With new and existing businesses popping up all the time, it’s crucial if you want to be in the top 30% to have something perfected and a user-friendly, easy online store is at the top of the list in most cases. Year after year, people are leaning towards online marketplaces compared to in-person shopping but this comes with a lot of competition. With the options being endless at the tip of customers’ fingers, you need to be hitting the mark every time to create sales but also attract customers returning.

Many business owners are turning to online store builders these days to get online quickly. Some businesses have scrapped their physical stores and maximised their profits in more ways than turning to e-commerce platforms. This not only boosts exposure but is remarkably more accessible; it seems to be the new and best way to shop and isn’t something business owners should skip out on.

For anything that seems easy to do, a lot of research is necessary. In a similar vein, choosing an online store builder rather than a marketplace is a desirable substitute, but it can be difficult.

Based on your requirements, the top e-commerce platform provider is recommended here.

User-Friendly Platform

Online store builders are recognised as a one-stop shop for all your e-commerce needs but they do not always cater to all your wants. The best part of constructing your own store is that you not only gain a better understanding of how successful the platform is but also walk away with the knowledge to make adjustments or transfers when you feel like it, rather than getting someone out of the house to do it for you.

The main strength of any platform provider is an easy-to-use interface that streamlines all tasks. However, it might backfire if the customers don’t like the online store you built because of issues they had when they were shopping there. Thus, a platform that is easy to use for both store builders and yourself to build a store and customers is ideal. You want everyone to be happy and you will reap the benefits.

You want to go for a platform that is trustworthy and well-adored by customers. For example, TikTok is a new e-commerce platform that has taken the online marketplace by storm and from personal experience, it is easy and reliable, which is what most people want when buying a product.

Promoting Guest Checkout

This moves me to my next point, having a seamless transaction process will boost your sales I can’t tell you how many times I’ve left a checkout because they are asking for too much stuff that really isn’t necessary or taking me to loads of pages to just check out. It feels like they don’t want my money. It’s said that 28% of customers leave online stores if the checkout is challenging; that’s a huge amount of sales lost if you aren’t making the experience smooth sailing.

Thus, the key question is whether guest checkouts are allowed in your store. You could be at a loss if the answer is “no.” To streamline customer checkout and save time, store owners should select an online store builder that allows guest checkouts.

Maintain Security

The majority of internet shoppers worry about disclosing their passwords and credit card details. Many hackers are trying to cause major issues for owners of online stores as well as for customers.

Due to their desire to keep their credit card information private, a lot of customers still choose cash on delivery when purchasing business platforms online. For your online business, there shouldn’t be any security vulnerabilities, whether you use a marketplace, an online store builder, or even a fresh website. Credit/debit card numbers and other sensitive data must be protected with SSL encryption.

Focus on Site Performance Optimisation

A 2018 study on website loading speed by Kissmetrics found that consumers are more likely to give up on an online store that takes longer than two seconds to load. This not only appears a bit scammy but is also unreliable. Even though your online store is filled to the brim with interesting and captivating products, it might be incredibly slow. The success of your business may be hampered if your website is not optimised for performance.

Consumers might favour online store builders that employ state-of-the-art technology with minimal page switch times and latency. SPA (Single Page Architecture), CSS and JavaScript minification, and image compression are a few site optimisation strategies that can help you avoid slow load times. A website that loads quickly can be made using any of the currently available techniques.

Here are some of the best eCommerce website providers below:

  • Webdew
  • Nexforce
  • Globalia
  • Surplus Central
  • Chirp Media
  • Computan

If you are still unsure whether e-commerce is good for your business, here are two advantages that it offers.

Expansion

You have the freedom to expand your business to multiple locations, while marketplaces may not deliver products to wherever you want. Online store builders give you the tools to integrate with some of the top logistics providers, meaning you are widening your target audience and becoming completely accessible to everyone.

Gaining an understanding of current market trends is always essential to starting a profitable business. Every piece of advice offered will help you make a decision that will lead to your future success story.

Credit Insurance

Credit insurance provides eCommerce platforms with significant benefits, a point you might have thought about or even considered.

By protecting against the unpredictability of customer payments, it reduces the chance of non-payment or default. In online transactions where there is no physical presence and no instant payment confirmation, this assurance is essential. In addition, it offers a safety net for stable finances.

The insurance coverage ensures the platform’s financial stability by stepping in to cover potential losses if customers default on their payments. Last but not least, credit insurance gives eCommerce platforms the confidence to offer credit terms to clients, which may draw in more clients and promote company expansion.