Best eCommerce Platforms for Small Businesses in 2023

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Today, the internet plays a crucial role in almost every aspect of our lives. The internet has information on everything, whether it’s choosing the most suitable road to your destination or doing the research before making a purchase. There is no disputing that we are edging closer and closer to a digital future and eCommerce. In fact, some would say that it’s already here.

Another proof of the same is the eCommerce space.  If you wish to sell a product or a range of products, you don’t need to pay for setting up a physical store anymore, However, when looking forward to starting your own company or boosting your digital sales reach,  the appropriate eCommerce software can make or break your online business. 

Choosing the best one might seem overwhelming, with so many options available for different sorts and sizes of businesses. Each eCommerce platform is unique, and you can absolutely choose one that is ideal for your company.

This article outlines the top 5 eCommerce platforms and the important features of each platform, rather than leaving you to wander around and struggle to get all the facts. 

Top 5 eCommerce Platforms for your Small Business in 2023:

Choosing the ideal eCommerce platform for your company can be challenging.

An exhaustive list of the top 5 eCommerce platforms for small enterprises like yours is provided below. The list includes inexpensive eCommerce options that address all the urgent requirements of a small business owner wishing to launch an online store and sell goods online.

  • Dukaan 

If you want to grow your small business, Dukaan is the perfect platform. It is a powerful player in the eCommerce sphere and provides enormous benefits to business owners and small eCommerce organizations. You can design a completely functional internet store even if you have no technical expertise. The user-interface is simple to use and incredibly intuitive.

With the wide range of options available on the Dukaan platform, you can quickly and easily build your online store, customise it, and optimise it to enhance your company’s revenue and growth.

Features: 

  • Dukaan platform with its distinct themes enables you to make your store exceptional by selecting eye-catching designs and layouts from a variety of attractive choices.
  • It also helps you get your own unique, simple-to-remember domain name to give your e-store a distinctive identity.
  • Additionally, it enables you to publish customised pages using easily available, simplified layouts, to expand your online store.  You can also create eye-catching marketing materials using simple themes within the Dukaan platform to boost the popularity of your store.
  • Finally, it also enables you to select from a variety of pre-built components, which gives your store special abilities and features.

Pricing:

You can choose a package for your company on the dukaan platform starting at just Rs11/day. The platform also offers  three price tiers based on the specifics of your organization.

The Silver package option is offered to new companies and influencers for Rs 333 per month and Rs 3,999 per year.

For agencies, D2C brands, and developing organisations, there are two package options: the Gold package, which costs Rs 700 per month and billed annually at Rs 8,999, and the Platinum package, which costs Rs 2,500 per month and is billed annually, at Rs 29,999. 

Before paying any of this, you may use the seven day free trial to decide if Dukaan is truly the right platform for you.

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  • Shopify

Shopify is an eCommerce platform that is exclusively intended to help you in establishing an online storefront. Shopify is a perfect option for companies with limited in-house technical assistance as it is a feature-rich online marketplace that is simple to set up and operate. Consequently, Shopify includes all of the features you’ll need if you’re serious about marketing and want to grow your small business. 

Features:

  • Shopify has some of the most sophisticated inventory management options. It enables you to simply construct extensive product pages with unique descriptions, graphics, billing guidelines, and more, as well as view inventory levels and bookings at a glance. However, these may be challenging and complex for those with little technical expertise.
  • The fact that Shopify has integrated dropship services is an outstanding bonus. Therefore, Shopify can be your ideal choice if you’re a small firm seeking to locate space for your inventory. Remember that this advantage is only applicable if you are focusing on a dropshipping business model.
  • Critical eCommerce metrics like store traffic, transaction records, responsive design, and more are enabled through Shopify’s insights.

Pricing:

Shopify subscription packages start at roughly $29 per month. There are three monthly plans available: Basic Plan ($29), Shopify Plan ($79), and Advanced Plan ($299). However, you can save money by opting for an annual plan as opposed to a monthly one. Still, Shopify is one of the most pricey options on our list.

  • Square Online 

The Square Online Store is ideal for launching an online business or upgrading your retail outlet digitally. Even if you have no little technological or web programming experience, you’ll have the tools to set up an internet store with its simple site builder layout and necessary eCommerce features.

Square Online creates a store for you that is customized to your needs using Ai Designs

Last but not least, it offers a free eCommerce plan that is ideal for a small firm that is just getting started.

Features:

  • Tracking client behavior and creating personalized invoices are two of the most important features of Square Online.
  • Like many other eCommerce platforms, Square Online also offers pre-built templates that you can customize to fit your branding, including adding your emblem and altering the styles, colours, and icons.
  • You can quickly and simply keep the track of the products in your online marketplace using Square Ecommerce Site. You just need to input the total amount of inventory stock for each website, even if you function from multiple sites. Your inventory automatically reduces as a result of your client’s transactions and upgrades to your Square Online Marketplace Product Repository. Your list gets updated, so you don’t oversell.

Pricing:

Square Online offers four different plans, with prices ranging from $14 per month for the Personal Plan to $49 per month for the Advanced Commerce Plan. The Business Plan is billed at $23 per month and the Basic Commerce plan at $27 per month. All Plans are billed annually and help you take your small business to the next level.

  • Big Commerce

BigCommerce is yet another integrated and comprehensive platform. It is a very effective and feature-rich eCommerce platform. Both small and large enterprises can build successful eCommerce websites using this platform.

To assist you in creating your website, BigCommerce offers a wide-ranging collection of eCommerce tools. It is the market’s most versatile eCommerce platform. For a small startup, it can be intimidating, but if you have growth targets and expansion plans, this is the perfect option for you.

Features:

  • To aid in the development of your website, BigCommerce provides a comprehensive selection of eCommerce features. Additionally, you have the option to include digital platforms like Facebook and Instagram on your site and advertise your products there.
  • Analytics and Search engine Optimization are two more significant aspects of Big Commerce. In addition to allowing users to alter page headers, descriptions, and product URLs to enhance the probability that their products will appear in search engine results, BigCommerce’s SEO accelerates download speeds for better customer engagements.
  • You can manage payments and delivery for your purchases with BigCommerce. Generally speaking, the platform’s flexibility makes it simple to design and administer your website.
  • BigCommerce offers 24/7 customer support for all of your needs. They also provide you with knowledgeable assistance as you create your website.

Pricing: 

There are three eCommerce options available for BigCommerce, the least expensive of which starts at $29.95 a month. To try it out before committing to a plan, it offers a 15-day free trial. The three subscription plans are, the Pro Plan is $299.95 per month, the Enterprise Plan, which is customizable based on your needs, and the Plus Plan costs $79.95 per month. 

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  • Squarespace

Due to its user-friendly layout, not only is Squarespace a great website builder overall, but it’s also one of the finest eCommerce website builders for small enterprises. You can create an online store utilising Squarespace’s templates, drag-and-drop capabilities, and dependable functioning even if you have little to no technical knowledge.

The well-known website builder makes it comparatively simple to establish your internet presence, manage your website, and even set up an eCommerce storefront thanks to its appealing responsive websites. Squarespace provides a fantastic solution for new business owners because of its affordable pricing and consumer friendly layout.

Taking an in-depth look at Squarespace’s chic design templates, as well as its blogging and eCommerce options is necessary if you’re thinking about launching a website for your business.

Features:

  • Squarespace makes it simple to create premiums and subscription programs, sell products and discount coupons, and allow your users to book reservations online.
  • By providing promotions and incentives, its integrated email marketing features allow users to increase brand loyalty.
  • Additionally, Squarespace makes it easy for customers to pay by processing money through Paytm, Paypal, Google Wallet, and other payment modes.  For rapid purchases, checkout is simplified and quick.
  • Top features include social network partnerships, digital marketing, strict programming, inbuilt graphics to assist customers find your current location, and email campaigns implementations.
  •  Additionally, Squarespace provides tools for payment gateways for businesses that depend on subscription services.

Pricing:

If you choose a yearlong subscription, the basic Squarespace eCommerce plan costs just $23 per month, or $33 per month if you choose for a month-to-month option.

Pricing options include Personal plan and business plan for  $16 per month, and $26 per month respectively and $12 and $18 when paid annually.

Bottom-Line

The ideal eCommerce platform varies depending on the type of business. There is no “one size fits all” solution. The size of the company and your particular objectives will influence many business decisions significantly. 

Having said that, there is an eCommerce platform out there for every business, regardless of whether budget or features are the primary consideration. Finding a platform that is simple to use and prepared to evolve with you is eventually what counts. 

it is a superb idea to try out a variety before picking on the greatest one. Customer Surveys, Free trials, such as the 14-day free samples offered by the Dukaan platform, can provide you an insight into which platform is best for your business.

Author bio

Piyush Shah is a 6 figure affiliate marketer and has helped grow multiple businesses from nothing to making insane business figures. He is currently working as Head of SEO at Dukaan.

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The Importance of Software Solutions in Building Your eCommerce Business

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eCommerce has become a standard way for businesses to sell products and services. A large share of shoppers has turned to the internet for convenience, making it vital for businesses to create an online storefront to stay competitive and grow. But, what does it take to build an eCommerce business? Besides running a successful website, you need a good payment processing solution that will allow customers from all over the world to buy your products with ease while still protecting your revenue. Without software solutions, you won’t be able to process payments or complete any other necessary tasks!

Automating Packaging and Shipments

A good software solution will automate your packaging and shipments. This is important because you don’t want to have to manually package each product every time an order comes in. Automation will save you a lot of time and money in the long run. A software solution that automatically recommends the best packaging can help your business with this. Additionally, a software solution can automate the process of printing shipping labels. This is important because you want to make sure that your products are properly labeled and shipped promptly. Otherwise, you risk losing customers and damaging your reputation.

Tracking Shipments 

Another important aspect of eCommerce is tracking your shipments. This is important because you need to know where your products are at all times. A software solution can help you track your shipments and inventory levels so that you can always be aware of what’s in stock and where it is. This information is critical for keeping your business running smoothly and avoiding any service disruptions. It’s also an important element in retaining customer satisfaction. 

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Tracking Inventory

Another important task that a software solution can help with is inventory management. You need to be able to track what products you have in stock at all times so that you can avoid overselling. A software solution can help you do this by automatically updating your inventory count whenever an order is placed. This way, you’ll always know exactly how much stock you have on hand and can reorder products as needed. This way you’ll also know how many of each product you have sold. This information is vital for knowing when to restock your inventory and for keeping track of your overall sales. Without software solutions, it would be nearly impossible to keep track of this information accurately.

Payment Processing Software

As we mentioned before, payment processing is a vital part of any eCommerce business. A software solution can help you accept payments from all over the world and protect your revenue. There are a few different types of payment processors out there, so it’s important to do your research and find the one that best fits your needs. Some payment processors will allow you to accept a wide variety of payment methods, while others may only work with certain types of payments. You’ll also want to consider fees when choosing a payment processor. Some processors charge transaction fees, while others charge monthly fees. You’ll need to decide which type of fee structure is best for your business.

Mitigating Payment-Related Issues and Risks

Another important thing to consider when choosing a payment processor is how well they handle fraud and chargebacks. You want to make sure that your processor has a good reputation for handling these issues so that you can avoid any problems down the road. Additionally, you’ll want to make sure that your processor offers some sort of protection against fraud and chargebacks. This way, you can rest assured knowing that your revenue is safe.

Automating Marketing Efforts

Another important task that a software solution can help with is marketing. You need to be able to reach your target market and promote your products effectively. A software solution can help you automate your marketing efforts so that you can focus on other aspects of your business. There are a variety of marketing automation tools out there, so it’s important to find the one that best fits your needs. Some tools will allow you to automate email marketing, while others will help you manage your social media campaigns.

Scheduling Marketing Campaigns

You’ll also want to consider a software solution that can help you schedule your marketing campaigns. This is important because you need to be able to time your campaigns so that they’re most effective. A software solution can help you schedule your campaigns in advance and make sure that they’re properly executed.

software solution

Customer Relationship Management

A final task that a software solution can help with is customer relationship management. You need to be able to manage your customer relationships effectively to grow your business. A software solution can help you do this by keeping track of customer data and interactions. This way, you can identify potential problems early on and take steps to prevent them. Additionally, a software solution can help you segment your customers so that you can target them more effectively with your marketing efforts.

Managing Customer Relationships Creates Long-Term Benefits

By investing in software solutions to help you with tasks like these, you can create long-term benefits for your business. Automating repetitive tasks will free up your time so that you can focus on more important aspects of your business. Additionally, by managing your customer relationships effectively, you can create long-term customers who are more likely to stick with your brand.

 

There are a variety of tasks that a software solution can help within an eCommerce business. These solutions can automate many of the tasks that are essential for running a successful business. This allows you to focus on other aspects of your business, such as growing your customer base and increasing sales. If you’re not already using software solutions in your business, now is the time to start. Investing in the right software can make a big difference in the success of your business.

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User Generated Content Tips For Small Business Branding

Brand

Ecommerce is a rapidly changing field. It’s part of a digital world that’s never ceased evolving since its beginnings. Not only that, but we access the internet through technologies that are becoming more complex and valuable every day. To stay relevant, an online store must keep up with all these changes and provide user-generated content. However, certain things remain constant.

Ecommerce companies will always be required to:

  • Make an excellent first impression.
  • Take good care of their clients.
  • Reach out to them wherever they are.

Any business should follow these best branding strategies.

Your Brand’s Purpose

This may appear to be the simplest of all the processes in the brand development process, but it’s a great idea to spend some time thinking about your brand’s purpose. Consider the following questions:

  • What issues are addressed by my products or services?
  • What distinguishes my company?
  • Why should my customers be interested in my company?
  • How does my brand’s purpose reflect my mission statement?
  • Is the objective of my brand consistent with the brand promises I’m making?

Exploring the reason that underpins your brand can provide you with the insights you need to identify better how your brand can interact with your customers and vital assistance as you create your brand.

Define Your Identity

More than just pasting a logo on your website qualifies as branding. Your company’s branding is who you are; it’s your mission and values, how you treat your customers, and how your visual assets appear and feel. So, before you move on to the more tactical aspects of your branding strategy, you must first grasp who you are as a business.

Ask yourself questions like:

  • What do I want to be known for while developing my brand identity?
  • What are the primary missions and values of my company?
  • What type of encounter do I want to have in my field?

Mobile Friendly

One of the best internet business tips we keep going back to is the importance of mobile. Simply said, if you don’t design your eCommerce store with mobile in mind, you’ll be obsolete in today’s market. Fortunately, determining whether your website looks as excellent on mobile devices as it does on desktop computers is straightforward. Google provides a free mobile-friendly test tool that allows you to see how your site looks on a mobile device. It also makes suggestions for how you might improve your website.

Consider the following when it comes to optimizing your site for the be

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st user experience:

  • How will your navigation appear on different devices?
  • Is it feasible to tap on components that are clickable?
  • Is your image quality constant across all screen sizes?
  • Have you optimized your checkout, payment, and add-to-cart processes for different screen sizes?

Social Media

The heart of your eCommerce small business brand should be social media.

Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter can help you expand your brand’s awareness and consumer base if you put them to good use. Here are some pointers to help you create your brand on social media:

  • Post consistent material, daily articles, and live content on a weekly basis.
  • Competitors’ highly engaged followers can be commented on and liked.
  • Because you know your competitors are interested in your business, follow accounts that follow your competitors.
  • Use influencer marketing to your advantage.

Know Your Target Market

It may seem simple, but many small businesses are focused on figuring out who they are and what sorts of services or products they want to provide. They entirely overlook figuring out who they’re trying to sell those products or services to—and as a result, their branding suffers.

  • Spend some time defining your ideal client.
  • What are their names?
  • What are their ages?
  • What is their level of income and education?
  • Is there a predominance of one gender?
  • What qualities do they want in the companies with which they do business?
  • What is important to them?
  • When do they intend to use your product or service, and why do they require it?

When you know your target market, you can use that information to influence your branding approach, resulting in a brand that resonates with the people you want to engage with.

Be Visual

It’s time to start developing your brand after identifying who you are, who your customers are, what makes you unique, and what’s working in your industry. This phase is just as crucial for small firms as it is for larger corporations.

Here are a few items you’ll need to build your brand’s look and feel:

  • A style guide for your brand. Before you start developing, it’s crucial to work out the finer points of your design strategy, such as your brand’s color palette, fonts, and design do’s and don’ts. A brand style guide is an excellent method to keep track of design elements and ensure that you, your designer, and anybody else working on your brand are all on the same page.
  • It’s a logo. Your logo is the front of your business; it’s the first thing most customers see when they come across your brand, and it’s the visual asset that will be most strongly associated with your firm. The first thing you should design is a logo, as it will serve as the starting point for all your other visuals (like your website and your business cards).
  • Business cards are a type of business card. If you’re in business, you’ll need a business card, and the design should match your logo and other design elements.
  • A web page. Your website is like a piece of digital real estate for your firm, and the feel and appearance of your website should match the rest of company branding when people visit it.

Look For Partnerships

People like to work with well-known companies. If you’re a new company, however, building trust can take time. What if there was a method to expedite the process? Look for opportunities to collaborate with other businesses that your clients already deal with. What is the most important factor in the success of this strategy? Finding clients who have similar—but not competitive—audiences is a great place to start.

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Six eCommerce Business Ideas For 2023

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These days, people want something they can do from home, and people are making money from eCommerce businesses online. If you are looking for eCommerce business ideas you can venture into, then this article is for you. Here is a list of online business ideas you can choose from.

Have it in mind that when we say online business, or if you like, Ecommerce, it refers to a wide range of business ideas which can be done online. From physical products to information and data, there are a vast number of online business ideas out there to choose from. You just have to pick your preference, learn about it because you need to learn how to start an ecommerce business, and kick start your eCommerce business from there.

Drop Shipping

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This is one of the easiest kinds of ecommerce businesses to get into. It takes the responsibility and stress of handling goods and managing storages off your hands. In drop shipping, your contact with customers is solely for the purpose of collecting money through PayPal or credit cards.

Everything else is on the supplier. Simply put, in drop shipping, you link an online website to what is called a drop ship supplier, customers make orders on your online store, your online store sends the customers’ order across to the drop ship supplier, and the suppliers deliver the order to the customer using location details the customer provided while placing an order.

Online Tutoring

Remember how the pandemic hit several countries from the continents of the world, and workers had to stay home, students, also? Some schools continued to take classes online, we even had students graduate from universities from home, and hold their graduation ceremonies, as well as receiving honorary speeches online.

Teachers and non-teachers who had knowledge that people were in need of became more interested in online tutoring, especially since schools were closed, and there was no other way to meet with students for private classes.

Teachers signed up to teach and sell courses online, and in turn, got paid. The pandemic may have gone down, but this is still an eCommerce business idea to venture into. In fact, there are many online tutors and tutoring platforms out there you can sign up with. Some of them include; Udemy, Coursera, Fiverr, Skooli, TutoMe. SuperProf, and Chegg Tutors to mention but a few.

You can also utilize your social media platform, set up online training sessions, and sell your courses. It doesn’t have to be an academic course, businesses and individual brands utilize this means to sell their value, professional advice online in the form of videos, private and paid classes on zoom, telegram, YouTube, and through eBooks. These are not the only options.

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Freelancing

Freelancing covers a number of skills that can be outsourced in exchange for money. There is graphic and web designing and development, different aspects of writing—copywriting, content writing for websites, blogs, articles, ghostwriting business books, eBooks, fictional stories, editing, coding, translating, and several other skills.

The beautiful thing about freelancing is that you own your time, you’re your own boss, and you can decide to travel the world and still be able to do your job. You can work as a freelancer from anywhere in the world provided there is electricity and data available. Basically, a freelancer sells their skills to clients who are in need of those skills.

It’s a wonderful ecommerce business idea to consider. Another interesting thing about venturing into freelancing as an online business idea is that you can get offers from many clients. You can choose which client to work with, but importantly, you can become an outsourcer yourself. That means that you can take more jobs, outsource to other freelancers, pay them a stipulated amount, and keep your cut.

Affiliate Marketing

One of the most in-demand marketers presently is affiliate marketers. They stand between businesses who have products to sell and potential customers. Affiliates, as they are commonly called, convert potential customers to actual buyers. They talk potential buyers into wanting and trusting a product enough to actually buy it.

For each conversion, that is, every potential customer who eventually buys a product recommended by an affiliate marketer, the affiliate gets a percentage off the product sold. Affiliates are digital marketers, for every sale they bring in for a product seller, they get paid a certain percentage of the money made off the product.

Affiliates are greatly in demand by many businesses, and they make a ton of money from brokering sales. Some affiliate marketing platforms are ShareASale, Awin, Amazon Associates, Expertnaire, and Affise to mention but a few.

Social Media Influencer

A lot of things go on, on social media, and not all of it is bad. Social media influencers are social media personalities who have followers who are loyal to them, followers who have come to trust them down to taking advice from them. These people make their money by promoting products, brands and businesses on their space while their followers go on and buy or patronize these brands, products and businesses.

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All on the basis that their favorite or trusted social media personality recommended them and, these influencers get paid for their influence. An example is a fashion enthusiast; this person stands the chance of becoming a social media influencer for a fashion company because their followers have come to trust their sense of fashion, or a makeup enthusiast who can become an influencer for a makeup products and cosmetic brand.

Social Media Management

This kind of ecommerce business or online business idea involves two parties, a social media personality, brand or business who probably doesn’t have the time or the skill required keep their feed active, interesting, and engaging, and another person who has just the skills required to do the above stated.

Knowing how seriously businesses and brands are taking their presence on social media, this is a lucrative ecommerce business idea to try out. Technology has made it possible for people to do what was impossible decades ago, now, everyone is jumping on the ecommerce business train, these are just a few online business ideas you can venture into.small business coach