Ecommerce is here to stay, regardless of whether you are prepared for it or not.
If you are skeptical, simply examine the statistics.
eMarketer predicts that global ecommerce sales will reach over $5 trillion in 2022, marking the first time it surpasses this threshold and accounting for over 20% of total retail sales. Although growth is expected to slow down, total spending is projected to exceed $7 trillion by 2025.
If you are a merchant who wants to shift your business to the online realm, a crucial decision you will have to make is selecting the most suitable ecommerce platform that can guarantee sustainable and expansive growth in the long run.
An ecommerce platform refers to a software application that enables online businesses to handle their website, marketing, sales, and operations. BigCommerce and similar platforms provide robust ecommerce capabilities as well as seamless integration with popular business tools. This integration allows businesses to consolidate their operations and operate their businesses according to their preferences.
Obviously, the decision to choose the best ecommerce platform has significant consequences.
- Helping customers who are engaging with your brand get the products they need.
- Ensuring your employees have what they need to implement sales and marketing strategies.
- Protecting your bottom line in terms of sales growth, in addition to the cost of maintenance and installation.
Let’s dive in and take a look at what to consider when you’re selecting an ecommerce platform, as well as some popular options:
What Are My Ecommerce Solution Options?
There are three primary choices for ecommerce platforms.
- Open-Source.
- SaaS (software-as-a-service).
- Headless commerce.
Platforms for ecommerce that are open-source.
The hosting environment can be either cloud or on-premise, but all patches and platform updates need to be manually implemented for all systems.
Open-source ecommerce platforms provide the ability to modify every aspect of the code.
Development and IT-heavy organizations that desire control over their ecommerce environment, often opt for this kind of popular ecommerce platform.
If you utilize an open-source ecommerce platform, the accountability of overseeing it falls upon you as the brand.
- PCI compliance.
- Web hosting (depending on if your open-source solution is on-premise or cloud).
- Cloud commerce solutions that are open-source differ from on-premise only in that your hosting environment is offered by your provider and managed off-site.
- A cloud environment doesn’t mean you have unlimited bandwidth like you would see on a SaaS solution. Ask about specific bandwidth allowances, specifically if you are evaluating Magento or Volusion.
- Manual patch and update releases from the platform provider.
- Security issues.
- QA for all additional apps, often including integrations with:
- ESP.
- CRM.
- CMS.
- ERP.
- Analytics and BI tools.
- The building of net new tools for the site, often including:
- Discount and promotion engines.
- Merchandising and marketing tools (e.g. SEO features, email marketing).
- Design drag-and-drop builders.
Open-source ecommerce platforms are considered unwieldy, costly in terms of maintenance, and necessitate a significant level of technical expertise for numerous brands.
Therefore, the other two types of ecommerce platforms are also widely popular.
- SaaS.
- Headless commerce.
Currently, only 46% of large ecommerce brands are considering open-source ecommerce platforms hosted via the cloud, as opposed to on-premise options.
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The cost of open source can often be misleading because the software is free to use.
In contrast to SaaS platforms, which usually incorporate expenses like security, licensing fees, and maintenance fees into the monthly subscription rate, open-source solutions frequently place these obligations on the user, potentially leading to a greater cost of ownership.
SaaS and headless commerce enable brands to rapidly enter the market.
In our highly competitive surroundings, if you slow down on creating attractive and innovative user experience, fine-tuning products, or optimizing backends, it can provide an advantage to your competitors.
Platforms for ecommerce that operate on a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model.
The environment for hosting is in the cloud.
When considering the process, SaaS ecommerce solutions simplify the operation of an online business by eliminating numerous complexities. Rather than constructing and creating a tailor-made solution or utilizing an open-source solution that is often customized, you essentially lease the platform.
When considering the costs of development, this option is significantly more affordable compared to open-source solutions.
The SaaS provider takes care of managing product updates, security, hosting, PCI compliance, and all other tasks associated with managing your own software.
The marketing and growth teams at ecommerce brands often support SaaS ecommerce solutions within their organizations, as they allow for quick and cost-effective market entry.
There are concerns about the limited flexibility and customization in a SaaS solution because of the restricted code. However, these concerns can be alleviated through the use of APIs, as well as non-proprietary coding and staging environments for UX build-outs.
Platforms that satisfy the mentioned requirements are frequently called “Open SaaS.”
Platforms for headless commerce.
The environment where hosting takes place is in the cloud.
Headless commerce is a type of ecommerce known as CaaS where the CMS and shopping cart are separated.
Brands have the option to utilize a design experience platform (DXP) such as Adobe Experience Manager and Bloomreach or a content management system (CMS) like WordPress or Drupal in these use cases. They can then integrate a decoupled ecommerce shopping cart solution.
SaaS technologies are frequently employed instead of decoupled carts in this case because of their cost-effectiveness and flexibility in terms of APIs.
In the past, IT and development departments at large brands have traditionally been in control of the business, utilizing either on-premise hosting with open-source platforms or proprietary platform builds.
SaaS and cloud hosting disrupted the model because of the high cost of monolithic technology stacks and the requirement for speed and innovation in marketing.
The pain point can be alleviated by headless commerce, as it enables faster go-to-market and reduces total cost of ownership significantly.
Through the utilization of APIs, plug-ins, and at times decoupled technology, brands have the ability to uphold their monolithic systems as a singular source of truth within the operations aspect.
The headless commerce provider also collaborates with other decoupled solutions.
- Content Management System (CMS), for building pages and blogging.
- Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), such as data collection.
- Email Service Provider (ESP).
- Product Information Management (PIM), to sell through various sales channels.
- Order Management System (OMS), which includes inventory management.
- Point of Sale (POS) to cover your payment processors.
- Marketplaces like Amazon or eBay.
In the realm of the presentation layer, SaaS APIs enable the implementation of a contemporary SaaS technology stack. This includes incorporating ecommerce SaaS platforms and various other elements such as ESPs and lighter-weight ERPs like Brightpearl.
The most suitable comparison to provide in this case is likening it to IKEA furniture.
The microservices are the individual pieces of the item, which, when combined, form the completed project.
Headless commerce is the initial approach undertaken by numerous ecommerce brands as they embark on the journey towards implementing a microservice architecture.
Burrow, a DTC furniture brand, employs a tailored frontend platform that connects content and commerce seamlessly. Through the utilization of a headless setup, they have successfully crafted the desired online shopping experience for their customers.
According to Kabeer Chopra, who is the co-founder and CPO of Burrow, when thinking, it is important to proceed in a step by step manner.
The empowerment of being headless has allowed us to drive the modernization of our platform and create a great digital experience across multiple channels, in addition to our operational functions, by utilizing a headless CMS.
Let’s go back and consider our previous example of the classic IKEA nightstand.
If you substitute the upper part of the nightstand with a top that supports wireless charging, it can be considered as a form of headless commerce. This involves using a different front portion that offers a modern interpretation of the original, while retaining the same basic structure and usefulness (e.g., drawer representing cart/checkout).
What Are the Benefits of Self-Hosted vs. Cloud?
Ecommerce sites can be hosted in two different ways.
- Self-Hosted.
- Cloud.
These two options are not standalone platforms. They simply refer to the hosting of the website itself, either on machines controlled and managed by your IT or development team on-site (literally in a room) or off-site in a warehouse, like Amazon Web Services for example.
Ecommerce platforms that are hosted by oneself.
Ecommerce store owners using self-hosted or on-premise ecommerce platforms have the responsibility of finding hosting, managing installations, and frequently performing manual software updates.
Running a self-hosted ecommerce website necessitates developers to dedicate resources towards maintaining and updating the site, resulting in both financial and time investments.
WooCommerce, a plugin for WordPress, is an instance of a self-hosted ecommerce solution. This ecommerce solution is commonly hosted by a third-party hosting provider, but it can also be self-hosted on your own servers if you possess the necessary technical expertise.
There are several advantages to choosing this option, such as having increased control over your online retail platform, improved visibility of your own data, and a deeper comprehension of data security.
Although this approach may be suitable for certain highly intricate businesses, it can lead to increased costs and decreased profits.
Platforms for ecommerce that are hosted on the cloud.
Cloud-hosted ecommerce platforms provide hosting services to their customers using off-site solutions such as Amazon Web Services. Consequently, the brand’s uptime is managed by the cloud platform.
Choosing a cloud-hosted ecommerce platform has the benefit of being more cost-effective, as you are not required to fund the servers or any associated maintenance or updates. Additionally, you will receive customer support from the hosting service provider, when necessary.
When using cloud hosting, there are certain drawbacks to consider, such as the requirement of paying a licensing fee alongside the hosting cost. Moreover, you have limited control over the servers and cannot customize them to suit individual requirements.
Important Ecommerce Platform Features
The selection of the best ecommerce platform for your business depends entirely on the platform’s capacity to address the daily challenges specific to your organization, as every online storefront has distinct requirements.
It is important to discover certain fundamental facts about potential providers.
The environment in which hosting takes place.
Your hosting environment is a web hosting platform that provides services for an ecommerce website, including payment processing services, security measures, SSL, shopping cart software, and other features.
You will need to find the appropriate host that can meet all your requirements, including your traffic, site size, budget, web development experience, and the number of products you are selling. This is particularly important if your online store is responsible for generating your income.
There are no restrictions on the number of API calls that can be made.
In order to ensure the smooth functioning of platforms and data orchestration, businesses must prioritize the availability, efficiency, and existence of necessary APIs when utilizing a SaaS platform. Therefore, having the ability to make a significant number or even unlimited API calls is crucial. However, it is important to note that each SaaS platform manages this aspect differently and provides varying API call volumes.
A website builder that is easy to use for users.
Before launching a website, over 60% of designers spend a total of 11 to 40 hours working on its creation.
If you are a business owner who lacks web design and development experience, this can appear to be a significant task. That is why it is crucial to select a platform that offers a user-friendly ecommerce website builder and a variety of free themes in non-proprietary languages.
Ensuring the safety and protection of something or someone.
Running an online store entails managing sensitive data, including customer addresses, credit card numbers, and other payment information. Consequently, it is your duty to handle this information cautiously.
If you fail to meet PCI Compliance standards, there is a possibility of facing penalties, losing the ability to accept payments, damaging customer trust, and encountering financial consequences related to fraud.
Some platforms may only offer the bare minimum and this may not be sufficient. While many platforms provide an SSL certificate, ensuring proper protection may require the use of third-party software or investing more in in-house infrastructure.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) focuses on improving a website’s visibility in search engine results.
It has been proven by a study conducted by MarketingSignals that the majority of ecommerce startups, about 90%, do not succeed within the initial 120 days primarily because of insufficient search engine optimization efforts. This demonstrates that generating search engine traffic is not as simple as it appears.
When optimizing your site, there are multiple factors to consider, such as page load speed, relevant keywords, mobile friendliness, and website structure, all of which contribute to SEO ranking.
Things to Consider When Choosing Your Ecommerce Platform
Before committing to an affordable plan that meets some of your criteria, it is crucial to conduct research. While it is possible to change hosts at any time, migrating your site can be troublesome for both you and your customers. Take into account the following factors:
Budget is a process that involves considering and planning for the allocation of funds.
When considering ecommerce hosts, despite their competitive packages, it is necessary to assess whether they truly offer cost efficiency.
The best experience is not always achieved by paying more.
Often, choosing the cheapest option will result in seeking additional capabilities from elsewhere. The most expensive approach is typically piecing together fees from multiple providers.
Before you make a choice on an ecommerce host, establish the budget you have for the subsequent features.
If you opt for standalone web hosting, you will need to conduct research on the prices offered by other providers for these services. However, with all-in-one hosts, it is commonly possible to choose a premium package that encompasses all these features while remaining within your budget.
Designing websites.
Your store’s web design should create a unique user experience that reflects your brand and keeps customers coming back, from the landing page to the checkout.
Several themes are available on numerous ecommerce platforms, with some themes offered free of charge and others priced between $60 and $200 each.
In cases where your ecommerce solution lacks the desired feature, add-ons, plugins, and extension costs become relevant.
Programming and functionality are both important aspects.
When building your ecommerce website, the expenses related to custom ecommerce functionality, backend programming, and coding are typically the most substantial. Nonetheless, they are crucial for the efficient operation of your business and to gain a competitive advantage over other ecommerce solutions.
Depending on the size of your business, OuterBox Design states that backend programming can have a price range of $2,000 to $75,000, while third-party integrations can range from $500 to $20,000.
Ensuring safety and protection.
Always prioritize the protection of your data and that of your customers. Ensure that the platform you choose provides a sense of security in terms of payment processing and data management. Failing to do so can result in significant costs for your company and the loss of loyal customers.
Hosting on a monthly basis.
The platforms should be cloud-hosted and should include web hosting in their monthly subscription, eliminating the need to search for external hosting or handle the difficulties associated with its management.
If you choose to self-host your ecommerce store or use a platform like WooCommerce that does not include hosting costs in the subscription rate, the monthly cost can range from $80 to $730. However, the pricing might vary based on factors such as the amount of web traffic, website features, and additional services like site backup.
Maintenance is the act of keeping something in a proper condition over a period of time.
To maintain a smoothly running ecommerce website, it is important to realize that the expenses go beyond a one-time fee. You will likely incur ongoing costs to upkeep and ensure its optimal functioning.
Unless you are able to make upfront payments for multiple years, your domain name will incur an annual cost. Additionally, you will probably need to make regular payments for hosting, unless it is already included in the subscription expenses of your ecommerce platform. It is important to consider that your SSL certificate will also require an annual fee.
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Ensure that the platform you select is capable of effortlessly integrating with your existing solutions and systems without incurring any extra charges, as there is nothing more exasperating than transitioning to a new platform and having to commence from the beginning regarding business software.
The act of adapting or altering something according to individual preferences or specifications.
When it comes to choosing between an open-source or SaaS platform, customization will likely play a significant role in the decision-making process.
If you do not possess extensive coding experience and lack the budget to cover programming costs, utilizing open-source software may not be feasible, despite the fact that it provides full control over the source code, enabling users to customize all aspects of their website, including product pages, themes, and check-out experiences.
In contrast, the extent of customization can be restricted when it comes to SaaS platform. This limitation arises from the service provider’s control over the source code, which curtails the user’s freedom to customize their site to the same degree achievable with an open-source platform.
There is a compromise that can be reached.
Merchants can enjoy the advantages of SaaS and also the flexibility and functionality of open source through platforms like BigCommerce.
By employing headless capabilities, brands have the ability to provide API-driven experiences via a CMS, DXP, application, device, or custom frontend. This is made possible by BigCommerce, which empowers the commerce engine, enabling the creation of a distinct customer experience without the need to re-platform in the future.
Compatibility between sales and advertising channels.
Successful businesses often have a strong omnichannel strategy, which combines different online and offline business channels to deliver a consistent and engaging customer experience. Utilizing social commerce is crucial in achieving this goal.
In the present time, numerous social media platforms have expanded their purpose beyond entertainment to include online shopping. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest offer integrated e-commerce features, providing merchants with unlimited avenues to sell their products across all these channels.
The complexity of the inventory of the product.
It is possible that you have a diverse range of physical and digital products available, or it could be that you possess numerous variations for your core product line.
If you have a sizable catalog and anticipate needing multiple product pages, or if you have plans to expand your business, selecting a platform with limited SKU capabilities will essentially limit the potential for growth in your business.
Naturally, every company has varying requirements, and one company might need more SKUs compared to another. For example, an auto parts manufacturer would probably need a greater number of SKUs, whereas a DTC company may only require one product per SKU.
Having the capability to expand your business using the platform.
When considering, it is crucial to think about a platform that has the ability to expand alongside you.
If you’re starting out, it’s normal not to require a host that can handle high levels of traffic. However, if you are aiming for growth, your ecommerce business may expand quickly. Can your host currently meet traffic demands and continue to do so in the future?
If you run a promotion or campaign that becomes viral, what are the potential consequences? Your hosting infrastructure should possess enough flexibility to handle surges in traffic without causing your site to crash.
Cloud hosting is an ideal choice for ecommerce sites due to its ability to handle high volumes of traffic. With a network of machines catering to your site’s hosting requirements, the potential for growth is nearly unlimited.
Customer service provided by the platform.
You are present within an ecommerce solution on a daily basis.
When the moment arrives, it is reassuring to know that you have access to a genuine individual who can aid you in solving the issue, through phone support, email, or chat.
Some platforms make it challenging, if not impossible, to contact customer service and receive assistance at critical moments, often by outsourcing this service.
Best E-commerce Marketing Tools to Use in 2023.
These are the e-commerce marketing tools that we prefer.
- OptinMonster.
When visitors come to your website, approximately 99% of them do not make a purchase on their first visit. Moreover, about 95-97% of these visitors also do not provide their email address.
The conversion rate for certain industries is less than 3%.
OptinMonster offers a powerful solution to save visitors who are about to leave by using user-based pop-ups that are triggered by customer behavior.
The exit-intent software they offer is highly valuable for e-commerce businesses, especially their signature one. It has the ability to accurately monitor when visitors intend to leave your website and present them with a final opportunity to obtain their information (typically email), enabling you to initiate the remarketing process.
Additionally, it is evident that email continues to be one of the most successful ways to sell products or services to online customers based on statistical data.
The cost:
- Basic: $16 p/m
- Plus: $32 p/m
- Pro: $49 p/m
- Growth: $82 p/m
Suitable for: Any online business seeking to generate leads.
Primary feature: Generating leads.
OptinMonster has the ability to integrate with major email service providers and offers custom plugins for content management systems like WordPress.
USP: The Exit-Intent software it is known for.
- Systeme.io.
Systeme.io is a comprehensive solution for small businesses, providing all the necessary tools to kickstart your online business successfully and enhance its growth and expansion.
Rather than having multiple individual tools, you have the option to utilize Systeme.io in order to create your website, establish sales funnels, handle email marketing and affiliate program, all in one place. Additionally, Systeme.io enables efficient marketing automation, and even offers the capability to construct online courses.
The interface is user-friendly and serves as an excellent resource for small businesses in their initial stages or those seeking to enhance their marketing and sales strategies.
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- Free Trial: 14 Days
- Starter: $79 p/m
- Business: $119 p/m
- Premium: $299 p/m
This best suits small to medium online businesses, online course creators, and consultants/coaches.
The primary function of this tool is to integrate various tasks such as website building, email marketing campaigns, affiliate marketing campaigns, and online course creation into a single platform.
Systeme.io offers integrations with Stripe and PayPal at no extra cost, allowing you to accept payments besides connecting with your website.
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- UpViral.
For all e-commerce businesses, incorporating social media and referral marketing is crucial. To effectively combine the two, running an online raffle or giveaway that can be easily shared is an excellent approach. This allows participants to earn entries by sharing the contest with their friends.
UpViral is a marketing tool that is specifically designed for e-commerce purposes. Its primary function is to create and efficiently manage online contests, raffles, giveaways, and sweepstakes marketing campaigns that can be easily shared.
The platform permits you to establish campaigns, monitor entries and referrals, conduct A/B tests, establish unlockable rewards, and perform all necessary tasks to effectively run a contest or raffle campaign.
UpViral is beneficial for increasing website visitors, acquiring more social media followers, generating potential customers, and collecting relevant contacts for your email marketing list.
The cost is:
- Free Forever
- Startup: $27 p/m
- Webinar: $47 p/m
- Unlimited: $97 p/m
This product is suitable for anyone who wants to organize contests, raffles, giveaways, and sweepstakes, with the aim of generating business, collecting leads, building contact lists, increasing website traffic, and promoting brand recognition.
The primary purpose is to generate and execute online contests, raffles, and giveaways.
On their Business and Premium Plans, UpViral provides API and Zapier integration options.
A straightforward solution designed specifically for contests and viral sharing campaigns is the Unique Selling Proposition (USP).
- Fiverr.
Fiverr is a platform for freelancers that offers a wide range of services in various fields. In terms of e-commerce, Fiverr provides all the necessary services, including web design, SEO, content creation, market research, customer persona development, marketing, bookkeeping, and more.
On the platform, you can explore portfolios and assess the expertise and specialized abilities of various professionals providing professional services. Additionally, you can view the packages, pricing, and reviews/ratings from previous clients associated with each professional.
Fiverr offers an escrow payment system that allows your funds to be released to the service provider only after you have approved their work and authorized the release of the funds.
The cost is:
- From $5 upward, depending on the freelancer
Suitable for: individuals or businesses seeking to delegate any aspect of their operations, ranging from fundamental financial tasks to website development, promotional strategies, content generation, and even unconventional ventures.
The primary function of the freelance marketplace is its main functionality.
No integrations are available.
USP: A buyer can benefit from a trusted platform that safeguards them while offering a wide range of available skills.
- Inboxally.
The reputation and deliverability rates of your emails have a direct effect on whether they land in the inbox or get caught in spam filters, making email marketing a crucial part of your e-commerce marketing strategy.
If only a few of your emails are reaching the intended recipients, an even smaller proportion are being read and leading to the desired action! Successful email marketing campaigns and increased revenue rely on deliverability as the most important factor.
Inboxally is a tool for email deliverability that aims to boost your email deliverability and open rates while reducing the chances of your emails being marked as spam or promotions.
You can utilize it to gradually increase the reputation of your IP and domain for new email marketing campaigns. This process is crucial for establishing a positive email reputation and guaranteeing successful delivery to the primary inbox.
The cost:
- Starter: $149 p/m
- Plus: $645 p/m
- Premium: $1,190 p/m
- Enterprise: Custom quote
Inboxally is suitable for individuals who own mailing lists, agencies, deliverability experts, and email service providers. Regular users of email marketing will find Inboxally beneficial in terms of increased deliverability.
Primary purpose: Tool for ensuring successful delivery of emails.
The platform is compatible with any other platform that is utilized for sending emails.
The Unique Selling Proposition (USP) is to enhance deliverability and enhance email reputation in order to achieve more effective email marketing campaigns.
- ReferralCandy.
Referral programs hold great marketing value, particularly in the field of e-commerce. Referrals from individuals carry significantly more trustworthiness than promotional messages disseminated by brands, and trust plays a pivotal role for online enterprises.
ReferralCandy is a complete referral marketing tool that provides a wide range of features suitable for any type of referral program. With this platform, you can effortlessly establish, monitor, and control referrals, as well as distribute rewards.
ReferralCandy allows you to automate the majority of tasks involved in your referral program and offers the ability to customize your campaigns using the provided options or through HTML and CSS editing. Additionally, it provides in-depth analytics and reporting to allow for monitoring and optimizing of your campaigns when necessary.
The cost of the item is as follows:
- Free Trial: 30 Days
- Premium: $59 p/m
- Plus: $299 p/m
- Enterprise: Custom quote
This text is most suitable for E-commerce businesses that are either establishing a referral program from the beginning or seeking to expand and enhance an existing program.
The primary purpose is the management and analysis of a referral program.
ReferralCandy integrates with various platforms including Shopify, Shopify Plus, WooCommerce, Magento, BigCommerce, ReCharge, PayWhirl, Bold, Cratejoy, Volusion, LimeLight, Celery, 3dcart, LearnWorlds, Mailchimp, Google Analytics, Google Ads, Facebook Pixel, Adroll Advertise, and Klaviyo.
Our USP is a comprehensive solution for managing referral programs, providing all the necessary features in a single platform.
- AWeber.
AWeber, a top email marketing software for small businesses, offers an intuitive platform that allows you to swiftly construct responsive landing pages, handle contacts efficiently, send aesthetically pleasing emails, instantly deliver push notifications, and analyze your outcomes.
This e-commerce marketing tool covers all the essentials such as landing pages, product pages, email marketing, and sign-ups exceptionally well, making it a great choice.
With more than 1000 software partners, AWeber allows seamless integration with all your existing tools and storefronts. Additionally, they provide the added benefit of 24/7 customer support.
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- Monthly: $19.99 p/m
- Annually: $193.80 per annum
Ideal for small businesses in need of professional landing pages and email marketing campaigns.
The primary features include email marketing, landing pages, and product pages.
AWeber provides a wide range of integrations, which include Facebook, PayPal, WordPress, Shopify, and WooCommerce, totaling hundreds.
The unique selling proposition (USP) is that it offers a simple and convenient way to effortlessly produce refined, professional email marketing campaigns and landing pages.
- Freshworks Freshmarketer A/B Testing.
A/B testing provides the most effective means of gauging the influence of any modifications on your website in terms of user activity and, naturally, conversions.
Freshmarketer by Freshworks provides an excellent A/B testing feature for your landing pages. The editing interface is user-friendly and allows anyone to make changes without requiring coding skills.
This tool conducts thorough examination and generates reports on user actions, allowing you to understand the impact of your modifications on engagement and revenue. It further enables you to attribute revenue values to various actions, allowing optimization for both clicks and engagement as well as higher revenue.
The cost:
- Free Forever
- Growth: From $19 p/m
- Pro: From $149 p/m
- Enterprise: From $299 per annum
This is for individuals looking to run A/B tests on their landing pages in order to enhance engagement and conversions.
The primary features include A/B testing, analysis, and reporting.
Freshmarketer has direct integrations with your website or Shopify store.
Our unique selling proposition (USP) is that we offer straightforward editing and convenient A/B testing, along with comprehensive reporting that provides insights into both engagement and revenue attribution.
- Canva.
If you are in need of attractive graphic design but lack the time or skills, Canva is the perfect solution for your graphic design requirements.
Canva is an user-friendly graphic design tool that offers a range of customizable templates, graphics, and stock images, making it effortless and efficient to create refined and professional-looking graphics, even for individuals without design experience.
Canva can be used for a variety of purposes such as creating social media posts, designing email graphics, producing website imagery, and editing product pictures by removing backgrounds. Additionally, Canva can also be utilized to generate printable PDFs, design posters, flyers, business cards, and letterheads.
The cost:
- Free Forever
- Canva Pro: $119.90 per year. per user
- Canva for Teams: $149.90 per year, per 5 users
Canva is most suitable for small business owners, online entrepreneurs, and marketers who lack design expertise but still want to create professional-looking designs quickly.
The primary function of this is to cater to graphic design needs for various purposes like flyers, posters, social media, and print ads.
Canva is compatible with Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS operating systems.
The unique selling proposition (USP) of this product is its ability to provide non-designers with quick and easy graphic design options that yield professional results.
- Hubstaff.
Hubstaff is an all-inclusive solution that encompasses time tracking, task/proof of work tracking, and project management. It is perfectly suited for both remote teams and field teams, providing GPS tracking along with time tracking functionality for field agents.
This tool can be utilized for managing productivity, workflows, and projects at various levels, whether it be in general terms or in a more specific and detailed manner. Additionally, it can be employed for handling budgets, staff payments, billable and non-billable hours, and client invoicing.
Hubstaff can be accessed through desktop, Chrome, web, and mobile app.
The cost of the item is as follows:
- Free Forever
- Desk Starter: $7, per user, p/m
- Desk Pro: $10, per user, p/m
- Enterprise: Custom plan
Hubstaff is an ideal fit for businesses in e-commerce, software development, construction, as well as businesses having remote or field teams like sales/servicing and healthcare with its “Best Used By” feature.
The primary features include time tracking, employee monitoring, Geofence, GPS tracking, and project management.
Hubstaff can be integrated with various platforms including Zapier, Salesforce, Zendesk, Freshdesk, Hubstaff + Tasks, Jira, Trello, Slack, Quickbooks, Bitwage, FreshBooks, Payoneer, PayPal, Wise, Gusto, Zoho Projects, Wrike, Unfuddle, Teamwork Projects, Redbooth, Redmine, Podio, Pivotal Tracker, Liquid Planner, Mavenlink, Paymo, Insightly, GitHub, GitLab, ClickUp, Breeze, Asana, and Active Collab.
USP: An all-inclusive platform that encompasses time tracking, workforce, and project management in one easy-to-use solution.
- Semrush Projects.
Semrush is an SaaS platform that offers all the necessary tools for companies to enhance their online marketing and visibility, enabling them to effectively utilize search engine marketing.
Semrush provides a diverse range of over 50 tools and add-ons to assist with market analysis, SEO, backlinking, keyword research, content optimization, and various other aspects. Its data-driven solution is designed to aid you in various ways.
Semrush Projects is particularly useful for e-commerce to enhance SEO and boost website visibility.
In each Semrush Project, you have the option to configure 11 specialty tools. These tools consist of Site Audit, Position Tracking, Organic Traffic Insights, On-Page SEO Checker, Backlink Audit Tool, Link Building Tool, Social Media Tracker, Social Media Poster, Brand Monitoring, and Content Analyzer.
By thinking step by step, you can rephrase the text below without adding or removing information: This provides you with a comprehensive perspective of your site in terms of SEO and visibility, along with actionable methods to enhance it and monitor your progress.
The cost:
- Pro: $119.95
- Guru: $229.95
- Business: $449.95
Semrush Projects is suitable for any e-commerce business that requires SEO and organic online visibility enhancement.
The primary purpose is to evaluate and enhance the visibility of websites and their SEO online.
The integrations include Google Products, Zapier, Trello, Majestic, Monday.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.
Our unique selling proposition is that we offer a comprehensive range of online marketing tools and SEO services, all in one convenient location.
- Dynamic Yield.
In order to discover successful solutions that connect with their customers and boost sales, marketers must continuously conduct split-testing of ideas within e-commerce stores.
Regrettably, this task often demands significant amounts of time and energy, as well as extensive resources.
Dynamic Yield aims to provide a solution to this problem by utilizing intuitive AI-based software and predictive algorithms.
Dynamic Yield streamlines the necessity of trial and error by gathering customer data, examining it, and subsequently utilizing it to enhance their experience systematically throughout your platform.
The cost:
- Contact for custom quote
Ideal for advanced e-commerce stores and complex websites that can derive maximum advantages from extensive data analysis and personalization software.
The primary purpose: Personalization.
Integrations include well-known e-commerce platforms such as Magento and Shopify, alongside EMS solutions including Mailchimp, Klaviyo, and SendGrid.
USP: The personalization engine of the company is powered by AI.
- ActiveCampaign.
With numerous options of excellent marketing automation software available online, choosing the right one to invest in becomes a challenging task. Nonetheless, Active Campaign continues to be an outstanding provider.
Active Campaign is perfect for small to medium-sized businesses who are looking to understand marketing automation beyond basic email campaigns, due to its incredible user-friendliness and intuitiveness.
One way to boost your income and take advantage of remarketing opportunities is by utilizing pre-purchase and post-purchase email sequences, along with cart abandonment sequences.
The platform offers users the choice to enhance their level of marketing sophistication through numerous appealing features, including lead scoring and segmentation options.
Price: The cost or amount of money that is required or requested in exchange for a product or service.
- Lite: $29 p/m
- Plus: $49 p/m
- Professional: $149 p/m
- Enterprise: Custom quote
Ideal for small businesses seeking additional features beyond the basic EMP, without being daunted by technical complexities.
Primary function: Email
ActiveCampaign integrates smoothly with Optin Monster, which is the first tool mentioned in this list. Additionally, it seamlessly integrates with all major e-commerce platforms and content management systems, making it an exceptional synergistic option.
The USP of this product lies in its built-in CRM-tool, making it an ideal choice for small businesses seeking maximum value for their money.
The Final Word
There is no universal platform that fits all when it comes to ecommerce. The platform that is most suitable for your business is determined by your unique needs and priorities, such as payment options, dropshipping capabilities, real-time inventory management, or a user-friendly interface. Hence, the “best” platform for you is the one that caters to your specific requirements.
When considering your options, it is important to take your time and not hesitate to utilize free trials to explore the distinctive features and benefits of each platform.
