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  • 10 Best e-Commerce Platforms for Small Businesses

    10 Best e-Commerce Platforms for Small Businesses

    Expert Tips For Small Businesses

    The infographic below is retained from the original article and is not a current pricing comparison. Refer to the updated platform sections and official sources for current costs and terms.

    E-commerce is a thriving industry.. this is a fact. If you are struggling to cope with this, then you should take a look at the following infographic from BigCommerce.

    e_commerce_platforms

    If you want to start an online store or simply wish to migrate to an existing content management system (CMS), there are fortunately numerous options for you to choose from. 

    If you are moving an existing store, review our website migration services to discuss content, URL redirects, and launch planning.

    Here are 10 ecommerce platforms small businesses can evaluate. The right choice depends on your products, workflows, budget, and available technical support. 

    Pricing and fees: Subscription charges, platform transaction fees, and payment processing fees are different costs. Prices and availability depend on country, billing term, plan, and payment provider. Review the official sources linked below and account for taxes, apps, hosting, implementation, and ongoing support before choosing a platform.

    1. Shopify

    Benefits: Hosted storefront and store management
    Pricing: Paid plans vary by billing cycle and market. Budget separately for any paid themes, apps, and implementation work.
    Transaction and processing fees: Payment processing rates depend on your plan and payment method. Third-party transaction fees may apply when using an external payment provider.

    Compare the features included in your chosen plan with your catalog, checkout, and integration requirements. Do not compare subscription prices alone.

    Shopify official pricing and fee information

    If Shopify fits your requirements, explore our Shopify development services to discuss store setup, customization, and integrations.

    2. BigCommerce

    Benefits: Hosted ecommerce with plan-based selling features
    Pricing: Plan costs and upgrade requirements depend on features and sales volume. Review current GMV thresholds and any overage charges.
    Transaction and processing fees: Payment provider fees are separate from the subscription. BigCommerce distinguishes embedded payment providers from other providers, so confirm applicable platform fees for your setup.

    Compare the required plan, payment provider, and integrations before estimating total cost. BigCommerce and Shopify should not be treated as having identical pricing.

    BigCommerce official pricing and fee information

    3. Shift4Shop (formerly 3dcart)

    Benefits: Hosted store builder with product and order management
    Pricing: Check the current offer and eligibility directly with Shift4Shop rather than using historical 3dcart plan prices.
    Transaction and processing fees: Confirm available payment providers, processing rates, and any conditions attached to the chosen offer before signing up.

    3dcart is now called Shift4Shop. Evaluate its current storefront tools and integrations against your requirements; older feature counts and payment-provider lists may no longer apply.

    Shift4Shop official pricing and fee information

    4. Volusion

    Benefits: Hosted storefront with product and staff-account options
    Pricing: Subscription plans differ by annual GMV, product limits, staff accounts, and support. Check which tier fits your expected sales and catalog.
    Transaction and processing fees: Processing costs depend on the payment setup. Volusion notes that additional fees may apply for non-preferred payment gateways or additional services.

    Review plan limits and payment terms together. Do not assume Volusion will have lower processing costs than another platform without comparing quotes for your business.

    Volusion official pricing and fee information

    5. PrestaShop

    Benefits: Open-source store software with hosting choices
    Pricing: The Classic software is available as a free download, while the Hosted offer has a subscription. Budget for hosting, modules, themes, development, and ongoing maintenance where applicable.
    Transaction and processing fees: Payment provider charges and any paid payment-module costs depend on your chosen setup. A free software download does not mean a free-to-operate store.

    Choose between managing your own hosting and using a hosted offer based on your technical resources and support needs. Confirm what each offer includes before comparing total costs.

    PrestaShop official pricing and fee information

    6. WooCommerce

    Benefits: Open-source ecommerce for WordPress
    Pricing: The core WooCommerce plugin is free. Hosting, paid extensions, themes, development, and maintenance can add to the total cost.
    Transaction and processing fees: WooCommerce does not add a core platform transaction fee, but your chosen payment processor charges its own fees.

    WooCommerce can suit businesses that want to build a store on WordPress. Include responsibility for updates, backups, security, and extension compatibility in the project scope.

    WooCommerce official pricing and fee information

    For a store built on WordPress, our WooCommerce development services can help you plan product management, checkout, and integration requirements.

    7. Squarespace

    Benefits: Website publishing and integrated selling tools
    Pricing: Subscription prices depend on the plan, billing term, and region. Confirm that the plan includes the selling features your business needs.
    Transaction and processing fees: Online-store transaction fees and digital-content or membership fees can differ by plan. Payment processing is a separate cost.

    Compare product, shipping, and integration requirements before choosing a plan. A lower subscription price does not necessarily produce the lowest overall selling cost.

    Squarespace official pricing and fee information

    8. Square Online

    Benefits: Online selling within the Square ecosystem
    Pricing: Square offers free and paid plans. The free plan has no monthly subscription charge, but payment processing and optional paid services still cost money.
    Transaction and processing fees: Processing fees vary by plan and payment type. Use the current rates for your country and sales channel rather than a single rate for every transaction.

    Square Online is separate from Squarespace. Businesses considering Square should assess how online orders, in-person sales, inventory, and fulfillment need to work together.

    Square Online official pricing and fee information

    9. Sellfy

    Benefits: Selling digital downloads, subscriptions, and merchandise
    Pricing: Paid plans vary by billing term, annual sales volume, and included features. Check sales limits and upgrade requirements.
    Transaction and processing fees: Sellfy does not charge its own transaction fee, but PayPal or Stripe processing fees still apply. Confirm payment availability and rates for your country.

    Compare file limits, marketing features, and customization needs before choosing a plan. Selling digital products does not automatically make every plan suitable for every business.

    Sellfy official pricing and fee information

    10. AmeriCommerce

    Benefits: Ecommerce with payment-gateway choices
    Pricing: Request current plan details and confirm the scope and any additional charges. Do not rely on the historical price range previously listed here.
    Transaction and processing fees: AmeriCommerce documents additional processing fees for non-Nuvei gateways based on plan level. Confirm these separately from the payment processor’s own charges.

    Check gateway compatibility and the complete fee schedule for your store before committing. Growth can change the required plan and costs; it should not be treated as automatic or free.

    AmeriCommerce official pricing and fee information

    Give Us a Call Today!

    Do you need direction in choosing the right e-Commerce platform for your business? If so, give us a call at  (877) 682-2012 to speak to a member of our award-winning team. 

    Choosing a platform is only the first step. As an ecommerce web development company, Agency Partner Interactive can help you assess storefront requirements, integrations, and implementation scope before starting your project.

    Archive video: This video reflects an earlier version of the article. Platform names, prices, and fees mentioned in it may be outdated. Use the updated written guidance and official sources above for current purchasing decisions.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • How COVID-19 Is Affecting E-commerce

    How COVID-19 Is Affecting E-commerce

    Expert Tips For E-Commerce Marketing

    The coronavirus (COVID-19) has undoubtedly left an indelible impact on the world. Thousands of people have been infected with the virus with many unfortunately perishing as a result. 

    This is not to mention the millions of people who are currently unemployed due to government regulatory measures to restrict physical movement. Overall, the effects of COVID-19’s impact can be felt worldwide.

    Interestingly, the virus has caused a certain trend to form in the e-commerce sector. If you are currently running an e-commerce marketplace, then you should continue reading to learn more about how the coronavirus could potentially alter your business.

    Millions Are Staying at Home

    Again, the coronavirus is an airborne affliction that requires extended quarantine periods to restrict its growth in communities. As such, state governments in conjunction with the federal government have mandated a quarantine period, keeping millions of people at home.

    Of course, these people still desire to carry on with their everyday lives even though it’s been altered. Without a lot of outside options to carry out grocery shopping duties, purchase essential products, and splurge, many are turning to the internet for a solution.

    According to the senior enterprise contributor at Forbes, Louis Columbus explains that mandatory stay-at-home periods have increased the appetite of e-commerce shopping since not many other alternatives exist.

    “In many families, online grocery, apparel, and entertainment shopping will replace store and mall visits permanently until a vaccine is available.”

    In addition, key global trends point to a correlation between stay-at-home orders and e-commerce industry growth.

    • The year-over-year (YoY) revenue growth of online retailers has increased by 68% as of Mid-April, outgrowing a peak percentage of 49% in January. 
    • There is currently a 129% increase in the YoY growth of online retailers in the United States and Canada, as well as a 146% increase in all online orders. 
    • Conversion rates online have increased by 8.8% since February, highlighting a renewed sense of urgency online products not seen since Cyber Monday. 

    With more people at home, online shopping has become ubiquitous throughout the world. This puts pressure on online retailers to make changes to their marketplaces and internal marketing strategies to accommodate the growing surge of consumers. 

    Increased Mobile Usage

    The domination of mobile usage in today’s global internet traffic is nothing new. According to Search Engine Land, nearly 60% of all online traffic comes from mobile devices. However, since the dawn of the coronavirus, mobile online traffic has skyrocketed.

    Per the PYMNTS’ 2020 Remote Payments Study, 72% of consumers are using mobile devices to purchase online products. As a result, e-commerce retailers have to be mindful of how they can optimize and curate positive user experiences for all potential customers.

    This means leveraging fundamental mobile optimization strategies to improve the responsiveness of their platforms. Hiring a web development agency to audit and performance improvements will be necessary for getting your marketplace ready for today’s new crop of consumers.

    More People Will Continue Shopping Online

    Stay-at-home orders are currently interim, at least in the larger states of the U.S. where the coronavirus has run rampant. This, however, doesn’t mean that these trends will decrease any time soon. 

    A Morning Consult study concluded that 24% of consumers wouldn’t shop at a mall for at least six more months. This makes sense, being that a vaccine for the coronavirus would have to be available before larger stores and outlets could be safely reopened. 

    This could mean that current e-commerce trends could continue growing. After all, online shopping is more convenient than any other alternative. Also, younger generations value convenience more than anything else when making a purchasing decision. 

    How to Optimize Your E-Commerce Marketplace

    As you can see, COVID-19 has tremendously affected the growth of the e-commerce industry, albeit in a positive way.

    This growth is insofar of how proactive you are in adapting your marketing strategy to fit the changing times.

    Remember, just because more online shopping is taking place doesn’t mean consumers will settle for any marketplace. It only means that the saturation of the e-commerce industry has increased, so there are thousands of retailers fighting for position. 

    If you want to stay afloat, here’s how you can revamp your marketing strategy.

    • Make sure that your e-commerce platform is mobile-friendly. This is absolutely essential as there are strict penalties for not having a responsive website. 
    • Reduce the friction on your site. Friction is defined as an obstacle that prevents a potential customer from converting. Therefore, ensure that your website is simple to navigate.
    • Increase the speed of your website and perform a technical SEO checklist to make sure that your marketplace will rank online and be seen by your target audience.

    Unfortunately, if you’re not an SEO expert, these steps will be incredibly difficult to perform. The good news is that the team at Agency Partner Interactive can be of service to you.

    How Agency Partner Interactive Can Help

    Agency Partner Interactive is a boutique digital marketing agency, specializing in creating high-performance marketing campaigns. We mainly provide services to e-commerce retailers.

    By working with us, we can get down to the bottom of your marketplace’s failures and formulate an effective solution to increase its web traffic and conversions. Our decisions are based on highly-qualitative data.

    Therefore, you can always be sure we are making the right decisions to help you achieve the highest return on your return on investment (ROI). SEO is very technical expertise and requires the brightest minds to have any effect on your campaign. 

    If you want to put a proven professional in your corner, look no further than Agency Partner Interactive.

    Give Us a Call Today!

    The coronavirus has changed the way we do business. Unless you have a strategy to overcome your losses and reinvigorate your bottom line, it will be complicated to surpass your competitors and survive.

    If you want to learn more about how we can help you, give us a call today at (877) 682-2012. You can also click here to receive a free quote. 

    Not big on reading? That’s okay. Watch “How COVID-19 Is Affecting E-commerce” instead.

    Using the power of Artificial Intelligence, we turned this blog into a video for you. Check it out below!