start at $29 per month, with additional costs for templates and transaction fees, but it is a robust and scaleable option for businesses that are predominantly or entirely e-commerce-focused.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a free plugin for WordPress that transforms a website into an online store. It offers extensive customization options through plugins and themes, but requires more technical knowledge and effort for setup and maintenance. Costs accumulate through the need to have a WordPress site, including hosting, domain, and additional plugins.
Amazon Marketplace
Amazon Marketplace provides access to a vast customer base, making it ideal for businesses looking to reach a broad audience. However, it comes with a complex selling platform and various fees, including referral and fulfillment fees. The setup can be complicated and the market is competitive, but for those who make it work for them, it is an extremely effective platform. Most ecommerce stores have a Shopify or WooCommerce store alongside their Amazon store to keep a greater degree of control.
Google Shopping
Google Shopping allows businesses to list products directly in Google search results, increasing visibility and reach. It integrates with platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce for seamless product listing and inventory management. Once the integration is successfully setup, new products will automatically feed into Google Shopping when you add them to your store. This is an additional way to sell, but cannot be your sole e-commerce platform.
Etsy
Etsy is a niche marketplace focused on handmade, vintage, and unique products. It offers a user-friendly setup process and access to a community of creative sellers. Etsy charges listing, transaction, and payment processing fees and is a great option for those using print-on-demand to generate their products.
Wix
Wix is a great set-it-and-forget-it option for websites, but is a little more unwieldy to set up e-commerce if you are not an expert in the platform. We can set up Wix e-commerce for you and teach you how to maintain the store in-house.
Facebook Shop
While Facebook might not be the first place you think of for e-commerce, chances are you already have an audience there! Facebook stores allow people to buy without leaving the platform, making it convenient for shoppers and preferential to Facebook algorithms.
| Platform | Setup Cost | Ongoing Costs | Setup Time | Customization Level | Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify | $29/month | Transaction fees, paid templates | Quick | High, with themes and apps | 24/7 support |
| WooCommerce | Free core plugin | Hosting, domain, plugins | Moderate to long | Extensive, with plugins | Community support |
| Amazon Marketplace | Varies | Referral and fulfillment fees | Moderate | Limited | Seller support |
| Google Shopping | Varies | Advertising costs | Quick | Limited | Google support |
| Etsy | Free to $12/month | Listing, transaction fees | Quick | Limited | Email and chat support |
| Wix | $29/month | Transaction fees, optional apps | Quick | Moderate, with templates and apps | Priority customer support |
| Free | Transaction fees | Quick | Limited | Email and chat support |
Frequently Asked Questions About E-commerce Stores
If you are looking for a straightforward option, we recommend Shopify. Its user-friendly interface really shines in terms of simplicity. We have moved e-commerce stores from WooCommerce to Shopify and the store owners have loved how easy it is for them to manage it themselves.
The cost varies depending on the platform. Shopify and Wix start at $29/month, but both offer fantastic offers for new e-commerce store owners. WooCommerce is free but requires additional costs for hosting and plugins. Amazon and Etsy have their own fee structures based on sales and listings.
Setup time can vary dramatically depending on your platform choice and the complexity of your stores specific needs. Shopify and Etsy offer quick setup processes, while WooCommerce may take longer due to its technical requirements. If you have a specific deadline to launch your store, please mention this at the start and we will ensure a project plan is in place to make it happen.
Yes, many businesses use multichannel selling tools to manage products and inventory across platforms like Shopify, Etsy, and Amazon. In fact, we recommend it! Once you have a WooCommerce, Wix or Shopify store setup, it is relatively simple to also sell on Google Shopping, Etsy, Amazon Marketplace and other third-party platforms.
WooCommerce offers the highest level of customization due to its open-source nature, while Shopify and Wix provides extensive customization through themes and apps and coding. Etsy and Amazon offer limited customization options. Google Shopping does not have the capability for you to have a storefront.
Our E-commerce Principles
As experienced digital marketing experts, we understand what your customers are looking for at each stage of the ecommerce journey, and we marry this with e-commerce-specific SEO to ensure your store launches with a bang.
Enhanced E-commerce SEO
Our SEO expert has a deep understanding of SEO for e-commerce purposes and will ensure your products get found as quickly as possible. Even brand new websites will get found relatively quickly by potential customers.
User-Centric Principles
We focus on user-centric design for Shopify and WordPress meaning that it meets the needs and expectations of users, leading to higher satisfaction and engagement. For platforms we have less control over aesthetically, we will still maximize the user experience with branded elements, in-depth product descriptions and more.
Mobile-First Design
If you are launching a store on Shopify, WordPress or a similar platform, we’ll ensure the design is created with a mobile-first approach to ensure optimal usability and user experience across all devices. This enhances user experience, but is also a ranking factor for search engines, so implementing a responsive design can boost your visibility.
Security and Trust
If you are using WooCommerce, we will implement robust security measures to protect user information and the website as a whole. This includes SSL certificates, secure payment gateways, and any specific requirements you have. No matter which platform you choose, we’ll ensure you have all the trust markers potential customers are looking for, and keep all data according to relevant data protection laws.
Interactive Elements for Engagement
Interactive elements can significantly enhance user engagement and satisfaction by making the website more dynamic and engaging. Interactive elements and quality content can reduce bounce rates, and increase time spent on the website (dwell time), which is a ranking factor. While this is limited on third-party platforms, if you are setting up your own store, the options are endless.
