Brie Austin

Which E-Commerce Platform Is The Best Choice For Your Online Store

When it comes to e-commerce platforms for your online store, you have the option of hosted or self hosted. Within those two types there are many to choose from, some better than others. Popularity is a good starting indicator; if it’s popular it’s because people like the platform, perhaps because it is functional, cost-effective and /or easy to us, or all.

You can’t go wrong with any of the leading platforms. Technology keeps getting better and now all the leaders will serve most online retailer’s needs.

That isn’t to say that all sizes fit all, they don’t. But the rght e-commerce platform will propel your business to success.

Choose the wrong platform and you are doomed.

When you’re going to reearch what platform to use, you need to consider cost, functionality. flexibility, and scalability. A site that can’t grow (scale) with you you’ll outgrow, and one thta is to robust is overkill.

Personally, having worked on many sites with Incognito Worldwide, I tend to recommend WooCommerce for smaller retailers, and Magento for enerprise level businesses, i.e. high volume retailers and/or high volum and bulk wholesalers. Both of these options are self-hosted. Meaning once the site is developed you have to host it somewhere, and the cost for that will likely be $10-$40 per month; a Magento high volume site can be as high as $100 a month (it all depends on server memory, RAM, and bandwidth).

Which E-Commerce Platform Is The Best Choice For Your Online Store

The low-entry cost options are the hosted platforms, which take care of hosting and provide you a turn-key templated eCommerce site on their platform. The monthly fees are higher because they’re basically financing the development of your site, albeit from a cookie-cutter mold, and hosting it for you.

Hosted is far less customizable than self-hosted, but does plug you into a ready marketpplace with potential buyers (think Amazon.com)

If you’re serious about launching an eCommerce store  with unique and original products to sell, you’d be well-advised to talk with professionals that build such sites for a living. They will likely have insight you don’t, ask questions you hadn’t thought of, and be able to impart knowledge of what you can expect down the road.

Price, functionality, acecssability, scalability. These are key.

To help you out in making a decision, check out the infographic below. It compares the e-commerce platforms for you to choose from. Making the right decision in the end would be easy if you understand your options well.

About Brie Austin

Co-author of I'd Do It Again, he is a columnist/reporter for a variety of magazines in the areas of music, lifestyle, nightlife, travel and business. He also writes business documents and creates copy for websites.