February 03, 2024
The power of your marketplace on Shopify is to seamlessly connect you with diverse vendors and their unique products. Whether you're a tech expert or a novice, Shopify equips you to confidently manage an online marketplace on your own.
But in today's crowded digital landscape, how can your Shopify marketplace stand out? The secret lies in niche mastery, vendor empowerment, and customer experience enhancement.
Many marketplaces excel at carving a niche, yet stumble in the other two areas.
Why?
Without external plugins, Shopify falls short in vendor registration, product and order management by vendors, and commission calculations. Moreover, it lacks advanced order processing features like automated labeling, shipping, tracking, and invoicing, as well as essential marketing tools.
Enter Shipturtle, your Shopify multivendor marketplace plugin. This powerful plugin unleashes your Shopify marketplace's true potential.
Fortunately, we devised a comprehensive 9-point checklist to consider before building a marketplace on Shopify.
1. Choose the right Shopify plugin |
2. Theme Selection & Mobile Optimization |
3. Legal Compliance |
4. Vendor Recruitment |
5. Onboarding & Vendor Vetting |
6. Product Quality Control |
7. Payment and Commission Structure |
8. Shipping Options |
9. Analytics and Performance Tracking |
Shipturtle stands out as a comprehensive solution for enhancing Shopify's capabilities, offering a range of features for marketplace optimization.
Find curated Shopify themes for your e-commerce marketplace here.
Shopify's ecosystem is vast and varied, offering numerous opportunities for marketplace owners.
Launching a marketplace on Shopify is ideal for startups. Explore the range of apps and tools available, and how they can be integrated into your marketplace to enhance functionality and user experience.
Eventually, you need to foster a sense of community among your customers and vendors. Engage with your audience through social media, forums, and events. Building a strong community can lead to increased loyalty and word-of-mouth referrals.
Schedule a call with our e-commerce marketplace experts or explore our success stories and live chat for more insights.
September 16, 2023
Do you want to improve customer relationships and trust?
Emails are an important way to strengthen relationships with your customers, but bad email deliverability can ruin customer trust in your company. Curing bad email deliverability is key to increasing customer trust because it shows you value their time and trust.
We can help. This guide will teach you everything you need to know about improving convey deliverability in your emails. Boom, done and done.
Read on to learn how to improve email deliverability.
To improve email deliverability, there are several steps you can take to "prime your IP for success." The first step is to make sure your IP address is not already listed as a source of spam on anti-spam databases. If it is, you can contact the database administrator to remove it.
Second, set up an SPF record for your domain, as this tells ISPs that emails sent from that domain are authorized to send emails. Third, authenticate emails using DKIM. This proves that emails sent are from the domain they claim to be from.
Finally, use a reputable source to send out emails, such as a professional email service provider. This will give you more control over the reputation of your IP address. Following these steps will help improve your email deliverability and increase the chances of your emails ending up in your recipients' inboxes.
When it comes to improving email deliverability, registering a subdomain and using it only for email activity is a great step to take. This will ensure that all email traffic associated with that subdomain is tracked and organized so it can be easily monitored and managed.
Through this setup, emails associated with that subdomain will appear more reputable to ISPs and email filters, as they will have a "clean" online reputation due to the lack of other activities linked to it.
In addition, creating a dedicated subdomain also makes it easier for ISPs and email filters to properly authenticate emails coming from that domain. This means ISPs are more likely to recognize emails from them and not treat them as spam. By creating a separate subdomain for email activity and using it exclusively for email activity, email deliverability greatly improves.
A Sender Policy Framework (SPF) helps improve email deliverability and prevent spoofing by authenticating and authorizing domains to send emails. SPF records map the authorized host to a domain. It also identifies a set of IP addresses that are authorized to send emails.
To implement a sender policy, organizations must create an SPF record in their DNS and list the authorized mail servers for their domain. This record should be updated if the organization changes its mail server. Registered mail servers are required to have reverse DNS lookup, meaning the mail server should respond to reverse DNS lookup with the domain name for all IPs.
An SPF record can also be created using a third-party service provider to offload work to an SPF record that will show all authorized mail servers when a message reaches the recipient's mail server. Lastly, SPF records should be tested to ensure it's working correctly.
Checking your sender's reputation is a key step to improving email deliverability. A sender's reputation, or "score," is based on factors such as volume, content, and feedback about the email's sender. High-quality, timely messages will help increase the sender's reputation and ensure emails get delivered to the intended receiver.
Keeping an eye on your sender's reputation will also help you to identify potential problems early on. Companies offering email delivery solutions typically have tools in place to help you monitor your sender reputation and identify any issues that might be impacting deliverability.
Also, consider implementing sending limits and email delivery features to help ensure that outgoing emails are sent to the right recipients at the right time. Lastly, always pay close attention to feedback from recipients. Pay attention to complaints and unsubscribed, and adjust your system and approach appropriately.
When a recipient of an email indicates they do not wish to receive further emails from the sender, feedback loops allow the sender to be immediately notified, ensuring that they do not continue sending emails to someone who is not interested. This also helps the sender maintain a good reputation with popular email services.
To improve email deliverability, it is important to utilize feedback loop services, which give an accurate and timely report on the status of emails sent. Existing systems should also be closely monitored to ensure updates are applied, and email services are configured to take full advantage of feedback loop analytic capabilities.
Additionally, setting automated rules for email marketing to be triggered by the feedback loop can help keep the campaign aligned with best practices. They can stop direct marketing campaigns from being sent to those who have expressed that they do not want any further emails.
Improving email deliverability starts with sticking to a consistent send schedule. You want to make sure you are not sending email newsletters too often, or at too random of times, as this can be flagged as spam. Try to keep your emails to a certain frequency, such as once per day or once per week, and send them at a consistent time.
This will create an expectation with your subscribers that the emails will be sent at a certain time, increasing open rates and click-through-rates. Additionally, avoid sending large volumes of emails at one time, as this can also be flagged as spam.
Aim to send emails with consistent, lower numbers, such as bursts of 10 emails at a time. This allows you to still remain true to your consistent send schedule without risking having your emails seen as potential spam.
On how to improve email deliverability, one must take a proactive approach. Analyze your data, build out a personalized list of your own, and focus on boosting engagement from your subscribers.
Taking these steps demonstrates your commitment to staying connected to your subscribers and encourages them to open your emails. Get started today and improve your email deliverability.
If you want to explore the best topics, we've got you covered. Check out some of our other blogs today!
June 04, 2023
Ever wondered how some people run a thriving online store without ever touching the products they sell? Let us introduce you to the magical world of dropshipping, where you can sell products without even keeping them in stock.
It's time to unlock the secrets behind starting a dropshipping business and find out how Shopify can help you take the e-commerce world by storm.
So, grab a coffee, and let's dive right into Shopify dropshipping!
What Is Dropshipping, and Why Use Shopify?
Dropshipping is a business model where you sell products without physically stocking or handling them. You team up with a supplier who handles the shipping and inventory management. Whenever you make a sale, you forward the order details to your supplier, and they ship the product directly to the customer.
Now, why Shopify? It's a platform designed to make starting a dropshipping business a breeze. With Shopify, you get:
Ready to dive deeper? Let's explore the roles and benefits of dropshipping and how to make it work with Shopify.
The Role of Dropshippers
As a dropshipper, your primary responsibilities include:
The success of your dropshipping business depends on how well you handle these tasks.
Finding and Partnering with Suppliers
The backbone of your business is choosing a dropshipping supplier. Look for:
Start by researching suppliers within your niche, comparing their offerings, and reading reviews from other dropshippers. Make a list of potential suppliers, contact them, and negotiate terms that work for both parties. Building a strong relationship with your supplier is crucial for long-term success.
Choosing Products to Sell
To maximize profits from dropshipping, pick the right products. Consider:
Use market research, keyword analysis, and competitor analysis to help you make informed decisions. Monitor trends, and don't be afraid to pivot to new products if necessary.
Managing Your Online Store
Shopify makes it easy to manage your store. Customize your store design, add product listings, and set up payment gateways, all within the platform. Shopify's user-friendly interface is perfect for beginners and seasoned e-commerce enthusiasts alike.
To optimize your store, focus on:
Marketing Your Products
Attracting customers is crucial. Use tactics such as:
Monitor your marketing efforts, refine your strategies, and watch your business grow. Track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success of your marketing campaigns and make data-driven decisions.
Processing Orders
When a customer places an order, your job is to forward the order details to your supplier. Shopify automates this process with the help of Shopify app dropshipping integrations, making order management simple and efficient. Stay in close communication with your suppliers to ensure smooth order processing and shipping.
Benefits of Dropshipping
There are plenty of perks to running a dropshipping business. Some key benefits include:
With dropshipping, you can test new products and explore different niches without breaking the bank. It's an excellent opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to minimize risk while building a successful online business.
Customer Service in Dropshipping
Providing top-notch customer service is essential for any e-commerce business, and dropshipping is no exception. Even though your supplier handles the shipping, you are still responsible for ensuring customer satisfaction. Focus on:
By prioritizing customer service, you can build trust and loyalty, leading to repeat customers and positive reviews.
Legal Aspects of Starting a Dropshipping Business
Before you start selling products online, covering your legal bases is important. Here are some steps to consider:
Consult with a legal professional to ensure you meet all legal requirements and protect your business.
Making Shopify Dropshipping Work for You
Shopify offers numerous apps designed to simplify the dropshipping process. Some of the best Shopify dropshipping apps include:
These apps help you find suppliers, import products, and automate order processing. Choose the app that best suits your business needs and niche.
Oberlo
Oberlo is a popular Shopify app that connects you with suppliers and allows you to import products directly to your store. With Oberlo, you can:
Spocket is another Shopify app that focuses on US and European suppliers. It offers unique features like branded invoicing and faster shipping times. Spocket's benefits include:
Modalyst
Modalyst is a Shopify app that connects you with suppliers of niche and luxury products. It's perfect for dropshippers looking to target a more upscale market. Modalyst offers:
Printful
For those interested in print-on-demand dropshipping, Printful is a must-have Shopify app. Create custom products like apparel, accessories, and home goods with your designs, and Printful will handle the printing and shipping. With Printful, you get:
AliExpress Dropshipping
AliExpress is a massive online marketplace offering millions of products at competitive prices. The AliExpress Dropshipping app lets you import products from AliExpress to your Shopify store with ease. The app provides:
Your Path to Dropshipping Success
The world of dropshipping is a thrilling place, full of potential for those willing to learn the ropes and put in the effort. You have the tools to build a successful online store with Shopify and the right Shopify app dropshipping integrations. Focus on your responsibilities as a dropshipper, prioritize customer service, and always be ready to adapt to changing market trends.
So, are you ready to embark on your dropshipping journey with Shopify? The e-commerce world awaits, and it's time to make your mark! If you want some help along the way, don't hesitate to get in touch!
May 08, 2023
Shopify is in no way a small player when it comes to online presence, as over 4.4 million sites across the world use its services. It has helped many people put their e-shops on the map and get started with sales for their small businesses. Still, it is useful to check out a Shopify review or two before you get started so you know if it is the right tool for you.
This article will help you understand some of the benefits of Shopify so you can judge it for yourself. Read on and learn more about how the tool has helped millions of people across the world, and you could be next to see its benefits.
Simple UX
When setting up Shopify, the process is very easy, even for people who are not computing experts. After you create a Shopify account, it will guide you through several steps which will start to set up your store.
You can add the different products you have, set up descriptions and images, and create a simple shop in no time. If you want to select customizations, you can do this through a very simple interface that allows you to select from many different options.
All the features of Shopify are very accessible and appear well-tested ensuring you can pick up on how to use them very fast. If there is any confusion, the plethora of documentation means you can learn what your next steps are without much difficulty too. If you find yourself stuck, you could even check out some online tutorials or talk to Shopify experts to help you on your way.
Match Your Shop to Your Brand
With Shopify's friendly interface, you can select a theme that suits you and your brand identity. These themes are also very customizable, meaning you can change the fonts, colors, and even whole layouts to match what you need.
If you need to go into more detail, Shopify allows you to customize every detail on the page. You can use custom CSS to alter any part of the page, including the header, footer, or any other part of the layout. You might need to understand how to use CSS to do this or hire someone who does, but it will be rewarding.
High-Quality Security
Shopify uses many modern methods to ensure stores stay safe from malicious use. As you set up Shopify, for example, it automatically installs a free SSL certificate. This will help protect sensitive information from hackers.
With the certificate, third parties will have a lot of trouble stealing any information. Thus, you will follow laws and regulations related to customer data with a lot more ease.
Shopify also has a high-class fraud protection system. It can help you identify if someone buying something from you is not to be trusted, meaning you will avoid chargebacks.
If you are worried about people accessing your Shopify account, you can also add two-factor authentication. This will require you to verify any login by using a second method, such as a mobile device notification or security key.
Together, these features help not only protect your customers but also you from similar problems. You can use Shopify knowing there is no extra overhead for security.
Scalable Shop Features
As an Ecommerce business starting out with a new shop today, you do not necessarily want every feature installed at the same time. You might instead want a smaller, lean shop you can add to over time. Shopify allows for this.
It can work well with only a few users buying your products or services. Or, it can grow over time to a site that handles thousands of people buying things from you.
Optimized for Mobile and Responsive
As an online business platform, many people will be logging into your shop via not only their desktop web browser but their mobile too. To help with this, Shopify uses responsive design.
Being responsive means, it can react to whatever scale of the screen it appears on. If you load it up on a large browser window, it appears one way, while if you open it on a tablet or phone it will appear differently again. This helps users scroll through your offerings and find what they need much easier.
Excellent Customer Support
No e-commerce platform is perfect. At some point, something is going to go wrong with your Shopify website and it might be anyone's fault. No matter where the issue lies, you can have the assurance Shopify support will help fix the problem. If you cannot do it on your own, Shopify will work to help you out and get the issue resolved.
Low Cost
As with any resource, you want to ensure what you use does not cost you an arm and a leg. Lucky for you, Shopify pricing scales with your use, and you can pay appropriate prices based on your needs and what features you want out of it.
Free Trial
Shopify offers a free trial, so there’s no reason not to give it a shot. Also, because we are Shopify Experts, we have an unlimited Shopify free trial.
April 08, 2023
At least once a month, a staggering 75% of consumers shop online. Online shopping allows buyers to compare prices with ease while accessing an endless array of goods and services.
However, if you're looking to create an online store, you're probably wondering about the best e-commerce platform to use, namely, Ecwid vs Shopify.
This helpful guide compares and contrasts Ecwid and Shopify and delivers a cost analysis so you can decide which online store works best for your needs.
Ecwid appears to be more cost-effective than Shopify and offers a free plan. On the other hand, Shopify offers a greater value because its base store plan has unlimited products, mobile POS, and all sales channels.
When you select a lower Ecwid plan, you’ll find product limits and can only access mobile POS and all sales channels with top-tier plans. Sacrificing a few dollars a month may cost you features essential to your business.
If you decide to use Ecwid, there are several plans to choose from. Here is a complete breakdown of what each cost, along with what's included:
If you pay annually, you can save roughly 15%.
When using Ecwid, you’ll need to account for third-party fees. This includes processing credit card payments, retail POS systems, and labels for shipping.
You’ll also need to purchase a custom domain site. You’ll use this for your Ecwid Instant Site and can expect to pay roughly $15/year.
If you add any custom integrations or apps, you’ll also incur additional expenses.
Shopify also has an assortment of plans to choose from, each with its own price point and available items. Here's what you can expect:
You can save with Shopify when you pay annually (10%) or biennially (20%).
When using a Shopify store, you can expect to pay Shopify Shipping label fees and fees for every credit card payment via Shopify Payments. You can use your credit card processing machine, but Shopify will still include a transaction fee.
Retailers have to pay another $89/month (per location) for POS Pro, and themes for advanced online store templates are at least $180. Any custom domain name you buy is another $15/year, just like with Ecwid.
Both Shopify and Ecwid connect to different types of sales channels and authorize sales through Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Amazon, eBay, TikTok, and others. Ecwid and Shopify both support every kind of in-person sale through retail and mobile POS.
If you’re looking for an e-commerce platform that is beneficial to multichannel sellers, Shopify is your best bet. Ecwid, on the other hand, caters to sellers looking to publish a store on several websites or blogs and is perfect for multisite sales.
Shopify and Ecwid support all different kinds of e-commerce sales. This includes tangible products that ship to a specific location, products available for local pickup or delivery, and products available for digital download. With the help of add-on apps, Shopify and Ecwid both support a variety of online courses, subscriptions, and webinars, along with online payments and service bookings.
Businesses looking for an e-commerce platform with detailed product pages can use Ecwid or Shopify. Both platforms also offer item variations and photos and videos, and sellers can create store information pages, collections, and require customers to create logins to assist with automating order management.
Keep in mind that Shopify offers heartier store menus and product management compared to Ecwid. Any merchant using Shopify can organize large catalogs of products, creating collections with sub-categories. From there, they can list these collections on store menus with mobile-friendly features.
Although Ecwid offers Instant Site for collections of products, they don’t carry over to mobile menu options.
When comparing Ecwid vs Shopify, you’ll find that both e-commerce platforms cater to the specific needs of entrepreneurs. However, the cost is one of the largest differences between the two online stores. Consider what features and website integrations your business needs, along with your budget, and select the plan —and platform—that works best for you.
Although Ecwid appears to be the cost-effective option, Shopify offers unparalleled services to entrepreneurs, helping you to grow your business in a way Ecwid cannot.
If you're interested in Shopify, we offer a free unlimited trial.
April 01, 2023
Discover the key pros and cons for each e-commerce platform with this Shopify vs. Squarespace comparison. Both offer robust functionality to in-person and online sellers, but differences in features make one or the other best for your business.
Shopify vs. Squarespace, e-commerce platform, online sellers, e-commerce platforms,
Whether you have a brick-and-mortar location in mind or intend to operate solely on the internet, having an online presence matters more than you may realize. Potential customers often visit a store or service provider's website before actually visiting the location, so a big part of achieving the consumer base you desire comes down to promoting your business online.
Fortunately, creating an online presence and getting your business online is a lot more simple with e-commerce platforms like Shopify and Squarespace in your corner, but which one is best for your specific needs? The short answer is that Shopify usually works better for online sellers, while Squarespace generally wins out for businesses providing in-person services.
With that in mind, we've laid out the features, usability aspects, and costs of each to help you compare Shopify vs. Squarespace. Learn more about where these e-commerce platforms excel and falter and how they can help you grow your business and expand your online brand.
When you want to sell both online and in-person, Shopify has you covered. With sales equivalent to 10% of all e-commerce in the U.S., Shopify serves over a million merchants in over 170 countries, handling $444 billion in sales annually as of 2023. If you're considering using Shopify to enhance your online or brick-and-mortar business, here are the advantages and disadvantages of this popular e-commerce platform.
Shopify excels at customer service, whether you're setting up your website or has an established shop, with 24/7 support offered via phone, email, and chat. Likewise, this e-commerce platform provides online sellers unlimited listings, allowing merchants to test pricing and marketing to see what works best in various situations. Another checkmark in the Shopify column is the e-commerce platform's ability to integrate with over 6,000 specialty apps that aid you shop personalization. Likewise, tools within Shopify, including excellent SEO options, offer help with everything from marketing and branding to maintaining your customer lists.
One key area where Shopify falters is its pricing structure. Annual billing may price some smaller online sellers out of using this e-commerce platform, especially when they need Advanced Plan functionality. Also, whether or not your shop makes sales in any given month, you still have to pay the monthly price for the plan you selected. Transaction fees on top of monthly fees also give some online sellers pause about using this platform. And while Shopify has robust analytics, these features don't apply to blogs, which may hinder tracking.
Pricing that's clear plus three levels of service make merchants around the world happy to use Shopify as their choice in e-commerce platforms. Billed annually, Shopify's three price plans enable sellers to select exactly what they need at a budget-friendly price point.
If you're a new online seller and don't know exactly what you need when it comes to an e-commerce platform, consider Ultrafade's Shopify free trial. This e-commerce platform does give newbies a 14-day free trial, but it also charges you after that period ends, whether you've set up your online shop or not. With our offer, however, Shopify provides unlimited time for your business to launch so you're not stuck if you need to wait for your grand opening. Additionally, Ultrafade helps you bootstrap your online ship with our free preparing-to-launch training.
While Squarespace is considered an e-commerce platform, it's more of a website builder with e-commerce capabilities. Designed around those selling in-person services and online member content, Squarespace also lets you sell actual goods in your online store, with options for analytic reporting.
Squarespace may be a better choice for your small business if you focus more on selling services and digital goods. Online appointment booking functionality lets you publish availability calendars on Squarespace, with customers requesting open times seamlessly. Notifications arrive with each booking, and you can even synchronize the calendar with digital calendars on other devices. Options for setting up intake forms to send out to customers when they book provide you with more information before each appointment. This feature also sends out appointment reminders to help you avoid no-shows.
Squarespace also allows seamless sales of digital content — something Shopify only offers via its Digital Downloads app. This feature lets you set up a members-only area on your website, which provides access to premium content such as exclusive content like articles, videos, courses, and even coaching sessions. Designed to work effortlessly with the appointment booking feature, this walled garden approach keeps you on track.
The main place Squarespace falters is in its payment processing capabilities. While this e-commerce platform accepts credit card payments via Stripe and Paypal, it doesn't support Apple Pay or other third-party providers like WePay. Likewise, while Shopify offers shipping discounts, Squarespace only allows for charging standard rates when shipping physical goods. Also, you need to add Square service to your Squarespace account when you want to accept credit cards at a physical location.
Squarespace has four levels of merchant pricing, depending on what you need for your business. Keep in mind that Squarespace pricing doesn't require merchants to pay a percentage of sales or transaction fees — all their rates are all-inclusive for the services you select. These include:
Both Shopify and Squarespace offer merchants a whole host of convenient features for their online stores, but the former works better for those selling physical goods, while the latter works better for those selling in-person services or digital goods. Use this comparison to decide which e-commerce platform is best for your business.
March 04, 2023
Buying and selling online requires an e-commerce platform for payment processing capabilities, and knowing which one is best for your business helps you start and continue at the top of your game. Two of the biggest online companies providing e-commerce solutions are Shopify and Etsy, and both have their pros and cons, depending on the type of business you operate. In this article, we'll compare Shopify vs. Etsy in detail, explaining how to use each platform and outlining the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Shopify offers an e-commerce platform to merchants selling all sorts of wares, both online and in-person. Serving over a million merchants in over 170 countries, Shopify sales comprise 10% of total U.S. e-commerce and account for $444 billion in economic activity globally. Here are the main things you need to know about Shopify and the pros and cons of this versatile e-commerce platform.
Shopify confers numerous advantages to its clients, including 24/7 support via chat, phone, and email. Fewer restrictions on products and an unlimited amount of listings give merchants a chance to experiment with marketing, and since you host Shopify on your domain, you control all your marketing, branding, and customer lists. You can also integrate this e-commerce platform with over 6,000 specialty apps to further customize your customer experience.
The main disadvantage of Shopify is that even if your business doesn't sell anything, it still has to pay a monthly subscription fee to keep its place on the e-commerce platform active. Likewise, some merchants don't like having to pay transaction fees on top of the flat subscription fee. Some merchants also have concerns about Shopify's content marketing features because they feel they lag in comparison with other blogging services. Fortunately, third-party plugins typically fix the content marketing issue and make Shopify worthwhile to use for most merchants.
Clear-cut pricing for services makes Shopify the go-to choice for many merchants around the world, small and large. Three packages that are billed annually help sellers pick the level of services they need and better control their budgets. These packages include:
Basic Plan – Shopify's Basic Plan costs $29 per month (billed annually) and provides everything merchants need to create their own storefronts, ship products, and process credit card payments. Rates for online sales run 2.9% plus 0.30 per transaction, while in-person rates at brick-and-mortar locations cost 2.7% with no transaction fee. Equipped for two account holders, this plan also includes basic reporting functionality and 1,000 inventory locations, as well as a 77% shipping discount.
Shopify Plan – Featuring everything in the basic plan plus professional reports, an 88% shipping discount, and 5 staff accounts, the Shopify Plan sets merchants back $79 per month, billed annually. Credit card processing rates for this plan run 2.6% with a 0.30 per transaction fee for online sales and 2.5% with no transaction fee for in-person sales at retail establishments.
Advanced Plan – If your business needs custom reporting, Shopify's Advanced Plan may be just what you're looking for. This plan includes everything the Shopify Plan comes with, plus 15 total staff accounts and a custom report builder. Costs for this plan run $299 per month (billed annually) plus 2.4% credit card processing rates for online and in-person sales. Online sales also incur a 0.30 transaction fee.
If you're uncertain about the type of plan your business needs, you can always try Ultrafade's Shopify free trial. The e-commerce platform itself provides new merchants with a 14-day free trial, but through our offer, your business gets an unlimited amount of time to launch its shop. Ultrafade also assists you to get ready with free "preparing to launch" training, helping you create a successful spot to showcase your brand and receive payment from customers.
While Etsy is considered an e-commerce platform, it also serves as a marketplace for artisans and crafters to sell handmade goods. Using this service requires you to set up your shop on the marketplace and add your products. There are, however, key differences in how Etsy and Shopify work.
If you're selling handmade goods, Etsy is advantageous to use, even if you plan on using Shopify as well, for the built-in traffic it provides alone. The marketplace itself brings together buyers and sellers in a themed space where it's simple to find exactly the kind of artisan goods you want. Community support is also high on Etsy, with many sellers buying from other sellers. Shops are simple to set up and communications are easy between your business and potential buyers.
Sellers who aren't artisans or makers have nothing to offer on the Etsy platform. And while creating a shop is free, there are numerous fees associated with both listing and selling products in the Etsy marketplace. Further, you can customize your shop or add branding, nor can you take customer lists with you if you decide to move on to a different marketplace or platform.
One of the main complaints with Etsy is the arcane fee structure, which third parties have created calculators to figure out for merchants listing on the marketplace. When you sign up with Etsy, you can create a free account or pay $10 per month for the Plus plan.
Free Etsy —Signing up for a free Etsy seller account costs nothing until you add listings, which cost 0.20 per product. If this product doesn't sell within four months, you pay the fee again, and if you have multiple of the same item listed, you pay the fee every time one sells to maintain an active listing. On top of the listing fee, you also pay 5% of your listing price as a transaction fee per sale plus payment processing fees of 3% plus 0.25 per transaction. Keep in mind that if someone purchases your products outside the U.S., you also must pay currency conversion fees.
Etsy Plus —The Etsy Plus plan improves on the marketplace's free plan with 15 listing credits per month, meaning you don't have to pay the 0.20 listing fee for those, and it also provides $5 in Etsy Ad credits. The Plus plan also lets customers request an email when you restock items in your shop, offers added shop customization options, and offers discounts on marketing materials such as custom shipping boxes and business cards.
While Shopify and Etsy are both e-commerce platforms, they're complementary rather than competitive if you sell handmade goods. Businesses that resale goods or manufacture things industrially are better off with Shopify since it has fewer limitations on the type of goods sold, whereas Etsy offers an e-commerce platform with a built-in marketplace for crafters and artisans to sell handmade goods. The ability to use your own domain, control your own marketing and branding, and keep your own customer lists make Shopify the best choice for most merchants looking to expand their online sales. Likewise, if you're an artisan, you consider third-party apps that integrate Shopify with Etsy to maximize your customer base.
January 09, 2023
December 12, 2022
November 14, 2022
October 14, 2022
September 19, 2022
August 22, 2022
July 21, 2022
June 27, 2022
May 30, 2022
May 05, 2022
April 04, 2022
March 07, 2022
February 07, 2022
January 24, 2022
January 10, 2022
December 28, 2021
December 11, 2021
November 28, 2021
November 15, 2021
November 01, 2021
October 18, 2021
October 04, 2021
September 20, 2021
September 06, 2021
August 23, 2021
August 09, 2021
July 26, 2021
July 12, 2021
June 28, 2021
June 14, 2021
March 14, 2021
March 13, 2021
If you're not utilizing the latest e-commerce trends in your Etsy business, it's essential to brush up on your knowledge.
If you're one of the more than 1.7 million sellers currently using the Etsy ecosystem, you already know the power of e-commerce.
Selling online is a great way to reach a wider customer base, build brand recognition, and improve profit margins. As such, investing your attention and efforts in an Etsy store is a great way to tap into this potential.
Yet, it's evident that technology is quickly accelerating. In fact, it's expected that in five years, technological advancements will be 32 times ahead of where they are today. This also affects how e-commerce operates.
Today, we're discussing five ecommerce trends that are shaping the way sellers work, communicate, and earn money. Understanding these industry shifts is essential to succeeding in the online marketplace.
Ready to get started? Let's go!
1. A Focus on Personalization
Today's digital consumer expects more from online sellers than ever before. He or she expects a personalized shopping experience to the greatest extent possible.
As such, one of today's top ecommerce trends is to incorporate personalization into your Etsy shop where appropriate. This is also a tactic at the forefront of digital marketing.
Depending on your store, this might mean sending a personalized note on company-branded stationary with each order. Or, it might mean including a discount code for future purchases -- anything to put the buyer in the spotlight.
2. Omnichannel Integration
To make the customer journey as seamless as possible, it's important to tie together all aspects of your online business into an omnichannel user experience.
If you have an Etsy store in addition to a physical storefront, a website, a social media presence, or another ecommerce platform, make sure that the branding across all of these is consistent, and that they all link up with each other consistently.
Doing so will not only make the path to purchase smoother -- the ease of use could also improve customer satisfaction.
3. Diverse Shipping and Delivery Options
Did you know that 63% of customers say that excess shipping costs are the #1 reason they decide to forego buying from a brand?
Alternatively, 88% of customers say they'd be more likely to buy from an online site if it offered free shipping.
Thanks in part to Amazon Prime and other online options that are rapidly changing the price point of shipping and altering delivery expectations, consumers today don't just expect to receive their goods in a timely manner -- they want them as quickly and as inexpensively as possible.
As such, another one of the top ecommerce trends to implement in your Etsy shop is reevaluating how you handle shipping and handling.
Can you absorb some of those costs if it meant gaining more sales? Do you have the workload capacity to offer sooner delivery? What about local pickup? Consider what you can do and how you'd benefit by doing it.
4. Mobile-Friendly Accessibility
Today, 95% of Americans own a mobile device of some kind. As such, ecommerce trends are leaning toward making online stores as mobile-friendly as possible.
This is especially important for Etsy sellers, as more than half of the site's sales are generated by a mobile device.
To start, take a look at your shop from a mobile user's perspective. Then, consider how you can adjust your pictures, layout, and text to best display your message when viewed from a handheld perspective.
5. Social Media Connection
We've already touched on the importance of omnichannel integration. Now, let's take a look at one channel that's set to transform the ecommerce landscape: social media.
Today's top Etsy brands are those that make it easy for shoppers to learn more about their brand on social media.
This can be as simple as including a link in your Etsy profile that users can click to learn more about you, engage with other like-minded shoppers, and "follow" you for updates.
If you're looking to boost the sales and ROI generated from your ecommerce website, we'd love to help.
We'll work with you to understand the ins and outs of your business to determine your ideal path to growth. Contact us today to learn more and get started!
December 16, 2018
November 18, 2018
July 22, 2017
If you've overlooked Shopify's Sales Channels, you might want to check them out. It's Shopify's way of making it easy (and sometimes free) to get traffic.
Here's a quick rundown of them:
Does your business use Facebook to promote its products? Wouldn’t it be great if you could somehow give users the option to buy while they’re browsing your Facebook page? Well, thanks to fully-integrated Shopify Facebook pages, you can. Just click on the Facebook sales channel to automatically sync product details, images, and inventory.
Fee: Free!
You can also promote your store through Pinterest. Shopify will automatically sync your products with Pinterest to create Buyable Pins that pinners can save for later, repin or use to purchase your items. If your business qualifies for Buyable Pins, you can sell on Pinterest for free.
Fee: Free!
Easily list all of your products and inventory on Ebay which will make your product available to over 170 million buyers!
Fee: Normal Ebay fees apply.
That's all for now. We will be updating this article again and again as Shopify continues to build world class integrations!
* Disclosure: We are official partners of Shopify because we believe that it's the best e-commerce solution out there.
June 09, 2017
More consumers are turning to Google for their online shopping needs. In this post, we're giving you the facts on Google shopping ads and how to use them.
If you're using regular PPC ads to get clicks to your online store (or any other ads) your next step should be Google Shopping ads.
Utilizing these paid ad positions guarantees a higher click-through-rate (CTR) and higher conversion ratio than PPC alone or most other online advertising.
These ads also lead to better, more qualified leads since they clicked directly on a product. These PPC text ads and Google Shopping Ads can even appear in the same search query. We all know that means broader presence and more opportunity for clicks.
Searching on Google will pop up a number of different types of results.
In addition to traditional text results, you will also receive video, Q&A responses, and Google Shopping ads.
The shopping ads appear first in the results if you are searching for a specific product. For instance, a query for "organic baby food" in Google will give you five shopping ads as the first results before moving on to PPC text ads and then to organic search results.
These pretty product images and price info at the very top of the results are the Google shopping ads. If I own an online store, I want my products in those listings.
The product feed for these ads lives in the Google Merchant Center and you'll build your campaigns in Google Adwords.
So, really, my products can be placed in the top rung of Google, above even the very first paid ad?
That's powerful stuff. As a user, why would I bother scrolling to any of the other results when what I need is available to buy with one click on the top of the page?
In a word? Yes, these ads are absolutely worth it if you have an online store and want to sell your products.
Now you see what these ads are and how powerful they can be. However, Google does not give away these prizes easily.
These campaigns are labor intensive. Firstly, loading all the products you'd like featured in a Google Shopping Ad into their Google Merchant Center can mean hours, if not days, of work.
To ensure all this work is worth it, make sure to perform quality keyword research on your product base to see what people want and are searching for. This way you can strategically add products into the Merchant Center knowledgeably.
The good news? After doing that initial keyword research on what you're selling you no longer have to worry about keywords.
Google Shopping Ads do NOT use keywords to rank. They rank on product titles ONLY. Pick your chin up off the desk. You can cry a little, it's ok.
Granted, while you won't have to be an expert at keyword dropping you will need to make sure your product titles and descriptions are specific and detailed. This will give you the most opportunity to appear in that coveted 5 pack at the top of the page.
This is truly key when attempting a Google Shopping Ads campaign.
Luckily, depending on the type of store you're running, there are plugins who will pull the data for you. Here are some tips to find the best e-commerce platform for your online store. If you're on Shopify, this app works pretty well.
You can also choose to enter it manually.
Here are the most important things you'll want to remember when loading your products:
Once you've loaded your products into the merchant center you will move into Adwords to create your Google shopping ads campaign. The process changes from text ads when you choose your campaign type. Turn to Google for a thorough and detailed process. Here are the simplified steps to creating your campaign:
There are also a number of additional/advanced settings you can choose but that's the basic process. Simple enough right?
Your ads will appear in a couple different places. The 5 Pack at the top of the results is one. Your products will also appear in the shopping tab (in some countries) and in Google Search Partner sites like YouTube and Image Search (if you set the ads to appear in search partners).
Google Shopping Ads are currently available and shown in:
Now that you have your products loaded with superior descriptions, it's time to take advantage of ad extensions.
Google offers ad extensions to make your products even more attractive to consumers. There are a few different types:
Keep in mind that Google is still in control over when and how these are displayed. Google Merchant Promotions and Local Inventory take precedence over ratings for the time being.
Google picks the products it shows using its algorithm. You always have to remember who you're paying after all.
Similar to PPC text and organic search, Google uses an algorithm to determine the placement of their shopping ads.
You don't want to shoot yourself in the foot by making simple mistakes.
If this all seems a little too overwhelming for you, you don't have the time to devote to it, but you still know it would greatly benefit your business...hire a professional.
All too often, the best answer to all of this is to hire someone who knows their stuff and won't lead you astray.
May 08, 2017
For many individuals, organizations and established corporations, running a retail business is still one of the best ways to earn income while delivering quality solutions to consumers' needs. An excellent product will always be sought out by target markets; deliver consistently, and you will have a loyal following that will gladly spread the word about your business being a reliable, trustworthy brand.
As such, you must be able to deliver your offerings every time, and in this modern business landscape, that can mean both through brick-and-mortar stores as well as online. In terms of the latter, your choice of e-commerce solution must be carefully made — it is the best step you can take to successfully cater to your market's demand and to create happy, satisfied customers.
How will you be able to pick out the right software solution from the wide variety available? You can begin by doing research on some of the more popular options, such as Pinnacle Cart.
Pinnacle Cart in review
When it comes to ease of use, Pinnacle Cart receives some of the top marks from review sites. For small to medium retailers who have yet to become technologically savvy, this online shopping cart presents a simple platform that would allow effective and successful transactions.
Provided here are some of Pinnacle Cart's more notable features:
Things to consider
While Pinnacle Cart offers a simple-commerce solution for businesses, there are some missing features that would have made this software the best one to use.
One provision that is lacking would be a built-in blog for the e-commerce site. Also, while phone support is available anytime, there is no live chat function or connection to a support representative upon signup. Plus, there are no custom email accounts provided.
Another key concern among Pinnacle Cart users is the absence of important security features. The Fraud detection service and the SSL certificate can only be added to the plan for a fee.
Finally, there is no POS system provided; this can prove to be a disadvantage for users who aim to merge their physical storefront with their online retail sales.
Making an informed decision
Pinnacle Cart may prove to be a highly functional e-commerce option for small to medium businesses that have yet to become fully familiar with e-commerce technology. However, if the goal is to become a serious long-term player that caters to consumers' needs from the get-go, it may be worth considering alternatives that can deliver on some of Pinnacle Cart's identified missing points, such as Shopify (which offers unlimited storage and bandwidth, an impressive POS system, a secure shopping cart with 256-bit SSL, and a blog).
If Shopify is the right choice for you, we offer conversions from Pinnacle Cart (or whichever platform you use). Just contact us to get started. We will also give you an unlimited free trial, so you don't have to pay your monthly fees (in both places) until you are launched. You can keep that unlimited trial whether you work with us or not. If you want the regular 14 day trial, just click the banner below:
May 01, 2017
It can’t be stated often enough: Your choice of e-commerce platform has a direct and significant impact on your business.
With the right platform, you can save on costs and make your operations more efficient. You can ensure your business is sufficiently scalable and flexible, allowing you to address the changing needs of your buyers. You can more effectively reach out to new markets and more customers. A good e-commerce solution plays a key role in making your store more visible and competitive, leading to increased profitability and growth for your enterprise.
If you have narrowed down your options and you’re now choosing between Shopify and osCommerce Templates, here are some considerations that will help you make your final decision.
Price. If you’re bootstrapping, osCommerce is an attractive option because it’s free and the templates are ready to use. Plus, it works with any host of your choice, so you can further increase your savings if you can find cheap hosting.
Meanwhile, Shopify is free only for the first 14-day trial. After that, you can use it under the monthly pricing package you have chosen which starts at around $9 per month.
While it’s easy to go for the free choice, it’s important to check first if the vital features you need can be more accessible (and turn out to be cheaper in the long run) if you choose the paid service.
Features. osCommerce has unique features such as the ability to add product attributes, an alert when you are already low on stocks, and a tool to help you manage your newsletters. Meanwhile, Shopify’s features allow you to manage many factors of your business under one platform, including your site design and content, affiliates program, customer data, SEO, on-site search tool, merchandise display and more.
Customer experience. Take a cue from today’s leading e-commerce sites: They’re easy on the eyes, smooth, and fuss-free to use. Customers today know that they can just easily transfer to competing brands if they encounter any difficulty while using their site, so they expect the experience you offer to be top-notch.
In this regard, Shopify is proven to be more reliable than osCommerce in helping you ensure a pleasant and efficient experience to visitors due to the following reasons:
- Shopify’s features and aesthetics are by default customer-centric, providing you more ways to make your online store safe, secure, and easy to understand and navigate for your customers. One of the best features you can take advantage of and offer in your site is the speedy checkout process and built-in security features – all crucial elements if you don’t want to lose the focus, interest or trust of your potential buyers.
Best of all, Shopify themes are mobile-friendly, unlike osCommerce templates. As you know, mobile shopping has long outperformed online shopping via desktop platforms.
- It’s possible to carry out some modifications with osCommerce, but the adaptations you can implement on the ready-made templates will usually need graphic design and programming knowledge to carry out.
Meanwhile, making your online shop more tailored to the needs, behaviors and preferences of your audience is simpler with Shopify’s app store and its drag-and-drop design. This system also makes your store easier and less time-consuming to manage, allowing you to pay attention and spend more of your resources to other equally important components of growing your business.
If Shopify is the right choice for you, we offer conversions from osCommerce (or whichever platform you use). Just contact us to get started. We will also give you an unlimited free trial, so you don't have to pay your monthly fees (in both places) until you are launched. You can keep that unlimited trial whether you work with us or not. If you want the regular 14 day trial, just click the banner below:
April 24, 2017
Design is an important component in web development. This is probably something you can attest to. How many times have you ditched a site in the past after getting an unfavorable impression from its look? That’s natural. It’s what anybody would do after encountering a site that appears unattractive, confusing, or highly suspect.
This is why you want your e-commerce site to look appealing and professional. It’s a great way to welcome prospective customers and boost your odds of making sales. The fact is that you could have the most amazing product out there, but if your store looks lackluster or downright seedy, the regular consumer isn’t going to give you a chance at all. People are just programmed to judge based on appearance and, of course, to favor beautiful things.
How can you make your site visually engaging? A huge part of it is picking the right theme. Your choices, of course, are based on which e-commerce solution you’ve chosen to use. Two of the most popular options you have are BigCommerce and Shopify.
In terms of design-related features, they have similarities, of course. Both BigCommerce and Shopify have free and paid templates or themes for you to choose from, with their paid variants also having a similar price range. Besides this, both allow extensive customization of these templates as well, either through controls provided in the content management system or through tweaking at the HTML/CSS core.
Either brand will give you a nice-looking e-commerce site with your online shop window presenting your products in an enticing way. You have to understand though that while BigCommerce templates look decently attractive and professional enough, Shopify has the distinct advantage of being more established and boasting a wider and more varied array of template or theme offerings, both in the free and paid sets.
While preference is always subjective, many designers agree that Shopify themes are preferable to BigCommerce templates, with the former giving off a fresher and more contemporary vibe. This is probably due to the fact that Shopify uses independent professional designers to create their themes. In leveraging off independent designers, it is able to offer a wider selection of themes that are relevantly effective, which works to benefit the customer. Ultimately, if you’re looking for the “wow” factor, you’re more likely to find it among the Shopify themes.
It is also the common sentiment that while Shopify themes need less tweaking, they also present more room for exploring design changes — to the knowledgeable designer who is skilled at using a templating language called Liquid, that is. This allows HTML and CSS use as well as insertion of tags, operators, and other variables to come up with dynamic content.
Shopify may have the edge right now, but BigCommerce is hard at work updating their offering with premium options, all of which are mobile-friendly. For this reason, it’s best to keep up with developments from both brands to make sure that you don’t miss out on anything important.
If Shopify is the right choice for you, we offer conversions from BigCommerce (or whichever platform you use). Just contact us to get started. We will also give you an unlimited free trial, so you don't have to pay your monthly fees (in both places) until you are launched. You can keep that unlimited trial whether you work with us or not. If you want the regular 14 day trial, just click the banner below:
April 17, 2017
In the Volusion vs. Shopify contest, which will stand out? Here's a head to head comparison of the two based on a few critical factors.
Price
Shopify has five pricing plans, ranging from the Lite plan which costs $9 per month to the Shopify Plus plan, the pricing of which depends on requirements.
Volusion, on the other hand, offers four plans. The cheapest, Volusion Mini, costs $15 per month while the most expensive is the Volusion Premium which will set you back $135 per month.
But if you look at the prices alone, you are looking at an incomplete story. Shopify may seem to offer the lower entry level plan at $9 but that plan only allows you to set up buy buttons on external media (Facebook, Wordpress, etc). With Volusion's entry level plan, you can set up your own online shop. However, there are a few crucial limitations, including the amount of products you can sell as well as the allocated bandwidth.
Core features
Out of the box, both platforms offer a few similar features including the use of templates, catalog creation, store management using a CMS, search optimization for products, and different payment platforms.
One area where Shopify stands out over Volusion is in the fact that the former has a blogging tool which you can use for your content marketing. It is possible to link your blog with your Volusion store but that can take a lot of technical work, making it less ideal for shop owners with limited skills.
Apps
Apps increase the functionality of an online store. Shopify boasts over 1,200 apps while Volusion pales in comparison, offering only 75 apps.
Payment options
Shopify has over 70 payment gateways while Volusion has only 38. Out of the box, both platforms have their own payment solutions. Shopify's Stripe can be used by merchants from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. Volusion Payments, on the other hand, is available only to American merchants.
Point of sale If you also have a physical store, it is worthwhile to compare Volusion and Shopify in their point of sale capabilities. Shopify can be used to process credit card payment and facilitate point of sale transactions. It is possible to do the same things with Volusion but as an added service. You also need to find hardware compatible with Volusion while Shopify’s works with iPads.
Templates
Shopify offers about 140 templates while Volusion only has 81. All of Shopify's templates are responsive while Volusion only has 23 responsive themes. And in terms of price, Shopify's templates are considerably cheaper.
Support
Shopify's phone support is available to all plans. Volusion has online support available to all plans. If you need phone support for your Volusion plan, you need to be prepared to spend $35 per month.
If Shopify is the right choice for you, we offer conversions from Volusion (or whichever platform you use). Just contact us to get started. We will also give you an unlimited free trial, so you don't have to pay your monthly fees (in both places) until you are launched. You can keep that unlimited trial whether you work with us or not. If you want the regular 14 day trial, just click the banner below:
April 10, 2017
If you are planning to sell online and have conducted some preliminary research about available platforms you can choose from, you might have encountered PrestaShop.
What is PrestaShop?
PrestaShop is a leading shopping cart software available in the market today. It is open source which means that you can use it for free. All you have to do is to download the software from PrestaShop's website, make a few modifications, and your online shop will be up and running.
Although PrestaShop is relatively a new player in the shopping cart software industry, it has garnered widespread attention due to its functionality, speed, light weight and ease of use.
The shopping cart software can be personalized through the use of different modules including those for new products, translation, notifications for new orders, and for gift coupons and discounts.
What are some of the advantages of PrestaShop?
The most basic configuration of the software offers a wide variety of features ranging from search engine optimization to email follow up automation, from responsive or mobile themes to international shipping and payment options.
The software has a file size of just 5.5 MB which means it can be downloaded and deployed even by users with a sluggish internet connection. You or your administrator can customize the software based on your preferences. You can even add or delete integrated functionalities of PrestaShop using the admin panel.
Like Magento's MagentoConnect, PrestaShop has its own official marketplace where users can buy themes and other modules.
The software is user-friendly and very intuitive to use. You do not have to have a high technical ability in order to begin using it.
Because it is open source, PrestaShop can be downloaded for free — you do not have to pay a monthly fee. This makes it ideal for business owners working on a tight budget.
Finally, PrestaShop has a vibrant online community which you can turn to for guidance and assistance.
But despite these benefits, PrestaShop does have a few drawbacks which you may also want to consider before making a final choice.
For one, the modules can be quite expensive. Although the base platform is highly functional, these modules can improve the functionality of the software but often at a steep price.
Another disadvantage of PrestaShop is that it is more suited for smaller to medium scale enterprises because it lacks a multi-store feature.
Finally, compared with other shopping cart platforms like Shopify, PrestaShop's overall design needs a lot of improvement.
Should you choose PrestaShop or should you look at other available options, including Shopify? Carefully consider these pros and cons and weigh these against your needs and goals before deciding.
If Shopify is the right choice for you, we offer conversions from PrestaShop (or whichever platform you use). Just contact us to get started. We will also give you an unlimited free trial, so you don't have to pay your monthly fees (in both places) until you are launched. You can keep that unlimited trial whether you work with us or not. If you want the regular 14 day trial, just click the banner below:
April 03, 2017
The most important strategy for e-commerce is to have a high performing shopping cart. Use one, and practically everything you need to set up in order to secure success for your online business will be a breeze.
There are a lot of options for an open shopping cart available today, and you can expect more to emerge in the coming months. Therefore, if you’re in search of one to use for your online business, the selection process may prove to be rather challenging. After all, these products tend to offer similar features and functionalities. The only reliable way to distinguish them from each other is to observe their actual performance.
Now, when it comes to solid performance, the open source shopping cart solution called OpenCart is a highly recommended option. It boasts of an abundance of useful features, and along with this, it is user- and search engine-friendly. OpenCart is deemed ideal for beginners, particularly for its intuitive interface which allows users to have complete control over their store. This means you can easily experiment with different looks for your site to effectively entice customers.
This shopping cart solution offers the following features and functionalities:
Apart from this impressive range of features and functionalities, OpenCart logs high scores among internet merchants because it provides potential buyers the opportunity to give it a go before deciding to install. Plus, it offers free community and commercial support, as well as free user guides and video tutorials. OpenCart is also affordable, making it even more ideal for new businesses to use.
In the rankings game for open shopping cart solutions, OpenCart is often found second to Shopify, which remains to be the leading online shop builder in the world (powering over 300,000 online shops and generating over $20 billion worth of sales). Reviews claim it only falls behind Shopify by a few key features because Shopify has been quite successful in building relationships with other vendors such as theme designers and online tools providers, allowing the site to be a complete one-stop shop for the tools necessary for a successful online store. With that said, OpenCart still does a good job of delivering on its promises and meeting requirements.
If Shopify is the right choice for you, we offer conversions from OpenCart (or whichever platform you use). We will also give you an unlimited Shopify free trial, so you don't have to pay your monthly fees (in both places) until you are launched. You can keep that unlimited trial whether you work with us or not. If you want the regular 14 day trial, just click the banner below:
March 27, 2017
Many SMEs (small and medium enterprises) find themselves struggling with their decision on which e-commerce solution to use, open sourced or hosted. Unfortunately, there is no absolute answer for the question. If you’re facing this dilemma, your choice would have to depend on your unique e-commerce situation.
In determining whether you should opt for an open source or a hosted e-commerce program, consider these three vital factors:
What other factors should you consider in making your choice? Support is always something that should be taken into account. Hosted solutions typically offer full support through numerous contact channels, while open source software programs don’t really offer any official support.
Upgrades are another concern. With hosted e-commerce programs, upgrades, both bug fixes and new features, are automatically implemented. Meanwhile, open source upgrades would have to be manually integrated by the store owner or the developer.
Open source works really well for those sites that require a great deal of flexibility and have a big budget as well as specialized PHP developers managing them, but, at the end of the day, hosted is what many developers recommend.
If Shopify is the right choice for you, we offer conversions from whichever platform you use. Just contact us to get started. We will also give you an unlimited free trial, so you don't have to pay your monthly fees (in both places) until you are launched. You can keep that unlimited trial whether you work with us or not. If you want the regular 14 day trial, just click the banner below:
Join our newsletter and we'll conduct a free Email Marketing audit:
© 2024 ULTRAFADE.
Powered by Shopify