Setting up shop online can be an exciting, albeit difficult, decision and finding the right eCommerce platform is the most important step. Some of the most popular platforms, such as Squarespace, WooCommerce, or Shopify, can appear similar at first glance, so the following guide aims to provide an effective comparison for prospective users.
Focusing on a general introduction to each service as well as their pros and cons for SME’s, we’ll aim to walk you through what service might best suit you. Each of Shopify, WooCommerce and Squarespace, at the most basic level, allow you to build an online storefront and manage your story as the business grows and changes. Key factors include ease of use, specifically regarding payments, as well as flexibility concerning the peaks and troughs of small business growth. Equally, a site which provides effective layout options which prevent issues concerning mobile and desktop use will improve user experience across the board.
To start with, it’s worth saying that each of these eCommerce platforms deserve their widespread popularity, with above average flexibility, optional add-ons, and innovation provided across the board.
WooCommerce
The most widely used of the three, is free of charge, something immediately attractive to small and newly established businesses. A plugin for WordPress, the most popular website platform in the world, it provides a scalable and, excitingly, customisable add-on option for a platform your website could likely already be on.
Squarespace Commerce
Squarespace consists of features for selling products and organising orders, as well as processing payments. With eye-catching templates specifically geared towards for online shops of different kinds, their aesthetic design and site layouts enhance user experience with options for multiple variations of the same product. Squarespace also includes SEO optimisation and makes suggestions to help your store get as many hits as possible, helping small businesses gain exposure.
Shopify
Similarly, Shopify focuses on getting its users as much exposure as possible, allowing you to sell on mobile, desktop, social media as well as online marketplaces. Equally, as it’s based on the cloud, it’s especially suited to the growth and changes that occur in small businesses.
However, in comparison to WooCommerce, both Squarespace and Shopify have a snag – they’re not free. Squarespace charges an annual or monthly plan subscription fee, as well as charging a 3% transaction fee as well as a payment processing fee on top.
While some argue that the overall user experience of the site as well as the designer’s own experience of Squarespace itself justify these costs, they may be costs that SME’s cannot afford. Likewise, Shopify requires user to pay a monthly fee for the platform, as well as extra costs for additional plugins as well as transaction fees for 3rd party payment processors. While WooCommerce users will experience costs in finding a WordPress host and other expenses like domain names, the long-term savings are ones that SME owners can’t ignore.
How can we help with your ecommerce platform decision?
At Corona IT Solutions our dedicated team are happy to help and discuss what options might be best for you. If you’re still thinking about other IT options for your business, our blog has some helpful information on different areas SME’s need to consider.
