E-commerce
Uhhhhhh…So many e-commerce site builders…Which one to choose?
In plain simple English let’s figure out 1. How to choose an E-commerce site builder 2. How to design an e-commerce website
1. Best e-commerce website builders
Let’s be honest, finding a good website builder can feel something like this
So to make things a lot easier for you
Here’s the simplified version of everything you’ll need to know about e-commerce platforms
And FYI, I am a Shopify expert & UX/UI designer, but don’t worry, I’m not going to be biased.
As I already know Shopify, I spent weeks trying & scrolling through endless articles comparing Wix, BigCommerce, Webflow, – you name it.
And to overcome biasness for Shopify I questioned myself:
- If I had to start over, would I still choose Shopify?
- Is there a platform out there, which is actually better than Shopify?
- If I was an E-commerce business owner, which platform would be easiest for me to build an online store?
(smart move, right?)
My brain felt like it was going to explode. Every platform had its pros and cons, and frankly, most of the reviews would sound like gibberish to someone who was not a techie.
There are a lot of options – Squarespace Stores, WooCommerce, Wix and Ecwid by Lightspeed
But instead of comparing all of them…Let me save your time and tell you that I personally didn’t find any other option worth mentioning because of these two
- Shopify
- BigCommerce
If you have future plans to scale & grow your online e-commerce store these two are currently your best options.
So, let’s see.
The bottom line
Shopify & BigCommerce are almost similar and if you don’t like to read or get into detail here’s the bottom line.
Both are highly scalable so if you grow in the future you wont have any problem but the only difference is:
Shopify is very easy to use and manage for beginners who are not tech friendly and businesses which are just starting out.
And BigCommerce as the name suggests is mainly for big enterprises who are looking for highly customizable solutions.
And I think that’s the main reason Shopify’s market share is a whopping 30% whereas BigCommerce only has 5%
Final thought:
So, if your are new & want to build an ecommerce website, Shopify is “The Platform’ you want.
2. Here’s how I choose Shopify
Here’s the thing, I dialed it down to 3 questions, you can answer them and you’ll have a store builder you can move forward with.
- Are you going to build it yourself?
Some platforms require more technical knowledge than others, so if you’re new and want to focus more on your business than technical side of things, choosing a platform like Shopify is better, even if it’s a little expensive because it will save a tone of your time
- What is your monthly Budget?
How much are you willing to spend on monthly fees, transaction costs, and additional apps? and if in future you need to scale & grow, can the platform handle your future ambitions without hurting your bank account?
- In-built features
Let’s face it we all need convenience and ease of doing things more than anything
So can the platform support apps or have feature that can help you execute your whole marketing & sales strategy also?
Like:
1. Can the platform automate repetitive tasks for you as you scale?
2. Can the platform manage inventory or calculating shipping costs?
3. Can the platform handle/automate e-mail marketing or integration with social media?
And you can always take Advantage of Free Trials these platforms offer to see it for yourself or schedule a free consultation call with my team – to make things more easier.
3. Basics of designing that every store owner must know
Building a store is all about creating an experience for your audience.
But you don’t need to know everything, Here are the 3 design essentials you can use to give a better user experience:
1. Color:
You can influence how customers feel by choosing certain brand colors.
Examples:
-If you want them to feel energized – use RED or YELLOW
-If you want them to feel relaxed & confident – use BLUE
2. Typography:
Believe it or not fonts make a big statement.
Here’s the proof
If you were a fitness enthusiast, which one would you prefer?
1st one doesn’t feel as strong as the 2nd one even though the copy is the same.
You can try the same for your brand to choose a font
Select multiple fonts to compare and ask yourself the same question
If you were a/an [your target audience], which one would you prefer?
Choose fonts that are easy to read and resonate with your audience’s and brand’s personality.
3. Shapes:
Like fonts and colors, shapes can make a big impact too.
Shapes with sharp corners can show strength & authority.
And as you may have already figured out by now, shapes with rounded corners show a sense of community, togetherness.
4. How to design your Ecommerce website’s first section
Above the fold section or as designers say the “Hero section”
To quote Donald Miller, a caveman should be able to glance at it and immediately grunt back what you offer.
Harry explained it perfectly in his newsletter
Here’s the formula he uses:
1/ Explain the value you provide (title)
2/ Explain how you’ll create it (subtitle)
3/ Let the user visualise it (visual)
4/ Make it believable (social proof)
5/ Make taking the next step easy (CTA)
A Study by Unbounce indicate that a strong hero section can increase conversion rates by up to 40% and another study show that users form an opinion about a website in just 50 milliseconds (yes, milliseconds!)
That’s the importance of the hero section, get this wrong and you’ll lose it all, Literally.
Get examples to sell more with good design directly in your inbox.
5. Free consultation call
And if you don’t want do all that and just want to focus on building a great product, you can book a free 30-min intro call with me.
Deepak – Shopify expert & UX/UI designer
Book a 30-min intro call
Whether you are launching a new store or updating an existing one, Learn more about how I can help you build a high-converting Shopify store.
