By now your company has a website, but you may not be capitalizing on all the benefits that site can provide. Even though we've learned how to make great tech for small business (our free inventory management solution as an example) we still struggle with leveraging our internet presence to the fullest. Today, we’re going to talk about online ordering systems that let your customers shop your store anytime from anywhere. Sounds just like our free inventory management solution, huh? You'll notice we're big fans of the cloud and leaving the tech to the experts. If this is your first foray into e-commerce, creating an online storefront may seem like a daunting task. Keep reading for some suggestions that can help ease you into the transition.
First and foremost, plan ahead. We can’t stress this enough. Don’t be short sighted when considering online storefront options. Make sure that any solution you choose has the capabilities that you need, not just for now, but for the future of your business. Creating an online storefront can be labor intensive and costly, you don’t want to create more work for yourself down the line because you have to replace your current system with a more robust one when your business grows. While you may not need a solution that can handle 100+ orders per day, or accept international payments right now, you may need that in the future. Many cloud based solutions are scalable, allowing you to add bandwidth and functionality as needed.
Keep it simple. This marketing mantra applies to online ordering as well. Not only will a simple system be easier for you to implement and use, it will be easier for your customers as well. We all have experience buying things online and we all know how frustrating it can be when you run into difficulties navigating between your shopping cart and the item display pages, applying coupons, or checking out. If completing the transaction becomes too time consuming and labor intensive, more often than not, the customer loses interest and either forgoes the purchase altogether or looks for another retailer to complete the sale. Don’t be a victim of an unwieldy system that chases your customers away. A straightforward solution with clean, simple navigation will keep your customers coming back to buy more.
Security. Online security is a priority. No one wants to have their personal data or payment information compromised. Make sure that you choose a solution that is designed to protect your customers and their personal information.
Mobile Friendly. Your customers don’t want to be tied down. They want to be able to order whenever and wherever the mood strikes them. A solution that is mobile friendly makes that possible.
Examples of online ordering systems include: Volusion, BigCommerce, Shopify, and Shopsite just to name a few.
Volusion offers e-commerce and design features in addition to shopping cart functionality. Their solution is mobile friendly and comes with 24/7 realtime support. The Volusion Theme Engine allows you to customize your site, providing a unique storefront experience for your customers. Hosting plans come in four levels and are billed monthly. A free trial is also availalbe. Click here to learn more about Volusion.
Another solution that touts itself as a one-stop shop for e-commerce is BigCommerce. With features such as website domain name, design capabilities, product catalog, secure shopping cart and mobile-optimization BigCommerce has your online shopping needs covered. BigCommerce also offers reporting functionality as well as search engine optimization to help your online store garner the attention it deserves. Plans come in three levels and payment options include monthly or annual billing. A free trial is also available. Check out BigCommerce to learn more.
You may remember Shopify from our post on point of sale solutions. Shopify’s online storefront allows you to customize your site using one of over 100 custom templates, or create your own design using HTML and CSS. Shopify is search engine optimized and has global tax and currency support. There are Shopify Experts available to assist you with set-up and the solution is mobile commerce ready. After the 14-day free trial, Shopify is available in three levels each billed monthly. You can also combine Shopify’s e-commerce and point of sale solutions. Visit Shopify to learn more.
Another option is Shopsite. Like its competitors, Shopsite is easy to set-up and customizable. Shopsite is search engine optimized and accepts a variety of payment options. It is also Secure Stores PCI Compliant providing security for your customers. Shopsite may be billed monthly or you can choose a one-time payment option. There are three levels of Shopsite available, depending on your business needs. A free demo allows you to give Shopsite a try before you buy. Go to Shopsite to find out more.
As you can see, there are a number of online shopping solutions out there. Choosing one is a big decision, but it is a definite step in the right direction. If your customers have to walk through your door to make a purchase you are missing out on sales. Once you establish an online storefront, you’ll wonder how you ever got by without one. As a matter of fact, along with point of sale integration we're also looking at the best ecommerce providers to integrate with our free inventory management solution.
For all your inventory management needs, don’t forget to give Stockpile a try. Our easy to use, free inventory management solution will revolutionize the way you think about inventory. Plus, once you get it set up you’ll have more free time to focus on other aspects of your business. Check back with us soon as we continue our series on technology for your small business.
