Fact or myth: In order to run a fully-featured eCommerce store, entrepreneurs must purchase an expensive plan.
This common misconception is simply not true!
Yes, it is important to do your research and choose a plan with all the functionality you need. But it’s also entirely possible to launch a cheap ecommerce website that’s responsive, scalable and flexible enough to grow with your retail business.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most important features for eCommerce entrepreneurs to consider when searching for the ideal platform.
Simple, Effective Web Design
You want to focus more on commerce than coding. Good news: Advanced design experience is no longer a prerequisite for customizing a web store. Ecommerce templates make it easy to customize your website with photographs, copy, and links totally unique to your business.
As you’re creating your website, always focus your efforts on the user experience. Combining a clean layout with easy-to-understand navigation helps customers find exactly what they want and need. This boosts the likelihood of making a sale and earning a return visit. After all, a shopper frustrated by a confusing site will simply exit your site or jump to a competitor.
It’s also crucial that your website works just as well on mobile devices as it does on a desktop computer. Make sure your theme is compatible with smartphones and tablets. For example, 62 percent of people who shop on their mobile phones say the ability to see product pictures’ is important. You need to facilitate a speedy, highly visual mobile experience to capture m-commerce revenue.
Allows Room for Growth
Choosing a scalable eCommerce platform will help you avoid “growing pains” like slow loading, shopping cart glitches and downtime. Your store must be able to handle traffic spikes and rapid growth. The most obvious consequence of store downtime is lost revenue. But there are other ramifications to consider, like damage to your reputation and shopper frustration.
Facilitates Secure Payments
You are responsible for handling and protecting your customers’ payment data. Compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a must. These security standards ensure all companies accepting, processing, storing or transmitting credit card information maintain a secure environment.
Choosing a platform with built-in cybersecurity measures, like Yahoo Small Business, reduces the chance your customers’ information will fall into the wrong hands. It also reassures shoppers in the moment, driving trust and sales.
Responsive Customer Service
Buyers expect responsiveness from sellers. Anything less will reflect poorly upon your store. Phone and email support provide a necessary foundation for your customer service strategy. But live chat is starting to become customers’ go-to for asking questions. According to Kissmetrics, 77 percent of customers who used online chat said it positively influenced their attitude about the retailer.
Choosing a platform that allows you to initiate live chat during the shopping experience— either as a core feature or as an available app, or plug-in—will help you retain sales and boost customer loyalty.
Luckily, you can get the best of both worlds: all this functionality and a cheap eCommerce website. Learn more about Yahoo Small Business plans and features today!
