The eCommerce industry has been growing rapidly in the last decade. Shoppers like the flexibility and convenience of buying products online, and business owners appreciate that they can make their items available to everyone across the country. Many entrepreneurs have found success running a business entirely online, and others have driven sales with a combination of eCommerce and brick-and-mortar retail.
Because this business model has become so popular, there are countless eCommerce platforms to choose from today. If you run an eCommerce business or are interested in establishing one, picking a platform can be overwhelming. Each option has its pros and cons, and all business owners have different preferences.
Many eCommerce retailers use Shopify to create their online storefronts, and Shopify is one of the most popular hosts for a reason. This platform has a number of advantages that make creating your eCommerce site straightforward and enjoyable. Here are six Shopify benefits to keep in mind as you pick an eCommerce platform:
1. Easy Interface & Simple Setup
One of the best benefits of using Shopify, especially for new eCommerce business owners, is that the platform is incredibly easy to use. You don’t need any experience with website development to create an attractive and functional Shopify store. The platform has everything you need for launching your site, and the interface is very intuitive. Shopify’s website has several tutorials to help you set up your store if you need assistance, and you can find plenty of other online resources about the platform as well.
Customizing your site with Shopify is also straightforward. The platform integrates with a wide variety of apps, which allows you to add extra features to your store based on your company’s needs. For example, you could incorporate an app on your site that collects emails for an email list or an app that ensures your site content is accessible for people with visual disabilities.
2. Strong Security
Website security is critical for eCommerce businesses. Shoppers are going to enter their payment information to complete their purchase, and any issues with data security will compromise your customers and reflect poorly on your brand. Fortunately, Shopify websites are compliant with security standards, so all of the information your customers provide will stay safe. You don’t even have to take any extra steps to ensure your site’s security. By default, all of Shopify’s stores are compliant with PCI.
3. Mobile Responsiveness
A significant percentage of online shopping happens on mobile devices. People are always connected to their phones, so offering a mobile-friendly eCommerce store can help you gain much more site traffic. The best way to make your store mobile-friendly is to use a mobile responsive design, which automatically adapts your site’s content based on the visitor’s screen size.
All of Shopify’s themes are mobile responsive, so no matter what device your customers use, they can easily access your entire store. Shopify is even mobile-friendly for site creators, too. The platform offers a mobile app that you can use to manage your inventory and update your storefront.
4. Fast Loading Speed
Loading speed is one of the most important factors in keeping customers on your site. Shopify’s infrastructure is very reliable compared to many other eCommerce platforms, so you can trust that your store will load consistently for your customers. This will reduce your bounce rate and encourage shoppers to stay on your site to explore more products.
5. Effective Marketing Tools
Small eCommerce businesses face a lot of competition, but a strong marketing strategy can help you get ahead. Integrating your marketing strategy with your Shopify store is simple as the platform offers basic SEO features and analytics information. You can add tags to your website to appeal to Google and other search engines, and the platform’s fast-loading time can improve your search rankings as well. The analytics information can help you evaluate the success of your marketing campaign and find areas to improve on, too.
6. Helpful Customer Support
Shopify offers 24/7 support for business owners via email, phone, and live chat. Because shoppers can access your store at any time, it’s helpful to have customer support available round the clock to resolve issues immediately. This is particularly valuable if you’re new to eCommerce as Shopify’s customer support can answer any questions you have about the process of launching your site.
There are many great eCommerce platforms to choose from, and Shopify has a lot to offer. Because it’s one of the most popular and well-known platforms, it’s trustworthy, fast, and intuitive to use. Shopify is especially helpful for business owners who are new to the world of eCommerce as it makes setting up your store very simple. What’s most important, though, is that you make an informed decision on your eCommerce platform based on your brand’s needs.
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