As we explore the world of e-commerce there’s a number of things you need to know before making a decision about your current or prospective business. Whenever you’re making a decision about your business always remember to consider the pros and cons and evaluate every step. With e-commerce it’s important to evaluate platforms, payment gateways and how you can generate leads to your online store. In our series ‘Demystifying E-commerce’ we will help you to evaluate e-commerce platforms, payment gateways, lead generation and other questions about e-commerce.
In this article we will focus on reasons why businesses should evaluate e-commerce platforms.
3 reasons businesses should evaluate e-commerce platforms
1.Demographic
Demographics are important in all areas and types of business, it is based on these characteristics of your target audience that you will decide on the type of platform you use for your business. Additionally, Evaluating how users interact with a platform based on their age and gender/sex will guide part of your selection process.
2. Secure transactions
Security is everything to users when conducting business online. With the growing threat of cyber crime and scamming in the global space, all business owners must ensure that whichever platform they choose, all transactions will be secured or simply put…you’ll run into big trouble.
3. Dependent on business goals and objectives
If you fail to identify your business’ goals and objectives you will be on a wild goose chase trying to figure out what will work for you. But, if you are aware of your business’ goals and key objectives it will guide the decisions you make for your business such as choosing an e-commerce platform.
The 4-Point criteria for setting up an e-commerce platform
- Easy set up and navigation
No hidden prices please…customers like to see clearly defined pricing for each product. Customers love options, don’t limit them, provide comparisons of similar products you offer with the necessary information to assist them in deciding which product to purchase.
- Integration and security
The platform must facilitate process automation. After an order is placed the customer must receive a confirmation email by whichever medium they chose, whether it be text , email or both. Security is paramount to an e-commerce platform. The website must enable seamless checkout option(s). And as seen in our ‘Demystifying E-commerce Guide’ the website must be SSL certified, running an updated payment gateway system and allow payment reversals in case of errors.
- SEO and Mobile
Search engine optimization (SEO) can truly define how successful your online store becomes. The higher you rank on search engines the more customers will see your website and your product offerings. Frankly, customers aren’t always using desktops/laptops so you must ensure that your website / e-commerce is mobile-friendly.
- Pricing, reporting and support
Some platforms after offering a free trial charges a monthly fee, others have a ‘per-transaction fee’. This means that for every transaction the platform gets cut.
And Majority of the current platforms provide 24/7 technical support for any issues faced by the website owner. Ensure to do your research on the platform and create a budget before making a selection.
Despite the decision you make for your business, be sure to thoroughly evaluate the situation, the steps and yes…the platform. Choosing the right platform for your business can determine how far-reaching your brand can become. Be sure to contact us for more insight at sales@getmobileedge.com to learn more about selecting the platform may be best for your business.